Best RV Parks & Resorts near Princeton, IL

Located just 5 minutes south of I80, which is one of the busiest highways that runs east– west through Illinois and just a couple stone’s throws north of the mighty Illinois River, you’ll find Glenwood RV Resort located on the outskirts of the very small Midwestern town of Marseilles (specifically mispronounced so as not be confused with its actual French origins, brought here by the French fur traders in the 1500 and 1600’s). While Glenwood sits on some 100+ acres with ample space for anyone hauling a 5th wheeler, driving an RV or wanting to pitch a tent, there’s lots of grassy areas to set up camp just about anywhere you look.

What struck me as somewhat odd, although you do find this in a few campgrounds around these parts as opposed to the recreational nature of what most people think about when camping, there were quite a few seasonal residents here along with large swaths of blue-collar workers that seem to make camping here more of a residential choice. If you arrive to this place and are somewhat put off by the less than polished first impressions you will encounter, as was I, just check in here at the office and keep heading north into the campground where you will see it opens up to a pretty nice suite of amenities as well as two distinct campground neighborhoods – the center ridge and the north ridge – of which you will find some 140 or so RV parking spots.

For mi tent-pitching bredren, keep on heading north to the Outback, where you’ll come to fresh green spots perfect for setting up your camp underneath the Midwestern starry night. As far as amenities go, there’s quite a bit: horseshoe pits, catch & release pond, covered pavilions, kitchen, telephone area, shower/ restroom facilities, game room, 2 kid’s playground, trading post, swimming lake, in-ground pool and kid’s pool with outdoor deck, tennis court, baseball diamond, volleyball and basketball court as well as an entertainment area / stage. The RV slots are full hook-ups offering 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage and there is a designated dump station upon entry / exit of the property (near the front entrance) where you will also discover horse stables for rent that come with access to a nearby horse pasture.

Insider’s tips? Sure, here's a few: (1) While this wouldn’t be my first choice for an overnight outdoor camping adventure, in a pinch, it’s not bad with all of the amenities, proximity to Illinois River and overall affordability; (2) If you come to this area to do some hiking, you’re in great luck as there are quite a number of really great state parks nearby to check out, including Starved Rock, Matthiessen and Illini; (3) Should you want to go spinning on your bike, there’s great long flat and scenic trails all along the I&M Canal corridor that parallels Illinois River and which passes right in front of Buffalo Rock SP; (4) When you get tired of trying to conjure the next meal from the depths of your on-board mini-fridge or bear-proof, goat-clawed Cordova cooler, then nearby Marseilles will have a few joints to consider, from Ziggy’s which is like a diner, Illini Lounge and Snug Harbor Marina, which has a nice view of the Illinois River – but if you want truly an exceptional meal, head a bit further west to Ottawa to Lone Buffalo which is a micro-brewery and gastropub, of which I highly recommend the fish & chips.

Happy Camping!

Campground is very well kept with very clean showers and restrooms. Golf carts are allowed here which is a plus. There are some river front sites that are electric only, the full hook ups are away from the river. Some of the sites can be a bit cramped but everyone was nice so it didn’t bother me. There are a lot of seasonal campers there as well. I payed $28 a night for a full hook up.

Generally, the closer to an interstate highway, from a camping perspective at least, the worse you get, right? I mean, how can you possibly relax and forget the busy world that you are trying to escape with all of the noise and swooshing by of traffic, especially on a major interstate highway?  Seemingly though, here at family-owned and operated Starved Rock Family Campground, they’ve got absolutely no problems divorcing you from the other-worldly distractions and non-stop buzzing of 4-lane traffic once you enter this perimeter, where nature seems to be just waiting to swallow you up. Hats off to Mark & Ashley Voss who are simply lovely down-home good folks intent on welcoming everyone to their lovely roadside campground. 

Located here in the heart of north central Illinois, where you can very easily get lost in the golden hue of sweet corn or the dizzying amounts of drilled bean fields, there’s a special quiet that exists for those searching for it.  Where the noise of commerce grinds to a halt by the deafening sound of cicadas who eagerly sing you an orchestra of mesmerizing choruses that when combined with the incessant chirping of crickets, makes for one heck of a sunset serenade, especially under the ancient Oaks and weeping Willows that his area is known for. 

