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Campgrounds near Wilmington, Illinois range from established state parks to private RV resorts along the Kankakee River. Potowatomi Campground at Kankakee River State Park offers year-round camping with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins approximately 15 miles southeast of Wilmington. The area also includes Enchanted Shores RV Park & Campground in Peotone and Kayak Morris, which provides boat-in access for paddlers. Most campgrounds in this region feature wooded settings with electric hookups, drinking water, and fire rings, though amenities vary significantly between state-managed and private facilities.
Access to camping areas varies seasonally, with some facilities like Chippewa Campground operating with limited services during winter months. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The region experiences typical Midwestern seasonal patterns with hot, humid summers and cold winters that can affect camping comfort. Spring often brings muddy conditions along the Kankakee River and its tributaries. Primitive sites at McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove offer boat-in and hike-in access but limited facilities. As one visitor noted about nearby Channahon State Park, "This campground is right in town. It is a bit away from businesses. However if you arrive by car you drive through the quaint town. Arriving by bicycle is even better."
Campers consistently mention the wooded settings and proximity to water as highlights of the Wilmington area. Kankakee River State Park's campgrounds receive positive reviews for their shaded sites and access to hiking trails. Several visitors appreciate the combination of natural surroundings with reasonable proximity to urban amenities. "Just what my wife and I were looking for. Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn't expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area," reported one camper about a nearby state park. RV campers have multiple options with full hookups, including Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort in Joliet and Tameling Campground, while tent campers may prefer the more secluded walk-in sites at McKinley Woods or Channahon State Park, which offers vault toilets and picnic areas in a forested setting.
"Many miles of paved and crushed limestone trails. The actual Kankakee River access is sort of outside of the campground- that would be my only complaint."
"Right at the start of Osage is an entrance to the crushed gravel bike path. It gave us a great hike through the trees. You can find picnic areas and playground equipment by following the bike path."
"You get to see tugboats and barges go up and down the Illinois river right from your campsite."
"Small and hidden right on the Illinois River. Received a free night of camping with a whole day of kayaking which is absolutely recommended."
from $29 / night
Check Availability"shade canopy and an open feel Well maintained open-grass layout
- Spacious campsites, similar to other IL State Parks we've stayed at
- Quiet (when we visited)
- Boat ramp is accessible via trail"
"No water hookup .But has a swing set for the kids to play a few bike/hike trails. Quiet no street noise . They have a dump station and water too fill your camper."
from $8 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant."
"Nice safe location. Flat, pretty large spots..picnic tables."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Yes, it’s an hour from the city, but I’d take the drive over the bill at a nearby hotel. There’s an outhouse and plenty of places to plug in the RV, and cars/tents are welcome too."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"It is a bit away from businesses. However if you arrive by car you drive through the quaint town. Arriving by bicycle is even better. The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail passes right by camp."
"Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities"
from $37 / night
Check Availability"If you like having access to a bathroom and shower its great and because no one really hd a tent here but us we had some privacy. It is next to a highway so be mindful of that."
ScoutNice, clean, quiet, simple state park set up. Many miles of paved and crushed limestone trails. The actual Kankakee River access is sort of outside of the campground- that would be my only complaint. You have to walk or bike a little distance to be near the river. Seemed very well maintained and we loved it!
ScoutWhat a find! Beautiful CG. So green; so quiet. Very nicely organized with children placed near the very appealing playground and volleyball facilities, campers with pets near the wonderful dog park. The WiFi is very functional. There is a laundry facility in the camper services building. There’s a lovely community fire pit with the most pleasant rocky fountain. The sites are spacious and offer a nice mix of sun/shade. Best of all, the grounds are spotless. No wait, the best part is how nice the staff is. Or maybe it’s how lush the foliage looks. I don’t know. Go check it out yourself and see if you can decide.
