The eastern Illinois region surrounding Marshall features a mix of state parks, county facilities, and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Lincoln Trail State Park, located directly in Marshall, offers two distinct camping areas—Plainview and Lakeside Campgrounds—with electric hookups and accommodations for both tents and RVs. Mill Creek Park, also in Marshall, provides year-round camping with more extensive amenities including water hookups and cabin options. Nearby options extend into western Indiana, where Terre Haute Campground offers 60 RV sites with full hookups, while Fowler County Park provides a mix of tent, RV, and cabin camping in a natural setting from May through mid-October.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping availability in the Marshall area. Lincoln Trail State Park's shower facilities close annually from November through April, though camping remains available with limited services. According to camper Shelly S., "Lincoln Trails State Park is a quiet little area and made for a relaxing visit. Showerhouses are closed November 1st through May 1. Otherwise there is full hookup available at Plainview and the sites are nice and flat." Most campgrounds in the region operate with reduced services during winter months, with peak season running May through October. Cell service varies considerably, with stronger coverage at campgrounds closer to Interstate 70 and more limited connectivity at more remote locations like Mill Creek Park.
Many campers highlight the contrast between the region's typically flat farmland and the surprising topography found within the parks. Fox Ridge State Park, about 30 miles east of Marshall, receives consistent praise for its secluded sites and unique terrain. As reviewer Michael M. notes, "The hiking trails are some of the best in the state because the glaciers dropped mountains of soil in the area where this park is located. The surrounding farmland is flat as can be, but the forested hills and creek beds in the park are almost mountainous." Water access features prominently in visitor reviews, with lakeside sites at Lincoln Trail State Park and Mill Creek Park particularly valued for fishing opportunities. Weekday camping typically offers more solitude, while summer weekends bring higher occupancy rates, especially at family-friendly locations.
$40 - $999 / night
"This campground is great proximity to I-70 for an easy on/off the interstate and just outside of downtown Terre Haute (approximately eight miles). The park is nice and shady with large trees."
"It was an interesting drive to the CG off I-70 through 2 traffic circles and into the CG as it's close to I-70 but not right off the highway. There was good signage to the CG."
"The access to the campground is gated and locked at 10pm each night. There is a colonial village and covered bridge on the north end of the lake. The lake that it is located on is beautiful."
"Shaded campground sites at lake's edge on east side of park, 53 electrical hookups including 1 pull-thru, 14 primitive/tent sites. Fire ring and picnic table at each site. Water hydrants nearby."
$20 / night
"Lincoln Trails State Park is located near Marshall, Il just across the Indiana border. It is a quiet little area (at least when we visited) and made for a relaxing visit."
"The sites at Lakeview are less desirable as the campground is more cramped than Plainview and only a couple of the sites actually overlook the lake. Overall, I would recommend staying at Plainview."
$20 / night
"Incredible people who will gladly be your new best friend, super clean, Great Lake to be on, tons of trails to hike."
"This is a KOA Journey, it is right off the interstate in a nice little town in East Central Illinois. It has full hookup, and electric and water sites."
$12 - $25 / night
"Lots of trees and wild life with hiking trails. Nice little pond to fish or watch the geese. Spacious camp site at a good price."
"Men's and women's shower house playground few trails rv tent and camper electric a few primitive sites 2 sites r 50 Amp I think the rest r 30 Amp water gets wonderfully hot Verizon works can have door"
$20 / night
"Close to Eastern Illinois University and lake Charleston which has trails."
"The park and trails are usually busy since the park is near the Eastern Illinois University. The no-drinking campground prevents many noisy student campouts."
GuideVery nice and quiet. Beautiful scenery with nice walking trails. Not sure if it’s due to the government shut down but when we arrived, we had to turn around and go back to the main park office in order to register instead of the little office that is at the entrance of the campground. We are only staying one night and off to our next destination.
GuideOne of my favorite places to stay. 5 full hook up, one cozy cabin, and plenty of room for tents
ScoutThis was my first time here, I reserved online and Allison was very nice and called to confirm my reservation and asked when I’d be arriving and confirmed she would be here when I arrived. She told me about the events going on here in the pavilion. They sell alcohol and even had pizzas cooking and a bartender.
There are three public bathrooms/showers. Individual use only and very clean!
Highly recommend
LegendTurkey Run State Park. Arguably one of the top 5 state parks in Indiana.
Lots of hiking opportunities, including the fabulous Trail 3 which should be a National Trail IMO. Go hike early before 10 am. This area gets crazy busy after that.
Nice nature center.
2 covered bridges.
A swimming pool in season.
A historic inn with a restaurant. You can rent cabins also.
The Lusk home has tours every Saturday in season.
The campground is a mile or so west of the entrance to the park.
Electric only. 270 sites. Water is available.
There's modern bath houses with hot showers.
We were site 218, which is technically the Turkey Hollow area. The bath house there was clean. We liked our loop for spacious sites( for a state park).
The Twin Oaks loop seemed denser.
There's a double dump near the exit. There's also one dump at the end of a loop by site 60. We were happy the other 4 campers trying to dump forgot about it!
Trail 7 access is also at the end by site 44. It's not marked on the map.
The camp store has the usual camping supplies & gift items. Ice & wood.
We enjoyed our weekend here! Even though it rained Saturday.
