Campgrounds near Modoc, Illinois cluster along the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers, providing numerous options for overnight stays in southern Illinois and eastern Missouri. Fort Kaskaskia State Park Campground offers both electric and non-electric sites with views overlooking the Mississippi River, while Randolph County State Recreation Area provides tent, RV, and cabin camping around a 65-acre lake just 5 miles northeast of Chester. Most camping areas feature shaded sites with basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to vault toilets, with several locations offering electric hookups for RVs.
Seasonal considerations affect campground operations throughout the region, with most facilities remaining open year-round but offering limited services during winter months. "Make sure you fill up at the dump station before you get to the campground because there's no easy way to turn around if you miss it," noted one camper about Randolph County State Recreation Area. Many campgrounds operate on a mixed reservation and first-come, first-served basis, with the most desirable sites typically requiring advance booking, especially during summer weekends. Water access points may close seasonally, and campers should verify availability of showers and potable water before arrival, as these amenities vary significantly between locations.
The camping experience in this region often centers around water recreation and scenic views. Several visitors highlighted the river views as key attractions, with one reviewer noting Fort Kaskaskia offers "sweeping views of the Mississippi river below." The Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Recreation Area provides riverside camping with concrete pads and access to a paved hiking trail leading to the confluence of the Kaskaskia and Mississippi Rivers. Fishing opportunities abound throughout the area, with multiple reviews mentioning quality fishing for catfish, crappie, and bass. Privacy varies considerably between campgrounds, with some offering spacious, well-shaded sites while others place campsites in closer proximity. Fall camping receives particularly positive reviews, with the changing foliage enhancing the natural beauty of parks like Fort Kaskaskia, which one camper described as "absolutely gorgeous" during autumn.
$14 - $25 / night
"We visited in October and were able to hike several great trails in the park and surrounding area. The campsites are nothing special."
"Hawn is my favorite campground close to St. Louis."
$8 - $18 / night
"A very old and historic cemetery is next to the campground. There is electric hookups 30 and 50 amp. No water/sewer but does have a dump station. Vault toilets."
"Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site is located on the remains of historic Fort Kaskaskia, constructed by the French in the 1700s to defend the town of Kaskaskia."
$10 / night
"Water was available close to the restrooms and is accessible to fill campers. Parking area at each site could accommodate two vehicles. The capsites were located next to the Kaskaskia River."
"Located five miles northeast of Chester, Randolph County SRA lies in the rolling hill country of southern Illinois."
"This campground is located on a small lake in Southern Illinois and managed by the department of natural resources. Good place for Camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking and boating."
$14 - $23 / night
"All sites are within reasonable walking distance to the very nice shower house, bathrooms, it even had laundry. All facilities were well maintained and clean. Campground host sells wood and ice."
"We did have a mole or something burrowing around so you had to watch for loose dirt clods but that was NBD. The site had a picnic table and fire ring. There were pit toilets, no showers."
$10 - $20 / night
"Then you walk to the beginning of the Whispering Pines trail and see the creek flowing, and know this place is going to be worth it."
"We started on beautiful pickle creek trail which is rock scramble right beside a awesome clear water creek bumbling over big rocks! Then we hit whispering pines trail and stayed at campsite 5!"
"Close to home. Extra clean. Friendly staff. Lots of trees. Drive Through. Easy access off the interstate. Town close by, and a Walmart."
"Great clean campground- easy hook ups- pleasant staff and close to town. Went to Mary Janes for dinner gotta recommend! Campground Has a trail to a hike around lake. Playground was fun and safe."
$14 - $46 / night
"A great spot with a minute walk to a very well kept shower house and bathroom. We really liked this spot at CG#1."
"There’s a couple nice lakes with big beaches great swimming for the kids and you can rent a canoe or a kayak to paddle around on the lake."
$10 - $32 / night
"Surrounded by trees changing colors the fall is beautiful here. The campground has several hiking trails and also river access to go canoeing. You can rent a cabin here as well."
"Friendly staff, outdoor pool, hikes close by and a windy maybe thirty minutes away. Plenty of things to do to keep everyone happy!"
