37 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options near Penfield, Illinois include established campgrounds for both tent and RV setups, with several state recreation areas providing a mix of amenities. The Harry L. Swartz Campground in Middle Fork Forest Preserve offers electric hookups across its sites and maintains shower facilities, while Kickapoo State Recreation Area provides additional camping areas with water access and hiking opportunities about 20 miles east of Penfield. Prairie Pines Campground in Rantoul features full hookup sites for RVs in a more developed setting with laundry facilities.
Several campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, though amenities vary seasonally. Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area operates primarily from May to November, while others like Kickapoo maintain facilities throughout the year. "This is a pretty lovely spot! There's 2 bars of Verizon service, a shower house with warm water and flush toilets, as well as pit toilets," noted one visitor about Harry L. Swartz Campground. Cell service varies across locations but is generally available at developed sites. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends when occupancy increases. Weather considerations include periodic heavy rainfall that can affect trail conditions and occasionally limit water activities.
The camping experience around Penfield includes opportunities for stargazing, wildlife viewing, and outdoor recreation. Middle Fork Forest Preserve has received recognition as a Dark Sky Park, making it particularly valuable for astronomy enthusiasts. One camper described it as offering "very private sites and dark skies," noting that "eagle nests" are visible from hiking trails. Fishing ponds are common features at many of the campgrounds, with Kickapoo and Middle Fork both providing multiple water bodies for angling. Noise levels vary significantly between locations, with some campers mentioning that "weekends can get pretty loud" at more popular sites, while weekday visits typically offer more solitude. Prairie Pines provides a more manicured setting with grass and trees in contrast to the more natural environments found at the state recreation areas.
"Stayed here on Dec. 10, 2021 (yes the night of all the tornadoes throughout the Illinois/Kentucky/Tennessee area), I and everyone else at the campsite got pretty lucky, we were just outside the path of"
"Great little campground in Central Illinois. Some pretty trails overlooking, beside, and sometimes through water."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Arrived on Sunday and nearly had the place to ourselves. Campgrounds are far removed from town and very quiet, large enough to feel isolated. Host sells ice and firewood for a reasonable price."
"The drive into the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve winds between a few ponds. We saw many families fishing around each of them. Once at the campground, check in with the camp host."
"It's on the outskirts of town on the old Chanute AFB. They have lovely tree coverage, it's close to lots of amenities like grocery shopping, sports complex, urgent care, quick interstate access."
"Close to Champaign, IL off I 57 is this charming, open and clean grass covered park. Large sites with full hook ups, picnic table and scattered large trees near an Air Force base."
"Stayed here 2 nights on our way to Northern Illinois, easy access off the interstate, sites are spacious, grounds are well maintained, staff was very courteous and friendly, nice lake with trail around"
"It is close to the main highway, but far enough to not be noticeable. Sites are level and in good condition. Owner greets you on entering and then guides you to your site. "
"This park has very nice hiking trails and a swimming beach. The kids had a great time, and I got to kick back and relax."
"Short drive from Chicago (3 hours?) and you are in lush forest. You have to pick the right campsite or you will have no cover and big campers on either side of you."
"But close to a good size hill. Not a grass spot. No water hookup. But would recommend. Little store has lots to offer. Gas station and good near by. Fantastic walking trails within a mile or 2 also."
from $20 - $45 / night
Check Availability"10$ a night next to a park on a slightly busy street. I pitched my tent amongst the many rv trailers and had a rest on my motorcycle trip south."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"Had AC going but could hear road noise from interstate/ nearby roads."
"I never did all of the trails but spent an afternoon hiking with a friend last summer."
"It’s also never super convenient to need to pack up just to go to a dump station but as long as your fine walking to the community restrooms, you should be fine."
from $40 - $20 / night
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TravelerGreat little campground, decently spaced spots and lots of thoughtful people in a great area. Would def come back if I go through Indiana again. The lady who works in the shack quickly changed my site to one that fits my rv after pulling in and seeing it was way too small. Thanks again ma’am!
ScoutNeeded a place to stay to watch our grandson in a baseball tournament in Rantoul IL. This campground was great. About 10 minutes away. Very quiet and peaceful.
GuideGreat little campground.