LegendAs the name suggests, Creekside Campground borders a tributary of the Vermillion River, which is really just a creek in these parts, and it sits as the lowest point of all the campgrounds here at Pleasant Creek. This campground is not for those driving an RV or hauling a 5th wheel - Creekside is really just for primitive tent campers, who enjoy being connected to nature with only the most basic of comforts. The vibe here at Creekside is definitely communal, offering up less privacy than most primitive campsites I have ever been to. After entering Pleasant Creek, you’ll pass the Office, Camp Store and Arcade on the left, where you’ll also notice a small basketball court on the right, passing by the primary community bathhouses, you’ll immediately veer to the left where you’ll cross the lone bridge where you’ll turn hard right and downwards along the ravine to arrive at the Creekside Campground. Down here and along the Vermillion River there are 32 primitive campsites available numbered #101– 106 and #108– 128 on the lower edge, with a small number of sites raised slightly above, but still downhill from the Highlands with sites numbered #130– 134. Apart from a water spigot and a single porta-potty, there are no other amenities here. As Creekside is carved from the curve of the property that follows the Vermillion River along with the thick tree line, which creates a completely separate feel from the rest of Pleasant Creek, preserving a uniquely festive community vibe. The sites here have full visibility between each other, so if privacy and space are of concern, I would suggest one of the other 2 campgrounds earmarked for tent campers.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you need anything, and I mean anything at all, the very great father and son duo of Dan& Dan, will work tirelessly to ensure that your experience here at this campground is nothing short of amazing, so if you need anything, just ask either of them; (2) While the Vermillion River is merely a creek in these parts, if you head due west, and search a little, you’ll find a couple decent natural launches where you can access the wider river OR you can access a great kayak launch site either at the lower dells in Starved Rock SP or by contacting Starved Rock Kayak Company (who have their own, very amazing riverfront primitive campsite, BTW and that you can search up here on TheDyrt), who will let you launch from either one of their sites on either side of the Illinois River; and (3) While there’s not a whole lot of restaurants in this area, if you do want to get out to try some of the local fare, I would recommend you check out nearby Utica, where I would recommend either Lodi Tap House or Año del Gallo, which is a nice stand-alone Mexican joint serving up some decent fare along with Margaritas.
Happy Camping!
TravelerDid not stay because was planning on staying in my car in the lot but the gate says it closes at sunset, not sure if that's true as there is tent camping.
LegendThis is not a campground but if you need an overnight quick stop this was great! Rating as a truck stop/overnight and not campground rating
We pulled in around 10pm, easily backed in with no obstacles, hook ups were all easy and convienent and we were on I80 again before 7
You check in online once your there and process was great
It is a travel stop so there are bright lights and truck noise - but we were tired and had no issues sleeping through night!
The staff were very kind, bathrooms inside were clean
RangerWe added a day to our Starved Rock itinerary and couldn't get into Starved Rock State Park Campground that night, so quickly booked this from the road. Got into the Highlands, which was packed and super close quarters. Not what we love, but several sites looked like extended families/friends had booked together and they were having a blast, especially the kids. Looked like they had some activities available and we saw several kids with fishing poles heading somewhere fun. We didn't explore the rest of the grounds; perhaps other sections afforded more privacy. I thought it was a bit pricey for the amenities (one shower house very far away) and hemmed-in feel, but it served our purpose for one night.
RangerWe loved site 89 at Starved Rock State Campground, in the wooded area of the east loop. Felt enveloped by nature among the trees and birds. Nice privacy, with neighbors at a distance through the trees. The pit toilets weren’t far and were well-kept. The only disappointment was the shower house. The shower itself was excellent—hot and powerful—but one men's and one women's shower for more than 70 sites isn't sufficient, and those facilities felt neglected.
The location of this campground is perfect if you’re there to explore the canyons, as it’s an easy drive to so many trailheads. We hiked up to Starved Rock and also down into seven canyons over the four days there: Illinois, Ottawa, Kalkaskia, Council Bluffs, St Louis, French, and Wildcat. We enjoyed a riverboat cruise down the Illinois River among bluffs of sandstone. We had lunch in Ottawa one day and Utica another; both cool towns. We also loved our time just relaxing at the site in such a beautiful setting.
ScoutAway from All the City Noise And Not Very Far Away Dump Station And Potable Water Supply
ScoutJJust ok. Facilities were disappointing
Camping sites near Wilmington, Illinois feature varied terrain along the Kankakee River with significant seasonal variations. Spring flooding affects riverbank campgrounds from March through May, while summer temperatures typically range between 75-95°F with high humidity. Winter camping remains available at select locations though water services are often winterized between November and April.
