Best Campgrounds near Princeton, IL
Princeton, Illinois sits near several established campgrounds offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Starved Rock State Park Campground, approximately 15 miles southwest of Princeton, features electric hookups, showers, and tent and RV sites with amenities like picnic tables and drinking water. Hennepin Canal parkway presents multiple primitive camping areas along its waterway, including Lock 6, Lock 11, Lock 21, and Lock 22 campgrounds. Private options include Condits Ranch in Putnam and Hickory Grove Campground in Sheffield, both providing full-hookup RV sites and cabin accommodations with more extensive amenities.
Most primitive camping along the Hennepin Canal operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted. Campsites cost approximately $8 per night, collected by rangers who occasionally patrol the area. While developed campgrounds like Starved Rock require reservations, especially during peak summer months, primitive canal sites rarely fill to capacity. The region experiences typical Midwestern seasonal changes, with campgrounds generally open from spring through fall, though some remain accessible year-round. As noted in one review, "Camping at the Canal is on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no set check-in or check-out times. The Canal's site security officer makes rounds to each campsite to collect camping fees, in-person."
Visitors frequently mention the Hennepin Canal as an appealing feature for paddling and fishing. Several campgrounds provide direct water access for boats and kayaks, with multiple primitive sites positioned along the canal's edge. Hennepin Canal Lock 21 receives positive feedback for its spacious layout and equestrian facilities. Hickory Grove Campground earns praise for its large sites, with one camper noting, "Sites were huge and they are all FHU." Privacy varies significantly between locations - developed campgrounds like Condits Ranch offer family-friendly amenities including swimming areas and a general store, while canal-side primitive sites provide minimal facilities but greater solitude. Public bathrooms at primitive sites typically consist of vault toilets, while larger campgrounds feature shower houses and more extensive facilities.
