Lake Shelbyville in central Illinois features several developed campgrounds managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and state agencies. Lithia Springs, Coon Creek, and Opossum Creek offer waterfront camping with both tent and RV accommodations, while Robin Hood Woods Campground provides a resort-style experience with cottage rentals and glamping options. Most campgrounds provide electric hookups, with several offering full-hookup sites for RVs, and primitive tent sites scattered throughout the area, particularly along the lakeshore where visitors can enjoy water views and fishing access.
Campgrounds around Lake Shelbyville operate primarily from April through October, with only a few locations like Eagle Creek and Wolf Creek State Parks remaining open year-round. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly. "This campground is well spaced and offers both privacy and full hook ups. In addition there is a marina in walking distance and it is a short drive to the Dam Project Office and Visitor Center," noted one visitor about Lithia Springs. Most campgrounds provide clean restrooms and shower facilities, though amenities vary by location, with some offering only vault toilets during shoulder seasons.
Waterfront campsites receive consistently high ratings from visitors, particularly those with direct lake access for fishing and boating. The area features several marinas where campers can rent pontoon boats and fishing equipment. A camper described Opossum Creek: "Sites 27 and 28 are really big. They sit on a big hill with lots of space for the kids to play. You can't swim right off of site 27 but behind 28 there is a little train down so a swimming cove that is pretty nice." Family-friendly amenities at some campgrounds include swimming pools, playgrounds, and weekend activities during peak season. The proximity to the town of Shelbyville (typically within 10-15 minutes) allows campers to easily access supplies, with several campgrounds offering on-site stores for basic provisions and firewood.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$18 - $48 / night
"There are many sites on this campground that are wooded and have views of Lake Shelbyville. Boat ramp to put in your boat or kayaks and sand beach for the kids to go swimming."
"Lake Shelbyville has everything: biking, hiking, a beach, fishing and the town has a small movie theater showing current movies for $4.00."
$18 - $36 / night
"Lithia Springs is a great campground with a wonderful marina located on beautiful Lake Shelbyville! We stayed at Site #12 overlooking the lake."
"An awesome campground on Lake Shelbyville with full amenities! A great place for family fun and camping."
"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."
"Right next to the lake. Plenty of room for everyone, from tents to the massive RVs. The pool very clean and never gets over crowded. Staff are knowledgeable and polite. Friendly/quiet dogs allowed."
"It’s close to home for us but also, very clean with nice staff and a fun environment. The pool is a huge plus, it’s so incredibly nice."
"Review of Drive In Tent Camping Site 2. Showed up on a Thursday night and had our pick of all the drive in and walk in sites. We decided on site 2 in the drive in area."
"The trails were well marked and nice lake with pavilion near the lake."
$16 - $32 / night
"Very nice campground on Lake Shelbyville. Camped here with young boys in tent every year for years on site 27- views of lake the best!"
"There is a children's playground and trails to walk toward the lake and fantastic views. If you don't care about full hook up, try for the sites 39 to 46 and 11 to 34 that offer more privacy. "
$16 - $240 / night
"One of the first campgrounds I ever went to and when camping in Illinois, my go-to campground and lake. My wife and I love this lake and have a lot of memories here."
"I have camped here as well as all the Lake Shelbyville campgrounds many times before."
$18 - $48 / night
"Geat place to camp on Lake Shelbyville with full hook up sites. Only down fall is some of the full hook up sites are directly in the sun."
"In 2017 it has 150 camping sites, a boat ramp, fish cleaning station, several picnic areas and a bait shop at the entrance on Illinois Route 32 4 miles South of Sullivan."
$18 - $48 / night
"Right on lake Shelbyville."
"Located on Lake Shelbyville, Bo Wood is an Army Co of Engineers park. Plenty of full hook ups and tent camping spots. Most by the lake."
TravelerThis is a county fairgrounds/park. There's a few sites with hookups that cost 25$ 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.
ScoutGreat stop for Route 66 we sorted it all online late at night. Lovely and quiet with amazing facilities that are worth the price
GuideChallenge to find the assigned camping site, which turned out to be on a slope with a picnic table in the middle of it, which I was unable to move, so I took another spot that was somewhat flatter. There are only 12 overnight campsites at this campground which do have concrete slabs however they are all very slanted and the electric box is a ways away. In addition, the bathhouse is no where near these sites.
ScoutBeautiful campground! Walk-in tent site. Late arrival. Bathrooms are spotless.
