Best Glamping near Topeka, IL

Recent Glamping Reviews near Topeka, Illinois

64 Reviews of 11 Topeka Campgrounds

• 

  Cindy H.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 16, 2019

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Inexpensive

  Quiet but tight spots. Along the Illinois River. Includes showers and laundry house.

• M

  Mike S.

  Scout

  

  May. 5, 2019

  Millpoint Park

  Nice quite, owners working on sprucing it up.

  Full hookups each site. On Illinois river. Has cabins for rent, showers. Check it out on google.

• 

  Stephanie O.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 11, 2023

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Carl Spindler

  The shower houses are amazing! This campground is very well maintained and right on the Illinois river. The view of Peoria at night is beautiful

• 

  Cindy H.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 16, 2019

  Millpoint Park

  Not a lot of amenities.

  Large sites on Illinois River. FHU. Expensive. No laundry, store, or gas. They do sell firewood, pickup your trash, and have two showers available.

• 

  James M.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 30, 2018

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Smaller campground on Illinois River, IL

  Stayed with daughter in tent site right on shore of Illinois River. Has marina adjacent, showers, host, and laundry. Inexpensive tent sites with access for fishing, paddling, wildlife and sunset viewing.

• 

  Melissa C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 28, 2024

  Millpoint Park

  Peaceful, Clean, Beautiful River Views

  Peaceful campground, well maintained, beautiful views of the Upper Peoria Lake/Illinois River. We enjoyed a nice pull-through full hookup site that required minimal leveling. Water has a lot of iron so does smell/taste weird.

• A

  Amber

  Scout

  

  Nov. 28, 2020

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Nice and quiet campground

  We came in for Thanksgiving. We had a great spot!!! The campground was clean and quiet!! Enjoyed camping here.. Will definitely camp here again when we go visit family... We stayed in Spot 8 ... It was also a short walk to the Illinois River!!!

• 

  Keith D.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 18, 2019

  Springfield KOA

  Nice and quiet campground!

  Nice and quiet campground, we stay there during the Illinois State Fair every August and it is about 20 mins away from the fairgrounds. Only down fall is there needs to be more rock on the sites, the sites get muddy after a rain!

• 

  Leslie G.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 14, 2022

  Riverside Park

  Good last minute campground

  We were looking for somewhere last minute on the 4th of July and we were welcomed here. All RV/ camper sites are close to the bath and shower houses. We had electricity and water hookups and a picnic table available. This site is close to a large industrial strip for shopping and restaurants if you don’t want to cook! Also close to the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

• 

  Shelly W.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 26, 2019

  Kentuckiana Campground

  Great for families or just a quiet getaway!

  We stayed here last year and will likely stay there again this year when we are back in Illinois. The park has two sides, one side closer to the stage. We haven’t been there when they have shows, so I can’t speak to what that is like. When we were there it was lovely. There is plenty of shade, sites are large enough for our Class A and they are pet friendly.

• 

  carissa

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 14, 2020

  Millpoint Park

  Perfect Camp Site

  This place has beautiful views of illinois river. Nice sized campsites. Everything was clean and well taken care of! Not a lot of amenities, however that isn’t what camping is all about! Full hook ups at a reasonable price. Each site also has a picnic table and fire pit. The guy that runs the place is AWESOME! So nice and willing to help with anything you need. This park is close to town, so if anything is needed you are only minutes away. LOVED camping here & will definitely be back :)

• 

  Brett F.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 1, 2021

  Millpoint Park

  Location, location, location!

  We were late reserving a campsite for Memorial Day Weekend. But Don had a spot for us. We are glad we stayed.

  The campground sits along the Illinois River: many campsites face it. It's secluded and quiet. Campsites are spacious and well-distanced.

  There is much to do on site. The campground is situated between a nature preserve with nice walking paths and a beach. There is also an old barge to explore.

  A little further away is Old Mill Vineyard. Well worth the 20 minute drive! The wine and ambiance are very nice. Ask for Ellen.

  The campground only had two restrooms available during our stay. But they were nice. And don't forget your RV water filter! The water here is very rusty.

• 

  Ranko K.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 13, 2020

  Millpoint Park

  Quiet; Deep Shade by the River

  If you’re looking to stay close to Peoria and enjoy beautiful sunsets and the water this place has it. Big trees, deep shade and it’s right on the Peoria Lake on the Illinois River. The place could use some TLC but the owner is super nice and the the location and shaded spots are well worth it. Took my son out fishing and had him practice casting! He is 4. If you’re looking to escape, be in nature, close to the water with nice sites, this place is it. If you’re looking for super clean and lots of amenities this is not it. Most sites are full hook up with some that are for tent camping. Plenty of room and easy to get a site. Our family enjoyed a little time in the breeze and shade by the river away from the scorching summer heat! We really loved our site!

