45 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Multiple campgrounds surround Olney, Illinois, offering varied camping experiences across southern Illinois and western Indiana. Red Hills State Park, Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area, and Charley Brown City Park provide established camping areas with tent, RV, and cabin accommodations. Several sites feature lakeside settings, including Camp Lakewood with 62 developed sites approximately 25 miles northwest of Olney. Spring Creek Campground in Montrose offers a mix of RV, tent, and cabin options in a quieter rural setting.
Campground accessibility remains consistent year-round at several locations, though amenities vary seasonally. "Most of the sites are large and a good distance from the next one. Shower house is alright. The store/restaurant has been closed for a year or two now because of the Illinois budget," noted one visitor about Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area. Sites with electric hookups are common throughout the region, with most campgrounds maintaining water access and basic toilet facilities. Many campgrounds close shower facilities during winter months, typically November through April. Weather conditions can affect trail accessibility, particularly after rainfall when hiking paths become difficult to navigate.
Several visitors highlight the peaceful atmosphere at campgrounds like Spring Creek, where one camper appreciated being "far enough away from the interstate you don't hear the traffic. No nearby trains either." Water features represent a significant attraction, with fishing opportunities available at multiple locations. Campers frequently mention site spacing and privacy as notable features, particularly at Fox Ridge State Park where "all sites were spacious and shaded" and "each site is isolated by trees and growth." Public campgrounds like Red Hills State Park and Sam Parr offer more structured experiences with designated facilities, while smaller community parks like Oblong Park and Lake provide convenient access points for travelers passing through the region. RV-specific amenities such as sanitary dump stations and electric hookups are widely available across most established campgrounds.
"Water is near by to fill up. It is quite place. Beautiful views. Lake is near by to fish. If you have kids they have play ground to play on. Host are very nice and welcoming."
"Lots of trails it seems. Lake is nice sized but not too big. Wish the restaurant was open, but told it may be next Spring."
"He even told us where they had been stacking wood from clearing out some trees near the campground and encouraged us to use all we need. Very clean pit toilets."
"Park Maintenance offers to blow off your site when they come around. Only reason wasn’t 5 stars is that they need MORE trails."
"Very humble rural park with a quiet atmosphere and Great Lake for fishing. The people of oblong are also the friendliest around!"
"There's lots of playgrounds for kids and a big lake to fish or stroll around as well. Big thumbs up👍"
"Oubache is super close to home and a regular spot that I take my 3 kiddos to hike and play on the different playgrounds! It is also adjacent to Fort Knox II for any history buffs as well!"
"This is a very nice campground just outside of Vincennes. Love the camp ground, does have electricity and water. Very shaded. Also has cabin rentals that are fantastic. Lots of trails to walk."
"Campground is off the beaten path, lots of space to spread out, and the top 4 amenities (electricity, water, flush toilets and showers). It’s not the cleanest bathrooms but certainly not the worst."
"Multiple walking trails and bike trails. Nice shelter houses and picnic areas. Multiple playgrounds. Nature center in the campground. Many events scheduled for summer."
"It was at the back of the campground, but close to the bathrooms/showers and just across from the playground. It was close enough to walk to the Nature Center and grab ice cream."
from $20 - $33 / night
Check Availability"Far enough away from the interstate you don't hear the traffic. No nearby trains either. The grounds were neat and clean. The fishing pond is great and beautiful. Big rig friendly."
"There is a central dumping station upon exit. At $25 per night, this place is beautiful."
from $15 - $25 / night
"The sun sets behind the camper. Very nice clean restrooms, laundry room and a area you can grill in using their grills."
"Walk-in tent site. Late arrival. Bathrooms are spotless."
from $35 - $999 / night
Check Availability"Most of the other campers there are workers for the refinery nearby. Only 2 of the 12 sites seemed to be long term and they were all well kept."
from $25 / night
TravelerThis is a county fairgrounds/park. There's a few sites with hookups that cost 25$ or you can camp anywhere here without hookups for 15$. It's an honor system box by the bathroom. It's super easy to find, take exit 105 off I70 and head north about a quarter mile. There's a dirt road on the right with camping signs pointing you in. The road in goes through a cemetery and after that is the park.
ScoutBeautiful campground! Walk-in tent site. Late arrival. Bathrooms are spotless.
ScoutLove this place. small campground. Decent fishing good shade.
