Are you planning a trip to Palos Park with your RV? We've got you covered. Finding a place to camp in Illinois with your RV is easier than ever. Search nearby RV campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Fox Bluff Vacation Cottage and RV Resort spans over a mile of frontage on the Fox River, is 52 miles from downtown Chicago. It is just minutes to Yorkville and Oswego, both with great restaurants and attractions including Illinois largest waterpark Raging Waves. Snuggled between a soaring canopy of 80-foot trees, lies Fox Bluff's resort style pool, 20 person hot tub, hilltop cabanas and a 100 ft pavilion replete with fans, music and a poolside big screen TV. Post pool time, spend some quality time in our two clubhouses - The Fun House and The Social House. The Fun House has ping pong, pool tables, bags and big screens, while the more formal Social House, kept pleasant with AC, can host events or just chill and watch TV or play cards. In need of some action? - Get active on our newly minted pickleball court, basketball court or volleyball court or simply head out for a walk and explore our 160 acres of extensive paths. Fox Bluff is focused on your well being and provides a relaxing atmosphere in a tranquil natural setting while spending time with family and friends. Come visit us at the Bluff and discover your new home away from home.
$65 - $95 / night
Conveniently located along I-80, our Love's RV Hookup-Morris IL 859 provides the RV traveler with a safe, clean and well-maintained place to stop for the night as you travel across the country. Our reservation and check in process makes booking a site quick and convenient. Guests can make reservations, pay and check in or out on their own devices or at the designated Kiosk located on site, providing an automated and contactless experience that quickly gets you back on the road to your destination. With full hook-ups at every site, including Wi-Fi and 30-Amp and 50-Amp service, water and sewer hookups, we also offer more amenities than any other national travel stop network.
$37 / night
Conveniently located along I-65 at Exit 230, our Love's RV Stop-Demotte IN 394 provides the RV traveler with a safe, clean and well-maintained place as you travel across the country. Our reservation and check in process makes booking a site quick and convenient. Guests can make reservations, pay and check in or out on their own devices or at the designated Kiosk located on site, providing an automated and contactless experience.
$35 - $599 / night
Open year round!! Our RV park and campground contains small lakes and beautiful forestry. We welcome campers and Rvs for short term stays. We have full hookup sites including electric (30 and 50 amp), septic and water. Primitive sites are also available for year round or seasonal
Fox Bluff Vacation Cottage and RV Resort spans over a mile of frontage on the Fox River, is 52 miles from downtown Chicago and is just minutes to Yorkville and Oswego, both with great restaurants. Snuggled between a soaring canopy of 80-foot trees, lies Fox Bluff's resort style pool, 20 person hot tub, hilltop cabanas and a 100 ft pavilion replete with fans, music and a poolside big screen TV. Post pool time, spend some quality time in our two clubhouses - The Fun House and The Social House. The Fun House has ping pong, pool tables, bags and big screens, while the more formal Social House, kept pleasant with AC, can host events or just chill and watch TV or play cards. In need of some action? - Get active on our newly minted pickleball court, basketball court or volleyball court or simply head out for a walk and explore our 160 acres of extensive paths. Fox Bluff is focused on your well being and provides a relaxing atmosphere in a tranquil natural setting while spending time with family and friends. Come visit us at the Bluff and discover your new home away from home.
$75 - $90 / night
Lake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family-owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago. The camp is 120 acres of natural beauty on the banks of the Kankakee River. The wooded habitat abounds with fish, wildlife, and native plants, and we offer many amenities for recreation and relaxation. The Kwak family has been serving our camping friends for over 50 years. Please join us for recreational vehicle camping in this scenic, peaceful, and friendly setting. We’re open April 15 to October 15, with sites available nightly through seasonal stays. Please explore our web pages, then contact or visit us if you have questions.
$33 - $43 / night
Traveler
We stayed in the Chippewa Campground in early October.
Pros:
- Large trees provided a high shade canopy and an open feel
- Well maintained open-grass layout
- Spacious campsites, similar to other IL State Parks we've stayed at
- Quiet (when we visited)
- Boat ramp is accessible via trail or a short drive away
- Another boat ramp about 3 miles downriver makes a gorgeous through-paddle possible
- Many miles (7ish?) of riverside paved trail for jogging, walking, or biking adjacent to campsite
Cons:
- We liked no brush because it gave the campground an open feel. But if you were looking for privacy, you won't get it from the layout
- Some sites had fewer trees than others and might not be able to accommodate e.g. hammocks, market lights, etc. We picked one with a good setup of surrounding trees
- BYO watercraft, no watercraft concession
- No riverside campsites a-la Illini State Park etc
Overall: Great state park to serve as a base for a point-to-point paddle. Great fall colors.
