Looking for an adventure where you can explore Topeka and then fall asleep in your tent? With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Topeka campgrounds for you and your tent. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Topeka, Illinois's most popular destinations.
$8 - $12 / night
A Class D (primitive) camping area is located between Alta and Dunlap in the Kickapoo Creek Recreation Area and accessible only by trail. Facilities include pit toilets, fire pads, picnic tables, a picnic shelter and water. There is a self-pay camping station located off Fox Road at the overnight parking lot.
$6 / night
Scout
Met up with family to fit in one last night of tent camping for the year. They didn’t really take reservations and the pricing shifted on us (quoted $75 for 6 adults 4 kids over email, then $10 per person when we actually showed up) so that was a bit weird but I’m not too concerned bc it was still a great deal. This is basic campground—flush toilets/showers and 3 cabins available but no other amenities unless you include water/electric hookups. I couldnt tell where the primitive tent sites were bc the map online doesn’t quite line up with what we saw there. You’d come here to relax around the fire, play some outdoor games, maybe do a little walking, and that’s about it. It was just what we were looking for. Some people looked like they were going to try to fish but the water in the fishing area was low which makes me wonder if it gets really buggy in the summer. We were on 2 huge pull-thru sites with just our 2 tents and we were the only tent campers I saw—maybe 1/3 of other sites had RVs. Some seemed to be permanent so not sure if that is common? Views of the river were great, kindling was plentiful, and it was SO QUIET and peaceful at night! I usually don’t sleep the first night of camping because my brain has to tune in to the new noises but we got some good rest even with temps dipping down to 45. Would love to come back in the summer for longer.
Legend
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.
TravelerGood campsites for tent camping, can't speak to RV's. Wooded and shady, clean facilities, electric and water for tent camping. Good Price, nice location for fishing and kayaking. also.
Traveler
Small. Quiet. Pretty. Two small lakes with fountains. You can hear the fountains at night, it's nice. Excellent price for tent camping.
Traveler
Stopped here overnight in late August. Only a few other campers on a Sunday so nice and quiet. Typical midwest tent camping on dirt, lots of mosquitoes, pit toilets.
Guide
We typically tent camp here, but have car camped in one of the RV spots. Staff is always great, and facilities are clean. Hikes are always fun too!
Scout
This campground has the best tent camping sites we have stayed at. It also has great hiking! We have been 2 times and plan to go again!
TravelerLove this place, it’s quiet and peaceful. Not a lot to do but they are trying. Tent camping, RV and a few cabin rentals, boat docks too where you can bring your boat! There are some hiking trails and pavilions and a softball field. There’s a stage they sometimes have plays and bands. I would give it a 5 stars (it’s in my hometown) but they really need some kind of draw. One shower house and a small playground. It’s worth a stay if you are in the area. It’s clean and neat.
Scout
It was March, it was cold at night, but this ADA cabin had heat & electric, 5 beds with mattresses, beds with mattresses (2 pr bunks beds in the second room). Cement sidewalks from parking area to toilets & cabins, each with a waterfront view, fire pit & picnic table. From our cabin we walked grassy paths to a lovely bridge. Around the pond's perimeter are dispersed sites for tent-camping or possibly day-use. It was a challenge to find the park entrance, at night, and the closest small town is about 10-miles away. The very reasonable cost was transacted online.
GuideIf 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!
GuideMy wife loves birds, and if it weren't for all of the geese on the lake we wouldn't have enjoyed our stay here. There are plenty of sites for tent camping but the one we got wasn't level so we kept sliding our bags off our sleeping pad. There are shower houses but they weren't the best maintained. Being able to bring our dogs was a plus. There wasn't a boat ramp that we saw but you can kayak on the water. Fishing was really just to kill some time because the park itself was pretty boring. Maybe we were just in a funk, or maybe this place was funky. Being around all the water was this places only saving grace.
GuideStayed one night in July. We tent camped in site 1 of the primitive campground. There are 7 sites well spaced with a picnic table, fire ring, trash can and three sided shelter in each site. Pit toilets are in the middle. Each site is along the tree line with plenty of shade. These are walk in sites ranging from 0.10 miles to 0.50 miles from the parking lot. Just $6 a night. Hiking trails, kayaking and fishing are available but we didn’t get a chance to take advantage of those things. Very friendly and helpful campground host drove over from the RV campground to register us and even offered to take our stuff to our site. Great experience. Only 3 sites in use on a Friday night.
RangerThis campground is our "go-to" when we need a last minute getaway from city life. Located outside of Peoria, Jubilee is far enough away from town that you get clear, start night skies.
The campsite has three main loops with RV pads and electric goo ups. We tent camp and majority for the sites also have plenty of room for one or two tents. There is also a fourth tent-only loop, which is all grass and technically "hike-in" but a very short hike depending on which site you pick. All loops have restrooms and a water spigot. There is a shower house near loop B, which is not bad. Could be cleaner, but gets the job done.
