Best Campgrounds near Peoria, IL

Will steal your money faster than you can blink an eye.  Was a member there for 5 years why I dont know.  If you were not a part of the rich peoples club there you were treated like dog shit. I had a permanent spot out there possibly the nicest spot in the camp ground.  was told i needed to make sure my dues were paid by May 1st I paid them by april 1st but yet was still removed from my spot saying I was late on my dues.  Yeah go figure.  can only guess what thats about.  Then last year the club president was allowing under aged children to drink alcoholic beverages then after than he continued to get belligerent with those same kids he let drink and threatened to kill them, all while there were multiple board member out on the trail ride and witnessed that man threaten that kid did anyone do anything about it... NOPE.  If everyone was smart they would stay the HELL away from that campground.  All you will get there is a bunch of needless drama

Perched on Upper Peoria Lake where the Illinois River conjoins, this family-friendly and pet-inviting lush camping outpost is completely surrounded by Spring Bay Fen Nature Reserve, absolutely guaranteeing a sublime encounter with nature on top of offering direct waterfront sites that will frame one of the most beautiful sunsets as you look west to Peoria during Happy Hour. In all, there’s about 80 sites – all of which are incredibly spacious, unlike a lot of other RV parks – to choose from at Millpoint, where a slow meandering gravel lane will have you navigating around the campground where you’ll take good note of the excellent shade that is provided everywhere.

From an amenity standpoint, Millpoint Park packs a punch with a combination of back-in and pull-thru sites offering up standard water, sewage and electric hook-ups, relatively new picnic tables and in-ground fire rings as well as a designated dumpster upon exiting the grounds. There’s a fantastic boat launch that will have you fishing, kayaking and experiencing this body of fresh water shortly after you anchor into your spot for the night.  In fact, you don’t even need to get into a boat, by accessing one of 2 small little lakes where you can simply cast a line in from the dock or around the perimeter. The meticulously clean restroom / bath house facility is located near the front adjacent to the main office, where next to this are 3 cabins that can be rented, just in case you forgot your tent or RV. Additionally, there’s decent hiking paths to explore both north and south of the property, with the latter offering up a small beachhead at Funks Run. The place also sells firewood, but if you need anything else, you’ll need to head south towards town where there’s no shortage of shops and restaurants.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are a tent camper, there’s 3-4 designated areas for primitive camping, but if you’d like something less primitive and with access to water and electricity, then book yourself into one of the 5 designated tent sites: #233-#237, of which I recommend #236 and #237 as they have a small waterfront area flanking the southern perimeter; (2) The water here has a lot of iron in it, so don’t attempt to drink it, but according to the locals, it’s fine to shower in, so I would encourage you to bring a decent amount of bottled water with you; (3) If you haven’t camped out here in central Illinois during the summer, you will want to bring good DEET spray to keep the ticks away as well as hard-core smoke or scent-fused candles that are peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender-scented to keep the gnats at bay; and (4) The owner, Don, is quite possibly one of the most accommodating and friendly campground owners I have ever met– so don’t be shy if you need anything at all during your stay, including a discount to his pizza restaurant.

Happy Camping!

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) Great hiking abounds in this particular Illinois SP where there exists a combination of EZ, intermediate and difficult hiking and riding paths; (2) There’s great kayaking in nearby Illinois River, which you can access at multiple points, but my favorite is to shove off either at Starved Rock SP boat launch or head south of that SP by about 3 miles to one of the several launches that exist on the southern shore; (3) Supreme amount of peace & quiet here at this CG for you and your steed with simply amazing great galloping trails as well as numerous places to tie up your four-hoofed friend; (4) Sites are spacious and nicely shaded; (5) The facilities are basic-to-bad, so lower your expectations and bring your own sanitary wipes; (6) Ample space to wander around and get lost in nature

Lowlights:(1) This CG is EZ to miss if you don’t look for it – DON’T drive all the way into Matthiessen SP either on its west or east sides – this CG has its own discreet entry with parking near the road on the east side; (2) The grounds themselves could benefit from some TLC as there’s a lot of downed branches and even trash scattered around the place (that we cleaned up before leaving); (3) Depending upon how you look at it, this CG had no one there on the 3 occasions we visited – which was fine for us, but some might find the solitude here a bit daunting

Happy Camping!

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) Closely located to I39 so access is a huge bonus; (2) Sites are very calculated contributing to the vibe of a very artificial concrete camping experience, but that also means incredibly level and well-organized spaces; (3) Despite being located at a highly trafficked fueling outpost, you will be greeted by very wonderful Midwestern hospitality; (4) Incredibly manicured grounds and well-taken care of facilities, including well-maintained and impeccably cleaned restrooms, showers and doggy park; (5) Despite being located right next to a major highway, as access is key-code enabled and you're surrounded by good securing fencing around the perimeter, you'll feel safe & secure here; and (6) The entirety of Bloomington-Normal, home to Illinois State University, is all within EZ reach, so there’s tons of places to stock up on supplies as well as restaurants to enjoy.

Lowlights: (1) Closely located to I39 so noise and non-stop driveby traffic is a huge negative; (2) Because this is a highway layover, for those road warriors traveling up and down I74, there lacks a sense of community amongst campers as everyone is here for a short while, before moving on to their ultimate destination.

Happy Camping!

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) Closely located to I74 so access is a positive; (2) Sites are spacious, incredibly level, well-shaded and this feels like a camping oasis in the middle of corn country; (3) Wonderful Midwestern hospitality; (4) Incredibly manicured grounds and well-taken care of facilities; and (5) Very well maintained and impeccably cleaned restrooms, showers and pool

Lowlights: (1) Closely located to I74 so noise is a negative; (2) There’s not much in the way of shops and restaurants here, so if you want anything of substance, either bring it with you or you’ll have to head back to Bloomington to get it; and (3) Because this is a highway layover for those road warriors traveling up and down I74, there lacks a sense of community amongst campers

Happy Camping!