Legend
OK, let’s put the most important thing here in perspective – you’re in north central Illinois and there should be absolutely no reason to find a beach anywhere in this state apart from a few select places bordering Lake Michigan – other than this, finding a proper beachhead is impossible. Yet, here at Hi-Tide Campground, the sandy beach is exactly what you’ll find and what a great time it is for the whole family, complete with all of the many on-water distractions and entertainment options this place offers from sand castle building, waterslide, ‘moonwalk,’ ice berg, which is a 15’ climbing wall in the center of the lake, water trampoline, log roll, rocket balls, floaties, innertubes as well as floating ‘lilly pads’ and shallow waters for the young kids. Let’s just say, in the heat and humidity of a Midwest summer, Hi-Tide offers a really great respite with this toy-packed lake refuge.
As for the campground, upon entry, you will have no other choice but to head straight to the main lodge where you will check-in. Here you’ll meet the crew that run this place as well as see the market that’s here offering up just about anything you could think of while you are camping (ice, propane, s’mores ice cream, chips, soda, water toys, firewood, fishing supplies, RV maintenance items and campground gear), along with an arcade complete with video games as well as air hockey, foosball and billiards. Behind the market, you’ll discover both pedal carts for rent as well as a pretty decent 9-hole mini-golf course that has recently been upgraded. There’s also a picnic area back here, lakeside deck, fishing dock, further afield as well as an in-ground community heated pool and playground just in front of the main office. The on-site restroom and shower facilities are first-rate offering sparkling clean and well-maintained showers, toilets and even baby changing stations. There’s even an on-site laundr-O-mat located right near the shower / restroom facilities with 4 sets of coin-operated washers and dryers. On-site, you’ll find a proper dump station as well as designated dumpsters throughout the entire property. A handful of reservable small (no electric, 60 people max) and large (electric, 80 people+) are offered for rent at $50/day and $100/day respectively as well as very small ½ mile hiking loop that follows the Little Indian Creek, which is kind of a joke, but hey, it’s a nice stroll. Like most entertainment-themed campgrounds like Hi-Tide, every week has a theme, there’s planned activities like bingo and hayrides and disco parties to keep both young and old alike busy and entertained.
In short, what’s the upside to being here at Hi-Tide? Well, if you have a young family and are looking for a lot of distractions and planned activities that allows you to enjoy a fairly mindless planning experience that you can either participate in with the kids or just let them run wild and do their thing, well then, Hi-Tide has you covered in spades. Nobody is going to get bored in this place! Downside? While it is true that you are out in the middle of nowhere, which has a semblance of feeling as though you are engaging in nature, with all of the entertainment and distractions that you will discover here, along with arguably the biggest downside – the place is completely overrun with management packing in RVs and 5th Wheelers as close to each other as possible – it will be actually pretty difficult to truly commune with nature. This is a campground campus that packs RVs in pretty snug, while feigning at offering tent campers some nice flat land to pitch a tent, and for those that don’t have either, you can still rent a cabin. But make no mistake about this place, you are in a little ‘camping city’ and everywhere you go, you’ll have endless options to distract you and keep you entertained, as well as being overwhelmed by the sheer sense of over-crowdedness. So, if you want peace and quiet and some really pristine moments with nature and wildlife, this really isn’t going to be the place you want to call home for a night or two under the stars.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) When you get tired of rustling up beans & franks for dinner and want to try out some local fare, you’ll have to drive a decent distance from here to get to anything, let alone of quality. The closest place you could consider is Somonauk, located on 34 just continuing due east where there’s just a few joints: Hot Diggity Dogs, Rambo’s Bar & Grill where Uncle Milty’s Pizza Palace is located right next door to, but the standout favorite in town is Country Kitchen for down-home Midwestern comfort food; (2) If you have any form of watercraft, you won’t really be able(or want) to use it here on the small lake that Hi-Tide has, especially with all the kids swimming, but nearby and just east is Lake Holiday which makes for a very great place to dip your kayak, canoe or outboard in; (3) For kicking back and enjoying some drinks, I highly recommend Tin Roof Tavern right on 34, where Teeks serves ‘em up strong, there’s a juke playing good tunes and even a mechanical bull riding, but was unfortunately not working when we were there; and (4) If you are looking for a real outdoors encounter with nature that may (or may not) include camping, give Shabbona Lake State Park a visit – it’s only 20– 25 minutes from Hi-Tide and has everything, whether that’s fishing, hunting, hiking, biking or kayaking – you’ll be amazed at what you have so nearby.
