Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Shipman, IL has a lot to offer. Shipman is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Shipman camping trip.
$10 - $20 / night
"Larger sites but no pull through sites. 2 Handicapped sites next to the restrooms/showers. Electric only in the RV sites, but water available to fill your tanks. Dump station in the park also."
"Campgrounds close to Pere Marquette Lodge. Is located just north of Grafton that has many food and drink and antique shops. Campground is on the Illinois River with the Mississippi River nearby."
$25 - $40 / night
"Family friendly atmosphere, big inground pool, 18 hole putt putt, lots of outdoor games, planned activities on the weekends, shaded sites, and air conditioned cabins!"
"This beautiful campground has many things to offer and is only a few minutes from the local drive in movie theater in Litchfield Illinois."
"When you first pull down the road you’ll be worried you’re going to end up in the train yard, but the campground is hidden and actually really quiet and secluded."
"Laundry worked good. Pizza was good. Pet runs clean and in good shape. Good air signal for tv."
$35 - $60 / night
"The nicest spots are the ones by the lake, with only one neighbor and a better view of the lake. The staff are kind and helpful. Water and electric worked fine."
"I've been to 370 Lakeside Park many times to walk around the huge lake and to hear concerts in the summer, but I had never camped there. Still haven't. I'll explain."
"Horseshoe Lake is one of my most visited parks and most favorite park in the STL and surrounding areas. First off absolutely beautiful land and peace is easily achieved."
"Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$."
$15 - $38 / night
"Given that we had to set up in/right after a rain, our tarp was sitting in grass and mud. I never knew how much I appreciated a designated gravel tent pad until then."
"This campground was a little tricky to find after dark, but was able to show up and set up camp at 9pm. Tons of available spaces in late September."
"Babler State Park Wildwood, MO
💰 $12-$21/night
🗓 Feb 19-21, 2022
Site 48 ⚡️💧
🦮 Pets Welcome (on leash at all times)
➕Concrete Pads, Quiet, Close to Interstate 40, Paved Roads, Easy to Access"
"There are miles of hiking and biking trails right outside your doorstep and plenty of woods to explore. "
"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. "
"Most sites have lake views and have electric hookup but no water hookup. However communal bathrooms and showers are clean. Sites are fairly close together tough."
"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."
TravelerFamily friendly atmosphere, big inground pool, 18 hole putt putt, lots of outdoor games, planned activities on the weekends, shaded sites, and air conditioned cabins! This place is a campers dream with great staff always happy to see you.
TravelerStayed here most of the several weeks we needed to be in St. Louis for family matters. Definitely our favorite place in the area. The grounds are clean and pleasant, if a bit sparse with little shade. This will change over the subsequent years, however, as there are many relatively newly planted trees. The nicest spots are the ones by the lake, with only one neighbor and a better view of the lake. The staff are kind and helpful. Water and electric worked fine. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Trash and recycling receptacles are huge and convenient. My only complaint is the poorly thought out sink situation in the bathrooms which make it impossible to wash in a sanitary way as you must hold the tap to keep the water flowing and there are no paper towels to that with, only hand dryers. There is boating and archery on site, a dog run, and a small playground.
LegendI wanted to escape the house and go camping while on the work from home order (Covid-19 happening at the time of this review), so I headed to a very local park and campground to pitch my tent. I've been to 370 Lakeside Park many times to walk around the huge lake and to hear concerts in the summer, but I had never camped there. Still haven't. I'll explain. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they were not so keen on having tent campers. But they were very nice and gave me the general lowdown on this "in the city" campground. Since they opened the campground, most of their campers have been RV owners, and so it is really designed for the RV camper. There is a small primitive section for group tent camping, but the majority of the sites are full hookups for RVs. Some sites are pull through and some are back in. All have picnic tables and fire pits. The park has planted some trees, but they are really just saplings, so there is no shade yet. There is a nice bathhouse with free showers for the campers and pay laundry. If you are lucky, you can get a site close to the water, but it means the walking trail is right next to your unit. Trade offs, I suppose. One couple I talked to was camping long term (I think they are permanent RV'ers) and they got a free membership to the St Peter's RecPlex recreation center with their long term spot (they said something about having to book a least a month out to get this perk). One of the downsides to this location is that it is prone to flooding. It was out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded. But the City of St Peters did a great job getting this place back to usable with new sod, a new bathhouse, and some general sprucing up. The lake is great to walk around, about a 3 mile walk or bike on a paved trail. You can see all kinds of wildlife in and around the lake- deer, bald eagles, pelicans, ducks, snakes. In the summers they have live music in the large pavilion, and you can rent kayaks and other small boats to take out on the lake as well as bikes to ride around on. The office told me that they have 24 hour on site security also. If I really wanted to tent camp, I could rent a section of the group camping area, but $30 seemed pricey for just me, and it was very soggy to boot. Or I could rent an RV spot, but $45 was silly when I don' t need hookups.