GuidePlenty of space between spots. Not a lot of flat spots, though. Off-season pit toilet was available. Campground has shower house in-season. Nice and quiet. There was no host but a ranger came around.
LegendVery well maintained. Everything looks new, works well, is clean and organized. Nicest thing is the park is quiet. No road noise which is wonderful. Winter stop for me so I have only seen the shower house from the outside but I would expect it to also be well maintained.
GuideWe only booked 1 night. Location was great but we had to make lot spaces a few times due to the uneven conditions of the lot spaces. Fortunately there was a nice gentleman who worked here and found a space that suited us better. The sites to the back are much better than the ones to the front! The view of the Arch is amazing but a little sketchy … especially at night! But it worked for the night!
TravelerHad a wonderful weekend camping trip in the basic loop. Grass well-trimmed, campground pretty clean and full of families. Definitely a lot of kid noise, but I much prefer that to adults drinking into the night. Staff always cheerful and eager to provide a good experience; they do ride around every so often to check in on things. Camp host on site. Some sites certainly better than others; the biggest ones are near the entrance to the basic loop.
Bathrooms older and not spotless, but they stay on top of stocking them. Very well lit at night. Check-in station has patches, t-shirts, and firewood for sale in big bundles for $5. They do cover them when it rains.
There is definitely a friendly community atmosphere, but you can keep to yourself if that's your preference.
There is a nice 3-mile hike that begins at the campground.
TravelerPeacefull night of sleep near Shepherd Mountain.
ScoutThe views over the Mississippi River are calandar-worthy! Very scenic from up atop the bluffs. A very old and historic cemetery is next to the campground. There is electric hookups 30 and 50 amp. No water/sewer but does have a dump station. Vault toilets.
ScoutWent to go have a peaceful birthday dinner tonight with my family, and the lovely owners Tyler and Jennifer Juliette were so intoxicated that they kicked us off the property for being in a open public space without camping passes. My fiancé and some of the other guys were all hanging around the dumpster area(no sign saying you can’t be there), when a manager came over and was very rudely asking if they had day passes. When my fiancé calmly tried to explained we were there under a reservation, and we were only hanging around the public general store, the manager proceeded to get visibly angry and said she was informing the owner of our behaviour. After my fiancé came and told me of the situation, I went outside to see what the chaos was. Tyler and Jennifer proceed to come up to my fiancé and say“are you the one who was mouthy with my manger”. Mind you, they both were clearly intoxicated and had alcohol in hand and the manager had a cigarette hanging out of her mouth most of the interaction. After they came up I looked at Tyler and said“Sir we are here under reservation if I could just explain” and Tyler replied“I don’t care about a reservation and you’re going to let me talk.” They proceeded to say we needed to leave or they would call the cops. I told them obviously they had too much to drink and that we would leave. As we turned around to go inside and grab our belongings, they followed us the entire time. Tyler followed me so closely I was so scared he was going to grab me! Literally he was half an inch away from being chest to back with me, and I told him aggressively to back Up, get away from me and that I am a young woman. When we got inside, the owners told my family we were the most“disrespectful children” they’d ever met, mind you we are both legal adults. I grab my belongings, we left, and we surely will never ever be back! My family was left embarrassed, shocked, and disturbed by how poorly the owners handled the situation. If they had kindly asked us to see our passes or that we couldn’t hang by the dumpsters, there would have been 0 issue. If anyone there witnessed the interaction, I am highly sorry for the scene. However this was 100% poor business management and could’ve been handled 1000x better. So unfortunate that the owners are to entitled and money hungry to hear out the people who give them business.
ScoutThis was our first camp in our new to us travel trailer. Not many trees. Site has tons of camping sites so finding a spot should not be an issue. This is the site of the American Trap Shooters Association "Grand" Event. During that event the first couple weeks in August the campground is full. We were here last weekend in August. Only one other camper within sight of our spot Friday night and they were gone Saturday morning. There is a shower house I believe but could not access a couple of the doors I tried. I imagine they had some unlocked but I didn't try all the doors when I was there.