Happy Camping!
Legend
Not much has changed since my previous visit to this self-acclaimed 'four star campground.' As my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update:
Highlights: (1) Close proximity to I80 provides access to this CG in under 10 minutes; (2) There’s a number of amenities here like an inground pool, general store, arcade, playground, laundry and restroom / shower facilities, although most amenities need some TLC; (3) The CG community here is simply massive, yet friendly; (4) A small catch & release pond; (5) Decent hiking can be had nearby at Starved Rock, Matthiessen and Buffalo Rock SPs; (6) Solid kayaking and canoeing can be accessed nearby in the Illinois River
Lowlights: (1) This CG could use some TLC with some areas in need of actual repair; (2) Some of the RV and trailer overnighters here appear to be professional workers who commute and / or are more LT residents; (3) Given the massive size of this RV park, complete with 5-6 different ‘neighborhoods,’ it is both busy and noisy; (4) Designated tent camping is separated from the RV/ trailer tribe and makes one feel more like a 2nd class citizen; (5) Residents are very visual and vocal about their political beliefs
Happy Camping!
Scout
Staff was extremely helpful as this was our first trip with the new camper. Was very quiet. Clean shower and bathroom.
Guide
Camp Sullivan offers a charming and well-maintained space for campers of all kinds, from tent enthusiasts to RV travelers like us. All the RV sites here are back in, and while they are tight, they are certainly manageable. We brought our 36-foot RV, the Badger, and although it barely fit, we were able to position it close enough to the power box by choosing not to extend the slide. This turned out to be a smart decision, considering the timbers that line the gravel surface of the site. These timbers add a bit of a challenge when maneuvering a larger rig, and in our case, (note to staff) removing the timber closest to the road would have made things much easier.
Each RV site is equipped with 15, 30, and 50-amp electrical connections, though it’s worth noting that there’s no water or sewer available at individual sites. As a result, water conservation becomes essential. The bathrooms here, however, are clean and well-kept, which is always appreciated, especially after a few days without on-site water. There is also a stainless steel sink for use in front of the RV area's bathroom where you can do dishes.
Security at Camp Sullivan feels solid, and while there is some noise, it wasn’t disruptive. We stayed over a weekend, and though there was a lively group in the group campsite Saturday night, they respectfully wrapped up their activities by quiet hours, ensuring a peaceful night's sleep.
The roads throughout the campground are in good condition, and the trees aren’t a concern for your RV clearance. In addition to RV sites, Camp Sullivan offers a range of accommodations for all kinds of campers. There are small rental cabins, large bunkhouses for group camping, and plenty of tent sites spread across the grounds. We didn’t have the chance to check out the"Barn" yet, but it’s a major feature here, housing a climbing wall and concessions.
We also noticed staff busy cleaning the bunkhouse areas and taking care of trash removal, even on a quiet Sunday. Everyone we encountered was friendly and added to the overall positive vibe of the place. Camp Sullivan is an excellent spot for a weekend getaway or an extended stay, (up to six days allowed) with plenty of amenities and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s a place where we feel comfortable and cared for, with just the right balance of adventure and relaxation.
Scout
We booked a month stay but weren’t able to stay over 2 weeks because water is so horrible. Our cat got diarrhea, clothes got ruined, you can’t even make tea with that water. But everything else was good. Nice helpful staff, clean, quiet rv park.
Guide
Lovely area and there’s so many beach areas nearby. Not on the lake but close! Best hike nearby is Mount Baldy! It’s short and you have the beach to yourself!
ScoutConvenient to Indiana dunes, each site is easily accessible and spacious. The facilities are fairly clean and showers are available though we didn’t use them. Would recommend as a stop over. As a solo female traveler I felt safe.
Traveler
Can get a little crowded ar times
TravelerAdvertised as $25 a night, but you must have an Indiana Dunes park pass, which is only good for this specific park. Site was fine, facilities were decent.
