Searching for the best camping near Monticello, IL? Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Monticello is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Discover great camping spots near Monticello, reviewed by campers like you.
$10 - $30 / night
"We stayed in the J loop, which was more family friendly and very close to the beach."
"Our site was adjacent to numerous paths that easily led to the beach, playground, the rocky path for fishing, and a secluded swimming hole."
$10 - $25 / night
"In mid-Illinois a campground waits for you. Well tended grassy sites with an impeccable grassy picnicking area. There was plenty of room in our site but most of the campground is empty."
"This hidden gem of a campground is very quiet and serene - surrounded by tall trees and next to a tall grass prairie conservation area - complete with historic schoolhouse, mowed trails to a nearby creek"
"It’s a nice Illinois state park. Very quiet. Clean bathrooms, the consecution stand is closed. So can’t rent boat etc. but a nice lake to paddle canoe/kayak ."
"Good fishing near by with walking trail surrounding pond. Plenty of wildlife friendly locals."
"Stayed here 2 nights on our way to Northern Illinois, easy access off the interstate, sites are spacious, grounds are well maintained, staff was very courteous and friendly, nice lake with trail around"
"It is close to the main highway, but far enough to not be noticeable. Sites are level and in good condition. Owner greets you on entering and then guides you to your site. "
$40 - $20 / night
"I never did all of the trails but spent an afternoon hiking with a friend last summer."
"It’s also never super convenient to need to pack up just to go to a dump station but as long as your fine walking to the community restrooms, you should be fine."
"Had AC going but could hear road noise from interstate/ nearby roads."
"It's on the outskirts of town on the old Chanute AFB. They have lovely tree coverage, it's close to lots of amenities like grocery shopping, sports complex, urgent care, quick interstate access."
"Close to Champaign, IL off I 57 is this charming, open and clean grass covered park. Large sites with full hook ups, picnic table and scattered large trees near an Air Force base."
TravelerThis campground is close to home and is our go to when we have a last minute opportunity to camp. Beautiful lake view from our site. Owners are very friendly and super helpful.
ScoutThe campground was easy to book, easy to park, spots are pretty big and very clean. It was perfect for our short stay.
TravelerThere has been some confusion on the app—for clarity—this campground is not free, but don’t let that stop you! We paid only $20 for our one night stay. Big, beautiful and well maintained. We had electricity, free showers, topped off our water tank. It’s a great deal. Gorgeous trees, big pull thru site—top notch!
GuidePulled in about 7pm and immediately was greeted by the manager who showed us to our site, helped us pull in get settled and brought us firewood. The lake behind our trailer is beautiful and can be fished Catch and Release with Blue Gill and Bass. There's plenty of grass, Fire Pits, Playgrounds and a Dog Park. Wonderful campground and only about 10 min from downtown.
LegendDefinitely a fishing oriented campground ! The sites have both cement pads and gravel depending on the site. Some of the sites are huge, most are nice size and more or less well maintained. Luck of the draw on being level and having shade. At the end of the circles there are some sites right on the lake and the boat ramp is nearby.
Nice latrines and showerhouses.
The Engineers were even nice enough to build in a gravel path to the lake on one circle.
Walmart is within 16 minutes. There’s a small store right outside the front gate.
ScoutBeen going to this campground all my life. She's showing her age! This would be a great place for a mower! I use this campground as my initial trip out each year to shakedown the camper for the year. Lots of trails, fishing is bad, campground is overgrown.
LegendGeneral: 40-site campground with three non-electric and the rest are either 30 or 50-amp electric. Several water spigots are sprinkled throughout the campground.
Site quality: All sites are gravel and level. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. The sites are spaced a decent amount of distance apart and with the many trees, it did not feel crowded, despite being almost full when we were there.
Bath/Shower: Very clean with soap, paper towels, and a shelf for toiletries. Did not use the shower but it looked clean as well.
Activities/Amenities: There are two well-marked and well-maintained trails plus a playground and basketball hoop. There is also a historic schoolhouse, and guided tours are available by calling. Before leaving the next morning, I enjoyed a walk on the two trails. There is a dump station and potable water.
The campground was almost completely full on a Friday at the end of October yet very quiet.
LegendAs my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update:
Highlights: (1) Closely located to I39 so access is a huge bonus; (2) Sites are very calculated contributing to the vibe of a very artificial concrete camping experience, but that also means incredibly level and well-organized spaces; (3) Despite being located at a highly trafficked fueling outpost, you will be greeted by very wonderful Midwestern hospitality; (4) Incredibly manicured grounds and well-taken care of facilities, including well-maintained and impeccably cleaned restrooms, showers and doggy park; (5) Despite being located right next to a major highway, as access is key-code enabled and you're surrounded by good securing fencing around the perimeter, you'll feel safe & secure here; and (6) The entirety of Bloomington-Normal, home to Illinois State University, is all within EZ reach, so there’s tons of places to stock up on supplies as well as restaurants to enjoy.
Lowlights: (1) Closely located to I39 so noise and non-stop driveby traffic is a huge negative; (2) Because this is a highway layover, for those road warriors traveling up and down I74, there lacks a sense of community amongst campers as everyone is here for a short while, before moving on to their ultimate destination.
Happy Camping!
LegendAs my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update:
Highlights: (1) Closely located to I74 so access is a positive; (2) Sites are spacious, incredibly level, well-shaded and this feels like a camping oasis in the middle of corn country; (3) Wonderful Midwestern hospitality; (4) Incredibly manicured grounds and well-taken care of facilities; and (5) Very well maintained and impeccably cleaned restrooms, showers and pool
Lowlights: (1) Closely located to I74 so noise is a negative; (2) There’s not much in the way of shops and restaurants here, so if you want anything of substance, either bring it with you or you’ll have to head back to Bloomington to get it; and (3) Because this is a highway layover for those road warriors traveling up and down I74, there lacks a sense of community amongst campers
Happy Camping!
Camping near Monticello, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From serene lakeside spots to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone.
Camping near Monticello, Illinois, has its perks and quirks, but with the right preparation, you can enjoy a great outdoor experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Monticello, IL is Clinton Lake State Recreation Area with a 4.1-star rating from 19 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Monticello, IL that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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