There is a decent trail system, which supports hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The trails are well maintained and most are used on regular basis.
The campground host is very friendly! If you are looking for food or supplies, the town of Kickapoo is not far, and Peoria is only a 15min drive, which offers Hy-Vee and an abundance of restaurants if you prefer not to cook over a campfire. Overall, Jubilee offers a nice camping option near Peoria, IL.
LegendGeneral: 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.
LegendPerched 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!
LegendThis 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!
Scoutthis camping spot was very quiet and secluded, just like I wanted, but at about midnight there were at least 3 bobcats snarling and growling near our tents and then they circled our tents, sniffing them. my friends and I were stuck in our tents for an hour waiting for the bobcats to walk off into the woods so we could run to our cars and go home.
TravelerQuiet but tight spots. Along the Illinois River. Includes showers and laundry house.
ScoutFull hookups each site. On Illinois river. Has cabins for rent, showers. Check it out on google.
TravelerThe shower houses are amazing! This campground is very well maintained and right on the Illinois river. The view of Peoria at night is beautiful
Legend
This is a beautiful, off-the-beaten path ‘no frills’ campground that comes very close to being called primitive, yet offers water pit privies and a designated sanitary dump station in addition to in-ground fire rings with fold-up BBQ grills along with decent standard-issued picnic tables. You’ll discover that the entire camping area is blessed with really great shade provided by native cottonwood, silver maple and willow trees. The land is relatively flat making for great level locations to pitch your tent or set up your trailer for an overnighter.
Shortly after meandering down the weaving gravel country lane that will lead you to the tree-lined entrance of the park, where before hitting the bend that will take you north to the actual campground, you’ll see a concrete fort-like structure that serves as a spot to gut & clean your fish, which is definitely a bonus. If you continue west past this structure, you’ll likely pass about 100 trucks with empty trailers, which have already deposited their boat cargo into the nearby confluence of fresh water where the Illinois River converges with Meadow Lake and Babb Slough.
As for the campground, there’s approximately 20 scattered sites that are easily marked by the single picnic table and fire ring that each site is issued. There’s a rather large covered community pavilion perfect for an afternoon picnic or a family BBQ. The rather large open expanse of Woodford SFWA features scattered restrooms with at least half of those closed due to needing repair. Surrounding the park and further afield, which makes for a decent hiking experience, are 3 miles of hiking trails marked by levees where you’ll see no shortage of waterfowl like wood ducks and Canadian geese.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While most of Illinois is low-lying, you will want to make particular note of this as you’re encamped next to a river that can (and often does) flood, so be sure you know what the weather conditions have been for the previous few weeks as well as what is likely to happen during your stay, which you can accomplish by calling the park ahead of time at+1.217.782.6302; (2) This location is quite popular with local fishermen and gets absolutely jam-packed, particularly on the weekends, so don’t be surprised by a long parade of F150s hauling their boats on trailers that begin entering the park as early as 5am; (3) You will want to keep in mind that this entire area is prime hunting ground, whether that’s on foot trekking deer or on the water shooting migrating fowl, so if the sound of gunfire bothers you, bring ear plugs, and if you plan on hiking during hunting season, where some BRIGHT orange; (4) 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 (5) There is VERY little out in these parts that will offer up dining options, but if you don’t mind a short drive, then head back north on Route 26 to Midway Duck Inn for some delicious buttermilk-brined pan fried chicken, corn fritters and full filets of panko-encrusted catfish.
Happy Camping!
TravelerLarge sites on Illinois River. FHU. Expensive. No laundry, store, or gas. They do sell firewood, pickup your trash, and have two showers available.
Scout
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.
Traveler
a couple cute trails and 1 nice little campground that you can pitch a tent in or drive your RV too. close to the beautiful historic New Salem Village. my dog and I love it here!
GuidePeaceful 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.
GuideWe visited in October so the campground was not very crowded. The park itself is gorgeous, especially in the fall. Lovely fall foliage. The hiking trails are challenging for 2 middle aged folks- lots of climbing up, then down, at some pretty steep inclines. And the trails don't loop around on themselves so you come out a mile or more from where you started and just have to hoof it along the road to get back.
There is a boat ramp and fishing available, if that's your thing. There's no differentiation between RV camp spots and tent spots so if you are tent campers, like we are, you might end up next to a HUGE RV in the spot next door.
ScoutWe 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!!!
Tent camping near Topeka, Illinois, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With well-reviewed campgrounds featuring essential amenities and activities, it's an ideal getaway for families and solo adventurers alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Topeka, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Topeka, IL is Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
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TheDyrt.com has all 5 tent camping locations near Topeka, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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