Red Hills State Park and Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area provide camping options near Olney, Illinois. The terrain consists of rolling hills with lakes and ponds surrounded by oak and hickory forests. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing while summer months regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
What to do
Fishing at multiple lakes: Red Hills State Park offers good fishing opportunities. "Great fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel cat. Boats allowed with electric motors only. Max depth is 21 feet," notes Donald T. The lake attracts anglers throughout the season.
Hiking wooded trails: The varied terrain provides hiking opportunities across multiple parks. "There is a 2.3 mile loop near the dam which is very nice, but plenty of opportunity to have more. A few short trails exist in the campground from the sites to the lake," explains Tracie E. about Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Visit nearby towns: Small communities around the camping areas offer additional activities. "Several small towns around for food and supplies. The park restaurant wasn't open when we were there but I heard it was opening soon," reports Cris C. Local businesses provide necessities and dining options when you need a break from camp cooking.
What campers like
Peaceful atmospheres: Many campgrounds near Olney provide quiet settings. "This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds I've been in in a long time. It's small, owned by an older farmer, has electricity and bathrooms. It's on a couple of small lakes and the bird sounds, the frogs, ducks, the whole natural environment is just wonderful," says Jeri B. about Spring Creek Campground.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention facility maintenance. "All spots are back in. All have electricity but only a few have water. There are clean restrooms with free showers. There is a central dumping station upon exit," states James C. The campgrounds maintain regular cleaning schedules for bathrooms and shower facilities.
Wildlife viewing: The natural settings attract various wildlife species. "Absolutely beautiful. Sites overlooking the lake. Geese, herons, and owls! Quiet. Vault toilets are a bit dated," reports Fern B. Bird watching opportunities exist throughout the year, with migratory species common in spring and fall.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds require advance planning while others accommodate walk-ins. "We were really looking forward to this camp out but it didn't deliver. The sites are not clearly marked at all, you just kind of pull into the grass somewhere by a power pole," cautions Aimee T. about Charley Brown City Park.
Varying levels of amenities: Facilities differ between campgrounds in the region. "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," explains sarah. Research amenities before arrival.
Site layouts and access: Some campgrounds have challenging layouts for larger vehicles. "The road to our site had a tight turn and required a little maneuvering but not terrible," notes Sharon J. Access roads at certain locations may require careful navigation with larger RVs.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Camp Lakewood provides recreational facilities for children. "Tent campsites are a decent size but still pretty close together, and our site had water and electric hookup. Cute lake, very family friendly, lots of amenities, amazingly clean," reports S.celeste. Playgrounds offer supervised activity options during downtime at camp.
Swimming options: Water activities vary between locations. "The swimming area is basically just a dock you can jump off of but it's not crowded at all so plenty of room for my family," explains Riley J. Water depths and swimming facilities differ by location.
Dog friendly areas: Many campgrounds near Olney welcome pets with specific guidelines. "We have three medium size dogs that go with us we have plenty of space at our campsite that is big enough for them. The campsites are clean with electric hook ups," shares Samantha H. Bring leashes and waste bags as most dog friendly campgrounds near Olney require pets to remain leashed.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Harmonie State Park offers sites with limited hookups. "Harmonie State Park is a nice campground. It has 200 sites, electric only, 5 bath houses and 2 pit toilets," explains Olivia S. RVers should prepare for limited hookups at many campgrounds.
Site levelness: Terrain variations affect parking ease. "Nice and quiet with a small lake. Really shaded. Great fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel cat," says Donald T. Bring leveling blocks as many sites have slight slopes.
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies throughout the region. "AT&T reception is GREAT — 4 bars LTE @ the campsite; great for streaming later," notes Tracie E. Research carrier coverage before arrival if connectivity is important for your stay.
