Harry L Swartz Campground near Oakwood, Illinois provides a balanced mix of recreation and solitude. Located at the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, the campground sits in a designated Dark Sky Park allowing exceptional stargazing opportunities. The camping terrain consists primarily of wooded sites with some prairie sections, with seasonal temperatures ranging from 50-90°F during the main camping season of April through October.
What to do
Fish in stocked ponds: Three fishing lakes are available at Harry L Swartz Campground, all maintained for recreational fishing. "Three lakes to fish for the small and big kids alike," notes a regular visitor who calls this their "go-to campground."
Hike diverse trails: Trails vary from prairie paths to wooded routes with occasional water crossings. "The Oak Burl trail is mostly wooded. We came upon a 8" deep creek to cross (thanks small tree branch to walk across!). We found little offshoots to spots along the Middle Fork River," reports a camper who explored the area.
Paddle Sugar Creek: Turkey Run Canoe & Camping offers canoe and kayak rentals for exploring the waterways from April 15 to November 1. "We did a nice kayaking loop using their service. Had everything you needed, very chill experience," according to one visitor who stayed at site 91.
What campers like
Night sky viewing: Middle Fork Forest Preserve's Dark Sky Park designation creates optimal stargazing conditions. "It's a dark sky park so you can get some nice views from the campground and surrounding areas," reports a camper at Harry L Swartz Campground.
Clean facilities: Visitors consistently mention well-maintained bathhouses. At Turkey Run State Park Campground, "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure," notes a reviewer who stayed in the wooded section.
Spacious sites: Rockville Lake County Park receives praise for site size and layout. "Stayed in the modern site 44 lots of room to set up any thing. Good fishing with nice fish cleaning station... nice bathhouse and clean. Three play grounds for the kids," reports one satisfied camper.
What you should know
Site variations: Not all sites provide equal privacy or level ground. At Turkey Run State Park Campground, "We were in a wooded section and it was pretty private however our site was pretty sloped. Next time I would probably pick the site on either side of 167," advises one camper who spent three nights there.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for raccoon visitors at most campgrounds in the area. "Watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything," warns a camper about Turkey Run State Park.
Seasonal water access: Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area offers water recreation but some sites can flood during rainy periods. "Great place to camp, can be flooded at times, some of the sites have a huge inclines or declines, allot of sites reserved way in advanced," notes a regular visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose sites near recreation areas for easier supervision. At D & W Lake RV Park, "There's plenty of grass, Fire Pits, Playgrounds and a Dog Park," reports a visitor who was immediately helped by management upon arrival.
Beach activities: The swimming beach at Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area provides water fun for children. "I loved this camp ground, there was a beach which was nice and a building to get food. They have a basketball court, and a few trails," shares a visitor who stayed Thursday through Sunday.
Corner sites: Request corner locations for extra space. At Turkey Run State Park, one camper reports, "Booked late for this one but ended up with a great corner spot in the middle of a turn off from the main drive. Checked out the hiking trails which were beautiful and highly recommended."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven terrain. At Rockville Lake County Park, "The sites in modern electric water only can be awkward to back into with no room to pull forward due to a ditch in some areas. We stayed in site 10 which was uneven, no room for a tent, and small."
Utility management: Some sites share electrical connections. At Sugar Creek Campground, "The electric is shared with another site which could be a problem if you have the same type of service since there is only one 50 amp, one 30 amp, and one 20 amp service per hook up," notes a visitor.
Site selection strategy: For larger RVs, reserve well in advance and research site dimensions. "Large campground with spacious sites," reports a Turkey Run State Park visitor, "This campground was reasonably priced, had clean facilities and quite unusual and interesting hiking nearby... all except the 'youth sites' had 110, 30, and 50 amp power."
