Lake Shelbyville is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Lake Shelbyville is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Lake Shelbyville, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"Right on lake Shelbyville. 309 spots 141 are reservable"
"The park is huge and is one of the only state park's in Illinois with horse camping and horse trails."
"But a beautiful lake and campground."
"The park is reasonable priced, beautiful surrounding and friendly staff. Would definitely come again. The only downside is that it’s somewhat far from supply stores"
"Shut down some karaoke party in a loop around 9pm. Will go back."
"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. "
"Lots of trails, Lake Sangchris is very close by for fishing & kayaking. Quiet campground; great place to unwind."
"The primitive sites were perfectly quiet and away from others. Toilet was close and so was parking. I kind of miss tent camping!!!"
"Bathrooms are basic and in the front of the camp loops so you have a walk if you stay in the back like I did. Also, water is in the center of the loop so not very convenient. "
"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."
TravelerNice big spots. 30 and 50 amp available. Right on lake Shelbyville. 309 spots 141 are reservable
RangerJust to let everyone know this used to be a Great campground and boat ramp, but the campground closed 24 years ago. The boat ramp is still available, but the Corps of Engineers closed the Whitley Creek pay and free tent campgrounds in 1994. In 1980 - 1984 I used to camp 14 days a month in the free tent camping area which gave you access to the shower house in the pay electric sites area. This was a nice campground and my home 6 months out of the year when I was young and carefree. Now there is nothing left but camping memories and it is strange to walk through it. Check out the video clip to see what 24 years of forest growth looks like. I want to set the record straight here, so someone doesn't go looking on the website and expect to find an open campsite in this area while travelling. You'll need to go to Wolf Creek, Bo Woods or the Sullivan Marina campgrounds if you want to camp in this general area of Lake Shelbyville. The boat ramp is a good place to launch here because not very many people use this ramp. Photos taken October 11th 2017.
RangerWe have camped here many times and this time was awesome as well. The park is huge and is one of the only state park's in Illinois with horse camping and horse trails. There are 13 horse camp sites and additional trailer parking for about 6 more rigs with tie out posts for riders that will not be camping. There are several miles of horse trails and the area is set apart from hiking trails and the other camping areas. There are hundreds of campsites in this park in addition to the horse campgrounds and the entire area is maintained by the US Corps of Engineers. There are full hookup RV sites everywhere with tons of flush toilet bathrooms and shower houses in each large section. There is also a tent camp area without electricity, these sites are cheaper and there are lake front sites available here too. There is a beach that closes after Labor Day, but there are lots of sites available all year round. There are lots of hiking trails and deer run through the park in herds in the winter months. The hiking is OK in this park and good if you like short 1 to 1 1/2 mile hikes. I recommend visiting in the fall after Labor Day, October when leaves are changing is my favorite time for this campground. Clean restrooms, showers and a small store at the entrance for bait, firewood or forgotten items make this a great place to spend a few days.
Website: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/WolfCreek.aspx
GuideLots of equestrian parking and camping flush toilets neat trails very swell nice better if s en during the fall. Fishing and boatibg here as well.
GuideBiggest draw back is no electricity in equestrian sites. There’s is water and toilets trails aren’t marked real well but very wide nicely maintained to.
TravelerThis is a wonderful campground with drive in availability, equestrian camp and reservable sites! The have great camp hosts Dave and Sharon on the reservable side that will help out in anyway and are so friendly! This campground also has boat access and a beach and hiking trails. It is built into the woods so most lots are very shady and all are very level.
ScoutThis park is beautiful, clean and the people were friendly. My issue is with the site supervisor and superintendent. On July 4th 2025 we were given the option of moving our entire campsite or being kicked out of the park. JULY 4TH! We booked our campsite in the last week of April, paid in full. We were the second party to book any spot in the entire campground! We chose our spot specifically for the access to the water and seclusion from the rest of the sites. Come to find out(a day after we set up camp) we booked in "horse camp" which apparently requires you to have horses. It never stated this on the website or rental confirmation we received. Nobody reached out to us in the three months we held the booking to confirm if we had horses. There was no on-site check in that could have saved us the trouble. No, instead we had to take 4 hours out of our holiday to pack all of our stuff and move into overflow camping or be forced to leave. Because of their mistake. Absolutely ruined our holiday with zero remorse or understanding. The icing on the cake was as we were leaving horse camp we noticed multiple other camp sites where people had not brought horses. They stated this happens all the time. If site management had two braincells to rub together they would fix their website instead of consistently ruining peoples trips and holidays. And then these people had the audacity to say they weren't going to charge us for the campsite they moved us to?!?! In reality, we should be receiving a full refund for the campsite we did pay for and free passes for the rest of the year. There is a second state campground on the other side of the lake I would suggest before coming to this place.
ScoutMost 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. There's a dollar store in Farina and a grocery store in Kinmundy; both towns are less than 10 miles away. The lake is big enough for ski boats but nice for kayaks also. Swim beach is not well maintained due to the budget but also doesn't cost anything since they can't pay anyone to man the gate, but it's not horrible.
GuideThese 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.
Horse camping near Lake Shelbyville in Illinois offers a unique experience for equestrian enthusiasts, combining beautiful landscapes with well-equipped facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the horse camp at Lake Shelbyville located?
The primary horse camp at Lake Shelbyville is located within Wolf Creek State Park Campground. This park is situated directly on Lake Shelbyville and features dedicated equestrian camping facilities with 13 designated horse camp sites. The park provides additional trailer parking for approximately 6 more rigs with tie-out posts for riders not staying overnight. Wolf Creek State Park is one of the few state parks in Illinois that offers specialized horse camping facilities.
What amenities are available at Whitley Creek Recreation Area for horse campers?
Unfortunately, Whitley Creek - Lake Shelbyville no longer offers camping amenities for horse campers or any campers. The campground portion was closed by the Corps of Engineers in 1994, approximately 24 years ago. While the boat ramp remains accessible to the public, both the pay camping area and free tent campgrounds are no longer operational. For horse camping amenities near Lake Shelbyville, you'll need to explore alternative locations in the area.
Are there horse trails near Lake Shelbyville camping areas?
Yes, there are horse trails available near Lake Shelbyville camping areas. Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area offers equestrian sites with access to horse trails that are very wide and well-maintained, though trail markings could be improved. The equestrian sites have water and toilet facilities available. Additionally, Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area provides hiking trails that can be used for horseback riding, with spacious campsites that accommodate equestrian needs, making it another good option for trail riding near Lake Shelbyville.
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