• 

  Kaitlin D.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 1, 2021

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Okay

  First of all we are so grateful for them to squeeze us in for a reservation with 1 days notice. The campground is great, views are amazing, and you are literally on the beach of the Illinois river. But some negatives they lost a star for.

  1. In the overflow “unpaved” section there is 1 station of power for 4 campers. So you definitely need a LONG power cord which our neighbors did not. So campers a little close together.
  2. For the non water sites finding the two available spickets for everyone in the overflow was a serious challenge. Esp at 5 pm after the office closed. Luckily we had a kind lady let us use hers from her full site. Better signage would make all the difference.
  3. A few neighbor campsites like to blare loud music from their golf cart later than midnight. Which is very disrespectful. Overall great time and perfect weather. Not sure we’d stay again if overflow was all that’s available.
• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 26, 2024

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Waterfront Camping Bliss with City View

  This waterfront campground is perfect for anglers and particularly boaters who want to have their vessels close at hand, tied up at the marina, providing quick and EZ access to a fresh body of water that is formed where Upper Lake Peoria meets the Illinois River. For campers who want to get away from it all, while still being within close driving distance to civilization, Carl Spindler offers the convenience of a nearby major city (Peoria) while still providing a decent escape for some rest & relaxation within a fairly decent vicinity to nature. The best part about this lakefront getaway – apart from the incredibly cheap prices for an overnight stay – was hands down, the very friendly staff who offer up everyone a very strong dose of Midwestern hospitality.

  This pet-friendly CG offers a lot of amenities including: FHUs featuring electric, water and sewage as well as playground, community fire pit, restroom and shower facility that are in pretty good (not pristine) condition, laundry, fresh tap water, boat launch, 2 dump stations, WiFi (although very poor connection) and a beachhead. All sites are very level here and come with a picnic table, fire ring and electric, while a good number of the RV slots have a combination of electric amp options in addition to water and sewage hook-ups. At the marina, you can purchase ice, small sundries and camping supplies and / or simply use this spot to launch your boat, kayak or canoe from. There’s also options to rent a slip, store your boat and / or trailer for the winter. There’s even a deluxe cabin to rent in case you don’t have a tent or RV.

  While most of Carl Spindler is designed more for the RV-driving or 5th Wheel toting kind – and to be honest, some of these look like longer-term residents and / or traveling professionals – offering up some 55 individual slots (some of which I would definitely describe as ‘very snug’), this outfit does provide 2 different options for decent camp sites with me tent pitchin’ bredren in mind, both of which sit right in front of the Illinois River. In these areas, and actually for the entire campground, there’s not much (if any) shade, tree cover or brush that contributes to an overall lack of privacy – so whatever your activities might be, you and your camping brood will be on full display to the rest of the campground. At least if you chose to set up your tent over in the primitive camping area, this area is still pretty underdeveloped (for now), so over in these parts, you’ll have a greater feeling of solitude, peace & quiet.

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’d like to knock some pins down while slurping some delicious local cold brew, head on over to Landmark Bowling Center; (2) Should you be looking for some decent trails to hike check out nearby Powerton Lake State Park; (3) You will want to time your sundowners correctly, because if you do, you’ll be sipping Mai Tais leaning back in your camp chair listening to some Amy Winehouse watching the sun set in the west over the Illinois River as the twinkling stars come out to shine their brightest all with a crackling bonfire keeping you warm and lit on a gorgeous Midwestern night; (4) While I always pack a long 100 foot electrical cord for all of my electricity needs, I’ve never had to use it, except here, where the electrical outlet in the primitive tent camping area is shared by all 4 sites and ours was the furthest away – so we got lucky; and (5) In the event that you grow weary of conjuring up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or onboard mini-fridge and want to check out some local flavor, there’s a handful of options, but all will require a bit of a drive, of which I highly recommend Avanti’s Ristorante for their excellent pizza and Italian subs, the Blue Duck BBQ Tavern for outstanding smoked brisket and Obed & Issacs Microbewery for the finest local taps as well as their signature dish, Kitchen Sink Pie (don’t ask, just order).

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 1, 2025

  Millpoint Park

  Waterfront Camping Bliss @ Family-Friendly CG

  Perched on Upper Peoria Lake where the Illinois River conjoins, this family-friendly and pet-inviting lush camping outpost is completely surrounded by Spring Bay Fen Nature Reserve, absolutely guaranteeing a sublime encounter with nature on top of offering direct waterfront sites that will frame one of the most beautiful sunsets as you look west to Peoria during Happy Hour. In all, there’s about 80 sites – all of which are incredibly spacious, unlike a lot of other RV parks – to choose from at Millpoint, where a slow meandering gravel lane will have you navigating around the campground where you’ll take good note of the excellent shade that is provided everywhere.

