Lake Shelbyville camping offers waterfront access across 11,100 acres of reservoir shoreline surrounded by mixed hardwood forests. The area sits at approximately 600 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 85°F and winter lows near 20°F. Most campgrounds maintain operations from April through October, with reduced services during shoulder seasons.
What to do
Fishing from shore: Wolf Creek State Park Campground provides multiple bank fishing areas with bass being particularly active during spring and early summer. "The campground is right on lake Shelbyville. 309 spots 141 are reservable," notes one visitor.
Swimming at local beaches: Spring Creek Campground maintains a small fishing pond but no swimming facilities. For swimming, consider Wolf Creek's beach area, though visitors note it's "small and also not well kept."
Hiking trails: Spring Creek Campground features walking paths around its fishing pond. "This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds I've been in in a long time. It's small, owned by an older farmer, has electricity and bathrooms. It's on a couple of small lakes and the bird sounds, the frogs, ducks, the whole natural environment is just wonderful," reports a 2025 visitor.
Golf cart rentals: Robin Hood Woods Campground & Cottage Resort offers pedal cart and golf cart rentals for exploring the grounds. "You can rent a peddle type cart that holds 4 people who all peddle. They really loved them. You can also rent golf carts."
What campers like
Level camping pads: Kamper Kompanion RV Park provides flat, even sites for comfortable setup. "Easy on off, right by highway, pulled in after dark and they met us to show us to the site and got us settled. Easy pull thru site with 40' and toad. Basically a big open flat field with sites and building spread throughout," shares one camper.
Spacious pet areas: RV sites near Shelbyville include dedicated pet facilities. Kamper Kompanion offers "Cute little fenced in pet area with benches for the pups to stretch," while other visitors note they "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!"
Seasonal weekend activities: Camp programming runs primarily during summer months. Robin Hood Woods organizes special events for holidays: "We went 4th of July weekend and they even had a golf cart parade and through candy which was so fun for our son."
What you should know
Variable cell service: While most campgrounds report decent connectivity, signal strength varies by location. At Kaskaskia Dragon RV Park, one camper notes "wifi is poor," which may affect remote workers.
Reservation windows: Many campgrounds open bookings 3-6 months in advance, with holiday weekends filling quickly. Availability fluctuates seasonally with highest occupancy from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Site selection tips: Coon Creek Campground offers varied site layouts including buddy sites for group camping. "We chose a buddy site even though we weren't camping with another family because we like the location. It was right at the end of the peninsula, and it is by far the biggest and beautiful site we have ever stayed in."
Water access planning: Water hookup distribution varies between campgrounds. At Wolf Creek, campers mention: "bring plenty of water hose. The water faucets for fill up can be a bit far away."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Multiple campgrounds feature dedicated recreation areas for children. Robin Hood Woods has "a pirate ship playground" and "even a small game room," making it "great campground for a chill entertaining weekend with kids."
Budget-friendly entertainment: Camp Lakewood provides on-site activities that don't require additional spending. "There is laundry on site and the showers are some of the cleanest I've seen. There are many options for what site to stay at and there are plenty of things to do while here."
Insect preparation: Evening bugs can be problematic in summer months. Coon Creek visitors recommend bringing "a screen tent for eating outside as the bugs really get bad at night."
Site selection for fishing: When booking for fishing access, review site locations carefully. At Camp Lakewood, one visitor advises: "My son came to fish so make sure your site isn't on a hill where you can't fish from the site. Fishing is good though, the bass are biting!"
Tips from RVers
Overnight stopover options: Percival Springs RV Campground works well for single-night stays. "We stopped here for a night. There is a restaurant near but it was closed. Mostly long term occupants with about 5 sites for travelers. It is on airport property and there is a helicopter service there," notes one RVer.
Site sizing considerations: Some campgrounds accommodate larger rigs better than others. Percival Springs features "Huge pull thru sites for about 4 rigs. Lots of grass for 4 legged friends," according to a visitor.
Extended-stay amenities: For longer visits near Shelbyville, Illinois, RV sites with additional facilities are available. The Double J Campground includes "a huge pool, putt-putt golf, and washer and dryers" and offers "full hook ups."
Winter access limitations: Most RV campgrounds reduce services after October, with some closing entirely. Double J Campground operates year-round, though with fewer amenities during winter months.
