Best Campgrounds near Baileyville, IL

Northern Illinois features several established campgrounds near Baileyville, offering a mix of accommodations for outdoor enthusiasts. White Pines Forest State Park Campground and Lowden State Park Campground provide options for tent camping, RV parking, and cabin rentals within a short drive of local communities. These mixed-use campgrounds typically include amenities such as electric hookups, drinking water, and designated fire rings. The region includes both state parks and county forest preserves, with sites generally designed to accommodate a variety of camping styles from primitive tent sites to full-service RV pads.

Most campgrounds in the area operate year-round, though facilities and services may be limited during winter months. Electric hookups are common at developed sites, with 30-amp service standard and 50-amp available at select locations. "This is a nice campground that winds around through some light woods. Campsites have electric hookups," noted one visitor about Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend stays during peak summer season from May through October. Many campgrounds feature a combination of reservable and first-come sites. Pit toilets are standard at more remote locations, while developed campgrounds typically offer shower facilities. Weather considerations include potential for spring flooding, summer storms, and winter snow that may affect accessibility.

Campers consistently mention the hiking opportunities throughout the region as a highlight. Trail systems connect many of the established campgrounds, offering day hikes through varied terrain. Several visitors noted the cleanliness and maintenance of facilities, particularly at county-operated sites. A recent review noted, "The campground is well maintained, with the cleanest pit toilets I've ever seen." Family-friendly amenities are common, with playgrounds, fishing access, and open spaces for activities at most developed campgrounds. Sites at popular destinations like Rock Cut State Park tend to fill quickly on holiday weekends, with advance reservations strongly recommended. Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with some campgrounds experiencing train sounds throughout the night while others offer more secluded environments.

Best Camping Sites Near Baileyville, Illinois (81)

    1. White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Mount Morris, IL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 946-3717

    "Easy drive up style. Picnic tables and fire pits on site. Bathrooms and dumpster close by. River that is walk and drive through!"

    "Much quieter and more peaceful than the more crowded counterparts and perfect for camping with small children because the bathrooms are always close by and it’s actually quiet at night when they need to"

    2. Lowden State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Oregon, IL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 732-6828

    $10 - $20 / night

    "I found spot 70 that was away from most of the others. We heard no main road noise but did hear people passing us by. Even though someone camped right across from me, we really didn't see each other."

    "Lots of good trees around for hammocking, especially at B38. Short walk to the shower and stall building."

    3. Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve

    7 Reviews
    Pecatonica, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 877-6100

    $15 - $25 / night

    "This is a nice campground that winds around through some light woods. Campsites have electric hookups. There are certainly lots of picnic tables. We saw more than one per site."

    "Off the beaten path campground. Quiet. Nice place for solitude. Good hiking trails, pit toilets; no shower facilities."

    4. Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    81 Reviews
    Machesney Park, IL
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 885-3311

    $12 - $50 / night

    "Normal Illinois state park. Not a lot of services but good size sites and peaceful. Lake with canoe rentals and fishing. Nice walking trails."

    "with Highway 173 to the west and Harlem Road to the east."

    5. Emerald Acres Campground II

    1 Review
    Freeport, IL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 443-2550

    6. Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area

    10 Reviews
    Lena, IL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 369-4282

    $10 - $30 / night

    "This was an unexpected good find in Illinois. The campground was nice with the standard set up - picnic tables, restrooms, water available."

    "There are some trails that will take you around some of the hills through open fields if you are interested in walking around the campground. This is a nice place to camp."

    7. Lena KOA

    3 Reviews
    Lena, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 369-2612

    "It is about 40 minutes away, but is nice to be away from the traffic. The KOA store is well stocked and has some pretty cool souvenirs!"

    8. Castle Rock State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Oregon, IL
    20 miles
    Website

    $6 / night

    "Someone came fairly early in the morning to check and make sure everyone paid and that we actually canoed in and didn’t park off a road somewhere and walk in."

    "Located about 100 miles West of Chicago, Castle Rock State Park features one of the ONLY campgrounds that I've visited this close to the city in which I was completely alone."

    9. Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Savanna, IL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 273-2731

    "Hidden gem near the iowa/illinois border. Secluded and beautiful."

    "It has trails for walking and lots of concrete for riding bikes. We did both. The park is close to the River and has plenty of places to put your boat in across the highway."

    10. Timber Lake Resort

    3 Reviews
    Stockton, IL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 244-1600

    $60 / night

    "We were surprised to have a bar right outside our campsite, but with an RV running the fan all night the noise didn't bother us at all."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 81 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Baileyville, IL

511 Reviews of 81 Baileyville Campgrounds


  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Spruce Creek Park

    Great place to camp

    One of my favorites. Right on the water. Nice shower house and close to bike trail that leads to Bellevue

  • Heather E.
    Oct. 5, 2025

    White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    First time at a campground in Illinois

    Nice Short walks in the woods. You can link trails together to go farther. Some signs for cross country ski trails.  Most of the sites are not flat and one in front of the other so be prepared for that. If you go after harvest be prepared to hear a grain dryer or other from the farm nearby all day and night. There’s a train you might hear a couple times in the night. Pretty quiet otherwise for other campers. Shower house had nice hot water. Restaurant was nice for dinner. The gift shop is cute. Looks like they have a dinner and show around the holidays at the restaurant. They could use extra signs to say where camping is right when you pull in otherwise you’ll end up at the restaurant or some better signs in the campground. Overall we will be back to select sites select times of year.

