Best Campgrounds near Homer, IL

Camping options surrounding Homer, Illinois include several established campgrounds within short driving distance. Kickapoo State Recreation Area in nearby Oakwood serves as a primary destination with both electric and primitive sites for tents and RVs. Other nearby options include Forest Glen County Preserve, Walnut Point State Park Campground, and Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area, all located within 25 miles of Homer. These public recreation areas provide a mix of wooded and open sites with varying levels of amenities and hookups.

Many campgrounds in east-central Illinois operate year-round, though certain facilities like showers may close during winter months. Most established sites require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays. Primitive camping areas typically offer vault toilets and water pumps, while developed campgrounds provide electric hookups, modern restrooms with showers, and dump stations. Weather in the region can be unpredictable, with hot, humid summers and occasional severe storms. "We stayed here on Dec. 10, 2021 (yes the night of all the tornadoes throughout the Illinois/Kentucky/Tennessee area), I and everyone else at the campsite got pretty lucky, we were just outside the path of the main storms that did so much damage."

Campers frequently mention the wooded, private nature of sites at parks like Kickapoo State Recreation Area. The region features multiple lakes, rivers, and ponds suitable for fishing, paddling, and wildlife viewing. Hiking and mountain biking trails connect many camping areas, with Kickapoo offering over 12 miles of bike trails. RV campers will find adequate facilities at several parks, though big rig accessibility varies by location. A common observation from reviewers notes the spaciousness of campsites: "The spots for RVs are HUGE. The roads are nice and wide and the views are beautiful." Weekday visits typically offer greater solitude, while summer weekends can see higher occupancy rates at the more popular recreation areas.

Best Camping Sites Near Homer, Illinois (53)

    1. Kickapoo State Recreation Area

    29 Reviews
    Oakwood, IL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 442-4915

    $10 - $20 / night

    "Stayed here on Dec. 10, 2021 (yes the night of all the tornadoes throughout the Illinois/Kentucky/Tennessee area), I and everyone else at the campsite got pretty lucky, we were just outside the path of"

    "Great little campground in Central Illinois. Some pretty trails overlooking, beside, and sometimes through water."

    2. D & W Lake RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Champaign, IL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 356-3732

    "Stayed here 2 nights on our way to Northern Illinois, easy access off the interstate, sites are spacious, grounds are well maintained, staff was very courteous and friendly, nice lake with trail around"

    "It is close to the main highway, but far enough to not be noticeable.  Sites are level and in good condition.  Owner greets you on entering and then guides you to your site.  "

    3. Prairie Pines Campground

    7 Reviews
    Gifford, IL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 893-0438

    "It's on the outskirts of town on the old Chanute AFB. They have lovely tree coverage, it's close to lots of amenities like grocery shopping, sports complex, urgent care, quick interstate access."

    "Close to Champaign, IL off I 57 is this charming, open and clean grass covered park. Large sites with full hook ups, picnic table and scattered large trees near an Air Force base."

    4. Turkey Run State Park Campground

    71 Reviews
    Marshall, IN
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (765) 597-2635

    $20 - $25 / night

    "Short drive from Chicago (3 hours?) and you are in lush forest. You have to pick the right campsite or you will have no cover and big campers on either side of you."

    "But close to a good size hill. Not a grass spot. No water hookup. But would recommend. Little store has lots to offer. Gas station and good near by. Fantastic walking trails within a mile or 2 also."

    5. Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area

    2 Reviews
    Collison, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 442-4915

    "This park has very nice hiking trails and a swimming beach. The kids had a great time, and I got to kick back and relax."

    6. Walnut Point State Park Campground

    9 Reviews
    Oakland, IL
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 346-3336

    "A great lake for fishing and kayaking. A hidden gem in central Illinois with a great little family owned restaurant. The staff and camp host are super friendly and helpful!"

    "Walking trails all around the campground, all sites close to or on the lake. Little restaurant, ice cream, and kayak rental place on site through October 17. Good fishing spot. Several playgrouds."