As for this campground, in particular, what I appreciated most is the very clear line they have conjured up between those toting RVs or 5th wheels versus those of my tribe who would prefer to sleep underneath the starry Midwestern skies with little else than a tent encampment and unobstructed views of a dark moonlit sky that shines starry illustrations of Orion, the big and little dipper, Centaurus and southern cross. 

Upon entry, you’ll discover about a half dozen sites for deluxe RV hook-ups – and by deluxe, here that means concrete pad + water/ sewer/ electric hook-ups – before meeting the main office and camp store, where you’ll check in.  Just after the office, you’ll spot a decent in-ground community pool where residents and staff alike hang out when the sun hangs high and the humidity has a way of slowing everything down here. From the main office, if you veered to the right, you’d have your choice of 3 or so perpendicular lanes that have been organized for the RVers in mind (rows A, B, C and D) with another 3 rows that run parallel to the office (rows E, F, G and H), all of which offer a mix of premium and standard RV sites that are a combination of pull-through and back-in with a combo of water, sewer and electric hook-ups. Between rows D& E, you’ve got a proper dump station and over near row G and H, you’ve got two distinct restroom facilities. On the outskirts on the western edge you’ll find the most pristine part of this campground, which I was delighted to learn that this is where the primitive campsites are located. Over in these parts, your view won’t even be tainted by having to witness RVs and all of their hook-ups.  In this enclave, you’ll be bunking next to all sorts of animals and insects that will chirp you to sleep at night (and wake you early in the dawn!), which running alongside this stretch are some pretty beautiful rows of corn. There’s also a pavilion over on this side along with a kid’s playground and, perhaps most importantly, there’s both a restroom and shower facility that is in pretty good condition – just remind yourself that you’ve signed up for primitive camping afterall. Additionally, you’ll discover a number of short walking paths, that are perfect for walking the kids or dogs, but if you want more of a hike, you’ll have to go further afield. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Whether you’re toting a tent or driving an RV, Starved Rock Family Campground is more of a stop-over than it is a destination, unless that is, everything near Starved Rock (which is still a good 20 minute drive away) is all filled up and you are simply looking to anchor yourself somewhere for the night); (2) If you are towing a kayak or canoe like I am most of the time, I would strongly encourage you to head on over towards the actual Starved Rock where you can take your watercraft for a dip in the Illinois River for some really great currents; (3) When you get tired of trying to conjure up that next meal either from the depths of your on-board mini-fridge or Cordova cooler, and perhaps want to venture back into civilization to try some local fare, than I would highly recommend you head just a bit due south of here to try out Cajun Connection – while it’s not fancy, they do know how to fry up a good alligator tail and serve up some decent (for Cajun in Illinois that is) Jamabalaya; and (4) If you’ve ever wanted to try the best fried chicken in the world, you should be made aware that just about 10 minutes west of here, you’ll find Rip’s Chicken in Ladd, which is simply outstanding (but remember to bring cash, because this place is stuck in the 1970’s and doesn’t take credit or debit, but they sure have some nice Hamm’s on draft!).

Happy Camping!

If you want to visit Peoria, this is an ideal place to stay. The campground is part of a marina on the Illinois River and not too far from downtown. We wanted to stay here so we could visit the Caterpillar Visitor Center which is totally worth the visit.

We visited the park in November and since it was the shoulder season the park was not very crowded. The park is open year-round and you will find more seasonal people during the off season. They close most of the park in the winter time which only leaves 22 paved sites available. Otherwise, they offer a mix of paved, full hook-up sites or electric only sites.  Sites that are close to the river have a great view of the skyline at night and if you don’t mind having just electric and being on sand these are great sites. There is a small beach area where you can access the water and a community fire pit which seemed to draw a lot of people in the evening.  

The park has shower/bath house that was clean as were the laundry facilities. Wifi was non-existent but our Verizon 4G phone and hotspot worked well. We were able to get a decent number of antenna television channels. The roads are paved and easy for us to navigate in our 45’ RV. Our site was paved with a picnic table and fire pit and all the hook-ups worked well.