GuideWe stayed 2 weekend nights in April. It rained one night so the fire pits were full of water but overall the rain didn’t cause any issues. Paved streets but gravel campsites. Nice and level. All hookups were conveniently located. Shower house and restrooms were clean and well maintained/cleaned every day. Had a lakefront site but didn’t get to fish this time. Will be back for sure because it’s close to home. Very nice and large pavilion. Playground for kids. Sand volleyball courts. Nice biking/walking path around lake that’s about 5 miles. Check-in was fast and convenient.
TravelerThe campsites and grounds are well-maintained. However, the campsites did not have designated gravel tent pads. Given that we had to set up in/right after a rain, our tarp was sitting in grass and mud. I never knew how much I appreciated a designated gravel tent pad until then. Having never camped here, we had reserved site 25 and had the whole loop to ourselves (it was a Monday night, though). Our site, though, was the smallest in the loop, tucked away in the weeds, and the only area to pitch our tent was on a slight slope. After walking the loop, I noticed that sites 26 and 29, offered more room and were better maintained. We probably could’ve changed sites had we not arrived so late and in the rain.
Firewood is available for $5. We saw a nice playground at the entrance. There were plenty of showers (water was nice and hot!) and flush toilets in the bathhouse. The bathhouse could use some TLC, but the warm water made up for it. There are laundry facilities, though we didn’t use them.
ScoutLarger sites but no pull through sites. 2 Handicapped sites next to the restrooms/showers. Electric only in the RV sites, but water available to fill your tanks. Dump station in the park also.
Campground has a Host on site 1 to register, or you can go to the visitors center ( around the corner) if you need to pay with plastic.
$20. Per day for RV sites, $10. Per day for tent (no electric) sites. We also have 2 Cabins (basic w/beds & electric) at $45. Per day.
GuideThere is no electric or running water. The lake is ok but no swimming, boating and fishing only.
GuideThese 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.
GuideWe loved our stay at Babler, aside from the snow & wind - the park is great! Review below ⬇️
⛺️ S I T E R E V I E W ⛺️
📍 Dr. Edmund A. Babler State Park Wildwood, MO
💰 $12-$21/night
🗓 Feb 19-21, 2022
Site 48 ⚡️💧
🦮 Pets Welcome (on leash at all times)
➕Concrete Pads, Quiet, Close to Interstate 40, Paved Roads, Easy to Access, Gated Overnight with access code
➖Small/Close Sites, No Water in Off Season, Only Vault Toilets - No Showers in Off Season
📶 AT&T Service 4 out of 5
🚮 Dump Station located behind bathhouse. NO WATER during off season!
🚻AMENITIES •Playground •Hiking, Biking & Equestrian Trails •Wood & Ice •Interpretive Programs •Visitor Center •Special Use Area •Laundry, Flush Toilets & Showers ON SEASON ONLY!
🏕SITES Reservable 12 Months-FCFS in off season 72 Reservable 8 Accessible sites Basic - Electric Concrete Back In Lantern Hook, Picnic Table & Fire Ring
⏰ HOURS/DATES April - October 7:am - 9:pm Nov - March 7:am - 6:pm
🔺Park Office 8:30am - 4:pm M-F
🔺Visitor Center April - Oct 9:am - 4:30pm W - Sun Nov - March 9:am - 4:pm - Sat-Sun Dec - Feb CLOSED
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Shipman, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Shipman, IL is Pere Marquette State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Shipman, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 glamping camping locations near Shipman, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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