    7. Harry L Swartz Campground

    9 Reviews
    Penfield, IL
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 595-5692

    "Arrived on Sunday and nearly had the place to ourselves. Campgrounds are far removed from town and very quiet, large enough to feel isolated. Host sells ice and firewood for a reasonable price."

    "The drive into the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve winds between a few ponds. We saw many families fishing around each of them. Once at the campground, check in with the camp host."

    8. Vermilion County Park Forest Glen Preserve

    1 Review
    Georgetown, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 662-2142

    "We did forest glen river ridge trail; started from the staff parking lot and walked about 8 miles to the east camp. We had a big group and took sites 3 and 5 because they were on a flatter ground."

    9. Forest Glen County Preserve

    2 Reviews
    Georgetown, IL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 662-2142

    $17 - $27 / night

    "There is a nearby water source but it will need to be filtered. Other things to do...walk in the prairie, hike, climb a tower, play at the playground, picnic, etc... it’s a very nice place to visit."

    10. Tin Cup RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Mahomet, IL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 586-3011

    "Had AC going but could hear road noise from interstate/ nearby roads."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 53 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Homer, IL

336 Reviews of 53 Homer Campgrounds


  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Shades State Park Campground

    Primitive camping

      This is a primitive state park near Turkey Run State Park In Midwestern Indiana. First named The Shades Of Death State Park.

     The gatehouse is your only source of information. There's no nature center or visitor center. Get a park map! They do charge admission.

    This is a hikers park & it has some of the most rugged trails in Indiana. The Pine Hills Nature Preserve is maintained by the park. There's a parking area available to hike to the trailhead inside Shades. The Devils Backbone is a popular trail, but definitely on the rugged side. If you take small children(I wouldn't!) watch them carefully. 

    Trail 1 is.75M, but considered rugged. It has a lot of scenic views & a unique waterfall. Trails 4 & 5 have ladders. 

    Deers Mill Covered Bridge is on the property & there's a canoe launch. This is not a drive through bridge. The picnic area is a drive thru loop & is very nice. There's also a couple of shelters. The pond looked pretty scummy & my husband wouldn't fish in it.

     The campground is primitive camping- nonelectric. Water is available. There is a dump station. There is trail access if you don't want to drive. There's one modern showerhouse & several pit toilets. Choose your site carefully! Whitetail Loop has the showers & toilets. We did a drive thru & most all the sites looked very nice. There were mostly tents with a few popups. This wouldn't be a campground I would choose if I had a big rig.

  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Turkey Run State Park Campground

    Nice State Park Campground

    Turkey Run State Park. Arguably one of the top 5 state parks in Indiana.

    Lots of hiking opportunities, including the fabulous Trail 3 which should be a National Trail IMO. Go hike early before 10 am. This area gets crazy busy after that. 

    Nice nature center.

    2 covered bridges.

     A swimming pool in season.

     A historic inn with a restaurant. You can rent cabins also. 

    The Lusk home has tours every Saturday in season. 

    The campground is a mile or so west of the entrance to the park.

     Electric only. 270 sites. Water is available.

     There's modern bath houses with hot showers.

     We were site 218, which is technically the Turkey Hollow area. The bath house there was clean. We liked our loop for spacious sites( for a state park).

     The Twin Oaks loop seemed denser.

     There's a double dump near the exit. There's also one dump at the end of a loop by site 60. We were happy the other 4 campers trying to dump forgot about it! 

    Trail 7 access is also at the end by site 44. It's not marked on the map.

     The camp store has the usual camping supplies & gift items. Ice & wood. 

    We enjoyed our weekend here! Even though it rained Saturday.