We enjoyed the short nature trail that leaves directly from the area. The trail starts off as a boardwalk over an interesting marsh area and then transitions to a primitive trail eventually leading you to the lake shoreline. This was a great walk for our black lab who loves trails and water. Of the four times we walked the trail we only encountered people once. After a heavy rain, the low lying areas of the trail were pretty muddy so wear appropriate shoes. 

The nice aspects of this park were the location to downtown Peoria, the pretty view of the skyline and the access to water if you want to kayak, fish, or swim. The price of $27/night for full hook-up was a great rate. The downside of this campground is that sites are close and there is a bit of road noise. There are a lot of seasonal people who were up and going to work in the morning which may bother late sleepers but meant for a quiet campground during the day.

Nice little campground. If you want full hook up you will need to be on the top loop of the campground. The lower loop has a cream running through it. Depending on ran this can cause flooding. I have never been here when it is busy but I can imagine it can get crowded. The showers are clean and updated and the store is stocked with basic supplies.

If you find yourself either stuck in the middle of nowhere here in north central Illinois or actually looking to escape the hustle & bustle to find peace, serenity and a tranquil encounter with nature, then look no further than Nature’s Way RV Park, which is set amongst the golden rows of sweet corn that you’ll find out in these parts. From the winding blacktop that you’ll have to maneuver to get here, just a few minutes north of I80 and east of I39, while you will feel as though you are completely isolated, and for the most part you are, what I like most about Nature’s Way is that if you know where you are at and the surroundings, there’s actually an awful lot to explore and enjoy, but if you don’t want to go anywhere, you can simply set up camp here and allow nature to envelope you in a way that only she can. 

As for the campground, what makes Nature’s Way pretty amazing is that there’s a tremendous amount of infrastructure and a ton of amenities that most private campgrounds don’t offer. Upon entry, you’ll veer left and arrive at the main office where you’ll check-in. Here also is a quaint community room chalk full of books, DVDs and VHS tapes (for anyone still using these) and board games as well as a small alcove kitchen area complete with microwave, sink, dining table & chairs along with 2 driers and 3 washers, both coin-operated. Beyond this, there’s also a seating room with two oversized dollies with freshly cut wood bundles available for purchase as well as yet another room that is the campground market store and has everything from souvenirs to camping supplies, ice, beverages and snacks to charcoal and lighter fluid, BBQ tool sets and roasting forks and just about anything else you could think that you’ll need during your stay here. Just outside and behind this main building, you’ll discover a rather large, covered pavilion which is great for larger groups or for anyone wanting to picnic under some shade. 

Another reason why I love Nature’s Way RV Park so much is how they have organized the living arrangements. For mi tent pitching bredren, this campground IMHO has set aside the best spots for us – clear in the back, completely surrounded by God’s green nature, you’ll be able to pitch a tent just about anywhere under this shaded forest and will feel a world away from the caravan camping types that, rest assured, are on the other side of the careening creek that cuts this campground nearly in half. Over in these parts, just past the bridge that you would need to cross to reach this primitive camping area, there’s a K9 dog park as well as plenty of scattered picnic tables, in-ground raised BBQ pits as well as water spigots. For the RV driving / 5th Wheel toting crowd, Nature’s Way has spots reserved on its front porch lawn that you will encounter upon first arriving to the entrance. There’s about 20 or so designated RV spots here that offer full hook-ups including 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage. Apart from being located right in front of the main office / market, you’ll be straddled next to the main road, which really should be a problem as this is just a quiet, small country road with not much traffic on it. Just due east of these RV slots are 4 cabins available for rent along with small porches complete with benches, brand new grills, fire pits and picnic tables, which is great for anyone not packing a tent or hauling a makeshift campground with them. Due south of these cabins as well as west of the main building are additional RV slots, but these only offer electric and water, so if you need sewage, you’ll have to book slots #1– 19. 

