Looking for the best campgrounds near Jacksonville, IL? Jacksonville is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Jacksonville, IL. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
A primitive camping area at Jim Edgar Panther Creek has seven three-sided shelters to camp near or in for a fee of $6 per night. Hikers and mountain bike riders must travel approximately a quarter-mile from the nearest parking lot to access the shelters.
$6 / night
Buena Vista Farms is a newly constructed camp ground on State Highway 67 in the middle of Illinois. We are short trips to Springfield, IL, Abraham Lincoln sites, Hannibal, Mo, Mark Twain sites and Saint Louis, Mo. Our RV sites are all full hook up, and some pull through spaces are 90 feet long, for Big Rigs. We offer back in sites on the water, and pull through sites. We have lots of green space, 60 feet between pedestals, 2 fishing lakes, canoes, kayaks and paddle boat, playground, hiking trails and no light pollution so you can star gaze around your camp fire. Sites all have fire pits and picnic tables. Tiny home cabins are fully furnished and available monthly or daily, in 3 styles, to sleep 3, 4 or 6 people. We offer 2 furnished apartments for traveling professionals on our park like setting. Seasonal, monthly or overnight campers are all welcomed!
$46 - $121 / night
$20 / night
$5 - $15 / night
If you do arrive without a reservation and the campground host is unavailable, please do not park in a “reserved campsite.” If you may be interested in becoming a campground host, feel free to contact us at 217-632-4000. We look forward to seeing you this season!
$10 - $30 / night
A primitive camping area at Jim Edgar Panther Creek has seven three-sided shelters to camp near or in for a fee of $6 per night. Hikers and mountain bike riders must travel approximately a quarter-mile from the nearest parking lot to access the shelters.
$6 / night
Buena Vista Farms is a newly constructed camp ground on State Highway 67 in the middle of Illinois. We are short trips to Springfield, IL, Abraham Lincoln sites, Hannibal, Mo, Mark Twain sites and Saint Louis, Mo. Our RV sites are all full hook up, and some pull through spaces are 90 feet long, for Big Rigs. We offer back in sites on the water, and pull through sites. We have lots of green space, 60 feet between pedestals, 2 fishing lakes, canoes, kayaks and paddle boat, playground, hiking trails and no light pollution so you can star gaze around your camp fire. Sites all have fire pits and picnic tables. Tiny home cabins are fully furnished and available monthly or daily, in 3 styles, to sleep 3, 4 or 6 people. We offer 2 furnished apartments for traveling professionals on our park like setting. Seasonal, monthly or overnight campers are all welcomed!
$46 - $121 / night
$20 / night
$5 - $15 / night
Traveler
Stopped here overnight in late August. Only a few other campers on a Sunday so nice and quiet. Typical midwest tent camping on dirt, lots of mosquitoes, pit toilets.
Traveler
I've stayed here a couple times now. Each time there has only been one other person. It's quiet and peaceful, however there's not much to do. As far as I know there's no running water. There are portable toilets that are kept clean. There's also a 4 consecutive day per month limit.
Guide
These walk in sites check all the boxes. At the western part of the RV loop, is a peninsula of primitive tent camping spots to choose from. About half the sites were filled by the second day we were there. We settled on 62, which is spacious and provides access to the path from the front and behind where you can walk into site 64 as well. A parking area with a single spot for each camp site is well marked and by two vault toilets. Park staff and host were great. A decent fishing spot is just in front of site 64. $8 for IL residents is hard to beat, if you don't need an RV spot with electric. A water source is also by the parking spots. The weekend we were there the weather had cooled some and a great breeze was coming off the lake. Springfield being so close is a bonus.
The only negative is like any spot and how previous people leave the camp looking before you are there. Some garbage in the fire pit and random spots are par for the course in any state park. Pick up the trash and dump it in the dumpster by the parking lot. Leave the site better than you found it is our motto.
Guide
Praire Lake Campground has 3 facilities on the lake. FAMILY camp for Rv, Tentand cabins. 1. 84 sites with Electric or 19 have FHU. 2. Primitive Camp has seven three-sided shelters to camp near or in for a fee of $6 per night 3. Group camp area. A separate location has the equestrian campground, Questing Hills, with 51 electric sites.
Guide
Love to swim in the pool, play in the bags tournaments, enjoy the fundraiser in July for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, mini golf, basketball and theme weekends. My favorite is the chili cook off and Halloween weekends are a blast!!
Traveler
Good value. 25$ for an RV site with water, dump and power. Payment at the village hall.
Still vacant sites in July.
Scout
The owners were amazing. They even let us join in on their son’s birthday party. Our kids enjoyed that.
ScoutThey are no longer a campground. Bought out now private property.
Guide
Pleasant campground with 2 loops. Clean bathrooms with showers. Choice of full hookup or just electric on outer perimeters of each loop. Small fishing lake. 2 campground host sites with wood and ice for sale.
TravelerWe have been here 3 Xs over the pas years as a stop over while traveling. They only have vault toilets, but clean. This time no water due to water break.issue. just a nice place on a beautiful lake. Nice for bird watching.
