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Best Campgrounds near Ottawa, IL

478 Reviews

The Illinois River Valley surrounding Ottawa, Illinois features a diverse range of camping experiences within a relatively compact area. Starved Rock State Park, located about 10 miles southwest of Ottawa, anchors the region with its popular campground offering electric hookups and shower facilities amid wooded sites. Buffalo Rock State Park provides more primitive tent camping options with boat-in access directly in Ottawa, while nearby Illini State Park in Marseilles offers year-round camping with full hookups. The area's camping landscape includes both state-managed facilities and private operations like Starved Rock Family Campground and Kayak Starved Rock Campground, which provide riverfront sites with varying levels of amenities.

Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping experiences in this region, with summer humidity and occasional heavy rainfall requiring proper preparation. Many campgrounds operate year-round, though amenities may be limited during winter months. As one camper noted, "Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view." Reservations become essential during peak summer weekends and holidays, particularly at Starved Rock State Park. The relatively flat terrain throughout the area makes for easy site access, though some private campgrounds near Interstate 80 experience traffic noise that can detract from the outdoor experience.

River access represents a major draw for campers in the Ottawa area, with multiple sites offering views of or direct access to the Illinois River. Visitors frequently mention the unexpected natural beauty, with one camper remarking, "Didn't expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!" The region's campgrounds provide good proximity to hiking trails, particularly the canyon systems of Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks. Fishing opportunities abound along the river, while the I&M Canal Trail offers cycling possibilities for active campers. Wildlife viewing includes opportunities to spot bald eagles along the Illinois River, especially during spring and fall migrations.

Map showing campgrounds near Ottawa, IllinoisExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Ottawa, Illinois (82)

    1. Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    99 Reviews
    North Utica, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 667-4726

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!"

    "Beautiful Starved Rock is Illinois's favorite state park. Hiking through forests along the Illinois River to canyons and waterfalls with eagles soaring overhead."

    2. Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park

    30 Reviews
    Marseilles, IL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 795-2448

    $12 - $55 / night

    "Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view."

    "Spent a couple nights here (site 3) for Vintage Illinois at a nearby park. Quiet, fairly level, gravel sites. Electric worn but fully functional. Lots of trees and shade."

    3. Pleasant Creek Campground

    27 Reviews
    Oglesby, IL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 431-0936

    "Within LaSalle County or for that matter, the whole of north central Illinois, I don’t know of any other privately run, multi-campground locations like Pleasant Creek that offers a total of 6 separate,"

    "There is a nice pavilion, a game room/club house, basketball court, fishing pond, firewood for sale, and a few short trails."

    4. Lasalle/Peru KOA

    14 Reviews
    North Utica, IL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 667-4988

    "Everything in the campground is within walking distance. They have a dishwashing sink and garbage cans every 30-50 feet. Convenient. Bathrooms and showers are super clean. Recommend for sure."

    "It’s adjacent a large field so you do get some wind and the occasional sound of farm equipment…but there’s a lot of nice spots."

    5. Starved Rock Family Campground

    11 Reviews
    North Utica, IL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 202-2088

    "No water hookup but spigot nearby. No sewer hookup but dump station on-site.
    So fun to hike and explore a series of canyons along the Illinois River."

    "Located here in the heart of north central Illinois, where you can very easily get lost in the golden hue of sweet corn or the dizzying amounts of drilled bean fields, there’s a special quiet that exists"

    6. Kayak Starved Rock Campground

    8 Reviews
    North Utica, IL
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 567-4653

    $29 / night

    "We had an enjoyable weekend here relaxing and getting away from the city. We booked site 152 right from the website. The previsit instructions and tips were very helpful."

    "Before we begin, let me share 3 things with you: (1) I love camping, preferably primitive camping where I get to pitch my tent, leaving the comforts of modern civilization behind in the hopes of returning"

    7. Whitetail Campground — Illini State Park

    9 Reviews
    Marseilles, IL
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 795-2448

    $10 - $45 / night

    "(or Illini) native American Indian tribe, who were one of the most prolific and important native American Indian tribes to have settled in the Mississippi River valley, of which large sections of Illinois"

    "It’s pretty close to Chicago so it works for weekend getaways. We stayed in the wooded loop. It’s rustic without electric/water hookups. The other loop looked more set up for rvs. "

    8. Nature’s Way RV Park

    7 Reviews
    North Utica, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 667-4988

    $30 - $125 / night

    "Just outside and behind this main building, you’ll discover a rather large, covered pavilion which is great for larger groups or for anyone wanting to picnic under some shade. "

    9. Buffalo Rock State Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Ottawa, IL
    5 miles
    Website

    $6 / night

    "A number of trails around effigy mounds make for a nice walk."