From an amenities standpoint, apart from what has already been covered, the ‘crown jewel’ asset here is the in-ground heated swimming pool, completely fenced in preventing the young kiddos from straying too far. Above and beyond this, there’s a designated propane refilling station, very well-maintained restroom and shower facilities, basketball court, scattered picnic tables and stand-up BBQ grills, WiFi and cable access, kid’s playground, community fire rings as well as designated dumpsters and dump stations. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s but a few: (1) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or onboard mini-fridge, then check out some of the local establishments, of which I highly recommend nearby Cajun Connection, which has some pretty amazing deep fried alligator tail as well as somewhat mediocre Jambalaya (but ask yourself the question: who else is serving up this dish so far away from Louisiana?!); (2) If you are a hiker and looking for some trails to blaze, then check out either Starved Rock SP, which as more than 13 miles of hiking trails awaiting you, or better, the lesser known Matthiessen SP, which has 5-6 of fairly decent challenging, but completely isolated, non-touristy-laden trails to plant your steps on; (3) Should you be wanting to get that beak of your watercraft wet on your outdoors expedition, then look no further than the Illinois River, which is literally less than 5 miles away from Nature’s Way, where you’ll be able to oar your way to some pretty epic wildlife encounters as well as some fairly decent currents as well as amazing fishing holes; and (4) Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you – within just a 20 minute drive of where you have camped out, you’ll discover Rip’s Chicken, which is hand’s down, unequivocally, and judged by experts in more than 40 nations (mmm, OK, that last one may be a stretch) as the best fried chicken in the known universe. Oh, and they have Schlitz on tap. But this place only takes cash, so come prepared. 

Happy Camping!

We had the entire campground to ourselves on a cold weekend stay. There isn’t much area to explore- just the campground and the river shoreline within it. However we witnessed the most spectacular sunset over the river. It was well worth the night’s adventures. 

We stayed in the non-electric loop. A bunch of sites with divisions obscured by crunchy, fallen leaves. We had a picnic table and fire pit. A pit toilet and water pump are located at the building used to clean up your fishing/hunting catches. The electric sites are on the opposite side and have a couple sites that look more long term campers. The host is over there but we never saw them. Once it was dark half a dozen bright lights came on in the parking area between the two camping loops. It was close to us so our teardrop camper was well lit up inside. I covered the window to block some of the light but I would suggest camping further down away from the building and those lights. 

A main road runs right behind the campsites. They have a wood fence on the electric side but not on our side. It obscures some of the headlights. Sound died off pretty early even with a few locals pulling in to meet up with friends in the parking lot. We walked to the river and found a short trail. We stood out by the boat ramps for a nice view across the river. 

A sign shows a hiking route that you can drive to. We planned to hike it in the morning but unexpected events changed our minds. At 5 AM diesel pickup trucks pulling boats began to pull into the parking area. It was cold and dark so we stayed inside. Eventually we heard the boats heading out along with gun shots- some were nearby. We started packing up and in the process saw that they were hunting birds from the boats along the river. We chose to skip the hiking trail with the onset of hunting season. 

A 30 minute drive got us to the Hennepin Canal Trail and we hiked along it for a few miles before returning to our car and heading home. We did make one more stop at the Flour House Bakery in Princeton and highly recommend it. 

The spectacular sunset made this worth a weekend getaway but it doesn’t seem like a nice spot for an extended stay unless you plan to make more use of the river access.

This is a really nice campground right on the Mississippi! The campground is quiet with level gravel pads with a picnic table and firepit. The sites have electric, water to fill your tanks with dispersed throughout the campground, and a dump station. The sites are well spaced and the campground itself is feels more like a park that happens to have RV parking. There was a playground, showers, pit toilets, and even a small amphitheater next to the river. And the views are incredible!!! There are a few non-electric tent only sites as well. We were disappointed that we could stay one night due to our schedule. We will definitely stay again!

Not much has changed since my previous visit to this self-acclaimed 'four star campground.'  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) Close proximity to I80 provides access to this CG in under 10 minutes; (2) There’s a number of amenities here like an inground pool, general store, arcade, playground, laundry and restroom / shower facilities, although most amenities need some TLC; (3) The CG community here is simply massive, yet friendly; (4) A small catch & release pond; (5) Decent hiking can be had nearby at Starved Rock, Matthiessen and Buffalo Rock SPs; (6) Solid kayaking and canoeing can be accessed nearby in the Illinois River

Lowlights: (1) This CG could use some TLC with some areas in need of actual repair; (2) Some of the RV and trailer overnighters here appear to be professional workers who commute and / or are more LT residents; (3) Given the massive size of this RV park, complete with 5-6 different ‘neighborhoods,’ it is both busy and noisy; (4) Designated tent camping is separated from the RV/ trailer tribe and makes one feel more like a 2nd class citizen; (5) Residents are very visual and vocal about their political beliefs

Happy Camping!

