Rochester Camping, IL

Rochester is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Rochester, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Best Camping Sites Near Rochester, IL (66)

Showing results 1-10 of 66 campgrounds

Pet-friendly camping near Rochester

Recent Reviews in Rochester

308 Reviews of 66 Rochester Campgrounds


  • John H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Waverly Lake City Park
    Sep. 12, 2024

    Waverly Lake City Park

    Nice little lake and camp ground

    I've stayed here a couple times now. Each time there has only been one other person. It's quiet and peaceful, however there's not much to do. As far as I know there's no running water. There are portable toilets that are kept clean. There's also a 4 consecutive day per month limit.

  • Aaron B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sangchris Lake State Park Campground
    Sep. 6, 2024

    Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

    Lakeside Relaxation

    These walk in sites check all the boxes.  At the western part of the RV loop, is a peninsula of primitive tent camping spots to choose from.  About half the sites were filled by the second day we were there.  We settled on 62, which is spacious and provides access to the path from the front and behind where you can walk into site 64 as well.  A parking area with a single spot for each camp site is well marked and by two vault toilets.  Park staff and host were great.  A decent fishing spot is just in front of site 64.  $8 for IL residents is hard to beat, if you don't need an RV spot with electric.  A water source is also by the parking spots.  The weekend we were there the weather had cooled some and a great breeze was coming off the lake.  Springfield being so close is a bonus.

    The only negative is like any spot and how previous people leave the camp looking before you are there.  Some garbage in the fire pit and random spots are par for the course in any state park.  Pick up the trash and dump it in the dumpster by the parking lot.  Leave the site better than you found it is our motto.

  • David F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Jim Edgar Panther Creek - Family Campground
    Sep. 2, 2024

    Jim Edgar Panther Creek - Family Campground

    JIM Edgar Panther Creek S.P.

    Praire Lake Campground has 3 facilities on the lake. FAMILY camp for Rv, Tentand cabins. 1. 84 sites with Electric or 19 have FHU. 2. Primitive Camp has seven three-sided shelters to camp near or in for a fee of $6 per night 3. Group camp area. A separate location has the equestrian campground, Questing Hills, with 51 electric sites.

  • D
    Camper-submitted photo from Coon Creek (IL)
    Aug. 29, 2024

    Coon Creek (IL)

    Unfriendly park attendants

    Check in crabby park attendants. Tried to change to another site that was available, I was told they only check people in and out, that was it! I was told to flag down a Ranger for help. My family will never come here again!

  • Linda N.
    Camper-submitted photo from Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
    Aug. 10, 2024

    Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

    Memorabe trip

    One of our favorite camping trips so far!

    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.

    Sites were somewhat open but there were tons of trees and grass behind each spot so it didn’t feel so exposed. We loved the option for fishing and swimming in a nearby watering hole.

    We heard the toilets and shower house were brought a portable toilet since we have small kids who might not make it to the outhouse so we never used the campground toilet/facilities.

    Definitely our vibe of being more secluded and on the water.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Evening Star Camping Resort
    Jul. 26, 2024

    Evening Star Camping Resort

    Campers Are Like Family

    Love to swim in the pool, play in the bags tournaments, enjoy the fundraiser in July for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, mini golf, basketball and theme weekends. My favorite is the chili cook off and Halloween weekends are a blast!!

  • Sara W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Friends Creek Campground
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Friends Creek Campground

    Clean, spacious sites, nice amenities

    Friends Creek is a small campground with nice spacious sites and super clean bathhouses and pit toilets. The fire pits are well kept and the camp host was very kind! He came around with suckers for the kids and just to check in. We hiked a bit on the trails and played in the creek. Highly recommend.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
    Jul. 6, 2024

    Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

    Great visit with the family

    We had a fantastic time here. We came during Fourth of July and never felt like it was overly crowded. Sites were spacious but wasn’t much privacy, which didn’t bother us because it allowed for our kids to play with the other kids easily. Our site was adjacent to numerous paths that easily led to the beach, playground, the rocky path for fishing, and a secluded swimming hole. We couldn’t have asked for a better location for our family and our interests. We did not use the toilets or showers, although it looked like they were in working order as others were using then. We had a cloudless night and the stars were spectacular.

  • Olivia L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area
    May. 27, 2024

    Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area

    Great

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  • Nick W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Kentuckiana Campground
    May. 16, 2024

    Kentuckiana Campground

    Great family atmosphere

    Great place for kids. Decent little parks. Huge slide in the holler. Spots are kind of cramped and close together, one of our favorite places though!

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Anderson Lake SFWA
    Apr. 6, 2024

    Anderson Lake SFWA

    Simple yet beautiful & peaceful.

    We have been here 3 Xs over the pas years as a stop over while traveling. They only have vault toilets, but clean. This time no water due to water break.issue. just a nice place on a beautiful lake. Nice for bird watching.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bridgeview park
    Feb. 15, 2024

    Bridgeview park

    Excellent view

    Nice little park, port a potties, water and pavilion with grills and trash receptacles. Great views of the lake. Closes at 10:30

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area
    Feb. 1, 2024

    Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area

    Clean park, cheap prices. Would definitely come back

    The park is reasonable priced, beautiful surrounding and friendly staff. Would definitely come again. The only downside is that it’s somewhat far from supply stores

  • David F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area
    Nov. 30, 2023

    Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

    State Park away from busier Illinois

    https://camp.exploremoreil.com/ 84 electric RV sites all reservable except 21 First Come sites. 18 sites are full hookup. Several 50 amp sites but majority are 30 amp. Modern Shower house and 7 Vault toilet buildings. Newer Campground so Shade Trees are smaller still. Have camped here 4 times past 3 years. Like the quite agricultural Illinois environment but suggest shopping for your needs prior to leaving larger cities as most of the few small towns are limited to a Bar and Dollar store.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Kamper Kompanion RV Park
    Nov. 6, 2023

    Kamper Kompanion RV Park

    Kamper Companion Family Favy

    We really enjoyed Kamper Companion! We stay there every time we pass through Litchfield. Quiet, family friendly, and great for our dogs. We love the dog yard!