Kayaking along the Illinois River: Kayak Morris offers direct river access where campers can launch from their sites. "We brought our own kayaks and launched right from our campsite which was amazing but they rent kayaks for pretty cheap if you don't have your own," explains Amanda W. The confluence across the river provides excellent floating opportunities.
Fishing for striped bass: The river convergence near Morris creates prime fishing conditions. "Between me and my buddies we caught over 50 striper. I don't know if it's the river convergence or the lake but they bite here hard!" reports Sam Murphy M. Fishing licenses required; daily permits available online or at local sporting goods stores.
Cycling on the I&M Canal Trail: Channahon State Park Campground connects directly to the crushed gravel trail. "The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail passes right by camp. You can stop for a rest or stay the night. It's a nice stopping distance if you are riding from Chicago to Starved Rock," notes Art S. Trail access points located every 5-8 miles along the route.
Private, vegetated sites: Potowatomi Campground offers natural separation between campsites. "Spacious sites with lush jungle-like greenery grown in between, which provides perfect privacy. Easy access to water pump," mentions Yang L. Sites in the Hickory Loop, especially numbers 16 and 17, receive praise for their tent-friendly layouts.
Wildlife encounters: The nature center at Kankakee River State Park provides hands-on educational opportunities. "We did have a really awesome time at the main office/nature center, where my kiddos got to feed and hold a variety of reptiles!" shares Linda N. Weekend programs run May through October.
Boat-in camping options: Multiple campgrounds offer water access sites. "Small and hidden right on the Illinois River. Received a free night of camping with a whole day of kayaking which is absolutely recommended," explains Taylor L. about Kayak Morris. Most boat-in sites require reservation 24-48 hours in advance.
Spring flooding issues: Low-lying sites can experience significant water accumulation. "Nothing was mentioned about this site being a flood zone. Our night went from on and off light rain to three hours of down pour rain. With that said our site was flooded once we woke up," warns Rita S. about McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove.
Water quality concerns: Some campgrounds have water quality challenges. "Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning. The water is so unclean that our shower develops yellow stains within a day," reports Iryna R. about Leisure Lake Resort.
Roadway noise: Several campgrounds experience traffic disruption. "You can throw a stone and hit a semi driving by to I-80. There's a lot of traffic given the proximity to Chicago. If you're able to sleep with large trucks driving in the background, you'll be fine," notes Iris A. about Martin's Camping Ground.
Riverside play areas: Chippewa Campground provides river access with supervised areas. "Boat ramp is accessible via trail or a short drive away. Another boat ramp about 3 miles downriver makes a gorgeous through-paddle possible," explains Norman V. The river is generally knee-deep near designated entry points.
Site selection strategy: Choose camping spots based on shade and activity space. "Some sites had fewer trees than others and might not be able to accommodate e.g. hammocks, market lights, etc. We picked one with a good setup of surrounding trees," advises Norman V. Sites 14-17 on Osage loop at Potowatomi Campground offer the most open play areas.
Weather contingency planning: Summer storms frequently interrupt camping. "It rained a ton during our trip so we didn't explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity," notes Emma H. about her stay at Kankakee River State Park.
Service limitations: Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort has seasonal restrictions. "No water before 4/15. Not a bad spot. Average and relatively inexpensive," states David N. Water connections typically remain offline until mid-April, requiring campers to arrive with full tanks earlier in the season.
Hookup placement challenges: Campsite layouts sometimes require extra equipment. "Sewer connection at our site was technically on neighbors…we had to use extension," reports Beth B. about Martin's Camping Ground. RVers should carry 10-20 foot sewer hose extensions when visiting campgrounds in this region.
Limited longer-term tent options: Many RV parks restrict tent camping duration. "Great place to camp but three day limit with tent. Very disappointed with that and it's three days a month," explains Katelyn G. Most established RV campgrounds allow maximum 3-night tent stays due to local regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Wilmington, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Wilmington, IL is Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 18 reviews.
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