Traveler
Beautiful spot, very peaceful. We’ve been here for 3 months. There are two lakes, catch and release fishing. A small beach with a snack shack. Well run and maintained. Reasonably priced
Ranger
I somehow booked a different campground- website was confusing apparently. However the worker was so helpful and found me a spot anyway. Sites are kind of small so not a lot of space for big big campers. Cute lake and relatively quiet. Odd though that when I asked questions like where can we fill water and if they had a park map I got looked at like I had 3 heads.
Traveler
Sites are very close. You can watch the traffic on the highway from your camper.No picnic table, no firing, bathroom and showers were clean. Thought it strange that you needed a combination to get in the bathroom.Seems like most people live there. With a few sites for People passing through. If you’re looking for a place to park for the night and take a shower this is all I would recommend this place for
Legend
Fueled up here and realized it was a loves rv overnight. Easy in and out with all the basics plus a nice convenient store and fuel.
ScoutThis is a nice national park campground and has all that you would expect from that, but the mosquitos here are insane!!! I came back with giant welts from the bites even with bug spray on. I honestly couldn’t wait to leave!
ScoutSites are ok. Very close together. Traffic from I-80 is loud. Staff is very nice. Cleanest campground bathrooms I’ve ever seen.
TravelerThis was a very nicely managed site. All services you might want, even showers. Our spot wasn’t very closed off from other sites, and you’re not likely to get much privacy here
Traveler
This was our first time camping tryout and we had a blast. It is deep enough in the forest preserve to feel like camping but is not far from our home, which allows for a quick getaway. The campsite was very clean and the staff/ranger nice and knowledgeable. The ranger offers evening entertainment for the kiddos and during our stay, blew gigantic bubbles for the kids to chase around.
The toilets on the loops are vault and the ones by the main entrance are flush. Didn't use the showers on this trip but both facilities were well maintained and clean.
As other reviewers said, since it is in the forest preserve, the gates close an hour after sunset and reopen at sunrise. The ranger did cruise through the sites to make a formal announcement so that visitors could leave. It is also close to a main road and you could easily hear cars passing by throughout the night. We will definitely be revisiting as a quick getaway spot.
GuideNice Privat Spot and lots of Shade, Train is on Duty all Night Paid $12.50 with my Senior Discount 👍
Legend
Welcome to Illini SP and hopefully before you read this review, you will have learned that there is not 1, but 2 campgrounds to choose from, so pay attention if you want to select the right one for your camping outdoor nature blissful experience. Regardless of either campground that you might chose, the area that you find yourself in is quite special, from both an historical perspective as it was in this Illinois Valley that the French traded with Native Americans, chiefly (pun intended) in these parts that means the Illiniwek or Illini for short. Hence, no matter where you might stray, you’ll come across a litany of either indigenous Native American or French named towns, such as the small town of Marseilles, which is just across the river from Illini SP, and because you are in Illinois and not France, you must purposefully mispronounce (those 2 ll's are hard, like the L in Lumber, versus the Latin version, which would have you pronouncing those 2 ll's like a Y).
And while you could make an argument for staying at either one of these two campgrounds here at Illini SP – that would be a choice of either Whitetail to the west or Grand Falls to the east – the short and the quick of it all would be this:
If you are tent camping, choose Whitetail (west).
If you have an RV or 5th Wheel, choose Grand Falls (east).
Don’t have time to read anything further? Then take it from me, if you follow my sage advice, you won’t be disappointed. But hey, if you’ve got time and want to read some of the finer points of these 2 campgrounds, then read on.
Let’s get down to brass tacks. The major differences between these 2 campgrounds? There’s essentially 3 noteworthy points that you should give consideration to.
First, let’s highlight the view. While both campgrounds offer close proximity to the Illinois River, you will be challenged to actually see the river from Whitetail, unless you head far west on Hawk Road where there is a separate picnic area complete with an in-ground fire pit, stand-up BBQ grills, picnic tables, designated fishing areas and bathroom facilities that have sweeping views of the mighty Illinois River. Over at Grand Falls, you’ll have magestic riverfront views of the same river, but you can do so from the comforts of your actual campsite (unlike over at Whitetail), providing you are lucky enough to book any of the sites numbered 003– 018.
Second, let’s talk about amenities. Grand Falls has more sites with full hook-ups, so if you are in an RV or 5th Wheel, me thinks that having all of the usual amenities like water, electric and sewage might be important. If you are a tent-pitching member of my tribe, we actually prefer‘ less is more’ and are less reliant upon such amenities, making Whitetail the better choice for tent campers.