LegendMost of the spaces that had both water and electric were mostly in the sun. But all the other spaces had plenty of shade and trees around them. Our space was spot on level and nice area around each space to where you didn’t feel like you were camped on top of other people. The showers were adequate. Great hiking trails in the area. Very quiet. Although we were there on a weekday. One downside was we had Verizon as a cell phone carrier and only had one bar.
TravelerWe had a nice site that was evenly spaced from the other campsites by trees and was nice and close to water, the bathrooms, and the shower houses, which were very clean! The camp store was nice and the paddle boats were fun! The pool was only opened on the weekends in August which was disappointing but there was a large fishing dock and many boating opportunities. Very nice camping spot, but in August beware of the bugs!
GuideCamp sites had some trash from previous campers. Bathrooms were dirty and outdated. Only scolding hot water in the shower. Host and another staff member made me turn my camper to face the other direction so the door wouldn't face another camp site, even though I have a door on both sides after we had camp set up. Sites themselves are nicely spaced apart. Place was pretty empty for our 4 day weekend there.
TravelerCute little park, off of 41, most sites are water and electric, most do not have sewer but there's a dump station. Very affordable. Owners are very nice and easy to communicate with. Theres a campstore and ice on site. Great fishing pond. Look around for cute carvings. Very close to Turkey Run, Shades, and Raccoon Lake!
ScoutNice campground electric hookups my 34' travel trailer fit nicely
Camping spots near Marshall, Illinois sit within a diverse landscape where central Illinois farmland meets more varied terrain. The area features both flat open spaces and pockets of rolling hills, with elevations ranging from 500-700 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds remain open April through October with limited winter access, and summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F with moderate humidity.
Fishing opportunities: Fox Ridge State Park Campground offers excellent fishing access. "The surrounding farm land is flat as can be, but the forested hills and creek beds in the park are almost mountainous," notes visitor Doug W. Fishing is also popular at Mill Creek Park, where Kyler F. reports "Great Lake to be on, tons of trails to hike."
Mountain biking: Fowler County Park connects to Griffin Bike Park, a major attraction for cyclists. "This park is a short four minute bike ride from Griffin Bike Park, which is an amazing mountain bike park," explains Ken K. The trails range from beginner to advanced difficulty levels.
Historical exploration: Several campgrounds provide access to local history sites. Prairie Creek offers trails through wooded areas with historic significance. As Sara W. notes, the campground has "men's and women's shower house, playground, few trails, rv tent and camper electric."
Secluded sites: Many campers appreciate the privacy available at certain campgrounds. At Fox Ridge State Park, Allen S. reports "All sites were spacious and shaded. We did not use any of the facilities but were impressed with how secluded our campsite felt. Each site is Isolated by trees and growth."
Lakeside camping: Water access remains a top feature for campers. Aaron A. from Fowler County Park shares, "Pretty awesome site. Parked right by the lake front. Private and quite. We paid $12 for primitive." Waterfront sites typically fill first during peak season.
Wildlife viewing: The parks offer good wildlife observation opportunities. Prairie Creek provides "Lots of trees and wild life with hiking trails. Nice little pond to fish or watch the geese," according to Anna O., who also noted the "Spacious camp site at a good price."
Variable shower access: Shower facilities vary significantly between campgrounds. At Plainview Campground in Lincoln Trail State Park, Joshua R. notes "Bathrooms were dirty and outdated. Only scolding hot water in the shower." At other locations like Casey KOA, facilities are "clean and well maintained," though sometimes lacking air conditioning.
Water conditions: Water features may have seasonal issues. One camper at Fowler County Park reported, "The lake is actually a large pond, 10 ft deep that is stocked every 2 years... MOSS EVERYWHERE!" Water quality varies with rainfall and temperature.
Train noise: Some campgrounds experience railway noise. At Fairview Park Campground, Jerilyn M. mentions "there is a train that runs about a block and a half away, but I love that so it was a very enjoyable stay." Train schedules remain consistent year-round.
Budget-friendly sites: Fairview Park Campground offers affordable options with basic amenities. According to kelly, "Large camping area. Most had water and electric available. Some had picnic tables and firepits as well. Jerry only charged us $10."
Kid-friendly activities: Terre Haute Campground provides extensive family amenities. Mary H. reports it has "So many kid friendly amenities," while another camper notes, "Clean and friendly staff. Lots of amenities, very family friendly." The campground includes a playground and recreational areas.
Swimming options: Several parks offer swimming facilities with varying seasons. At Fowler County Park, Laura C. mentions the "Beach open 12-6. Also have a Pioneer Village and nice playgrounds." Most swimming areas operate between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
Site selection considerations: At Plainview Campground, Keith D. advises "A few low spots that hold water, so one has to pick their site accordingly!" Sites on higher ground remain usable even after heavy rains.
Electric options: RV hookup availability varies between campgrounds. At Prairie Creek, Sara W. notes "2 sites are 50 Amp I think the rest are 30 Amp." Most campgrounds offer 30-amp service as standard, with limited 50-amp availability.
Winter access limitations: Off-season camping requires preparation. At Terre Haute Campground, MickandKarla W. reported "The office was closed on a Monday at about 5:00 PM but our paperwork was in the slots outside the office." Many campgrounds operate with reduced staffing during non-peak months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Marshall, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Marshall, IL is Terre Haute Campground with a 4-star rating from 23 reviews.
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