  From an amenity standpoint, Millpoint Park packs a punch with a combination of back-in and pull-thru sites offering up standard water, sewage and electric hook-ups, relatively new picnic tables and in-ground fire rings as well as a designated dumpster upon exiting the grounds. There’s a fantastic boat launch that will have you fishing, kayaking and experiencing this body of fresh water shortly after you anchor into your spot for the night.  In fact, you don’t even need to get into a boat, by accessing one of 2 small little lakes where you can simply cast a line in from the dock or around the perimeter. The meticulously clean restroom / bath house facility is located near the front adjacent to the main office, where next to this are 3 cabins that can be rented, just in case you forgot your tent or RV. Additionally, there’s decent hiking paths to explore both north and south of the property, with the latter offering up a small beachhead at Funks Run. The place also sells firewood, but if you need anything else, you’ll need to head south towards town where there’s no shortage of shops and restaurants.

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are a tent camper, there’s 3-4 designated areas for primitive camping, but if you’d like something less primitive and with access to water and electricity, then book yourself into one of the 5 designated tent sites: #233-#237, of which I recommend #236 and #237 as they have a small waterfront area flanking the southern perimeter; (2) The water here has a lot of iron in it, so don’t attempt to drink it, but according to the locals, it’s fine to shower in, so I would encourage you to bring a decent amount of bottled water with you; (3) If you haven’t camped out here in central Illinois during the summer, you will want to bring good DEET spray to keep the ticks away as well as hard-core smoke or scent-fused candles that are peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender-scented to keep the gnats at bay; and (4) The owner, Don, is quite possibly one of the most accommodating and friendly campground owners I have ever met– so don’t be shy if you need anything at all during your stay, including a discount to his pizza restaurant.

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Nancy W.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 1, 2017

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Good location to downtown Peoria

  If you want to visit Peoria, this is an ideal place to stay. The campground is part of a marina on the Illinois River and not too far from downtown. We wanted to stay here so we could visit the Caterpillar Visitor Center which is totally worth the visit.

  We visited the park in November and since it was the shoulder season the park was not very crowded. The park is open year-round and you will find more seasonal people during the off season. They close most of the park in the winter time which only leaves 22 paved sites available. Otherwise, they offer a mix of paved, full hook-up sites or electric only sites.  Sites that are close to the river have a great view of the skyline at night and if you don’t mind having just electric and being on sand these are great sites. There is a small beach area where you can access the water and a community fire pit which seemed to draw a lot of people in the evening.  

  The park has shower/bath house that was clean as were the laundry facilities. Wifi was non-existent but our Verizon 4G phone and hotspot worked well. We were able to get a decent number of antenna television channels. The roads are paved and easy for us to navigate in our 45’ RV. Our site was paved with a picnic table and fire pit and all the hook-ups worked well.

  We enjoyed the short nature trail that leaves directly from the area. The trail starts off as a boardwalk over an interesting marsh area and then transitions to a primitive trail eventually leading you to the lake shoreline. This was a great walk for our black lab who loves trails and water. Of the four times we walked the trail we only encountered people once. After a heavy rain, the low lying areas of the trail were pretty muddy so wear appropriate shoes. 

  The nice aspects of this park were the location to downtown Peoria, the pretty view of the skyline and the access to water if you want to kayak, fish, or swim. The price of $27/night for full hook-up was a great rate. The downside of this campground is that sites are close and there is a bit of road noise. There are a lot of seasonal people who were up and going to work in the morning which may bother late sleepers but meant for a quiet campground during the day.

• 

  Ryan L.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 19, 2021

  Kentuckiana Campground

  Community feel, a bit cramped

  Easy to find large campground. This place has seasonal spots as well. They will have a runner guide you to your spot and assist you in parking. The sites are a bit cramped. When Unhitching if there is anyone waiting to drive by, you feel kind of rushed. Don’t let it make you forget wheel chocks or something important. They have a nice pond. They also have a kids play area in the Hollar, Complete with a giant slide. They will deliver firewood to you, or there is a farm around the corner on the main road toward Casey’s, that also sells firewood. There is no cell/LTE reception out here (Sprint or Verizon). We drove to Casey’s for a pizza and got a small cell signal there. If you like to watch movies, I recommend bringing a DVD player since you likely won’t be able to stream Netflix etc. The country music Opry was held outside because of a virus or something. It was a nice extra treat. There was an ice cream truck on hand during the show, for a $5 or so per item. We were located close to the park and pavilion, and the first morning we woke up to some kind of faint banging outside. I though someone was fixing a building, but it turned out to be acorns falling onto the pavilion roof. It wasn’t terrible but suggest requesting a site away from the pavilion if it might bother you. Overall a good experience, we’ll be back.