Third, let’s consider the ambiance. While both offer up their own amenities and access to some pretty great hiking trails, Grand Falls is clearly the busier and much larger of the two campgrounds, where I would also add, apart from a smaller loop, the vast majority of camping areas here are wide open offerings with not so much privacy. You’ll experience much richer areas of privacy, solitude and much less noise along with a healthier dose of P&Q over at Whitetail.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If ‘getting dirty’ is on the menu, then head on over to The Cliffs Insane Terrain Off-Road Park, which is pure fun for both kids and adults alike, but be sure to wear that helmet as it does get bumpy!; (2) At $10 per night for type ‘C’ primitive camping and $20 per night for the deluxe well-paved and connected accommodations, either campground here at Illini SP are some of the most inexpensive campgrounds you’ll come across here in the Prairie State; (3) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or on-board mini-fridge, fret not, there’s some really decent restaurants around this area of which I highly recommend the following: Snug Harbor Marina or Bobaluk’s Beef & Pizza; Further afield, of which you’ll have to trust me, is completely worth the drive: I highly recommend Lone Buffalo for its fish & chips followed by any one of their local micro-brews, which in particular, I prefer the lager; (4) Should you come towing canoe or kayak, you’ll definitely want to take a spin in the Illinois River, wherein I HIGHLY recommend heading westward towards Buffalo Rock SP and, if you have time, even further west the ever amazing, Starved Rock SP.
Happy Camping!
Scout
"Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week. The location was perfect for a peaceful retreat, and the amenities provided everything we needed for a comfortable and enjoyable visit. The kids had a blast with the available activities, and it was the ideal setting for our family to come together and create lasting memories. The staff was exceptionally friendly and went above and beyond to ensure our stay was pleasant. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a family-friendly getaway!"
Legend
OK, let’s put the most important thing here in perspective – you are in north central Illinois and there should be absolutely no reason to find a beach anywhere in this state apart from a few select places bordering Lake Michigan, right? Other than this, finding a proper beachhead is impossible. Yet, here at Hi-Tide Recreation, the sandy beach is exactly what you’ll find and what a great time it is for the whole family, complete with all of the many on-water distractions and entertainment options this place offers from sand castle building, waterslide, ‘moonwalk,’ ice berg (a 15’ climbing wall in the center of the lake), water trampoline, log roll, rocket balls, floaties, inner-tubes as well as floating ‘lilly pads’ and shallow waters for the young kids. Let’s just say, in the heat and humidity of a Midwest summer, Hi-Tide offers a really great respite with this toy-packed lake refuge.
As for the campground, upon entry, you will have no other choice but to head straight to the main lodge where you will check-in. Here you’ll meet the crew that run this place as well as see the market that’s here, offering up just about anything you could think of (and quite a bit of what you didn't imagine) while you are camping: ice, propane, s’mores, ice cream, chips, soda, water toys, firewood, fishing supplies, RV maintenance items and campground gear. You'll also discover an arcade complete with video games as well as air hockey, foosball and billiards.
Behind the market, you’ll find both pedal carts for rent as well as a pretty decent 9-hole mini-golf course that has recently been upgraded. There’s also a picnic area back here, lakeside deck, fishing dock, further afield as well as an in-ground community heated pool and playground just in front of the main office. The on-site restroom and shower facilities are first-rate, offering sparkling clean and well-maintained showers, toilets and even baby changing stations. There’s also an on-site laundr-O-mat located right near the shower / restroom facilities with 4 sets of coin-operated washers and dryers. On-site, you’ll find a proper dump station as well as designated dumpsters throughout the entire property. A handful of reservable small pavilions (no electric, 60 people max) and large (electric, 80 people+) are offered for rent at $50/day and $100/day respectively as well as a very small ½ mile hiking loop that follows the Little Indian Creek, which is kind of a joke, but hey, it’s a nice stroll.
Like most entertainment-themed campgrounds like Hi-Tide, every week has a theme, so there’s planned activities like bingo, hayrides and disco parties to keep both young and old alike busy and entertained. In short, what’s the upside to being here at Hi-Tide? Well, if you have a young family and are looking for a lot of distractions and planned activities that allows you to enjoy a fairly mindless planning experience that you can either participate in with the kids or just let them run wild and do their thing, well then, Hi-Tide has you covered in spades. Nobody is going to get bored in this place!
