Best Campgrounds near Kinmundy, IL

Campgrounds near Kinmundy, Illinois provide diverse accommodation options in central Illinois. Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area serves as the primary camping destination in the immediate vicinity, offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals along Forbes Lake. Additional options include Okaw Valley Kampground in Brownstown, approximately 20 miles northwest of Kinmundy, and Camp Lakewood about 40 miles north. These established campgrounds feature amenities such as electric hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and most provide water access for fishing or boating activities.

Seasonal considerations affect campground availability in the region, with many facilities operating from spring through late fall. Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area typically remains open from mid-May through late December, while some private campgrounds like Okaw Valley maintain year-round operations. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays. The region experiences hot, humid summers and mild winters, with spring often bringing significant rainfall. Water and electric hookups are standard at most locations, with many sites offering 30-amp service for RVs. As one camper noted, "There is very little cell service so it is a great place to be unplugged and enjoy time with friends and family."

Campers frequently mention the fishing opportunities and peaceful atmosphere at area campgrounds. Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area features a swimming beach, marina, and hiking trails connecting the campground to the lake. Sites generally provide good separation between campers, creating a sense of privacy despite being in developed campgrounds. A visitor remarked that "most of the sites are large and a good distance from the next one," while others appreciate the well-maintained facilities. Wildlife viewing opportunities are common, with numerous squirrels and birds throughout the forested areas. While some reviewers mention occasional issues with camp hosts or unclear site markings, most report positive experiences with the clean facilities, spacious sites, and recreational activities available throughout the region.

Best Camping Sites Near Kinmundy, Illinois (66)

    1. Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    Kinmundy, IL
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 547-3381

    "Most of the sites are large and a good distance from the next one. Shower house is alright. The store/restaurant has been closed for a year or two now because of the Illinois budget."

    "It's a small campground that offers a playground,bathhouse, hiking trails, and a small swimming area. There is easy access walking down to the marina. With small towns close to this state park."

    2. Okaw Valley Kampground

    26 Reviews
    Vandalia, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 427-5140

    "There’s a very nice updated playground and a pond with a walking path around it.

    The place is very well taken care of. If we ever came back this way we would stay again."

    "Beautiful walking paths, convenient, great pricing. They filled us up on LP too. Thanks again, Barb and Gary!"

    3. Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground

    13 Reviews
    Keyesport, IL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 226-3586

    $20 - $40 / night

    "Boulder is a lovely campground tucked away on Carlyle Lake. It has it's own marina where you can rent a slip for your boat. The sites are well spaced and have a beautiful view of the lake and sunsets!"

    "The bathrooms, showers, and laundry all close by. Good hot water in the showers. The host was friendly and helpful. I’d go back again!"

    4. Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area

    26 Reviews
    Carlyle, IL
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 594-3015

    $15 - $30 / night

    "Water and dump at the entrance. Shower houses. Very nice pool and camp store. Hosts scattered and occasionally hard to find to pay for your spot. Wildlife galore. Next to largest lake in Illinois."

    "This State Park is located outside Carlyle,Illinois. This park offers playground areas and more. Cabins, campsites with power or no power the choice is yours."

    5. Coles Creek Recreation Area

    14 Reviews
    Keyesport, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 226-3211

    $20 - $250 / night

    "This is our favorite campground in Central/southern illinois. The sites are very nice and most have shade. There is a beach for campers to use, and a really nice playground."

    "Coles Creek is a nice, large campground located on Carlyle Lake in Illinois. It has full hook up, 50 amp sites with many located right on the water!"

    6. Charley Brown City Park

    3 Reviews
    Johnsonville, IL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 662-8202

    "Campground is off the beaten path, lots of space to spread out, and the top 4 amenities (electricity, water, flush toilets and showers). It’s not the cleanest bathrooms but certainly not the worst."

    7. Kaskaskia Dragon RV Park

    2 Reviews
    Vandalia, IL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 283-9700

    $25 / night

    "Long spots, friendly owner, easy access to hardware store across the street, coin laundry available. Downsides is wifi is poor, gravel is unlevel, limited menu on DoorDash."

    8. Camp Lakewood

    17 Reviews
    Effingham, IL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 342-1111

    $35 - $999 / night

    "The sun sets behind the camper. Very nice clean restrooms, laundry room and a area you can grill in using their grills."

    "Biggest complaints are that it had a sewery smell and you could hear the highway. They have a bar and store. Firewood bundles were 10$!"

    9. Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area

    4 Reviews
    Johnsonville, IL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 835-2292

    "Dump station right outside the campground. Site 35 was perfectly level for the Class C (cruise America rental with no levelers. Great Campground host. We didn’t have a reservation."

    "Clean campground right on the lake."

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Recent Reviews near Kinmundy, IL

368 Reviews of 66 Kinmundy Campgrounds


  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Dam West Campground

    Beautiful campground at a minimum $

    This campground is heavenly and peaceful. Lots of migrant waterfowl. Pelicans, egrets, blue herons….