ScoutThis is the bigger campground between hickory point and deer run options. The shower house, snack shop, and city water are onsite. There are vault toilets near the primitive camping, as well as another water spigot. Playground, pavillion, and sand volleyball court give options to entertain kids, with plenty of fishing, trails, and lake views to entertain the adults. We primitive camped here at the closest site to the parking. #57 is the closest, with the rest of the primitive sites being more of a trek to the site. However, the privacy, quietness, and views are 100% worth the trek to us. We did camp with a doggo, who does bark at passerby’s that are “too close” in her opinion but otherwise doesn’t. All the campers during our stay except for one very disruptive couple, did not complain at all and many came to give her loves or treats to help prevent further barking when they passed by. And honestly, the couple that did make the comment, clearly need to be at different campgrounds because the host had to come break them up after quiet hours began and they didn’t respect that rule. We also then were woken up by the same couple as they were packing up the next morning due to them yelling at each other. The hosts did try to make sure they slowed down while passing this site though, and I do believe if we had made some sort of complaint to them, they would have handled it immediately. We love this campground, and honestly we feel as if anywhere there are rvs allowed, you will likely have someone make a comment about the dog. It’s never been other tent campers, even the ones on electric sites. The snack shop has ice (currently $3 even a bag, with hosts including tax in the $3 to make it easier for campers), firewood bundles (not sure on price) as well as many smaller campground necessities including snacks and drinks, some fishing tackle, and some other camping things such as bug spray and sunblock. I did not check any prices on those. There is technically a bait shop also nearby, though between two longer stays here and at deer run, we’ve only seen him open once. And according to one of the hosts, he doesn’t seem to have “regular hours” other than he’s for sure closed Sundays and Mondays. The following Tuesday after learning this, he was also closed all day. So I’m not sure about anything there. He does also have an ice machine outside though.
ScoutCouple camping here, spent multiple nights in a row in primitive camping here. As mentioned, only well water available on the campgrounds here, however you still have access to amenities available at hickory point just a short drive away. Shower house and city water available that way. Playground for kiddos on site. Lots of people bring pets, including equestrian for those campsite. Those do include the post to tie up on at each site. The hosts (bob and dawn were really checking in on us that stay, including being able to help when we accidentally killed our car battery. They also made thorough and consistent rounds which we appreciated. Also had Lynn, one of the idnr guys here, come back at the end of his shift to make sure we had learned about the storms coming in. He even checked in again the next chance he got to make sure we were okay still. We did end up leaving early, to which there is not refunds (I think this is state parks in general) however at $6 a night for primitive, we took that loss especially during an extreme heat warning (for multiple days). If you want a quieter campsite, I would recommend this one over hickory point as hickory point seems to be more RVers instead of the more primitive style of camping tends to be.
RangerRolled in on a July Saturday at 6:30pm. There are hundreds of sites at this campground and so many were still open. Was looking for a Class C site (I.e. rustic site, no hookups). Chatted with camp hosts « papa Bruce » and « grandma sugar burger » They were so sweet and accommodating. For same day, it’s first come first serve so bring cash - you can online pay with a card online 3 days minimum before. 8$ Class C and 20$ Class A (hookup). Dump station and water and trash receptacles. Lots of hiking trails and eating activities - sadly we didn’t have time to explore.
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.
Lake Shelbyville campgrounds sit along a 11,100-acre reservoir in central Illinois formed by the damming of the Kaskaskia River. The lake features 172 miles of shoreline with camping options positioned at various elevations ranging from directly on the water to sites on wooded hills overlooking the lake. Many camping areas remain open from April through October, while select locations operate year-round, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 75-90°F.
Boating and water recreation: Lake Shelbyville offers multiple boat launch sites where campers can access the water. Bo Wood features "a boat ramp, plenty of bank fishing near the pavilion at the west end of the area. There is a marina just 1 mile South and across the bridge another ½ mile is the Sullivan beach."
Fishing opportunities: The lake contains multiple species for anglers. A camper at Coon Creek mentioned, "This became our main past time. Beautiful lake," while another noted, "The fishing is good if you have a boat, but there is very little bank fishing areas available."
Hiking trails: Several campgrounds connect to trails of varying difficulty. At Eagle Creek State Park Campground, "the Chief Illini trailhead is located in the parking area and the trail is fairly well maintained during the regular campground open season. The trail is open year round and can be hiked from one end to the other spending a night at either campground for return trip the next day."
Large, well-spaced campsites: Many Lake Shelbyville camping areas feature spacious sites. A visitor to Opossum Creek noted, "Sites 27 and 28 are really big. They sit on a big hill with lots of space for the kids to play." The campground has "81 sites in total, 17 tent with electric, 17 full hook up and the remaining are electric RV sites."
