Best Campgrounds near Pontiac, IL

The camping landscape around Pontiac, Illinois comprises several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Livingston County 4-H Campground sits directly in Pontiac, offering tent and RV sites with electric hookups and basic amenities. Within driving distance, Comlara County Park on Evergreen Lake provides more extensive camping options including tent sites, RV areas, and glamping opportunities. The region primarily features developed campgrounds rather than dispersed camping areas, with several parks offering cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping sites.

Campground access in this area remains consistent throughout much of the year, with several facilities including Comlara County Park operating year-round. Most campgrounds feature electric hookups for RVs, though water connections vary by location. Sites typically include fire pits and picnic tables, with shared facilities such as showers and restrooms available at most developed campgrounds. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer weekends when lakeside sites fill quickly. Weather considerations include hot, humid summers and cold winters that affect camping comfort. "We tent camped for one night the weekend of Independence Day. Very quiet campground. Clean and spacious camping areas with a nice bathroom and multiple shower stalls," noted one visitor to Livingston County 4-H Campground.

Waterfront camping represents a significant draw for the area, particularly at Comlara County Park where several visitors highlight the lake access. The park features a mix of open field camping and more secluded wooded sites along the shoreline. Several campers mention the spacious nature of sites, though amenity quality varies between locations. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "The rustic tent sites are located on the opposite side of the lake from the RVs in an area called White Oak. These sites are the way to go for privacy." Bathroom and shower facilities receive mixed reviews across campgrounds in the region, with some needing updates or more thorough cleaning. Family-friendly atmosphere appears consistent across most camping areas, with reasonable rates for electric sites typically ranging from $25-35 per night depending on the facility and hookups available.

Best Camping Sites Near Pontiac, Illinois (78)

    1. Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    99 Reviews
    North Utica, IL
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 667-4726

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!"

    "Beautiful Starved Rock is Illinois's favorite state park. Hiking through forests along the Illinois River to canyons and waterfalls with eagles soaring overhead."

    2. Livingston County 4-H Campground

    3 Reviews
    Pontiac, IL
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (815) 822-3997

    3. Comlara County Park

    34 Reviews
    Hudson, IL
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (309) 434-6770

    "Comlara is a beautifully laid out hidden gem in Illinois. Evergreen Lake is the perfect back drop to the campground."

    "Located just northwest of Bloomington, which is located absolutely smack-dab in the middle of the state of Illinois, you’ll discover a nature wonderland over here nearly hidden from plain site."

    4. Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park

    30 Reviews
    Marseilles, IL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 795-2448

    $12 - $55 / night

    "Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view."

    "Spent a couple nights here (site 3) for Vintage Illinois at a nearby park. Quiet, fairly level, gravel sites. Electric worn but fully functional. Lots of trees and shade."

    5. Pleasant Creek Campground

    28 Reviews
    Oglesby, IL
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 431-0936

    "Within LaSalle County or for that matter, the whole of north central Illinois, I don’t know of any other privately run, multi-campground locations like Pleasant Creek that offers a total of 6 separate,"

    "There is a nice pavilion, a game room/club house, basketball court, fishing pond, firewood for sale, and a few short trails."

    6. Moraine View State Recreational Area

    27 Reviews
    Le Roy, IL
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (309) 724-8032

    $40 - $20 / night

    "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."

    7. Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867

    10 Reviews
    Normal, IL
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (309) 445-6881

    $35 - $40 / night

    "highway next to a commercial big rig gas station, but if you are doing some heavy duty highway traveling with your RV or 5th wheel and simply need a place to hold up for the night, then this place really"

    "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"

    8. Whitetail Campground — Illini State Park

    9 Reviews
    Marseilles, IL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 795-2448

    $10 - $45 / night

    "or Illini) native American Indian tribe, who were one of the most prolific and important native American Indian tribes to have settled in the Mississippi River valley, of which large sections of Illinois"

