Stockton, Illinois sits at 860 feet elevation in the northwestern corner of the state, part of the Driftless Area where glaciers never flattened the landscape. This hilly terrain creates distinct camping conditions with elevations varying by up to 200 feet between campsites. Most RV parks near Stockton, Illinois close between October and April due to average winter temperatures below 20°F.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Apple River Canyon, anglers find good conditions for catching smallmouth bass and trout. "Great small spot! The solo camp ground can be a little hair-raising as it's perched about 20 feet from the edge of the canyon wall. Beautiful setting, great fishing (stocked trout in April, Smallmouth all year)," reports camper Brannon M.
River exploration: Rock Creek County Marina and Campground offers various water activities along Mississippi River backwaters. "This CG includes canoe/kayak rentals, with lots of Mississippi backwater to explore. Showers are open until October 14 this year," notes Jeff and Linda L. Another visitor adds, "The grounds are on backwaters of the Mississippi so there are boat ramps, docks, and areas to fish. The camp store also offers canoe, kayak, and other boat rentals."
Hiking trails: Several parks offer hiking opportunities with varying difficulty levels. "We enjoyed our site, nice campground. The trails were enjoyed often by us. We found one section that had some interesting wildflowers," mentions a visitor to Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area. At Apple River Canyon, a camper notes, "There are short trails with some steep climbs, not wide paths so bring bug spray and tick tools!"
What campers like
Dark sky viewing: Blanding Landing provides excellent conditions for stargazing. As one camper explains, "This site is a dark skies site, so if it's not overcast or full moon there is some good stargazing." The relative isolation from major cities makes this possible.
Wildlife encounters: The area's natural setting attracts diverse wildlife. At Apple River Canyon, Sarah B. reports, "Did see some deer, a big raccoon, and an eagle; and met a local photographer who showed me pictures he had taken of local fox kits and other cool wildlife."
Educational opportunities: Spruce Creek Park offers cultural and natural history exploration. "There's a butterfly garden, hiking trails, a lookout where all 4 states are visible. There are also Indian mounds, which is apparently a secret now," shares Kari K. The area provides educational opportunities about Mississippi River ecology.
What you should know
Train noise: Some campgrounds experience significant train disturbance. A camper at Blanding Landing comments, "Biggest issue is train tracks with trains running by very often. Maybe an hour or 90 minutes with none then there would be three in a very short period."
Bug intensity: Insects can be problematic, especially near water. "The bugs are no joke though. Mosquitoes, gnats, and other flying friends were definitely swarming. We hiked down into the canyon along the river, and the bugs and spider webs we had to pass through were next level," reports a camper at Apple River Canyon.
Cell service variability: Connectivity varies significantly across campgrounds. At Rustic Barn Campground RV Park, campers note good connections, but at Apple River Canyon, a visitor warns, "Tmobile cell service was spotty at best," while another mentions, "ATT cell service is mostly nonexistent in camp, but kicks in as you head out, so plan your research ahead of time."
Tips for camping with families
Eco-tourism activities: Families enjoy educational nature programs. "This campground has an Eco Center with turtles, snakes, and an aquarium that our family really enjoyed," notes Chris F. about Rock Creek County Marina and Campground.
Playgrounds and recreation: Several campgrounds offer family-friendly amenities. "They also have an Eco Tourism store/grill, paddling rentals, Blue Heron Cruises, nature center. Sites include fire rings, tables, gravel backing pads, electric with some right near water edge," James M. shares about Rock Creek.
Visibility considerations: Sugar Shores RV Resort provides family-friendly camping with amenities for children. "Nice park, fair amount of stuff for the kids, game room, mini golf, pool. Bathrooms are nice and clean," explains jeremy S.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: RV sites vary significantly in quality and levelness. At Rustic Barn Campground, Stephanie S. notes, "Unfortunately our site 26 seemed to be the most unlevel, which was our only negative. We had to use all our blocks to get us as level as possible."
Utility access: Water fill-up and dump station availability varies. Chris F. reports about Rock Creek, "Our site was pretty flat, although it was a little tricky backing into it. They put the site number posts at the end of the pad near the road and our site had a tree on the other side, so we had to use the grass across the road to maneuver in and out."
Off-season options: Most RV parks Stockton, Illinois area have limited seasonal availability. "Off Shore RV Park near Bellevue offers river views, hard lanes, tables, fire rings, RR, playground, food, and is just 2 miles north of river town of Bellevue for supplies," explains James M. about one of the few options with concrete pads.