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Illinois State Fair Campground
    Oct. 17, 2023

    Illinois State Fair Campground

    Large campground, good location, good value

    On the state fairgrounds just off gate 10 or 11. Very large number of spaces…older bathrooms/ showers but very clean. All spaces seem to have electricity and water.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Illinois State Fair Campground
    Sep. 28, 2023

    Illinois State Fair Campground

    Clean, beautiful urban camp

    We always leave late on the first day of a trip and get stressed. This was an easy 3/4 day trip from our house and a great place to relax. Great thick grass carpet spots if you want.Great level paved pads if you want.Friendly checking , friendly security driving around all night. Lots of showers, mine was good and hot. Some traffic noise All kinds of open spots if it isn’t fair week. Don’t just show up fair week.

  • Sonia  Nathan B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Buena Vista Farms Campground
    Sep. 4, 2023

    Buena Vista Farms Campground

    Nice and Quiet

    If your looking just to get way and relax or go explore Jacksonville or Springfield you can get there in 40 minutes.

    The wifi isn’t strong enough to reach back to where we were but that was okay, I guess we didn’t need to watch tv anyways.

    You can still here some cars because of the highway but it wasn’t like really crazy. The part is a decent size if you don’t want to hear traffic go further in the back.

    Terry the owner she is super nice and friendly you would want to come back just for that alone.

    The wifi isn’t so strong but i guess we didn’t need to watch TV. If you don’t want to hear the traffic I suggest getting a spot in the back. The part is a decent size we really didn’t hear it until the morning so by that time it getting up and getting ready to go and explore. You can hit Springfield in bout 40 mins or downtown Jacksonville in 15.

  • JASON L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Sangchris Lake State Park Campground
    Jul. 28, 2023

    Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

    Hickory Point Heaven

    There's really no way to describe this campground except for: Accommodating. Beautiful. Clean. Convenient. Peaceful. Relaxing. We have spent many weekends here and have never had a bad experience. Tony and Danielle and the rest of the entire campground host staff and crew do absolutely everything to make sure you have a great stay!!! We appreciate them and this wonderful campground. Our favorite sites are 13, 18, 23. Please visit and enjoy!



Guide to Rochester

Camping near Rochester, Illinois, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and family-friendly activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun-filled adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Fishing: Many campgrounds, like Coon Creek (IL), have great fishing spots. One camper mentioned, "The lake has boat access and some good fishing spots."
  • Hiking: Trails are available at places like Sangchris Lake State Park Campground. A visitor noted, "The trails are poorly marked but with basic knowledge of your compass points you can figure them out."
  • Swimming: If you're looking to cool off, check out Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, where one family enjoyed swimming and said, "We couldn’t have asked for a better location for our family and our interests."

What campers like

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Okaw Valley Kampground stated, "Clean restrooms and showers with hot water."
  • Friendly staff: Many visitors mention the helpfulness of campground hosts. One camper at Primitive Campground said, "The camp host were very nice and helpful."
  • Spacious sites: Campgrounds like Double J Campground and RV Park offer roomy spots. A reviewer noted, "The campsites are nice and wide, gravel like the roads, with wide grassy areas between."

What you should know

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, such as Beaver Dam State Park Campground, may not have all the amenities you expect. A visitor mentioned, "The outhouse was a short walk from us and was decent (no sink)."
  • Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for wildlife, especially at places like Weldon Springs State Park Campground. One camper warned, "The raccoons were so bad. The couple a few sites down had their tent destroyed."
  • Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds have specific seasons. For example, Sangchris Lake State Park Campground is open from April 1 to January 16.

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose family-friendly sites: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities. A reviewer at Okaw Valley Kampground said, "Kids liked the slides in the playground."
  • Plan for meals: Some campgrounds have stores nearby. One camper at Coon Creek (IL) mentioned, "There was a very well-stocked store at the entrance."
  • Bring outdoor games: Families can enjoy games like wiffle ball. A visitor at Primitive Campground noted, "Lots of families with kids riding bikes around the loop and some playing wiffle ball in the open field."

Tips from RVers

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Double J Campground and RV Park said, "Well maintained and level spots."
  • Look for full hookups: Many RVers prefer sites with full hookups. A review for Illinois State Fair Campground mentioned, "All spaces seem to have electricity and water."
  • Be aware of noise: Some campgrounds are near highways. A visitor at Double J Campground and RV Park noted, "You can hear the highway traffic nearby, but it was more like white-noise than anything else."

Camping around Rochester, IL, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to check the specific campground details and reviews to find the perfect spot for your next adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular campground near Rochester, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Rochester, IL is Sangchris Lake State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 19 reviews.

  • What parks are near Rochester, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Rochester, IL that allow camping, notably Lake Shelbyville and Carlyle Lake.