This campground had spacious sites with several different sections suited towards camper trailers and tents. I stayed in the outback in my tent and had no neighbors so that was great! With a general store, laundry, and very clean bathrooms and showers there isn’t much you would need to leave for. Only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star is because I was told check out time was 2pm when it was actually earlier than that and I missed it by maybe 30 mins. An older employee came by and was a prick about it threatening to charge me another $32 for barely missing the time even though there was no rush to leave with no one coming in behind me.

Peaceful campground, well maintained, beautiful views of the Upper Peoria Lake/Illinois River. We enjoyed a nice pull-through full hookup site that required minimal leveling. Water has a lot of iron so does smell/taste weird.

This is a great low cost, low frills state park. 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. 

We loved the shade of the wooded section. We had a spot that gave us enough blockage to keep our reactive dog calm. Other sites had less division between them. 

You are close to a variety of spots. Hike or bike the I and M canal trail. Drive down the expressway a bit and explore Starved Rock. The small local towns have some interesting restaurants. 

We are keeping this campground in mind for quick weekends away.

Full hookups each site. On Illinois river. Has cabins for rent, showers. Check it out on google.

While we are sure never to fully know, I am quite positive that if the great Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl, who masterminded the concept behind Kon-Tiki, would have shuttered in sheer horror at the name of this otherwise quite lame roadside RV despot being confused with his inaugural expedition to navigate the currents of the mighty Pacific Ocean from its western coast of South America’s birth to its ultimate destination to the Polynesian island of Tahiti. Whatever the reason behind the name of this roadside eye sore, let’s be clear that this experience won’t end with a beautiful sunset or savory cocktail with one of those colorful toothpick handled umbrellas. 

Located in north central Illinois, and literally just a stone’s throw (or car honk away) from the very busy 4-lane highway of Interstate 80, you will discover the fairly dilapidated state of Tiki RV Park, where letters are clearly missing from the sign upon entry, followed by the paint chipping away at the decrepit two-story white front office building along with the earthquake-like cracks that exist in the single stretch of pavement that you will need to navigate before arriving to the war-torn, pot-hole riddled single lane that forms the small loop circumnavigating this otherwise gutted, quite abrasive-looking RV wasteland. And sure, while you can park your RV or 5th wheel here, where there are just the very basic of amenities including all of the traditional hookups (30 / 50 amp electric and water), the real question is, why would you? 

While I could wax on about all of the amazing experiences you will be able to access while being in these parts - like boating on the Illinois River of hiking in Mattheissen SP, grabbing the world's best fried chicken at nearby Rip's in Ladd or rappelling at Starved Rock State Park - I won’t as I sincerely hope that you read this review and choose to stay somewhere – anywhere else – where the place is actually not falling apart, where you won’t hear the white noise of speeding traffic and where you can step out of your mobile camping carriage and actually breath in fresh air, embrace nature and experience what a glorious patch of earth this special part of the Midwest has to offer. 

Insider’s tips?  Just one … mosey on from this very sad location and find somewhere else to drop anchor for the night. 

Happy Camping!

We visited the first weekend in November so we still had some leave to peep. The weather was unusually warm and beautiful so we were able to hike both days of our visit but it was packed with people who had the same idea. Also, as we left the park to go to our campsite (around 2 PM) the camp was getting a rush of afternoon hikers. The place is busy!!!

The campsite itself is off the State Park premises,which isn’t bad since it’s not swarmed park attendees not spending the night. It has an electrical hookup on each campground for RVs. There is also a bathroom with running showers and toilets, pretty nice. And there is a camp store (which is currently closed for the season). The campsites themselves vary in size and fire station. Our campsite was a little small but if you want fully forested campsites I suggest you keep your choices between #s 30 and 100.

We had a blast, the state park itself was fantastic, plenty to see. Starved Rock and the other peaks were fantastic and Wildcat Canyon was a sight to behold. Illinois Canyon is huge and worth the visit. I understand that with the spring runoff there are many waterfalls to behold. We plan on coming back then. Great place to camp!!!