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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.
"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."
"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!"
"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!"
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $20 - $250 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"The sun sets behind the camper. Very nice clean restrooms, laundry room and a area you can grill in using their grills."
"Walk-in tent site. Late arrival. Bathrooms are spotless."
from $35 - $999 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Long first day drive, but so handy and staff couldn’t be more accommodating to our late arrivals. Just far enough from Interstate so noise isn’t an issue. Lots of services at the same exit."
"This is primarily a RV park near I-64 and on a highway. Noisy!! Bad noisy. Camp site was nice. Grassy, level, near a picnic shelter with tables. Shade trees. But only about 2-3 such sites."
from $60 - $75 / night
Check Availability
TravelerThis is a county fairgrounds/park. There's a few sites with hookups that cost 25$ or you can camp anywhere here without hookups for 15$. It's an honor system box by the bathroom. It's super easy to find, take exit 105 off I70 and head north about a quarter mile. There's a dirt road on the right with camping signs pointing you in. The road in goes through a cemetery and after that is the park.
GuideLovely views of the lake. We had site 60. Lots of area around us, space between sites. Our sight was not the most level, but we made it work.
GuideRight off the freeway. We were going to overnight park at Loves but had problems with our generator. 93 degrees at 11 pm so we splurged for a site and paid $71 for full hookups. It’s a small campground, more like a parking lot, so easy in and out. They have a handful of cabins and a wash house.
There are two unisex bathrooms, each with multiple toilets and showers, which is weird because you have to lock the outer door for privacy while using the facilities. Good for a parent with small children, I guess, but I felt like I was hogging the bathroom.
There is a small pond at the back of the grounds and a kid was fishing it. They also have a fenced in dog park. No shade in that area, but nice touch!
ScoutBeautiful campground! Walk-in tent site. Late arrival. Bathrooms are spotless.
TravelerThis place was amazing other than the humidity (mid july). Showed up and the hosts were super nice and helped me to my spot. They have lots of camper spots, most seemed like long term campers. I used a tent and had a great spot near the lake. No other tent campers around. They have a good open spot for tents that you just find a spot and set up. Campers seemed nice and we re quiet.
GuideGreat views. Lots of water view sites. Just not a lot to do in the area. Hosts are very kind
ScoutIt is a small campground with options of lake view for your walk-in tent sites. Bathrooms were clean and shower was hot with good water pressure. It was pretty quiet.
Fishing could be done at the docks which wasn’t very far but not a good place to fish on land and couldn’t access water by sites very well. No trails. It’s a good place to go just to sit and relax. But not much activities.
TravelerWe were on a full hookup site, not directly on the lake. It was a beautiful campground that is well maintained with plentiful clean bathhouse, a playground and a nearby marina where you can rent a boat or grab a bite or a beverage. Unfortunately for us the restaurant at the marina was closed (Mondays and Tuesdays). If I were to stay here again, I would try to secure one of the lakefront sites if possible. We only had contact with one staff member and that was at the gate, but he was very friendly and helpful.
GuidePulled in after the office had closed. They knew we would show up late. Around 1930. Still light outside. Opened the after hours check in and there was nothing for us. Or a map. Luckily there was a number to call. We called. Lady said she was on break and would call us back. Never did. After digging through emails, we finally found what site they had assigned to us. Very small print. Due to this app we were able to use the map posted. However there was no p10 site. Just up to p09. Called the lady back. Said there’s a p10 but that she would move us to p9 in the system. Just decide to stay because we’ve been driving all day. Beautiful grounds/location. Enjoyed a nice sunset. It’s sad it’s “kept up” by these people who can’t help someone because they are on break. Appears a lot of the campers live here. Which to me doesn’t matter. But it does when you can’t help someone for 5 min. Campers are nice. Bath house is a bit dirty. But usable. Skipping a shower tonight but the toilets and sink work.
Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area serves as the main camping destination near Kinmundy, with multiple additional options within a 40-mile radius. The area sits in the gently rolling terrain of south-central Illinois at approximately 550-600 feet elevation. Winter temperatures typically range from 20-40°F, while summer months see humidity levels often exceeding 80% with temperatures frequently reaching the upper 80s.
Fishing and water recreation: At Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area, visitors enjoy fishing in a quiet setting. "Clean campground right on the lake," notes Elmer L., while Jake L. mentions that Stephen A. Forbes Recreation Area offers "easy access walking down to the marina" with "small towns close to this state park."
Hiking opportunities: The trail system at Stephen A. Forbes Recreation Area provides moderate difficulty hikes through woodland areas. "Main trail was nice but could be better marked. Lost our way a few times but still a good hike," shares Tracie E. Some campgrounds have less extensive but still enjoyable paths, like at Okaw Valley Kampground where visitors find "a little walking path for little kid 'hikes'," according to Shirley M.
Community activities: Campers staying multiple days can venture to nearby towns. "One day when we were bored we went to Casey the little town of big things and got a kick out of seeing the world's largest rocking chair, wind chime etc. And we got a kick out of the fire breathing dragon in Vandalia," reports Shirley M. from Okaw Valley Kampground.
Digital disconnect: Limited connectivity is frequently mentioned as a positive feature of camping in the area. Tracie E. notes about Stephen A. Forbes Recreation Area: "Cell service was only 1-2 bars LTE with AT&T but able to stream with hotspot to the SmartTV with only 1 bar so not bad."
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer good site spacing. At Boulder Rec. Area, "Sites are either full hookup, or electric. Many can be reserved online some are FCFS. Boat ramp on site and plenty of parking," according to Shane E., who adds they "like these parks better than most KOA's we have visited."
Wildlife viewing: The area's woodland setting provides opportunities to observe local fauna. At Stephen A. Forbes Recreation Area, one camper mentioned "Lots of squirrels for the dogs to chase," while others frequently report seeing deer, particularly at dusk and dawn.
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Sam Dale Lake Conservation Area provides camping "all year" according to their information, while other parks like Coles Creek Recreation Area operate seasonally from "early May-late September."
Flooding concerns: Several campgrounds experience periodic access issues due to high water. Jake L. warns that Boulder Recreation Area "cannot be accessed because of flooding" during certain periods, so calling ahead during spring or after heavy rains is advisable.
Bathroom facilities: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Sam Dale Lake Conservation Area, visitors should note there are "no restrooms, only pit toilets, so obviously no showers," according to Nichole M. In contrast, at Okaw Valley Kampground, "The bathroom was the cleanest I have seen at a campsite," reports Shirley M.
Playground options: Illini Campground at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area offers family-friendly amenities. "There are three playground areas, a basketball court, sand volleyball and a pool during summer months. Lots of families with kids, bike rides and plenty of other lake and outdoor activities in the area," notes Brooke C.
Swimming considerations: While some parks advertise swimming areas, conditions vary. Brooke C. explains that at Illini Campground, "The camp hosts were nice and very helpful! When our electric wasn't working, they sent a tech over right away and he has us up and running in no time."
Budget-friendly options: For families watching expenses, several area campgrounds offer reasonable rates. Charley Brown City Park provides water and electric hookups at budget prices, with Sarah noting it has the "top 4 amenities (electricity, water, flush toilets and showers)" making it "great for families."
Hookup details: For RV campers, Camp Lakewood offers complete services. "Gravel sites and level. Big shade trees," notes Sharon J., adding "The location is great off the interstate and is close to Walmart, restaurants, etc if you need anything."
Navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have tight roads requiring careful driving. John T. cautions about Camp Lakewood: "They guided us to our site which was good, I never would have found my site without their help. Like I said, all gravel without clear markings or signage."
Seasonal considerations: RVers should be aware of weather impacts. "Sites generally provide good separation between campers, creating a sense of privacy despite being in developed campgrounds," while "We stayed in site #7 for one night in the spring. Some sites are spacious, others are pretty cramped," explains Allen S. about Illini Campground.
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.
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