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.
What to do
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."
What campers like
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."
What you should know
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.
Traveler
