Equestrian camping opportunities near Paris, Illinois remain limited compared to general camping facilities. Located in east-central Illinois, the area sits primarily on flat to gently rolling terrain with elevations ranging from 500-650 feet above sea level. Campers experience a typical Midwest continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters, making late spring and early fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
What to do
Hiking challenging trails: Turkey Run State Park offers varied hiking experiences with multiple difficulty levels. One camper notes, "We hiked Trail 3, which has the ladders, and parts of trail 10, 4, and 2. Trail 10 was nothing special but was relatively flat" while another mentions, "On one trail part of it went through box canyons up an active, though trickling, stream bed."
Water recreation: Sugar Creek provides seasonal opportunities for paddling at Turkey Run Canoe & Camping. A visitor shares, "Did a nice kayaking loop using their service. Had everything you needed, very chill experience." Another camper confirms, "Sugar Creek is also great for floating with inner tubes, canoes, or kayaks."
Fishing: Oblong Park and Lake offers accessible fishing opportunities in a community setting. A camper describes it as having a "Great Lake for fishing" while another mentions a "Nice paced walking path around the lake" that circles the fishing area.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards remain high at most area campgrounds. At Turkey Run State Park, a camper reports, "The bathrooms were super clean and the showers were hot with good water pressure." Similarly, at Mill Creek Park, visitors appreciate the "super clean" grounds.
Privacy options: Wooded sites provide more seclusion than open areas. One Turkey Run visitor advises, "Get a wooded site" and elaborates: "We were in a wooded section and it was pretty private however our site was pretty sloped. Next time I would probably pick the site on either side of 167." Another camper notes, "The open, grassy area sites don't offer any privacy. If that's what you're looking for, try to get a wooded site on the outsides that back up to woods."
Reasonable rates: Camping costs remain affordable at public facilities. For example, one reviewer notes, "Price per night is $10 that includes electric and water only" at Oblong Park and Lake, while another mentions that Turkey Run State Park was "reasonably priced" with electric sites at "$23 per night."
What you should know
Site selection challenges: Many campsites have terrain irregularities that affect setup. At Turkey Run State Park Campground, a camper explains, "The site was clean and well equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. The site is very uneven. It definitely sloops to the back corner. It's was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end."
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife may approach campsites. One Turkey Run camper warns, "Watch out for the raccoons. Those guys are not afraid of anything."
Crowding considerations: Popular areas become congested during peak periods. A visitor advises, "In order to avoid crowds on the trails, we got there Thursday night so we could hike Friday morning / early afternoon" and notes they were "super glad we had been canoeing all day instead of fighting crowds at the park" on Saturday.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple play areas: Family-friendly facilities exist at several locations. At Oblong Park and Lake, a camper notes there's a "Large park area with multiple playgrounds" and even a "Fenced in dog play area" for family pets.
Corner sites for extra space: Strategic site selection provides room for children to play. One visitor to Turkey Run State Park shares, "We had site 94, which was right next to the bathhouse. It had almost a whole extra campsite's worth of space next to it for my kids to run around."
Consider trail difficulty: Not all trails accommodate young children equally. A Turkey Run hiker observes, "There are lots of inclines and steps, not much of it was extremely easy hiking, but we did see lots of families with kids doing just fine."
Tips from RVers
Hookup sharing: Be prepared for shared utility connections. At Turkey Run Canoe & Camping, a camper cautions, "The electric is shared with another site which could be a problem if you have the same type of service since there is only one 50 amp, one 30 amp, and one 20 amp service per hook up."
Size constraints: Research site dimensions before arrival. A visitor to Turkey Run Canoe & Camping mentions, "The sites are difficult to get into and although they allow one car on the site there is barely room for that one car" while another notes their "34' travel trailer fit nicely."
Water fill logistics: Plan for water access challenges at some locations. A camper at Turkey Run Canoe & Camping explains, "There is portable water at the entrance but the road coming and going to the campsite is only wide enough for one rig and you will block traffic while you are filling up."
