Best Campgrounds near Pecatonica, IL

Join the fun near Pecatonica. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Illinois camping has to offer. Discover great camping spots near Pecatonica, reviewed by campers like you.

Best Camping Sites Near Pecatonica, Illinois (96)

    1. Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    81 Reviews
    Machesney Park, IL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 885-3311

    $12 - $50 / night

    "Normal Illinois state park. Not a lot of services but good size sites and peaceful. Lake with canoe rentals and fishing. Nice walking trails."

    ", with Highway 173 to the west and Harlem Road to the east."

    2. Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve

    7 Reviews
    Pecatonica, IL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 877-6100

    $15 - $25 / night

    "This is a nice campground that winds around through some light woods. Campsites have electric hookups. There are certainly lots of picnic tables. We saw more than one per site."

    " Off the beaten path, most people who come to this area will likely go to the much larger and better known Rock Cut State Park."

    3. Sugar River Forest Preserve

    10 Reviews
    Durand, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 877-6100

    "The Pecatonica river is nearby as well. A good day trip is Monroe, Wisconsin, home of the National Cheese Museum and Alp & Dell Chees works, a great place to shop for chees lovers."

    "There are very tall trees around the entire campground giving you some respite from the sun and the heat.  The bath house is easily within walking distance from anywhere in the campground. "

    4. Lowden State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Oregon, IL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 732-6828

    $10 - $20 / night

    "I found spot 70 that was away from most of the others. We heard no main road noise but did hear people passing us by. Even though someone camped right across from me, we really didn't see each other."

    "Lots of good trees around for hammocking, especially at B38. Short walk to the shower and stall building."

    5. White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Mount Morris, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 946-3717

    "Easy drive up style. Picnic tables and fire pits on site. Bathrooms and dumpster close by. River that is walk and drive through!"

    "Much quieter and more peaceful than the more crowded counterparts and perfect for camping with small children because the bathrooms are always close by and it’s actually quiet at night when they need to"

    6. Blackhawk Valley Campground

    9 Reviews
    Rockford, IL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 671-1125

    "Although a 15 minute drive from the main highway, this campground makes it worth it. Beautiful green common areas and a creek with small Sandy area below."

    "Active tent campers next to us and a lot (a lot) of seasonal permanent RV’s all very nicely appointed."

    7. Crazy Horse Campground

    15 Reviews
    Evansville, WI
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 897-2207

    "Being right in front of the jumping pillow people didn’t walk around. They would cut thru our site."

    "We made this trip mid-May during the Covid social distancing. The camp ground was on point with their preparedness. Check in was simply pull into your site or a brief stop at registration."

    8. Sugar Shores RV Resort

    3 Reviews
    Durand, IL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 629-2568

    9. Hononegah Forest Preserve

    7 Reviews
    Rockton, IL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 877-6100

    $11 - $31 / night

    "The bulk of the primitive campsites are located on the western side of the campground near the river’s edge, while those sites offering up electric and closer access to running water are located mostly"

    "Hike trail (path rather) was a great little scenic walk. Was going to upload some photos but the app wouldn't allow me to."

    10. Lake Louise RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    Stillman Valley, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 234-8483
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Recent Reviews near Pecatonica, IL

641 Reviews of 96 Pecatonica Campgrounds


  • Sam B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground

    Loud, crowded.

    I don't think we'll be back. The best part about the whole experience was the crazy road that leads to the overlooks. The campground is stacked close together, there's no signs for directing you towards sites, no place to put garbage, only a couple vault toilets. Never did see the shower house, but we just left the next day anyways. Loud people singing, playing music and snapping limbs till almost 4am, trains run all night. Not really my kinda place.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground

    Serene Campground with Great Amenities

    Everything about our stay was enjoyable. Campsites were spaced out well and amenities were great. Don’t forget to check out the hiking trails!

  • Kathy L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground

    Pros, cons, and Caution!

    PROS: large private sites with good space between them in a lovely wooded setting. Very nice hiking trails right from campground. Lake & pet swim area.

    CONS: no water, mosquitos. And… major CAUTION for RVs: there is an oak tree near entry with low branches and it took the AC off our friend’s fifth wheel. There is also a low hanging overpass and it took the roofs off TWO fifth wheels while we were staying there. Major damage on roof and internally - the RV had to be totaled and replaced. Terrible signage in park does not indicate height of bridge or warn about the oak tree. Our friends reported that the camp host said the park knows about these hazards but hasn’t taken care of them so she will “remind them” for their task list in November.