ScoutWe checked in on a Sunday and there were plenty of available sites. I believe they are first come first served this time of year(April). It’s a pretty campground with good spacing between sites. Our site was level. Backed in and checked level and it was perfect front to back, side to side, on first try. We didn’t disconnect just set the stabilizers down, as we were there for just the one night. Shower house was open and reasonably clean. The check-in office was closed and no host on site. There were envelopes at the check-in station to pay when you leave if there was no host or attendant to collect. So we picked our site and setup. Very easy and just$20, no ridiculous add-on fees like entrance fees, unlike some states that I won’t mention(Indiana, Nebraska)….
TravelerThis is one of the few campgrounds in the area open in February. We arrived after 3 pm so it was self check-in, although, for all we know there is no one there before 3 either. Check-in consists of filling out your information on an envelope and dropping it and $20 into a box. All of the buildings were locked and the water was turned off, but the electricity was still working. Only the Illini loop was open. There are no online reservations in the off-season, but finding a spot was not a problem. Only one other site was occupied.
The cement pads are great if you are pitching a tent, no rocks to worry about and perfectly level. The pads must have been added fairly recently because the outdated pictures on the website show a gravel pad. The fire ring worked well for cooking dinner as it has an adjustable height swivel grate for cooking. There was no firewood available at the entrance where it would normally be, but finding wood around is not a problem, plenty of dry wood laying on the ground nearby.
Scouti went here for a spring camporee for BSA Boy Scouts of America and i had a great time very nice place great people nice staff very very nice game room my one issue was a very very angry goose that jump scared me and my friends
GuideVery nice and quiet. Beautiful scenery with nice walking trails. Not sure if it’s due to the government shut down but when we arrived, we had to turn around and go back to the main park office in order to register instead of the little office that is at the entrance of the campground. We are only staying one night and off to our next destination.
ScoutNice quiet campground. Host was welcoming and friendly!
LegendTurkey Run State Park. Arguably one of the top 5 state parks in Indiana.
Lots of hiking opportunities, including the fabulous Trail 3 which should be a National Trail IMO. Go hike early before 10 am. This area gets crazy busy after that.
Nice nature center.
2 covered bridges.
A swimming pool in season.
A historic inn with a restaurant. You can rent cabins also.
The Lusk home has tours every Saturday in season.
The campground is a mile or so west of the entrance to the park.
Electric only. 270 sites. Water is available.
There's modern bath houses with hot showers.
We were site 218, which is technically the Turkey Hollow area. The bath house there was clean. We liked our loop for spacious sites( for a state park).
The Twin Oaks loop seemed denser.
There's a double dump near the exit. There's also one dump at the end of a loop by site 60. We were happy the other 4 campers trying to dump forgot about it!
Trail 7 access is also at the end by site 44. It's not marked on the map.
The camp store has the usual camping supplies & gift items. Ice & wood.
We enjoyed our weekend here! Even though it rained Saturday.
The camping options near Penfield, Illinois span across forest preserves, state recreation areas, and city-operated campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Situated in east-central Illinois, this area features rolling prairie terrain with elevations ranging between 650-750 feet above sea level. Camping season typically runs from April through October with summer temperatures averaging 85°F during peak months and spring rainfall affecting trail conditions.
Paddling opportunities: Kickapoo State Recreation Area offers multiple water bodies for paddling activities. "Great Trails and Paddling. Campground is super basic but the access to trails and paddling is amazing," notes Josh M. about Kickapoo State Recreation Area.
Fishing access: Most campgrounds provide fishing ponds with catch-and-release options. One visitor to D & W Lake RV Park observed the "lake behind our trailer is beautiful and can be fished Catch and Release with Blue Gill and Bass."
Hiking exploration: Trail systems range from prairie restoration paths to wooded routes. Cassandra I. from Kickapoo State Recreation Area explains: "Trails close as well as fishing areas. Large sites for camping. Deer and wildlife seen in the mornings. Really nice way to get off the grid for a second without having to go too far."
Night sky viewing: The Middle Fork area has minimal light pollution for astronomy enthusiasts. Rachel from Harry L. Swartz Campground notes, "since the campground is right next to a Dark Sky Park, stargazing is amazing if you have good weather."