• 

  Nick W.

  Guide

  

  May. 16, 2024

  Kentuckiana Campground

  Great family atmosphere

  Great place for kids. Decent little parks. Huge slide in the holler. Spots are kind of cramped and close together, one of our favorite places though!

• s

  steven

  Scout

  

  Jul. 23, 2021

  Kentuckiana Campground

  Best place I have found to camp

  Great people and positively the best camp ground in my area

• 

  Amy V.

  Scout

  

  Jan. 10, 2019

  Kentuckiana Campground

  Very clean and family oriented.

  My family camped here in a RV for 21 years till my step dad passed away. My friends and I camp here in a tent occasionally. I highly recommend this campground.

• 

  Jamie G.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 23, 2020

  Kentuckiana Campground

  Nice campground

  Spaces are tight. Most are pull-though but there isn’t a lot of room between campers so don’t expect much privacy. Grounds are very well kept and they have two nice ponds stocked with fish. Because of COVID, the opry house wasn’t open, the camper store took appointments only, and playground was closed—but that playground looked fantastic! Shower houses were small but clean. Full hookups on most sites from what we could see. There are a LOT of long-term campers there.

• 

  Cindy H.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 16, 2019

  Kentuckiana Campground

  Large RV Park

  FHU, shower house, no laundry but there are small towns close by that have stores, gas, and laundry facilities. On Saturday night they offer classic country music free. Special events throughout the summer. Two fishing ponds. No license required. Catch and keep. Nice big areas with playgrounds for kids. Bouchée ball courts.

• A

  Adam F.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 27, 2022

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Nice city campground for fair price.

  Campground is very well kept with very clean showers and restrooms. Golf carts are allowed here which is a plus. There are some river front sites that are electric only, the full hook ups are away from the river. Some of the sites can be a bit cramped but everyone was nice so it didn’t bother me. There are a lot of seasonal campers there as well. I payed $28 a night for a full hook up.

• 

  Lisa H.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 9, 2023

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Only the basics, but perfect for certain needs

  I came to this campground because of a local event where I knew I was going to be gone a decent amount of time, but also have some down time. This place was perfect for my needs. I got a full hookup site, easy access, extremely quiet. Great views at the opposite side of the campground from where I was. Looks like lots of "permanent" sites mixed with regular turnover. Also looked like a lot of sites were occupied by people working in "traveling" industries, where this place was their temporary home. I would come back again for a similar situation, but the playground is very minimal, so I wouldn't come back with my kid.

• 

  Michael C.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 21, 2021

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Nice shade by the lake

  Excellent value at $28/ for full hookup. A lot of surface streets to get here from the freeway. Not much noise once you arrive. Good water pressure, cell service solid 2 bars. I’d stop again

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Dec. 30, 2021

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Good for passing through

  General: City camping is generally challenging but this was a good place for us to land for the night as we were passing through. Very easy access as soon as you cross Peoria Lake to East Peoria. The flip side of this is that you will hear constant road noise and an occasional train. Reservations are made by phone and when I called to make mine, was told we would be in Site 33. Typical for us, we arrived after the office was closed and saw Site 33 was occupied. We took Site 36 and when I went to pay the following morning, I discovered this is where we had been moved to as site numbers are not supposed to be guaranteed. It appeared that there were many long-term campers staying here. The rate of $24 for an electric site was reasonable. Full hookup sites and a few tent sites are also available. 

  Site Quality: Site sizes are, for the most part, very generous and can accommodate a large RV and extra vehicle/s. Some are very close to each other (beach and overflow) and there is no physical separation between them. Each site has one (or two) picnic tables and a fire ring. Some sites have paved pads while the ones closest to the water are either gravel or sand. There are also several cabins.

  Bathhouse: Clean but the only downside is there is only one sink, and it is located in an awkward place (perpendicular to and close to one of the stalls). Showers were small and I did not use so cannot comment on how well they worked. Hot water was appreciated. 

  Activities/Amenities: If you are a boater, this is a great place for you as this is a marina! Small and outdated playground and a basketball stand but no basket or net. There is also a laundry room. 

  Conclusion: For us, passing through, this was an ideal place to land for the night but since we don’t have a boat, we wouldn’t stay longer than one night.