  • Kay K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    New Glarus State Park Campground

    Spring on our site

    There was a spring on our site! We hiked in a bit to a wooded quiet site. The toilets were clean. The playground was great. We spent the day exploring our Swiss heritage in New Glarus.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    New Glarus State Park Campground

    Great Proximity

    It is a smaller state park camping wise. There is hiking and mountain bike trails available. With direct access to the Sugar River Trail and the town of New Glarus, it is a great location as an overnight stop or home base to explore.

  • Tim L.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Chicago Northwest KOA

    Chill Vibes, quick get away from the city

    Far enough from the city lights, close enough to civilization. Cozy, small park with friendly staff and plenty of amenities. You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!

  • Ron D.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Pearl Lake

    Low Class Trailer Trashy Park

    Horrible customer service from the start. We registered online with a 35" 5th wheel for 2 nights. On checking in, we wouldn't fit in the site so the girl at the desk put us in a different site saying she couldn't escort us to our site. This was our first time being there and her excuse was they were short staffed. The street signage was very small and hard to read. Site numbers were said to be on every pedestal but they were not visible from any drive. After only a few minutes of driving around, we were astonished by all the trash and junky trailers on site. Note that if your camper is more than 10 years old, they want to first see a picture of it so as to keep their place classy. Not the case here once you have paid and are here. We call back to the office for assistance finding our site and the girl said she would have to lock the office and was hesitant about doing so but she would come out to hep us find our place. We simply asked for a refund saying we were very disappointed with the situation so far. When she told us they don't give refunds, we asked for a manager to call us back. At this point we left to find another place which we did and were at in about 30 minutes. The manager called us back offering us drinks at the bar, a premium site, tickets for kids in the bounce house, and free water craft but I and the wife were only there for 2 nights. We were not going back to that dump. She said she would have to speak with the owners about a refund but never called us back. Five days later I called several times to speak with the manager again but no call back. She did however text us saying they will not issue a refund saying the girl in the office could not leave the desk because her coworker was using the restroom. Then why did she say she couldn't leave because they were short handed? Long story short, think long and hard before you visit this trashy place. Showers were dark and dingy and smelled. The beach looked more like gravel and not pleasing. Just walking around, I couldn't get away from the awful smell of people smoking and vaping and a strong smell of pot smokers everywhere. Not at all the place we would take our grand kids ever.


Guide to Pecatonica

Camping near Pecatonica, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From scenic trails to family-friendly amenities, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.

What to do

  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the numerous trails available at Rock Cut State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "There are plenty of scenic photo opportunities especially during the fall season."
  • Fishing and Boating: Head to Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area for fishing and kayaking. A visitor shared, "We kayaked around the lake and enjoyed the natural setting."
  • Wildlife Watching: At Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground, you can spot various wildlife. One camper noted, "The hiking was beautiful and the scenery was stunning."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and shower facilities. A review for Lowden State Park Campground stated, "The campground was very clean."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many enjoy the peaceful environment. A visitor at Paul Wolff Campground mentioned, "The tent area was very quiet."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. One review for Blue Mound State Park Campground said, "The staff was very pleasant and helpful."

What you should know

  • No Alcohol Policies: Some campgrounds, like Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, have strict no alcohol rules. A camper noted, "This SP strictly enforces its ‘no alcohol’ policy."
  • Site Proximity: Campers at White Pines Forest State Park Campground mentioned that sites can be close together. One review stated, "Many of the campsites are sloped and some are sloped A LOT."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Paul Wolff Campground, do not have showers. A visitor remarked, "There are flush toilets as well as vaults that were both kept fairly clean."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for campgrounds with amenities for kids, like playgrounds. A review for Big Foot Beach State Park Campground mentioned, "Nice playground for kids."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have activities planned, such as fishing or hiking. One camper at Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground said, "The walking trails are nice and there’s a volleyball net and little playground too."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. A visitor at Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground noted, "The store is very nice and well stocked."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A review for Rock Cut State Park Campground mentioned, "The sites begin with #300 and as you circumnavigate the simple circular loop, you will pass by about 2 dozen or so slots that are nice flat paved slots."
  • Use Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds offer electric hookups. A camper at Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area shared, "They have sites with electric and sites just for tents."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Be aware of where dump stations are located. A review for Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground noted, "You will need to pass the Shower Building to access the second campground."

Camping near Pecatonica, Illinois, provides a mix of nature, family fun, and relaxation. Whether you’re in an RV or tent, there’s a spot waiting for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Pecatonica, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Pecatonica, IL is Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground with a 4-star rating from 81 reviews.