ScoutThey were so accommodating. Even on the phone I didnt feel like a burden
Campgrounds near Modoc, Illinois sit at an elevation between 400-600 feet in the Mississippi River floodplain, with the area experiencing hot, humid summers and mild winters. Several campgrounds offer elevated sites on limestone bluffs with unique perspectives of the river below. Camping facilities range from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV locations with concrete pads.
Hiking accessible trails: At Washington State Park Campground, visitors can explore hiking trails of varying difficulty levels. "The 1000 step trail... should not be any problem for you if you are used to hiking," notes Scott M., who visited with a Cub Scout Pack. The park also offers prehistoric petroglyphs that are "a must see," according to Phil W.
Swimming and beach access: St. Joe State Park provides two swimming areas during warmer months. "Two clean and well kept swimming areas, great trails, good camp sites, and great bathrooms/showers!" reports Olivia S. The park combines water recreation with extensive trail systems for a varied outdoor experience.
Fall foliage viewing: October and November offer exceptional autumn colors at Fort Kaskaskia State Park Campground. "Stayed here last fall and really loved the fall colors and views this park has to offer," writes Gonzo A., who recommends visiting "when the leaves are changing as it was absolutely gorgeous."
Privacy at select campgrounds: Hawn State Park Campground offers more seclusion than many regional options. "Small park as far as the amount of campsites, but this makes it peaceful and secluded," reports Jenny H. The park's smaller size contributes to a quieter camping experience, though some sites have limited privacy with Tamsyn K. noting, "We could hear people in the tents nearby when they sneezed at night."
Fishing opportunities: Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Recreation Area provides productive fishing spots. "This place is really good for fishing. Good catfish and crappie bass sauger etc.," writes Chrissy W. The concrete pads at campsites position anglers near prime fishing locations along the river.
Trailside camping: Several campgrounds feature sites with direct trail access. At St. Joe State Park, "there was a trail located right by our spot at CG#2, it's a good hike!!" according to Olivia S. This convenience allows campers to begin hiking without driving to trailheads.
Campsite location considerations: At Randolph County State Recreation Area, site selection matters for comfort and convenience. "The best sites are first come first serve other half are reservable. 50amp water fill available with frost free. And dump station at front. $18 a night. Tight spots and harsh back up angles," advises Matthew H.
Seasonal facility limitations: Many campgrounds reduce services during winter months. Helena and Kyle R. report about Fort Kaskaskia: "Pit toilets could have been cleaner, but fine. Didn't find showers mentioned in another review," indicating varying amenity availability through the seasons.
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience periodic noise issues. St. Francois State Park Campground is "loud on the weekends especially if there are races at the nearby Bonne Terre drag strip," according to Cody S., making weekday camping preferable for those seeking quiet.
Playground accessibility: Perryville RV Resort offers family-friendly facilities including "a giant trampoline" that "looked like it would be my daughter's favorite thing," according to Jamey W. The resort also features a swimming pool "better than most hotels" for children during hot summer months.
Fishing with kids: Multiple lakes at Randolph County State Recreation Area provide varied fishing environments. "Great Lake to fish and plenty of trails to hike," notes Michael G., with the 65-acre lake offering bank access suitable for young anglers.
Child-friendly campsites: Hawn State Park accommodates families well with "many different camp options with different prices and amenities," according to Shirlee A., who adds it's "really comfortable with kids" and offers a "clean shower and laundry room too."
Site selection for larger vehicles: Hawn State Park Campground requires careful site selection for RVs. Gonzo A. recommends: "I had a site in the 2nd campground in the middle where there's a break in the trees. I was able to use Starlink." This location provides both satellite reception and adequate space.
Access considerations: When visiting Fort Kaskaskia State Park Campground, Barbara P. notes it offers "large level sites with electric. Water available mid campground and at dump station." The campground includes "2 large handicapped sites with concrete pads" providing accessibility for those with mobility needs.
Dump station logistics: At Randolph County State Recreation Area, RVers should plan their arrival carefully. As J K. advises, "Make sure you fill up at the dump station before you get to the campground because there's no easy way to turn around if you miss it," with the dump station located approximately a mile before the campground entrance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Modoc, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Modoc, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 59 campgrounds and RV parks near Modoc, IL and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Modoc, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Modoc, IL is Hawn State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Modoc, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Modoc, IL.
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