Mount Zion's central Illinois location places it within driving distance of Lake Shelbyville and Clinton Lake, two significant water recreation areas. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F and mild winters with occasional snow. Most campgrounds in the area sit between 650-700 feet above sea level, with relatively flat terrain that's easy to navigate for most RVs and camping setups.
What to do
Fishing at Clinton Lake: Clinton Lake offers unusually warm waters due to discharge from a nearby nuclear plant, making it popular for fishing year-round. "Clinton Lake is a boating destination as the waters are unusually warm due to the discharge from the nearby nuclear plant," notes a visitor to Clinton Lake State Recreation Area.
Hiking at Friends Creek: The conservation area includes multiple well-maintained trails. "Start at the one room schoolhouse and make your way down wide trails. They aren't that long but take a few and they add up," explains a camper who stayed at Friends Creek Campground.
Boating and swimming: Multiple lakes offer water recreation options within 30 minutes of Mount Zion. "The lake is beautiful and can be fished Catch and Release with Blue Gill and Bass," mentions a visitor to D & W Lake RV Park, which features its own private lake.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain exceptionally clean bathrooms and showers. "Bathrooms are clean bit cold. Heater was set to 55. I'm sure not many use the shower house this time of year," noted a winter visitor to The Double J Campground and RV Park.
Spacious sites: Campsites at many locations provide ample room between neighbors. "All sites are gravel and level. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. The sites are spaced a decent amount of distance apart and with the many trees, it did not feel crowded, despite being almost full when we were there," writes a camper about Friends Creek Campground.
Shade coverage: The region offers many wooded campsites that provide relief from summer heat. "This is a nice Illinois state park. Very quiet. Clean bathrooms, the consecution stand is closed. So can't rent boat etc. but a nice lake to paddle canoe/kayak," describes a visitor to Weldon Springs State Park Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds limit operations from April through October. "We have only stayed in the electric only sites as the full hookup sites are hard to come by. Very quiet at night and depending on your site, there are nice views of the summer sky," explains a camper about Clinton Lake State Recreation Area.
Highway noise: Some RV parks near interstate highways experience traffic noise. "Park was nice. We stopped here overnight. Had AC going but could hear road noise from interstate/nearby roads," mentions a reviewer about Tin Cup RV Park in Mahomet.
Insect activity: Summer months bring heavy insect presence to central Illinois campgrounds. "Ok CG... worst bugs (mosquitoes and locusts) I've ever dealt with," warns a visitor to Weldon Springs State Park.
Reservation policies: Some campgrounds implement minimum-stay requirements during peak periods. "We reserved a one-night stay 6 weeks in advance for the Friday night of Memorial Day Weekend. We received a call 2 weeks before our stay telling us they won't honor the reservation because they've decided to impose a three-night minimum for the holiday weekend," reports one camper about Tin Cup RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds available: Several campgrounds offer play equipment for children. "There's plenty of grass, Fire Pits, Playgrounds and a Dog Park. Wonderful campground and only about 10 min from downtown," notes a visitor to D & W Lake RV Park.
Swimming beaches: Clinton Lake features a dedicated swimming area separate from boat traffic. "We stayed in the J loop, which was more family friendly and very close to the beach. There was a walking path from our site to the shore which was perfect for our young family to go back and forth on," shares a camper at Clinton Lake State Recreation Area.
Historic attractions: Visit the historic schoolhouse at Friends Creek for educational opportunities. "The old school house is a must see. If you want to venture off there are plenty of little towns to check out or larger areas just a short drive to check out," suggests a visitor to Friends Creek.
Tips from RVers
Easy navigation: Most campgrounds accommodate larger RVs with pull-through sites. "Great camp hosts, large pull through spots, pool, mini golf, and more. Very convenient to get too and the check in is very fast," mentions an RVer about The Double J Campground and RV Park.
Leveling considerations: Gravel sites predominate at most RV parks near Mount Zion. "Level sites, clean restrooms and showers and friendly staff no sewer or water hookup but a convenient dump station," notes a camper at Friends Creek Campground.
Seasonal water access: Winter camping may mean limited water availability at some parks. "Water was turned off for winter which wasn't entirely clear. The RV fill was shutdown too. Water option we're the lake or a 30 min drive into town for bottled. Not a big deal but something to be prepared for," advises an off-season visitor to Clinton Lake State Recreation Area.