    "It’s pretty close to Chicago so it works for weekend getaways. We stayed in the wooded loop. It’s rustic without electric/water hookups. The other loop looked more set up for rvs. "

    9. Hickory Hill Campground

    4 Reviews
    Secor, IL
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (309) 744-2407

    $26 - $40 / night

    "Nestled in the verdant rolling hills of central Illinois, you’ll discover Hickory Hills Campground located just a short drive west of I39 and completely off the grid, due to the slight incline of this"

    "This seems to be more of a full time camping location. Lots of buildings and I was offered a lot for sale. Golf carts seem to be the most common mode of travel as there are plentiful."

    10. Kayak Morris

    11 Reviews
    Morris, IL
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 567-4653

    $29 / night

    "You get to see tugboats and barges go up and down the Illinois river right from your campsite."

    "Small and hidden right on the Illinois River. Received a free night of camping with a whole day of kayaking which is absolutely recommended."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 78 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Pontiac, IL

469 Reviews of 78 Pontiac Campgrounds


  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Pleasant Creek Campground

    lives up to it's name, good option for Starved Rock area

    Because of it's layout, you never get a true sense of how big the whole campground is (50 acres). The largest and most open area is on top of the hill (the Highlands) but there are other areas that are shadier and more close to nature (Alcove way, Creekside, Oak Grove, the Glades). 
    Depending on the time of year, the creek may not be running, but the fishing pond is always full. Many activities in well maintained areas. It's a new campground and the general store hasn't built up much inventory yet. The firewood is dry and burns well. 

    Fire pits are basic steel circles, bring your own grill. 

    There's one central restroom with showers, clean and spacious, but it can be a walk from some areas (long hills too). 

    There are small cabins for rent and long-term sites are available.

  • Ray S.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great campground with everything you would need

    This was my first camping trip with family. After lots of research, I picked Kankakee river state park. This is a reasonablly priced campground with all facilities in great condition. And it is very spacious with woods separating your neighbors. The only complaint is the noise level after 10pm. The quite time was not strictly enforced. It could be we are there on a Saturday night.

  • Kimberly L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Comlara County Park

    Beautiful, hidden gem

    Beautiful, quiet, and clean park. I stopped for a quick overnight but will definitely be back to stay when I have more time. Sites could use more space as there is no privacy at all but that's the only thing that needs improvement.

  • lThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Nature’s Way RV Park

    Relaxing

    Clean and well maintained facility. Staff was organized and friendly. Pet friendly. We want to come back when we can stay longer.

  • Emma H.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great for our 2 person campout!

    My fiancé and I stayed in the Hickory Loop spot 3. We are very new campers, so we just have a very basic tent setup. When we checked in with the host, there were bundles of firewood for $8 (either cash or cash app). The spots are not huge, and not super private (you have next door and across the street neighbors), but we didn’t mind that! There were two outlets available, and a small rectangular fire pit with a grate on top. There are a few water pumps and vault toilets within walking distance, but we were pretty close to the shower house, which had stalls for toilets and showers. The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!

    It rained a ton during our trip so we didn’t explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity.

  • Jessica T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Starved Rock Family Campground

    Nice little campsite!

    Well maintained and large campground. Sites aren’t stacked on top of each other and seem fairly level. I will say the grounds by our site seemed to have a fly/other sewer fly problem in the ground? I don’t know. Seemed to need a treatment of some sort. L7 is more in a wide open area so if you want more trees, book more in the middle of the campground. Bathrooms are well maintained and cleaned. Laundry facility easy. Bummed our trip got cut short by a RV maintenance issue.

  • T
    Aug. 21, 2025

    Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867

    A trickster with premium luxury pricing.

    We decided to not stay here. We stopped, did the online reservation (Loves now uses Camplife website). Made the reservation for a single night and it's $70+ tax and fees.  We paid less per night at luxury campgrounds with waterparks and entertainment. This is a truck stop. Needless to say, we won't be using Love's anymore for our single night stays when traveling.