  • Maria Mercedes M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    King's Campground

    Where Fireflies & Faith Meet Fresh Air & Farmland

    As a mom camping with my husband and kids, I loved how this Christ-centered campground felt both safe and family-friendly, with roomy sites that offer shade, fire pits, picnic tables and clean bathhouses close enough for those urgent kid trips. The layout makes it easy to relax while still keeping an eye on little ones and the amenities, whether tent pads or RV hookups, make setting up simple. What really stood out was the nearby fun and educational activity for kids, like a nature trail, nearby working farm, local park or our visit to Blackhawk Statue near Lorado Taft that gave the kids both excitement and a learning moment. At the end of the day, this is the kind of place where parents can unwind by the fire while the kids fall asleep happily worn out from their adventures.

  • Operation_Fun ..
    Sep. 18, 2025

    White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    Decent getaway from the city

    Cedar Ridge campground: stayed during the week because weekends were all booked. Had the place basically to myself.

    The sites: not very private, and most are one behind the other, so you’ll be going through a campground to get to the main road if you choose one in the back. 

    Atmosphere: There are trains that pass nearby (not constantly), and I could hear some campers from the Sunny Crest campground. Neither were obnoxious, and overall, it was relatively quiet. 

    Wildlife: Turkeys wandering around, lots of different birds, I heard coyotes hooting and hollering in the distance, and an opossum wandered into my site while I was sitting by the fire. 

    Other notable items: Grab wood on the way there from a neighboring home/farmstand. There wasn't anywhere to purchase wood inside the property. 
    There are showers here. I'm not sure if they're open year-round, but the campground is. 
    The hiking trails are fun.

  • Sam B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground

    Loud, crowded.

    I don't think we'll be back. The best part about the whole experience was the crazy road that leads to the overlooks. The campground is stacked close together, there's no signs for directing you towards sites, no place to put garbage, only a couple vault toilets. Never did see the shower house, but we just left the next day anyways. Loud people singing, playing music and snapping limbs till almost 4am, trains run all night. Not really my kinda place.

  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Blanding Landing

    Safe, peaceful and friendly! Will definitely be back!

    I stayed at site 36 over the Labor Day weekend, and it was incredible. I was a solo female traveler with my two service dogs. When I arrived, the site was clean, and we had a site with an open site on one side making it feel twice as big. The other campers were friendly, and the one site neighbor we had (a young couple about my age with a pup too!) even came to visit and meet my dogs and gave them organic dog treats.🥹 The icing on the cake was the woman who monitored the sites, Anne. She was so kind and welcoming, and made me feel comfortable and safe. I can’t wait to come back and visit again. Highly recommend!

  • M
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground

    Serene Campground with Great Amenities

    Everything about our stay was enjoyable. Campsites were spaced out well and amenities were great. Don’t forget to check out the hiking trails!

  • Kay K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    New Glarus State Park Campground

    Spring on our site

    There was a spring on our site! We hiked in a bit to a wooded quiet site. The toilets were clean. The playground was great. We spent the day exploring our Swiss heritage in New Glarus.


Guide to Baileyville

Camping near Baileyville, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From scenic parks to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the many trails available at Rock Cut State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, “Tons of trails, fishing, and even a swimming pond,” making it a great spot for outdoor activities.
  • Fishing: If you enjoy fishing, Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground is a fantastic choice. A camper shared, “The trails are well kept, clean bathrooms, nice campsites and the best camp hosts ever!!!”
  • Wildlife Watching: At Morrison-Rockwood State Park, you can spot various wildlife. One reviewer noted, “We even saw a raccoon!” which adds to the excitement of camping in nature.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities. A visitor at Morrison-Rockwood State Park raved, “This campground is a lovely gem! The CLEANEST bathrooms I've ever seen!”
  • Secluded Campsites: Many enjoy the privacy offered at Blackhawk Valley Campground. One camper mentioned, “Most of the sites are rented seasonally or monthly, and you can see that people love returning here.”
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Families love the activities available at O'Connell's RV Campground. A parent noted, “Chock full of decent amenities. And in the middle of nowhere.”

What you should know:

  • No Alcohol Policies: Some campgrounds, like Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground, have strict no alcohol policies. A camper mentioned, “No alcohol was allowed on the grounds but it didn’t seem like it would be enforced unless there was a campsite causing issues.”
  • Site Spacing: Campsites can be close together at places like O'Connell's RV Campground. One visitor warned, “You couldn’t pay me to stay in this place again. It’s a ridiculous drunk fest mad house.”
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have stores or markets nearby. A camper at Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground noted, “There is no store on site, they do sell wood but it is cash only.”

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose the Right Campsite: Look for sites that offer privacy and space for kids to play. A family at Morrison-Rockwood State Park found, “The sites were very well spaced apart.”
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have activities planned. One parent at O'Connell's RV Campground said, “There’s a nice pond for the kiddos to fish in, and true to the Yogi Bear name, there’s a ton of other arts and crafts activities for the kids to enjoy.”
  • Check for Clean Facilities: Clean bathrooms can make a big difference. A camper at Morrison-Rockwood State Park emphasized, “The (and I cannot emphasize this enough) CLEANEST campground bathrooms I've ever seen!”

Tips from RVers:

  • Look for Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds, like Blackhawk Valley Campground, offer electric hookups. A visitor mentioned, “The campground is neat, tidy, cared for and I’m a lush location right on the banks of the Kewaukee River.”
  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Morrison-Rockwood State Park noted, “There are a few pull-through sites, but I'm not sure they're indicated.”
  • Be Prepared for Bugs: Insects can be a nuisance. A visitor at Apple River Canyon warned, “The bugs are no joke though. Mosquitoes, gnats, and other flying friends were definitely swarming.”

Camping near Baileyville, Illinois, has its perks and quirks. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a great outdoor experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Baileyville, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Baileyville, IL is White Pines Forest State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 24 reviews.