Site privacy levels: Some campgrounds offer secluded sites with natural barriers. Rachel explains that at Harry L Swartz Campground, "42 - 47 had a lot of vegetation between them and were very private."
Wildlife viewing: Morning hours provide opportunities for animal sightings. At Kickapoo, Cassandra I. mentioned, "Deer and wildlife seen in the mornings."
Water activities: Several locations offer swimming beaches during summer months. Art S. describes Harry L. Swartz Campground: "There is a swimming beach and playground that were also closed for COVID."
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and shower facilities are priorities at established campgrounds. Keri W. observed that D & W Lake RV Park has "very clean restrooms/showers."
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak season. Tim F. notes about Harry L. Swartz: "Reservations were limited in 2020 due to the plandemic (cough cough) so getting a site was a bit of a task but not in previous years."
Alcohol regulations: Some campgrounds enforce strict rules against alcohol consumption. Lucas T. advises about Kickapoo State Recreation Area: "No booze signs posted, take it serious! Watched a ranger evict and entire group late in the evening for drinking."
Site conditions: Ground conditions can affect tent camping comfort. Sadie R. observed at Harry L. Swartz: "All of the campsites were pretty tight together and surfaced with gravel. That's a personal preference thing."
Wildlife encounters: Some campgrounds have persistent raccoons that target food supplies. Alli from Harry L. Swartz warns: "One very persistent raccoon: hide your food!"
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play equipment for children. Luna L. from D & W Lake RV Park notes they have "plenty of grass, Fire Pits, Playgrounds and a Dog Park."
Swimming opportunities: Beach areas provide summer recreation options for families. Sarah M. explains that at Moraine View State Recreational Area, the "swim beach is not right in campground but nearby. $3 entry for beach."
Budget-friendly options: City-managed parks offer economical camping options. Eric P. describes Gibson City South Park Municipal Campground as "$10 a night next to a park on a slightly busy street. I pitched my tent amongst the many rv trailers and had a rest on my motorcycle trip south. Not ideal for camping but a great budget option if your tired."
Weekend noise levels: Weekends tend to be busier and louder at popular campgrounds. Rachel from Harry L. Swartz notes: "The camp was entirely full and got pretty loud Saturday night, but otherwise wasn't bad."
Hookup availability: Electric hookups are standard at most sites while full-hookup options are limited. Rob G. from Kickapoo notes: "We paid only $20 for our one night stay. Big, beautiful and well maintained. We had electricity, free showers, topped off our water tank."
Site leveling concerns: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain requiring leveling equipment. Eric B. reports about Harry L. Swartz: "Some of the sites are weird and literally just along the roadside in the campground. Sites had a bit of space and growth between them so they felt a little private."
Pull-through availability: Several RV parks offer convenient pull-through sites for larger vehicles. Ricky L. describes visiting D & W Lake RV Park: "Check-in was easy, we were pre-paid, we were taken directly to our pull-thru site."
RV size considerations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. David P. notes about Kickapoo: "The RV sites are great for either rv, van, or tent camping with a lot of level ground at most sites."
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are available at the Penfield IL campground?
The camping options near Penfield feature various amenities. Friends Creek Campground offers well-tended grassy sites, impeccable picnicking areas, mowed trails to a nearby creek, and immaculate bathrooms with showers. D & W Lake RV Park provides spacious sites, well-maintained grounds, and a nice lake with a walking trail around it, making it suitable for visitors looking for more developed facilities.
Where is the Penfield campground located in Illinois?
Penfield is located in central Illinois, in Champaign County. While there isn't a specific campground named Penfield, nearby options include Prairie Pines Campground, which is situated on the outskirts of Rantoul on the former Chanute Air Force Base. This location provides convenient access to the surrounding area while still offering a peaceful camping environment with tree coverage.
How much does it cost to stay at the Penfield campground?
Camping costs near Penfield vary by location and amenities. At Harry L Swartz Campground, you'll find reasonable prices with the camp host selling ice and firewood at fair rates. Sites include grills and electrical outlets. For another affordable option, Walnut Point State Park Campground offers clean facilities and access to a lake for fishing and kayaking. For specific current rates, it's best to check with each campground directly as prices may change seasonally.
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