The region around Mackinaw, Illinois offers cabin accommodations within a 30-mile radius, situated in the heart of central Illinois where the Illinois River creates several lakes and waterways. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide milder camping conditions. Winters can drop below freezing, making seasonal availability an important consideration for cabin rentals.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Carl Spindler Campground provides direct lake access where "if you are a boater, this is a great place for you as this is a marina!" Many visitors catch bluegill and bass, with one camper noting "Stayed with daughter in tent site right on shore of Illinois River. Has marina adjacent, host, and laundry. Inexpensive tent sites with access for fishing, paddling, wildlife and sunset viewing."
Boating and swimming: At Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, the lake offers unusually warm waters. "The lake is surprisingly warm. No dogs allowed on the beach. The sites were spacious, and ours had a path to the lake," mentions one visitor. Another adds, "Clinton Lake is a boating destination as the waters are unusually warm due to the discharge from the nearby nuclear plant."
Nature trails: Seasonal hiking trails surround many cabin locations, with varying difficulty levels. "We enjoyed the short nature trail that leaves directly from the area. The trail starts off as a boardwalk over an interesting marsh area and then transitions to a primitive trail eventually leading you to the lake shoreline," writes a visitor about local walking paths.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Millpoint Park receives praise for its site layout with "plenty of big shady tree and river front views. Bugs werent too bad. We were able to do some fishing and kayaking." Another visitor confirms, "Large sites on Illinois River. FHU. Expensive. No laundry, store, or gas. They do sell firewood, pickup your trash, and have two showers available."
River views: Many cabins offer views of the Illinois River or Peoria Lake. One camper describes, "The campground is very well kept with very clean showers and restrooms. Golf carts are allowed here which is a plus. There are some river front sites that are electric only, the full hook ups are away from the river."
Value pricing: Several cabin options provide affordable rates compared to hotels. "Quiet but tight spots. Along the Illinois River. Includes showers and laundry house," notes one visitor about a waterfront option. Another adds, "Excellent value at $28 for full hookup. A lot of surface streets to get here from the freeway. Not much noise once you arrive."
What you should know
Water quality concerns: Several campgrounds with cabin rentals report water issues. At Millpoint Park, "The water here has a lot of iron in it, so don't attempt to drink it, but according to the locals, it's fine to shower in, so I would encourage you to bring a decent amount of bottled water with you."
Site variations: Cabin locations range from waterfront to wooded settings with varying privacy levels. "The different loops have very different feels...some are very shaded in the trees, some more wide open with a prairie type view," reports a Clinton Lake visitor. Another notes, "Sites were somewhat open but there were tons of trees and grass behind each spot so it didn't feel so exposed."
Seasonal considerations: Bug activity increases dramatically during summer months. "If you haven't camped out here in central Illinois during the summer, you will want to bring good DEET spray to keep the ticks away as well as hard-core smoke or scent-fused candles that are peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender-scented to keep the gnats at bay."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Evening Star Camping Resort organizes regular family events. "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!!"
Beach access: Several cabin locations offer swimming beaches with varying amenities. "We stayed in the J loop, which was more family friendly and very close to the beach. There was a walking path from our site to the shore which was perfect for our young family to go back and forth on," reports a family at Clinton Lake.
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies significantly between locations. While some cabins include private facilities, others rely on communal restrooms. "Bathrooms are not clean and It's very buggy," notes one camper, while another reports, "The shower houses are very clean and a really nice big beach."
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Sankoty Lakes provides modern facilities though with some accessibility challenges. "Sites are good, level with full hookups, but the RV area is only accessible by driving around the side of the complex and through a neighborhood, and then you have to wait for someone to come open the gate."
Extension cords: Power access points may not align perfectly with parking. "In the overflow 'unpaved' section there is 1 station of power for 4 campers. So you definitely need a LONG power cord which our neighbors did not. So campers a little close together."
Weekend atmosphere: Consider timing for a quieter experience. "We have only stayed in the electric only sites as the full hookup sites are hard to come by. Very quiet at night and depending on your site, there are nice views of the summer sky. Some camping areas are more wooded than others and those also seem to fill up fast."
