The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Lena. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Lena. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Lena, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
$10 - $30 / night
"This was an unexpected good find in Illinois. The campground was nice with the standard set up - picnic tables, restrooms, water available."
"There are some trails that will take you around some of the hills through open fields if you are interested in walking around the campground. This is a nice place to camp."
$8 / night
"There is a trail that works it’s way through the back of the sites. The sites are a bit close together and separation is sometimes sparse. Restrooms are pits and well maintained stocked with TP."
"Very close to fishing! Lots of fun hiking trails. I love that there is minimal cell signal to keep everyone off their phones"
"It is about 40 minutes away, but is nice to be away from the traffic. The KOA store is well stocked and has some pretty cool souvenirs!"
$8 / night
"I found it eventually but I'm glad I wasn't towing a camper because there was a lot of turning around. Some of the sites are able to be reserved."
"We were in campsite #34 which had direct access to the Primrose trail, which is on top of one of the bluffs. The bathrooms were clean, but are pit toilets."
"Hidden gem near the iowa/illinois border. Secluded and beautiful."
"It has trails for walking and lots of concrete for riding bikes. We did both. The park is close to the River and has plenty of places to put your boat in across the highway."
"There is the noise from the highway, but it is better than most Yogi Bears that I have been to."
"It has a large lake with three boat launches, a main one with a motor ramp, a canoe launch near the marshy end, and a fishing pier."
"The hiking trails and the lake were very nice. Showers and bathrooms were extremely clean and well maintained. Our campsite, #92, was a little bit of like/dislike experience."
$25 - $40 / night
"Galena Illinois is a major tourist spot for Chicago folks to get away too. This camp site is 20 min from Galena 5 min from Elizabeth and 15 min from Apple Canyon. Has both RV and Tent sites."
"All the land is private so there's not great hiking (a little in the state park about 20 min drive away), IL law allows waterways to be privately owned so you can't kayak the river, etc."
$60 / night
"We were surprised to have a bar right outside our campsite, but with an RV running the fan all night the noise didn't bother us at all."
TravelerOur original overnight camping spot did not work out so we ended up here. A good quiet stay with 30amp service and shaded level sites with mature maple trees. These are back in sites that look like pull through except the other half is another site you share with another camper (backends in fashion). Still reasonable private. Enjoyed our stay
TravelerThe park is great. Scenery is great. The swimming beach was in poor condition and the shower house near Plum Grove needs a lot of work. All in all we would come back. We don’t have kids so swimming is not an issue for us.
TravelerWe stayed at site 52 which is along the boat launch parking lot. You cant tell from the pictures online but theres a walking path between all the sites in that area. There was literally a 10ft opening into the neighbors site so we could clearly see eachother. I thought it was going to be more private. Site was clean though and easy access to the lake. Easy getting kayaks in and out of the lake. The noise from the highway was loud. Even at night it was loud. Pit toilets could use a cleaning. For a quick stay it wasnt bad but i would probably go somewhere else for longer stays. We drove through the tent only sites and they were terrible looking. Very uneven and zero privacy between sites. Its basically an open field. The boat landing area at least had trees between sites.
TravelerCamped here in May 2024. Campsites were good and bathrooms were clean enough. What really makes this campground is the lake. There’s a nice beach for kids and adults to relax at and lots of kayaks on the water.
ScoutWe camp here several times a year. The sites are well kept and pretty spacious. It’s rarely crowded and I never feel like I’m on top of other people. The shower house is pretty basic but clean. The primitive sites are where it’s at! First come first serve and they fill up quick.
TravelerWe went Memorial Day weekend and got a tent site at Hickory Hill. I would recommend the Pine Ridge area for a quieter night, but it was all booked up when we went. For RV campers Hickory Hill was great! Paved roads, clean pump out area, and nice shower house. We were in site 148 which was quite nice. Great shade and dense woods separated us from the RV area.
TravelerGreat park for water activities and hiking! Also had nice shower facilities.
TravelerThis is a favorite campground we've stayed at many times. Some sites can be difficult to get level on, and some can be difficult to back into, so scout out sites before hand. Nice trails and a natural spring.
ScoutSite 269, genuinely a perfect distance from the road with a reserved parking spot big enough for potentially 2 cars, nice trees for hammock hanging, decently level ground. We stayed for a week and the bathrooms showers and sites were some of the most clean I’ve been too, not to mention the landscape and variety of trails (especially Stephens’ Falls) is very beautiful and well cared for. All employees/volunteers we encountered were always so helpful and nice - yes bundles of wood are $7 (for a larger bundle, $5 for smaller) all funds go back into the park and seeing how well they try to care for it, we gladly pay the cost. PSA (obvi) keep your food and garbage locked up and away from your site. The raccoons here and insanely bold, we had one frequently visit our site and get VERY close to us and in the evening ended up ripping thru the roof of our tent (luckily in the separated front section and not in our sleeping area) and had to rip his way out of the tent because we had the zippers secured. Very frustrating night and hated every second of dealing with that coon. For any new campers, DONOT FEED THE RACCOONS
Camping near Lena, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From scenic trails to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.
Camping near Lena, Illinois, has its perks and quirks, but with the right preparation, it can be a fantastic outdoor experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lena, IL is Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area with a 3.6-star rating from 10 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Lena, IL that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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