    "You have to walk a bit to get there but the sites are great. If you’re looking for privacy this is it. There aren’t toilets tho or running water.."

    10. Glenwood RV Resort

    4 Reviews
    Marseilles, IL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 795-6000
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Recent Camping Photos near Ottawa, IL

144 Photos of 82 Ottawa Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Ottawa, IL

478 Reviews of 82 Ottawa Campgrounds

  • lThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Nature’s Way RV Park

    Relaxing

    Clean and well maintained facility. Staff was organized and friendly. Pet friendly. We want to come back when we can stay longer.

  • Emma H.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great for our 2 person campout!

    My fiancé and I stayed in the Hickory Loop spot 3. We are very new campers, so we just have a very basic tent setup. When we checked in with the host, there were bundles of firewood for $8 (either cash or cash app). The spots are not huge, and not super private (you have next door and across the street neighbors), but we didn’t mind that! There were two outlets available, and a small rectangular fire pit with a grate on top. There are a few water pumps and vault toilets within walking distance, but we were pretty close to the shower house, which had stalls for toilets and showers. The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!

    It rained a ton during our trip so we didn’t explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity.

  • Jessica T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Starved Rock Family Campground

    Nice little campsite!

    Well maintained and large campground. Sites aren’t stacked on top of each other and seem fairly level. I will say the grounds by our site seemed to have a fly/other sewer fly problem in the ground? I don’t know. Seemed to need a treatment of some sort. L7 is more in a wide open area so if you want more trees, book more in the middle of the campground. Bathrooms are well maintained and cleaned. Laundry facility easy. Bummed our trip got cut short by a RV maintenance issue.

  • D
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Big Rock Campground

    Needs some shade

    This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade.

    The flush toilet building was very clean, but there was no TP in the ladies' room. And I have to wonder why you would build a new campground without showers?

    It is very close to the cities so we will stay here again.

  • Jeff and Linda L.
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Hennepin Canal Lock 21 Campground

    Unique Park

    No hook-ups, just grass with a fire pit and table. Water available a couple of places along the canal. No reservations. We only saw two other campers, so lots of spaces. Pit toilets along the canal. Well kept. Small gravel bike trail along most of the canal. Nice place to kayak and canoe. Very nice visitor center open until 3 during the week, no weekends. Only $8 We saw a class A, so they do fit.

  • Beth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 30, 2025

    Martin’s Camping Ground

    It’s just alright

    No laundry… Closest laundromat 10 mins away, office gives address on check in paper

    No outside comfort….spaces are small, muddy, and un level. Highway is next to campground, but we could not hear it inside. Doesn’t make it conducive to be outside, not exactly relaxing when grilling. Sewer connection at our site was technically on neighbors…we had to use extension.

    Bathhouse…super clean and modern, but no hot water…lukewarm at best. Shower is not comfortable….nozzle is from ceiling and temperature not warm enough to stay warm while not directly under water. Hooks are useless as everything gets wet inside shower.

    Staff…super nice and maintains property…clean, mowed.

    Great for Chicago visit, just don’t plan on hanging out at campsite. Looks like a lot of permanent campers who work, so camp is very quiet at night.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Hickory Grove Campground

    Midwest Pasture Camping @ Its Finest

    Located just due north of Sheffield, right off I80 (2 miles to be exact), and due west of Princeton by about 20 minutes, Hickory Grove Campground, on the one hand, is so far off the grid that you will really feel as though you are truly ‘getting away from it all,’ yet on other hand, this place is just a couple stone’s throw from one of the busiest highways that runs through the great state of Illinois, making it incredibly accessible. What I love most about Hickory Grove Campground is that it is run by good folks (husband and wife duo, Dave & Joan) that have been in this particular area of north central Illinois for a very long time. On your way to Hickory Grove, you won’t help but notice that there is a supreme amount of gorgeous farmland that you will bear witness to, complete with golden rows of sweet corn or fields of drilled beans. Any way you look at it, enroute to Hickory Grove, you will feel right at home here in the heartland of the Midwest, where we take great pride in our hospitality.

