Turkey Run State Park Campground near Oakwood, Illinois spans over 200 sites situated within a mature wooded area approximately 30 miles from Oakwood. The campground maintains electric hookups at all sites with 110, 30, and 50 amp power options, though site topography varies considerably with some areas featuring significant slopes. Sugar Creek flows through the park, offering water recreation opportunities during warmer months for visitors seeking alternatives to traditional hiking and horseback activities.
What to do
Explore unique canyon trails: Turkey Run State Park features distinctive hiking paths with varied terrain challenges. One camper noted, "We hiked Trail 3 with our dog, but we cut off early before the ladders using Trail 10. Our dog did pretty well in the section of Trail 3 before the ladders, and be prepared to get wet." The park's Turkey Run State Park Campground trails include sections where hikers walk through active stream beds and box canyons.
Water recreation options: Sugar Creek provides multiple water activity options beyond just fishing. According to a visitor, "Sugar Creek is also great for floating with inner tubes, canoes, or kayaks." Turkey Run Canoe & Camping offers equipment rentals and "a nice kayaking loop using their service" as mentioned by a camper who found it to be "a very chill experience."
Sunrise viewing: Early risers can take advantage of spectacular morning views. A camper shared this experience: "My favorite part about camping is the sunrise and Turkey Run was not disappointing." Morning hours also offer less crowded trail conditions before daily visitors arrive.
What campers like
Strategic site selection: Campers consistently recommend choosing sites based on privacy needs. "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," advised one visitor to Turkey Run State Park Campground. Corner sites receive particular praise, with one camper noting they "ended up with a great corner spot in the middle of a turn off from the main drive."
Clean facilities: Despite high visitor traffic, the park maintains well-kept amenities. A camper observed, "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure." Another mentioned the grounds at Turkey Run Canoe & Camping are "well kept and the owners are just nice people."
Cell service coverage: Connectivity varies by provider at these parks. One visitor reported, "I have AT&T service and had no problem with cell service, my husband has Verizon and his was spotty." This information helps campers plan accordingly for communication needs during their stay.
What you should know
Raccoon activity: Wildlife encounters are common throughout the area campgrounds. A camper warns, "Watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything." Proper food storage and waste disposal are essential to minimize unwanted wildlife interactions.
Site levelness varies significantly: The natural topography creates challenges at some campsites. A visitor observed sites are "in a mature tree woods, so some sites are not as level as others." Another mentioned their site "definitely sloops to the back corner. It was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end."
Weekend crowds: Popular areas become congested during peak times, particularly weekends. One experienced visitor recommends, "In order to avoid crowds on the trails, we got there Thursday night so we could hike Friday morning / early afternoon." Mill Creek Park offers an alternative with reportedly "tons of trails to hike" and potentially fewer visitors.
Tips for camping with families
Trail difficulty considerations: While challenging, many trails remain accessible to families with proper planning. A visitor observed, "There are lots of inclines and steps, not much of it was extremely easy hiking, but we did see lots of families with kids doing just fine."
Space for children: Select sites with adequate room for play areas. One camper at Turkey Run State Park Campground appreciated that their site "had almost a whole extra campsite's worth of space next to it for my kids to run around. It also had a tree for shade and was nice and level."
Weekday visits recommended: Schedule family trips on weekdays when possible. A camper shared their strategy: "Saturday we rented a canoe from a canoe place right down the road from the campground. It was great and once we saw the crowds at the beach area of the park on Saturday afternoon, we were super glad we had been canoeing all day instead of fighting crowds at the park."
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility challenges: Some campgrounds present difficulties for larger rigs. At Turkey Run Canoe & Camping, a visitor noted, "The sites are difficult to get into and although they allow one car on the site there is barely room for that one car."
Power sharing arrangements: Electric hookups at some campgrounds require coordination with neighbors. One RVer explained, "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."
EV charging options: For travelers with electric vehicles, Turkey Run State Park accommodates charging needs. A visitor confirmed, "I was able to charge my EV without issue" using the available electrical hookups at their site.