Guide to Pontiac

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

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park. With over 13 miles of trails, you can enjoy stunning views and waterfalls. One visitor shared, "I spent hours hiking the more than 13 miles of trails, which offer access to beautiful waterfalls."
  • Fishing: Head to Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area for some great fishing. A camper noted, "This is the Muskie Capitol of Illinois, BTW! You’ll find no shortage of bluegill, walleye, perch, and many other fish."
  • Kayaking: Rent a kayak at Comlara County Park and paddle around Evergreen Lake. One reviewer mentioned, "There are simply tons of little nooks and crannies all around the lake to get some decent fishing in."

What campers like

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds have basic facilities. A visitor at Weldon Springs State Park Campground mentioned, "The bathhouse was only mildly gross but it wasn't unexpected."
  • Wildlife Encounters: Be prepared for wildlife. One camper at Weldon Springs shared, "The raccoons were so bad... the couple a few sites down had their tent destroyed."
  • Reservations: Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis. A camper at Big Rock Campground said, "First come first served- no reservations."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for sites with amenities for kids. One parent at Clinton Lake State Recreation Area noted, "Our site was adjacent to numerous paths that easily led to the beach, playground, and a secluded swimming hole."
  • Pack Games: Bring along outdoor games. A camper at Jubilee College State Park Campground suggested, "Bring your own corn hole bags and badminton."
  • Plan for Bugs: Be ready for insects, especially in warmer months. A visitor at Weldon Springs mentioned, "The bugs (chiggers?) were horrible and left us with painful itchy bites."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure the site can accommodate your RV. A reviewer at Big Rock Campground said, "A couple of drive-ups... but down fall is they do not have showers."
  • Bring Extra Hoses: Some sites have water hookups far from the parking area. One camper noted, "Bring plenty of hose for water connections."
  • Use Dump Stations Wisely: Be aware of the location of dump stations. A visitor at Comlara County Park mentioned, "There’s only one dump station, which seemed odd considering that there’s at least 3 campgrounds."

Camping near Pontiac, Illinois, has a lot to offer, from beautiful parks to family-friendly activities. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, you'll find a spot that suits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available near Pontiac, IL?

Several campgrounds are available within driving distance of Pontiac, IL. The Livingston County 4-H Campground is the closest option, located right in Pontiac with basic amenities including water and toilets. For those willing to drive a bit further, Tiki RV Park offers a convenient roadside option for RVers. Other nearby options include Cozy Corners Campground, Clark's Run Campground, and for those who need a quick overnight stay, the Walmart in Bloomington provides free overnight parking. Most campgrounds in the area are open seasonally from spring through fall, with limited winter availability.

How far is Pontiac, Illinois from major cities and attractions?

Pontiac is conveniently located off I-55, approximately 100 miles southwest of Chicago (2-hour drive) and 90 miles northeast of Springfield (1.5-hour drive). Bloomington-Normal is just 35 minutes away, where overnight options include Walmart — Bloomington Supercenter for self-contained vehicles. For outdoor attractions, Starved Rock State Park is about an hour northwest, offering spectacular canyons and waterfalls. The Illinois River is accessible within 30-45 minutes, where you'll find multiple campgrounds. Pontiac itself is home to the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum, making it a popular stop for travelers exploring the historic highway.

Are there any state parks or public campgrounds near Pontiac, IL?

Yes, several state parks and public campgrounds are within reasonable driving distance of Pontiac. Illini State Park offers Great Falls Campground with clean facilities, river views, and plenty of trees for hammocking, located about 50 minutes northwest. Channahon State Park Campground sits along the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail about an hour northeast, making it perfect for cyclists. Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area provides camping spots close to the Illinois River with excellent fishing opportunities. Also worth considering is Moraine View State Recreational Area near Le Roy, about 35 minutes east of Pontiac, with reservable sites and full amenities.