  • Mickie S.
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Okaw Valley Kampground

    Great experience

    This is a great campground and the owners are awesome! My husband and I are riding our bicycles cross country. The day we checked into the campground,he had a Crohn's flare/bowel block and went to the hospital for 4 days. The owners stored our bikes, watched our tent, and even picked us up from the hospital! Such nice people! The campground is clean, has a great showerhouse, lots of trees, and even has recliners in the laundry room. I highly recommend staying here!

  • Lisa M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Dam East - Mcnair Campground

    Peaceful and quiet

    Another really nice COE campground. With our pass for seniors, we only paid $10 for electric. The sites were a little closer together than normal COE’s but still plenty of room. Water spicket’s were placed throughout the park but not at each site. There was a lake with a swim beach and two playgrounds. Sites were very level. Nice and shady. Close to town. Well maintained showers.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Gun Creek

    Nice!

    Nice, large, well thought out campground. Lots of trees, paved sites, bathrooms, showers, and well maintained. Offers full hookups, partial or none. Convenient to I64. Only stayed 1 nite, but would definitely come back.

  • R
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Okaw Valley Kampground

    Great place to stay overnight

    The owner, Barb, was very friendly and helpful. We had a pull through just for overnight, and it was perfect.
    The park appeared well taken care of, and the pool looked clean.

  • Stephanie S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground

    Spacious and clean

    Campground was well maintained with spacious campsites. I tried to get a spot on the water but they were all reserved, they looked really nice so I would try to get it in the future. Showers were nice with air conditioning. I would say this is more of a campsite for RVs but it worked fine with our tent. Host was nice and helpful.

  • Mercedes K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Camp Lakewood

    Great Place!

    Great place! Enjoyed the serene atmosphere and friendly staff. Loved the pizza too.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Okaw Valley Kampground

    Ok for a one night stay

    The owners are friendly. The pool is well-maintained and pleasant. The campsite is an old KOA frozen in time. It's clean but dated. Water and electricity are available on site with an old picnic table. Only one bathhouse (toilet, shower) is a bit far from our site.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Rend Lake Gun Creek Campground

    Pretty Lakeside Campground

    Nice little campground on Rend Lake. Sites are spread out with long concrete pads. Thera is a bit of a slope to the pads so you will need to level: Lake is very pretty - you could anchor your boat off your campsite. We did not use the bath house so can’t comment on that. Campsites are electric only, so you need to fill you water tank before parking.


Guide to Kinmundy

Camping near Kinmundy, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From serene lakeside spots to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone.

What to do:

  • Fishing: Many campgrounds, like Coles Creek Recreation Area, are perfect for fishing enthusiasts. One camper mentioned, "The lake is a prime fishing and boating lake, and is recognized as one of the nation's top ten inland sailing lakes."
  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Fox Ridge State Park Campground. A visitor shared, "Great place, quiet, and a ton of trails!" This makes it ideal for those who love to hike and enjoy nature.
  • Swimming: If you’re looking to cool off, South Marcum Campground has swimming options. One family noted, "The beach for swimming was the kids' favorite part."

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate cleanliness, especially at places like Okaw Valley Kampground. A reviewer said, "Clean restrooms and showers with hot water."
  • Spacious sites: Many campgrounds, such as Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area, offer large sites. One camper remarked, "Absolutely huge site with old growth trees throughout the campground."
  • Friendly hosts: Campers often mention the welcoming atmosphere. A visitor at Gun Creek said, "Very well kept, friendly staff, very convenient from interstate."

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Coon Creek (IL), may lack certain facilities. A camper noted, "Not all sites have water/sewer, but many water points available throughout camp."
  • Bugs can be an issue: Be prepared for bugs, especially in the summer. A visitor at Coles Creek Recreation Area mentioned, "Only reason it's 4 stars and not 5 is because it is decently buggy."
  • Check site conditions: Some sites may not be level. A camper at South Sandusky Campground advised, "Not all sites are very level. We got a great water view site, but lacked afternoon shade."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds, like Camp Lakewood. One parent said, "The playground is adorable and retro."
  • Family-friendly activities: Choose campgrounds that offer activities for kids. A family at South Marcum Campground enjoyed, "Nice trails through the woods to hike. Access to River for kayaking."
  • Safety: Many campgrounds are safe for families. A camper at Illinois Gun Creek shared, "We had a peaceful stay with a view of the water!"

Tips from RVers:

  • Leveling blocks: Bring extra leveling blocks for uneven sites. A visitor at South Marcum Campground noted, "Only issue that I have is that site 49 is very hard to get level."
  • Cell service: Check cell service availability before you go. A camper at Archway RV Park mentioned, "50 amps only. Gravel sites arranged like a parking lot but large enough for big rigs."
  • Full hookups: Look for campgrounds with full hookups for convenience. A reviewer at Illinois South Sandusky said, "Water & electric (30 amp) were convenient & functioned perfectly."

Camping around Kinmundy, Illinois, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Kinmundy, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kinmundy, IL is Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area with a 3.8-star rating from 13 reviews.

What parks are near Kinmundy, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Kinmundy, IL that allow camping, notably Carlyle Lake and Lake Shelbyville.