ScoutI had the entire Lake Side Tent section to myself on a Monday, last week of July 2025. It was quite and there were all sorts of birds singing until dark, then the insects and frogs took over. The fire tray and grill were great for cooking up some steak and peppers I bought in nearby Marshall, IN. I will be staying again in 2026 on a coast to coast and back motorcycle trip. Definitely recommended👌
TravelerCasey is a very welcoming place. Almost reminds you a little of the town in the Music Man, River City I believe? Fairview Park is extremely nice and the camp spots are level and green with many shaded under beautiful trees. $15.00/night for residents and $25.00/night for non-residents.
TravelerWe've stayed here a few times now. The town is is charming and definitely wants some tourist business. Great coffee shop and barber shop next door. The park is quiet and quite pretty. The sites are a little difficult to figure out, but water and electric and a dump station nearby. Big trees for shade and a lake with a fountain for a peaceful setting
TravelerLevel gravel sites, site 17 needs extra long electric cord, extremely well cared for park with helpful hosts. Very clean bathroom, shower and laundry facilities, decorated with homey touches. Firewood and ice available at campground. Some road and train noise, but park itself was quiet.
GuideWe secured a spot on the look near the lake. The view was awesome! The spots not on that little circle were eh, ok. If you can get a good one it’s worth it for sure.
Travelerthe campground is set up on a hill above a spacious city park. It has 15 or so campsites, along a wooded area with water and electric hook up, and a dump station. The bathroom has fush toilets and showers. one of the 2 showers in the women's room was broken. the other provided delightfully hot water with good pressure. you need to call the number on dyrt during business hours. if arriving at a different time, theres a # posted yo call dispatch. we did this and a very nice policeman arrived to check us in and take our $20. He offered to answer any questions we had about the area. we were just passing through but had time to play disc golf and see a beautiful sunset, and headed out early AM. there were a few other Rvs, trailers there, but only saw activity at one other site.
Camping near Olney, Illinois offers a blend of wooded sites and lakeside options throughout the region. The area features several state parks and county campgrounds within 30-40 miles of Olney, with most offering electric hookups and water access. Campsites in this region typically range from $10-25 per night depending on amenities and hookup availability.
Fishing opportunities: Red Hills State Park features a small lake where campers can catch largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel cat. "Great fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel cat. Boats allowed with electric motors only. Max depth is 21 feet," notes Donald T. about Red Hills Lake State Park.
Hiking trails: Sam Parr State Park offers designated trails accessible from the campground. A visitor mentioned, "We found a couple of nice trails to hike that leave directly from the campground," while another noted, "There is one 2.3 mile look near the damn which is very nice."
Water activities: East Fork Lake provides options for fishing enthusiasts staying at Lakeside RV Campground. The campground is "right across the road from East Fork Lake" and features "an awesome fish cleaning area with a nice table, electric, water, and a sink."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. At Oblong Park and Lake, a camper noted it has a "Large park area with multiple playgrounds. Clean bathroom, flush toilets and showers."
Quiet atmosphere: Most campgrounds near Olney provide peaceful settings away from traffic and noise. A visitor to Oblong Park and Lake described it as having a "quiet atmosphere and Great Lake for fishing. The people of oblong are also the friendliest around!"
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the area generally maintain clean restrooms and shower facilities. At Sam Parr State Park, a camper reported, "Very clean pit toilets. Very good fire pits with cooking grates. Every spot has a picnic table and trash can."
Spacious sites: Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area receives praise for site size and layout. "Love the sites at Sam Parr. Only 33 sites overall (only 1st 10 reservable) but sites are quite large & all have very level concrete pads," one visitor noted.
Wildlife viewing: The region offers opportunities to observe local wildlife. Fern B. reported at Sam Parr: "Absolutely beautiful. Sites overlooking the lake. Geese, herons, and owls! Quiet."
Site setups: Campgrounds vary in their accommodations. At Charley Brown City Park, "The sites are not clearly marked at all, you just kind of pull into the grass somewhere by a power pole."
Water quality: Some campsites may have water quality issues. At Camp Lakewood, a visitor advised, "Power was good but let the water run a bit because it's brown when first turned on."
Seasonal considerations: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. Charley Brown City Park runs from "May 15 to November 15" according to their listing information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Olney, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Olney, IL is Red Hills Lake State Park — Red Hills State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 10 reviews.
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