Waterfront access and views: Several campgrounds offer direct lake views. At Lone Point, "We had a small, narrow, and very steep path to a beach area that was great for exploring and building rock formations. We even caught the sunset on the beach that night." This campground is noted for being "the least visited campground on the lake, so it can be quiet and you can get a site with a view."
Clean facilities: Campers frequently comment on well-maintained bathrooms. A guest at Wolf Creek State Park Campground reported, "Nice big spots. 30 and 50 amp available. Right on lake Shelbyville. 309 spots 141 are reservable." Another mentioned, "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."
Campsite selection tips: Locations vary widely in privacy and access. At Opossum Creek, "If you don't care about full hook up, try for the sites 39 to 46 and 11 to 34 that offer more privacy. We were in spot 11 that is right next to the shower house, but faces away from it and your view is trees and the lake."
Weather and seasonal considerations: The region experiences typical Midwestern weather patterns. A camper at Bo Wood advised, "I find that October camping at Bo Woods most agreeable with less people tent camping and less boat traffic on the lake. The fishing this time of year is also very good."
Insects can be problematic: Evening bugs may affect outdoor activities. One camper noted, "Our biggest issue with this campsite was the extensive bugs, once the sun goes down the bugs get horribly bad. We let our dogs out past 8 p.m. and our camper was covered with swarms of psychodidae(sewer) flies."
Kid-friendly sites: Some locations offer better options for children. At Coon Creek, a parent reported, "This is our third time here and our first time at Coon Creek. We chose a buddy site even though we weren't camping with another family because we like the location. It was right at the end of the peninsula, and it is by far the biggest and beautiful site we have ever stayed in."
Activities for children: Many campgrounds provide recreational options for younger campers. At Robin Hood Woods Campground, "There's a pool, playground, fishing pond and small arcade room. You can rent a peddle type cart that holds 4 people who all peddle. They really loved them. You can also rent golf carts."
Swimming areas: Several locations feature swimming options. A Coon Creek visitor advised, "There are several paths down to the waters edge and the beach, lots of little hiking, tons of Geocaching, and a great little beach That my son really like to swim and even if we thought it was a little dirty. Very warm water."
Hookup information: Sites vary in their utility offerings. At Lithia Springs, "Half the campsites have electric hookups and water near the sites, the other half now have full hookups and 50 amp service. It is recommended to fill your tanks as you enter so you won't need to get water during your stay for the sites on the point."
Leveling requirements: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. A camper noted, "Many of the other sites are out of level. All the site are pretty close to the water," while at Bo Wood, sites were described as "super wide, all gravel and quite level."
Site accessibility: RV sites have varying access levels. At Eagle Creek, "You should watch out for hunters in the area when bow season starts October 1st," and some campgrounds have "no lighting at night along the campground roadways. After dark, we watched a truck go into the ditch looking for the turn out."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds at Lake Shelbyville for families?
Lake Shelbyville offers several excellent family-friendly campgrounds. Coon Creek (IL) stands out with wooded sites offering lake views, a boat ramp for kayaking, and a sand beach where kids can swim. Many sites have full hookups for RVs. Lithia Springs is another fantastic option with a playground, volleyball court, and a nice beach for family fun. The campground features electric sites, showers, laundry facilities, and phenomenal lakefront spots that kids love. Both campgrounds provide the perfect balance of amenities and natural settings that make family camping enjoyable.
Where can I find food and dining options near Lake Shelbyville camping areas?
Food options are available near several Lake Shelbyville camping areas. Near Spillway (IL) campground, you'll find the Spillway Motel across the highway, which has dining options nearby. The campground also has a bait shop for basic supplies. In Shelbyville, about 14 miles from Lone Point, you can find several restaurants and a small movie theater showing current films for just $4. Most campgrounds are within a short drive to grocery stores and restaurants in the surrounding communities, making it easy to stock up on supplies or enjoy a meal out during your camping trip.
What amenities are available at Lake Shelbyville campgrounds?
Lake Shelbyville campgrounds offer extensive amenities for comfortable stays. Forrest W. Bo Wood provides plenty of full hookup sites, many positioned along the lakeshore. This Army Corps of Engineers park features bathroom and shower facilities, a playground, and laundry services. Wolf Creek State Park Campground offers 309 spacious spots (141 reservable) with both 30 and 50 amp electric available. Most Lake Shelbyville campgrounds include electric hookups, water access, shower facilities, boat ramps, and beaches. Many sites feature fire pits, lantern hooks, and asphalt pads, with some campgrounds also offering laundry facilities and playgrounds.
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