RangerCame here in winter and it’s really beautiful. Lots of amenities and big spots, will come again
Ranger
Nice little park, port a potties, water and pavilion with grills and trash receptacles. Great views of the lake. Closes at 10:30
Guidehttps://camp.exploremoreil.com/ 84 electric RV sites all reservable except 21 First Come sites. 18 sites are full hookup. Several 50 amp sites but majority are 30 amp. Modern Shower house and 7 Vault toilet buildings. Newer Campground so Shade Trees are smaller still. Have camped here 4 times past 3 years. Like the quite agricultural Illinois environment but suggest shopping for your needs prior to leaving larger cities as most of the few small towns are limited to a Bar and Dollar store.
Traveler
We really enjoyed Kamper Companion! We stay there every time we pass through Litchfield. Quiet, family friendly, and great for our dogs. We love the dog yard!
Traveler
This site was so much better than what I was expecting! My friend, Kari, her 3 Doodles, my Beagle, and I camped out the first night in the group section, because there's hardly anyone there and we got there too late in the day to actually start hiking. In the morning, we loaded up our packs, put the little packs on the dogs (they have to carry their own food and water), and headed up the Red Oak Backpacking Trail. I don't know if we started at the beginning or not, but we parked by a little wooden bridge and the hill to start off our adventure kinda kicked my ass a little bit. After we made it up the initial incline, the landscape was beautiful and varied from flat areas to valleys and some creeks (which I was very thankful for after a few hours in 90° and 25 lbs on my back). We ended up setting up camp at a spot we thought was nice just before it got dark, because we didn't know where or how much further the primitive hike-in campsites were. The next day, we figured it out, but we wouldn't have made it there before dark. Towards the end, there were stairs built into the earth that were way too difficult to manage when your legs are jelly and your pack is heavy, so it was almost easier trying to take the side of the stairs and make your own little path, so just a heads up there. We had so much fun the whole time and I can't wait to go back for some snow camping later this year (they are open year round)!!!
Traveler
On the state fairgrounds just off gate 10 or 11. Very large number of spaces…older bathrooms/ showers but very clean. All spaces seem to have electricity and water.
Guide
Came when all the water activities were closed for the season. Cannot wait to come back! Facilities very clean and family oriented. Very fun for kids.
GuideWe always leave late on the first day of a trip and get stressed. This was an easy 3/4 day trip from our house and a great place to relax. Great thick grass carpet spots if you want.Great level paved pads if you want.Friendly checking , friendly security driving around all night. Lots of showers, mine was good and hot. Some traffic noise All kinds of open spots if it isn’t fair week. Don’t just show up fair week.
Traveler
If your looking just to get way and relax or go explore Jacksonville or Springfield you can get there in 40 minutes.
The wifi isn’t strong enough to reach back to where we were but that was okay, I guess we didn’t need to watch tv anyways.
You can still here some cars because of the highway but it wasn’t like really crazy. The part is a decent size if you don’t want to hear traffic go further in the back.
Terry the owner she is super nice and friendly you would want to come back just for that alone.
The wifi isn’t so strong but i guess we didn’t need to watch TV. If you don’t want to hear the traffic I suggest getting a spot in the back. The part is a decent size we really didn’t hear it until the morning so by that time it getting up and getting ready to go and explore. You can hit Springfield in bout 40 mins or downtown Jacksonville in 15.
Traveler
The camp host was super friendly, the sites were large and the primitive sites at the back were incredibly beautiful! The prices were very low.
Guide
Very impressed with this beautiful location. The site is right on the Mississippi River!
There are 13 sites for RVs and Travel Trailers. Three sites are curved to pull in and out easily. Site 13 is large enough for 2 RVs. There is a large boat ramp. The area is freshly paved and undergoing reforestation. However, there are a lot of trees. No water, no electrical hookups, and no bathrooms. There is 1 small trash bin. Mosquitoes are prevalent.
GuideThere's really no way to describe this campground except for: Accommodating. Beautiful. Clean. Convenient. Peaceful. Relaxing. We have spent many weekends here and have never had a bad experience. Tony and Danielle and the rest of the entire campground host staff and crew do absolutely everything to make sure you have a great stay!!! We appreciate them and this wonderful campground. Our favorite sites are 13, 18, 23. Please visit and enjoy!
Legend
We have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 33 for just 1 night in late June. This is a relatively small CG, 33 sites, and there were only a handful or so of sites available when we arrived on a Friday afternoon and they do not accept reservations. The showers were clean and hot. The electric and water hookups on some sites, at least ours, was at the back and on the wrong side. Our electric cord just reached the post. AT&T coverage varied, with 1-2 Bars of LTE service and speeds between 0.4 and 3.5 MB/s. We had a clear view of the southern and northern sky, so we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site and Starlink had speed up to 12 MB/s.
Scout
Close to the interstate, good gravel spots with full hookups. Nice bathrooms and showers
Scout
We had a great time with lots of activities to keep the kiddos busy..
ScoutThe showers were clean. Campsites are close together, but not to busy while I was there. Reasonable. Staff friendly. Security regularly drove around.
TravelerI stayed at the tent sites. They are first come, first served, and a short walk from the parking spots. There are times of RV sites also, although the host said most all are reservable and only a handful are firstcome, first served. There are restrooms and a shower house that are clean.
Camping near Jacksonville, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
With these insights, you're all set for a great camping experience near Jacksonville, IL!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Jacksonville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Jacksonville, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 49 campgrounds and RV parks near Jacksonville, IL and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Jacksonville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jacksonville, IL is Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area with a 4.4-star rating from 21 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jacksonville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Jacksonville, IL.
What parks are near Jacksonville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Jacksonville, IL that allow camping, notably Mark Twain Lake and Lake Shelbyville.
