Okaw Valley Kampground and Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area house upscale glamping accommodations near Vandalia, offering a blend of outdoor adventure and comfort. At Okaw Valley, safari-style canvas tents feature comfortable beds, electricity, and private decks overlooking the fishing pond, while Eldon Hazlet's luxury yurts include climate control, kitchenettes, and en-suite bathrooms with hot showers. Both locations provide glamping guests with premium linens, rustic-chic furnishings, and private fire rings for evening relaxation. The sites are strategically positioned to maximize privacy while maintaining easy access to campground amenities. A recent visitor noted, "The campground hosts are sprinkled throughout the grounds and are always friendly and accommodating, making our glamping experience truly memorable."
Lake Carlyle's shoreline creates a stunning backdrop for glamping experiences at these resorts, with opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming just steps from luxury accommodations. Hiking trails wind through wooded areas where wildlife viewing is exceptional, particularly at dawn and dusk. Seasonal activities include guided stargazing events during summer months and Halloween festivities in fall, when the campgrounds transform with decorations and family-friendly activities. Country Bend Campground, located 30 minutes from Vandalia, supplements its treehouse and geodesic dome accommodations with an inground swimming pool, 18-hole mini-golf course, and paddle boats on the property's ponds. According to a camper, "This beautiful campground has many things to offer and is only a few minutes from the local drive-in movie theater in Litchfield, making it perfect for a glamping weekend getaway."
"We stopped here on our way home for one night, but got in early enough to enjoy a walk and have a camp fire that evening."
"The pool, the lake, the gigantic playground, the pavilion, the laundromat, the location, the cleanliness in the bathhouse, the gardens… the hosts Barb and Gary work their asses off to upkeep this place"
"The park is reasonable priced, beautiful surrounding and friendly staff. Would definitely come again. The only downside is that it’s somewhat far from supply stores"
"Shut down some karaoke party in a loop around 9pm. Will go back."
"The shower houses are clean and air conditioned, there's a nice camp store that serves breakfast and basic lunches, and there is a nice large zero entry pool for a $5 fee on weekends."
"We had reservations nearly one month ahead, and the campground was full, yet quiet and restful."
from $15 - $30 / night
"Large waterfront campsites, full hookup loop, and 4 other large loops that have electric. Nice new bath house for those who need it. This is a COE campground and takes our senior pass."
"This is our favorite campground in Central/southern illinois. The sites are very nice and most have shade. There is a beach for campers to use, and a really nice playground."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $250 / night
"Most of the sites are large and a good distance from the next one. Shower house is alright. The store/restaurant has been closed for a year or two now because of the Illinois budget."
"It's a small campground that offers a playground,bathhouse, hiking trails, and a small swimming area. There is easy access walking down to the marina. With small towns close to this state park."
"Overall Rating: 4 for cleanliness and location for travels on nearby highway. Spillway is not particularly pretty."
"Every camping spot has trees surrounding it so it’s very"
"Cleanest bathrooms ever and heated and air conditioner. Quiet and plenty of trees and a walking path. A beach to swim at and a dock to fish off. A playground for kids."
"There's miles and miles of walking and biking trails! The sites are pretty generously sized. The host was nice and the price was fantastic! I paid $42 for 4 nights."
"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."
from $25 - $40 / night
"Really nice campground on the shore of Lake Shelbyville. Electric, showers, laundry, playground, nice beach, volleyball and some phenomenal sites right on shore."
"Lithia Springs is a great campground with a wonderful marina located on beautiful Lake Shelbyville! We stayed at Site #12 overlooking the lake."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $36 / night
RangerOur campsite was the best! At the end of the road with lake frontage, it was quiet, private and relaxing. Cell service with AT&T was weak with 1 bar. Vault toilet nearby with very clean showers about 500 yds away. Great host!
ScoutCampground host is super cool. Best campground in the Springfield area, in my opinion!