Downside? While it is true that you are out in the middle of nowhere, which has a semblance of feeling as though you are engaging in nature, with all of the entertainment and distractions that you will discover here, along with arguably the biggest downside – the place is completely overrun with management packing in RVs and 5th Wheelers as close to each other as possible – it will be actually pretty difficult to truly commune with nature. This is a campground campus that packs RVs in pretty snug, while feigning at offering tent campers some nice flat land to pitch a tent, and for those that don’t have either, you can still rent a cabin. But make no mistake about this place, you are in a little ‘camping city’ and everywhere you go, you’ll have endless options to distract you and keep you entertained, as well as being overwhelmed by the sheer sense of over-crowdedness. So, if you want peace and quiet and some really pristine moments with nature and wildlife, this really isn’t going to be the place you want to call home for a night or two under the stars.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) When you get tired of rustling up beans & franks for dinner and want to try out some local fare, you’ll have to drive a decent distance from here to get to anything, let alone of quality. The closest place you could consider is Somonauk, located on 34 just continuing due east where there’s just a few joints: Hot Diggity Dogs, Rambo’s Bar & Grill where Uncle Milty’s Pizza Palace is located right next door too, but the standout favorite in town is Country Kitchen for down-home Midwestern comfort food; (2) If you have any form of watercraft, you won’t really be able (or want) to use it here on the small lake that Hi-Tide has, especially with all the kids swimming, but nearby and just east is Lake Holiday which makes for a very great place to dip your kayak, canoe or outboard in; (3) For kicking back and enjoying some drinks, I highly recommend Tin Roof Tavern right on 34, where Teeks serves ‘em up strong, there’s a juke playing good tunes and even a mechanical bull riding, but was unfortunately not working when we were there; and (4) If you are looking for a real outdoors encounter with nature that may (or may not) include camping, give Shabbona Lake State Park a visit – it’s only 20–25 minutes from Hi-Tide and has everything, whether that’s fishing, hunting, hiking, biking or kayaking – you’ll be amazed at what you have so nearby.
Happy Camping!
Legend
Located just 5 minutes south of I80, which is one of the busiest highways that runs east– west through Illinois and just a couple stone’s throws north of the mighty Illinois River, you’ll find Glenwood RV Resort located on the outskirts of the very small Midwestern town of Marseilles (specifically mispronounced so as not be confused with its actual French origins, brought here by the French fur traders in the 1500 and 1600’s). While Glenwood sits on some 100+ acres with ample space for anyone hauling a 5th wheeler, driving an RV or wanting to pitch a tent, there’s lots of grassy areas to set up camp just about anywhere you look.
What struck me as somewhat odd, although you do find this in a few campgrounds around these parts as opposed to the recreational nature of what most people think about when camping, there were quite a few seasonal residents here along with large swaths of blue-collar workers that seem to make camping here more of a residential choice. If you arrive to this place and are somewhat put off by the less than polished first impressions you will encounter, as was I, just check in here at the office and keep heading north into the campground where you will see it opens up to a pretty nice suite of amenities as well as two distinct campground neighborhoods – the center ridge and the north ridge – of which you will find some 140 or so RV parking spots.
For mi tent-pitching bredren, keep on heading north to the Outback, where you’ll come to fresh green spots perfect for setting up your camp underneath the Midwestern starry night. As far as amenities go, there’s quite a bit: horseshoe pits, catch & release pond, covered pavilions, kitchen, telephone area, shower/ restroom facilities, game room, 2 kid’s playground, trading post, swimming lake, in-ground pool and kid’s pool with outdoor deck, tennis court, baseball diamond, volleyball and basketball court as well as an entertainment area / stage. The RV slots are full hook-ups offering 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage and there is a designated dump station upon entry / exit of the property (near the front entrance) where you will also discover horse stables for rent that come with access to a nearby horse pasture.
