The Paris, Illinois area offers various camping options within a relatively flat, agricultural landscape punctuated by unexpected forested ravines and waterways. Campsites typically sit at elevations between 500-700 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak season. Winter camping is limited with many facilities closing from November through March.
What to do
Hiking through ravines: At Turkey Run State Park Campground, trails wind through unique geological formations. "Trail 3 with our dog, but we cut off early before the ladders using Trail 10. Our dog did pretty well in the section of Trail 3 before the ladders, and be prepared to get wet," notes one visitor who recommends going early to avoid crowds.
Disc golf in wooded terrain: Rockville Lake County Park features an 18-hole course through ravines. "Disc golf course is awesome, in the woods, up and down ravine. 18 holes plus practice basket. Hole 1 starts by primitive sites closer to beach. Ask for a disc golf map at gatehouse," advises one regular camper.
Canoeing and tubing: Water activities are popular near several glamping sites close to Paris, Illinois. "The best part of Turkey Run is sugar creek. You can choose 2 different canoe trips," writes one reviewer, while another mentions, "There's a river to tube and canoe in to keep you cool."
What campers like
Level sites in wooded areas: Compared to many hilly campgrounds, Shakamak State Park Campground offers rare flat terrain. "The sites are all flat- ALL FLAT!!! No inclined sites at all! Unheard of in an Indiana State Park," reports one pleased camper, who also praised the "KOA clean" bathrooms.
Fishing opportunities: Lakes and ponds near glamping accommodations around Paris provide ample fishing. "This campground is very well maintained great fishing and only 15 minutes from Turkey Run," notes a visitor to Rockville Lake County Park. Shakamak features "3 lakes spanning some 400 acres that are known for spectacular fishing."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained amenities. "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure," reports a Turkey Run visitor, while another camper at Fox Ridge State Park Campground appreciated the "clean shower and bath houses."
What you should know
Campsite selection matters: Many campgrounds have varied site types and privacy levels. At Turkey Run, "watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything. Also, the open, grassy area sites don't offer any privacy. If that's what you're looking for, try to get a wooded site on the outsides that back up to woods."
Weather considerations: Spring visits may encounter mud on trails. At Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area, one visitor noted the area "can be flooded at times, some of the sites have huge inclines or declines." Trail conditions at Fox Ridge can be affected by seasonal precipitation.
Reservation timing: Popular glamping locations near Paris, Illinois fill quickly. At Raccoon Lake, expect "allot of sites reserved way in advanced" according to visitors. During peak summer weekends, arriving Thursday for Friday hiking helps avoid crowds at Turkey Run.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple playgrounds: Family-friendly facilities abound at many campgrounds. "There's a large pool with a splash area/wading pool for your smaller kiddos," notes a Shakamak visitor, while Hawthorn County Park offers "fishing, archery, bike riding, canoe/kiak dock, and lots of very nice trails for hiking/running."
Kid-friendly trail options: Consider trail difficulty when glamping with children. At Turkey Run, "we hiked Trail 3 with our dog, but we cut off early before the ladders using Trail 10," advises one camper. Several parks offer easier trails suitable for younger hikers.
Beach access: Water features provide entertainment for children. "Saturday we rented a canoe from a canoe place right down the road from the campground. It was great and once we saw the crowds at the beach area of the park on Saturday afternoon, we were super glad we had been canoeing all day instead," shares a Turkey Run visitor.
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many sites require equipment to level RVs. At Fox Ridge, sites are "mostly level gravel pads ranging from primitive to 30 amp electric, 50 amp electric," but others require work. One Turkey Run camper noted "our site was pretty sloped. Next time I would probably pick the site on either side of 167."
Hookup accessibility: Electric connections sometimes serve multiple sites. At Turkey Run Canoe & Camping, "the electric is shared with another site which could be a problem if you have the same type of service since there is only one 50 amp, one 30 amp, and one 20 amp service per hook up."
Water access limitations: Water connections aren't available at all sites. One camper at Raccoon Lake notes there are "no water hook ups at site," while at Turkey Run Canoe & Camping, "there is portable water at the entrance but the road coming and going to the campsite is only wide enough for one rig."
