Best Campgrounds near Pontiac, IL

Several good campgrounds sit within driving distance of Pontiac, Illinois. Starved Rock State Park draws many campers with its trails and waterfalls throughout the park. Families often choose Hi-Tide Campground for its playgrounds and picnic areas that keep kids busy. Fishing and kayaking are common activities since many sites sit close to the Illinois River. You'll likely see deer and lots of birds while camping in this area, so store your food properly to avoid wildlife problems at your site. Most Pontiac-area campgrounds have drinking water and restrooms, and some include shower buildings too. Make sure to book ahead, particularly in summer when these places fill up fast. Campground reservations typically open several months early, giving you time to plan your trip. If crowds aren't your thing, try camping during spring or fall when fewer people visit. The Pontiac region has camping that works for both active outdoor trips and more laid-back stays.

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

    27 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."

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Recent Reviews near Pontiac, IL

466 Reviews of 78 Pontiac Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Cowboy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Gibson City South Park Municipal Campground

    Wonderful spot

    This is a great city run campground attached to a block sized city park. 30 amp and water at each site. The park has restrooms, with showers. You only need to grab a key from the police department. There is a dump station on site and large dumpster. Supermarket, restaurants and gas station with in a few blocks. An active American Legion post/bar just down main street. All for $10 a night.

  • Rick K.
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Four Star Campground

    4 STAR CAMPGROUND IS A VERY BAD SPOT TO GO

    I HAD PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAMPER AND THEY HAVE DRUGGYS FOR EMPLOYEES AND DRUNKS PASS OUT IN YOUR LOT AND I HAD TOLD OWNERS ABOUT THE WORKER HARRASSING ME THEY DID NOTHING I TOLD THEM OWNERS 3 TIMES ABOUT THE GUY HARRASING ME WELL HE BE UP MY CAMPER 20 THOUSAND DOLLAR CAMPER HE DESTRYED CUZZ HE WAS INTOXICATED AND DRUGGED UP SO I HAD TO CALL THE COPS AFTER 3 TIME WARNING THEM OWNERS SO NOW I HAVE TO GO TO OURT FOR THSES NEGLEGENCE AND SAID OH WELL TO ME

  • Fred R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    Summer trip week 2 the return home

    Picked this spot outta the air. What an amazing history and geological area. The campgrounds were large and dark with shade trees. Limited 50 Amp sites as it is old.


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.