Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Mattoon, IL is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Mattoon, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Find the best campgrounds near Mattoon, IL. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
$20 / night
"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."
"I visited Fox Ridge frequently as a student of nearby Eastern Illinois University, but never camped there. We came back to visit campus and stayed in site #12 at Fox Ridge."
$18 - $48 / night
"It's level with grass to pitch a tent but definitely in a loop of the park better suited to travel trailers/RVs etc. Not much privacy between sites but backs up to woods."
"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."
"The park is huge and is one of the only state park's in Illinois with horse camping and horse trails."
"the keepers are super friendly and accommodating. most lots are spacious. my only complaint would be that the trash dumpsters are too far away from the camping areas."
"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."
"I have camped here in the past and enjoy primitive tent camping so I stayed Friday September 29th and Saturday September 30th in the tent camping drive up site #2."
$18 - $36 / night
"Really nice campground on the shore of Lake Shelbyville. Electric, showers, laundry, playground, nice beach, volleyball and some phenomenal sites right on shore."
"Lithia Springs is a great campground with a wonderful marina located on beautiful Lake Shelbyville! We stayed at Site #12 overlooking the lake."
"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."
"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."
"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."
$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."
"There are many nice sites here along the lake and in the wooded areas around the lake. The sites have electricity and water near by."
$25 - $65 / night
"We stopped here on our way home for one night, but got in early enough to enjoy a walk and have a camp fire that evening."
"The pool, the lake, the gigantic playground, the pavilion, the laundromat, the location, the cleanliness in the bathhouse, the gardens… the hosts Barb and Gary work their asses off to upkeep this place"
GuideReview 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. Previous reviews and a book by John Schirle on Tent Camping in Illinois helped us with this decision as well. Decent maintained sites with some older picnic tables and fire rings, but let's be honest this stuff sits outside 24/7. Site 2 seemed to sit back the farthest with site 1 a close second. Both wooded sites that made for great shade and helped some when it was raining. Any two families looking for two sites could certainly set up and share the experience. Nice little cove behind them to try fishing. Just watch the hike down the path or ravine. Dog friendly, fresh water supply (hint put the handle all the way up and wait a few seconds), ability to store stuff in the car close by, outhouse toilets visible at the walk in parking lot, and helpful host for easy check in who even sells fire wood made for a great few days ($5 a bundle). Rated B/S site at a cost of $10 a night.
GuideOne 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.
LegendReally nice campground on the shore of Lake Shelbyville. Electric, showers, laundry, playground, nice beach, volleyball and some phenomenal sites right on shore. Well kept, sites with asphalt drive, fire pit and lantern hook.
TravelerFriends Creek is a small campground with nice spacious sites and super clean bathhouses and pit toilets. The fire pits are well kept and the camp host was very kind! He came around with suckers for the kids and just to check in. We hiked a bit on the trails and played in the creek. Highly recommend.
RangerI tent camped in a large tent, car camping, Friday and Saturday night.
I have camped here as well as all the Lake Shelbyville campgrounds many times before. Lone Point campground is actually 14 miles from my rural home in Shelbyville, IL. and is my favorite Lake Shelbyville campground.
There are many nice sites here along the lake and in the wooded areas around the lake. The sites have electricity and water near by. Fire rings with grates, lantern posts, picnic tables and level parking areas. Some sites have limited level areas for tents, but there are lots of sites to choose from. I like camping here because it is the least visited campground on the lake, so it can be quiet and you can get a site with a view. The bathrooms are clean and there is a shower house. There is a 12 mile trail from Lone Point to Eagle creek along the lake shore line, this trail is moderate to difficult hiking. I recommend this campground over all the others on Lake Shelbyville. The campgrounds and park are maintained by the US Army corps of engineers and reservations can be made online through recreation.gov.
The main campground closes on Labor Day however there is a small section near the boat ramp open year round and this has nice sites in it with camp stove stands as well as grills and awesome fire pits. The trail 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.
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
39.45222, -88.74028
39°27'8"N, 88°44'25"W
GuideThe owners are friendly. The pool is well-maintained and pleasant. The campsite is an old KOA frozen in time. It's clean but dated. Water and electricity are available on site with an old picnic table. Only one bathhouse (toilet, shower) is a bit far from our site.
GuideSuper easy on and off the highway. With that you do get some noise but not too bad.
Office staff is very friendly and efficient. Full hookup sites. Wifi is available. Playground and dogrun for the pets.
The pond is 1/2 mile walk around. Bathrooms we clean.
If you need to get off the road and get some rest give them a try. Just north of town and you will be back on the road in no time.
RangerI have camped here in the past and enjoy primitive tent camping so I stayed Friday September 29th and Saturday September 30th in the tent camping drive up site #2. There is also a tent camping walk in area with 2 lake front sites that are about 150 yards from the parking area and about eight other sites in between. There is a building with men's and women's flush toilets here for both primitive campgrounds. These are cheaper campsites than in the RV area where you have the shower house, nicer bathrooms and electric hookups. There are lots of nice shaded sites in these campgrounds and all have fire ring grates, lantern posts, picnic tables and some have pole mounted campstove tables as well. The camp hosts do a great job keeping this place clean, maintaining a quiet campground and supplying firewood for the campers. The park has a boat ramp, playground areas, the Chief Illini trail plus a couple short trails. There is a golf course and a run down lodge / hotel that has been closed for several years. There is tons of deer and other animals to watch and watch out that they don't steal your food while you are sleeping. The wild life is great for photography and makes for some good fireside stories.
This is my second favorite place to camp on the lake, although not as peaceful as Lone Point it does have the Chief Illini trailhead here and makes for nice round trip hiking camping adventures.
This park is open year round so the fantastic camping in spring and fall are available. You should watch out for hunters in the area when bow season starts October 1st.
RangerWe stopped here on our way home for one night, but got in early enough to enjoy a walk and have a camp fire that evening. Small park but very long, narrow pull through sites on the full hook up side, there were some smaller water/electric sites that looked to be more of a parking lot that sites, but well spaced out and adequate. The camp host was very friendly and the camp store was well stocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Mattoon, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Mattoon, IL is Fox Ridge State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Mattoon, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 glamping camping locations near Mattoon, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