Insider’s tips? Sure, here's a few: (1) While this wouldn’t be my first choice for an overnight outdoor camping adventure, in a pinch, it’s not bad with all of the amenities, proximity to Illinois River and overall affordability; (2) If you come to this area to do some hiking, you’re in great luck as there are quite a number of really great state parks nearby to check out, including Starved Rock, Matthiessen and Illini; (3) Should you want to go spinning on your bike, there’s great long flat and scenic trails all along the I&M Canal corridor that parallels Illinois River and which passes right in front of Buffalo Rock SP; (4) When you get tired of trying to conjure the next meal from the depths of your on-board mini-fridge or bear-proof, goat-clawed Cordova cooler, then nearby Marseilles will have a few joints to consider, from Ziggy’s which is like a diner, Illini Lounge and Snug Harbor Marina, which has a nice view of the Illinois River – but if you want truly an exceptional meal, head a bit further west to Ottawa to Lone Buffalo which is a micro-brewery and gastropub, of which I highly recommend the fish & chips.
Happy Camping!
Traveler
This is actually our second visit here. It’s only 20 minutes from our home, so we expect to come back many times. It’s a unique location about .5 miles from the actual beach and there’s a path/boardwalk that takes you right there. This is one of the few state parks that has a year-round heated bathroom with shower, so even with our popup camper we were able to take advantage of the decent weather for our first trip of the year. Sites are decent sized and have asphalt driveways with concrete pads. Sites are electric only, but there’s several water fills, even in winter. Very popular campground so you do have to book well in advance during regular season. Be aware that because it shares an entrance to the state park beach, entering on a summer Saturday or summer Sunday can take upwards of 45 minutes or more.
Legend
Out of the barren, desolate field after field drive-by wasteland that is the Illinois countryside, at least in late Autumn / early Winter, you’ll be heading down winding roads with all sorts of twists and switchbacks before arriving to Deer Creek Campground. What I love most about this cleverly hidden natural outpost is that if you don’t know where you are going and don’t have this destination in mind, you will never find it. And I bet the very great people here at Deer Creek had that in mind when they purchased this land from nearby Mallard Bend Campground, but that’s likely a story for another day.
As for this hidden camping outpost, located somewhere south of Sandwich, whose main highway artery is 34, east of Sheridan, which is a tiny town I had never heard of before and due west of a hamlet called Millington, which is nothing short of purely residential, you’ll follow E 2750th Road south from 34 until you hit N 4351st Road, right as the road bends on a 45 degree curve, where you’ll head east until you come to your first possible right, about 200 yards give or take, where you’ll turn in, on gravel nonetheless, so drive slow, where after 100 yards, you’ll hang a left (do not go straight, or you’ll be visiting Mallard Bend Campground) and follow the gravel road till its completion. Here, there’s a guard station and gate where you’ll check-in. After doing so, you’ll have about 2 dozen spots to park your RV at.
Regarding the spaces themselves, they are large, tree-lined and completely surrounded by some of the most lovely people I have ever met while out in these parts camping. There is but a single lane with ample space on either side of this lane to park any size of RV or 5th wheeler. Unlike most of Illinois, the land here does slant sideways a bit, but at least where the gravel RV slabs are at, you’ll have to problems setting up on fairly flat land. All of the traditional hook-ups (30 / 50 electric amp, water, sewage) are available, along with a designated dump site. Beyond this, there are no other amenities per se, so those RVs outfitted with their own bathrooms and showers are better suited for this particular location. As for tent camping, this isn’t really the place for it as the place has been specifically designed for the wheeled camper in mind. Here, you’ll find all sorts of RVers that have parked for what looks to be an entire season, if not in some cases, for the whole year.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you come bearing watercraft, you’re in a lot of luck as just due south, you’ll have easy access to the Fox River – and if you can bribe your way onto Mallard Bend Campground, I’ve been told they have an excellent launch; (2) Thinking about fishing and don’t know where to go? Head back from whence you came to Lake Holiday, where there’s no shortage of great places to cast a line from to do some decent catch & release fishing for the likes of blue gill; and (3) When you get tired of opening up your onboard fridge trying to figure out that next meal, then head west to Sheridan to Old Mill Tavern, which on the weekends has an amazing fried chicken dinner or try out Calico Café, which has a pretty amazing breakfast spread; and (4) Looking for somewhere to kick back and throw some shine down? Then head on over to nearby Millington, where you have two options: Jimbo’s Place and The Last Chance Saloon – and if it were me, I would visit them in that particular order!
Happy Camping!
Legend
As we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch.
If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs.
As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location.
If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo.
Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
Traveler
Loved everything about this place. The staff is so helpful, well maintained, nice trail system. We tent camped on site #1 and would definitely book that spot again. We also came back last weekend and stayed in one of the large cabins- game changer in the winter! It’s a perfect spot for a weekend away from Chicago, will definitely be back.
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