    As for this pet-friendly campground itself, upon entry, you will discover that there is a main house, immediately followed by the main office, which is where you will check in. Once doing so, you’ll be able to access your slot, depending upon which one you have selected (and there is nearly 100 to choose from), whether that be an RV or 5th Wheeler slab, deluxe cabin rental or primitive camping site. There are 15 pull-through sites (all with 50 amp electric) with all RV and Trailer sites offering full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage) most with shaded lots. Other amenities include a doggie park, ice for sale, scattered picnic tables, designated trash dumpsters, BBQ grills, boat launch, pedal cart rental, restroom and shower facilities, ramp and dock on the Hennepin Canal horseshoe pit and 3 miles of hiking trails.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’re a biker like me, you better come bringing the cycles as from this vantage point, you’ll be able to access the 80 mile long bike trail that you’ll find is easy to access from Hickory Grove Campground; (2) As a fellow kayak enthusiast, you’ll appreciate the nearby access at Hennepin Canal; (3) After a good day of hiking, biking and kayaking, likely you’ll want to ‘whet that whistle’ and if so, nearby Psycho Silo Saloon has you covered in spades (April until October that is) with a full stocked bar of spirits, live music and some nice iced tall boys, but be sure to bring cash because this watering hole doesn’t know how to make credit cards work yet; (4) For those looking for a nice, easy and economical seasonal rental, Hickory Grove is quite affordable offering up sites for as little as $1,400 / season; (5) Specific sites that I recommend include: (a) those on the river’s edge of the Hennepin Canal: #30A, #30B, #34 – 39, #80R; (b) those on the western edge of the property: #12A – B, #13, #16 –19, #30A – B, #34 – 39; as well as (c) those sites that fall against the eastern treeline: #80, #82, #86A – C, #97 – 99; (6) When I head out camping, I like to bring 2-3 choice cuts of rare, sometimes exotic meats and whatever you might be into, should you want some fresh cut meats, check out nearby Wyanet Meat Locker, which will have the standards (NY Strip, Ribeye, hamburger patties) as well as some nice cuts from the top-shelf, including: buffalo, lamb chops and duck; and (7) For a slice of pure Midwestern joy, check out Myrtle’s Pie, which have some amazing selections including banana cream, salted caramel, lemon meringue, carrot cake cheesecake and my favorite, the coconut cream – but everyday Myrtle runs out of pies by early-to-mid-afternoon, so call ahead to order your pie or just get in there as soon as she opens for some freshly baked cinnamon roles and brewed coffee.

    Happy Camping!

Guide to Ottawa

Camping near Ottawa, IL, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Starved Rock Campground. One visitor shared, "I spent hours hiking the more than 13 miles of trails, which offer access to beautiful waterfalls and spectacular overlooks."
  • Fishing: Head to Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area for some great fishing. A camper noted, "This is the Muskie Capitol of Illinois, where you’ll find no shortage of bluegill, walleye, and perch."
  • Kayaking: Rent a kayak at Comlara County Park and enjoy the peaceful waters. One reviewer mentioned, "There are tons of little nooks and crannies around the lake to get some decent fishing in."

What campers like

  • Natural Beauty: Campers appreciate the stunning landscapes. A visitor at Starved Rock Campground said, "Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many enjoy the peacefulness of the campgrounds. One camper at Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area remarked, "During the week there were just enough people for it not to feel creepily lonely."
  • Family-Friendly: Campgrounds like Blackwell Family Campground offer activities for kids. A parent shared, "The ranger offers evening entertainment for the kiddos and blew gigantic bubbles for the kids to chase around."

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may have outdated facilities. A visitor at Starved Rock Campground noted, "Limited, dated and poorly maintained facilities."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for some noise from nearby roads or trains. One camper at Paul Wolff Campground mentioned, "Heard 3 trains between 10 pm and 6 am."
  • Crowded Sites: Some campgrounds can feel cramped. A reviewer at White Pines Forest State Park Campground said, "The sites are close together, and it felt like a music festival."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose the Right Campground: Look for family-friendly spots like Blackwell Family Campground where kids can socialize. One camper noted, "Great local spot for family...lots of kids so good opportunity for the little ones to socialize."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep everyone entertained. A visitor at Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area said, "We kayaked around the lake and enjoyed the natural setting."
  • Pack Essentials: Bring along games and outdoor toys. One parent at Starved Rock Campground mentioned, "The campground is great for kids with plenty of space to run around."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Comlara County Park said, "The sites are nicely spaced, but some are tight for larger RVs."
  • Electric Hookups: Look for campgrounds with electric hookups, like Camp Bullfrog Lake. One camper noted, "The campground has nicely spaced sites with electric hookups."
  • Dump Stations: Ensure there are dump stations available. A visitor at Paul Wolff Campground mentioned, "There is a dump station on site and potable water available."

Camping near Ottawa, IL, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking adventure. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Ottawa, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ottawa, IL is Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 99 reviews.

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