  • Jill C.
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Friends Creek Campground

    Secluded and Cozy

    We stayed here during our travels from Kansas to Indiana. While we only stayed one night, it was long enough to know that should we travel nearby again-this will be our stopping point. Easy to access from the highway yet while in the park, we experienced pure bliss and quiet. Spacious sites and an abundant amount of shade made this stay even better! The camp hosts do an excellent job as the grounds and bathhouse were all immaculate! These are electric only sites however there are several water spigots to fill the tank prior to parking. For ease, there are even potable water spigots at the dump station and the bathhouse as well. Our site was fairly level and easy to maneuver into. For reference, we have a 34’ fifth wheel. When reserving, note that there are a handful of 50 amp sites, several 30 amp sites and tent sites available.

  • L
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Shades State Park Campground

    It was very clean, nicely spaced, and shaded.

    Very nice campground! It was close by Turkey Run State Park, which had amazing trails, that are pictured below. (We definitely recommend Trail 3!) The campground itself was very nice and clean, as well as shaded and pretty. We were camping in August, so it wasn't very busy and we got peace. There were many fun things to do in Turkey Run, although the pool was closed in August. There was also a fun little ice cream place and store in downtown Marshall! 

      Great place overall!

  • L
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Friends Creek Campground

    Great campground

    Very nice small campground with well spaced sites. The bathrooms were very clean. The Macon County website is a bit wonky to navigate. The camp host is a jewel. Be aware that there are 50 amp sites and 30 amp sites. The 50 amp sites are more expensive. Would definitely return.

  • Joshua R.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Plainview Campground — Lincoln Trail State Park

    Its ok

    Camp sites had some trash from previous campers. Bathrooms were dirty and outdated. Only scolding hot water in the shower. Host and another staff member made me turn my camper to face the other direction so the door wouldn't face another camp site, even though I have a door on both sides after we had camp set up. Sites themselves are nicely spaced apart. Place was pretty empty for our 4 day weekend there.


Guide to Homer

Camping near Homer, Illinois, offers a variety of beautiful spots for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly campground or a peaceful retreat, there are options that cater to all kinds of campers.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Turkey Run State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "From the back of the campground, you can access Trail 7, a moderate level trail that leads unexpectedly to a small stream running past a recessed cave."
  • Fishing: At Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area, you can enjoy fishing. A visitor shared, "Great areas to walk your dog and the fishing was good."
  • Swimming: Many campgrounds, like Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, have swimming spots. One family noted, "We couldn’t have asked for a better location for our family and our interests."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area stated, "The bathhouse is clean, plenty of showers, flush toilets."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Many campgrounds are great for families. One reviewer at Turkey Run State Park Campground mentioned, "This is a very family-friendly campground, and you will see lots of kids on bicycles flying around."
  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. A visitor at Fowler County Park said, "Beautiful view, nice people, and great lake access."

What you should know:

  • Privacy Concerns: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A reviewer at Turkey Run State Park Campground noted, "Many sites are in an open, level area without a lot of trees or bushes between them. You don’t have a lot of privacy."
  • Wildlife Encounters: Be prepared for raccoons and other wildlife. One camper at Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area warned, "The raccoons definitely are active, so make sure you lock it all up at night."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the modern amenities. A visitor at Shades State Park Campground mentioned, "The vault toilets were dirty, needed to be emptied."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose the Right Site: Look for sites that are spacious and have good access to amenities. A family at Fowler County Park said, "We loved the location of the site but it was very short."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to bring fishing gear and bikes for the kids. One reviewer at Turkey Run State Park Campground suggested, "Be prepared with hiking boots and sticks."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. A camper at Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area noted, "The campground has a raccoon 'problem' due to campers having poor camp etiquette and feeding them."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure the site can accommodate your RV. A reviewer at Terre Haute Campground mentioned, "Most sites are gravel, and the campground had WIFI that was fast enough to stream."
  • Be Mindful of Hookups: Some sites may not have all the necessary hookups. A visitor at Terre Haute Campground said, "There is only water hooks on every other site."
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Take advantage of local attractions. A camper at Clinton Lake State Recreation Area shared, "The lake is great for boating and lots of campers were fishing."

Camping near Homer, Illinois, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Homer, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Homer, IL is Kickapoo State Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 29 reviews.