TravelerBL, the camp could use a Camp Host or Mayor. Stayed 1 night. We used the bathhouse and walked the grounds- so did a lot of other people; especially in the morning up to lunch. Quiet camp -Aircraft noise held off until 08:00 (bonus). Men’s shower side had great water pressure and temp- water fixtures were dated, dirty and temperamental (2 shower heads-1 working) also, cozy up to your multi-legged friends (spider webs and bugs were in competition for our shower space), Laundry is $1.50/wash&dry. I’ve stayed at a good many FamCamps: Lake Martin Rec -AL Uchee Creek-GA Destin Army Inf CTR-FL Robins AFB FamCamp-GA Round Pond -NY Kings Creek-VA Ellsworth AFB-SD Blue Angel Rec-FL Anniston Army Depot-AL Sigsbee-FL That’s my starter list! So, I’d like to see this one level up. It’s in a good area (we come through every couple years) and I think it could get a few more interested in it, if it were managed just a little bit better.
GuideLovely views of the lake. We had site 60. Lots of area around us, space between sites. Our sight was not the most level, but we made it work.
GuideRight off the freeway. We were going to overnight park at Loves but had problems with our generator. 93 degrees at 11 pm so we splurged for a site and paid $71 for full hookups. It’s a small campground, more like a parking lot, so easy in and out. They have a handful of cabins and a wash house.
There are two unisex bathrooms, each with multiple toilets and showers, which is weird because you have to lock the outer door for privacy while using the facilities. Good for a parent with small children, I guess, but I felt like I was hogging the bathroom.
There is a small pond at the back of the grounds and a kid was fishing it. They also have a fenced in dog park. No shade in that area, but nice touch!
ScoutThis is the bigger campground between hickory point and deer run options. The shower house, snack shop, and city water are onsite. There are vault toilets near the primitive camping, as well as another water spigot. Playground, pavillion, and sand volleyball court give options to entertain kids, with plenty of fishing, trails, and lake views to entertain the adults. We primitive camped here at the closest site to the parking. #57 is the closest, with the rest of the primitive sites being more of a trek to the site. However, the privacy, quietness, and views are 100% worth the trek to us. We did camp with a doggo, who does bark at passerby’s that are “too close” in her opinion but otherwise doesn’t. All the campers during our stay except for one very disruptive couple, did not complain at all and many came to give her loves or treats to help prevent further barking when they passed by. And honestly, the couple that did make the comment, clearly need to be at different campgrounds because the host had to come break them up after quiet hours began and they didn’t respect that rule. We also then were woken up by the same couple as they were packing up the next morning due to them yelling at each other. The hosts did try to make sure they slowed down while passing this site though, and I do believe if we had made some sort of complaint to them, they would have handled it immediately. We love this campground, and honestly we feel as if anywhere there are rvs allowed, you will likely have someone make a comment about the dog. It’s never been other tent campers, even the ones on electric sites. The snack shop has ice (currently $3 even a bag, with hosts including tax in the $3 to make it easier for campers), firewood bundles (not sure on price) as well as many smaller campground necessities including snacks and drinks, some fishing tackle, and some other camping things such as bug spray and sunblock. I did not check any prices on those. There is technically a bait shop also nearby, though between two longer stays here and at deer run, we’ve only seen him open once. And according to one of the hosts, he doesn’t seem to have “regular hours” other than he’s for sure closed Sundays and Mondays. The following Tuesday after learning this, he was also closed all day. So I’m not sure about anything there. He does also have an ice machine outside though.
RangerRolled in on a July Saturday at 6:30pm. There are hundreds of sites at this campground and so many were still open. Was looking for a Class C site (I.e. rustic site, no hookups). Chatted with camp hosts « papa Bruce » and « grandma sugar burger » They were so sweet and accommodating. For same day, it’s first come first serve so bring cash - you can online pay with a card online 3 days minimum before. 8$ Class C and 20$ Class A (hookup). Dump station and water and trash receptacles. Lots of hiking trails and eating activities - sadly we didn’t have time to explore.
GuideWe were on a full hookup site, not directly on the lake. It was a beautiful campground that is well maintained with plentiful clean bathhouse, a playground and a nearby marina where you can rent a boat or grab a bite or a beverage. Unfortunately for us the restaurant at the marina was closed (Mondays and Tuesdays). If I were to stay here again, I would try to secure one of the lakefront sites if possible. We only had contact with one staff member and that was at the gate, but he was very friendly and helpful.
ScoutPower / water at sites, single dump site available, at far end of runway, trees around all sites. Has a bathroom / shower / laundry bld. Nice for short visits. Annoying for more than a week.
Vandalia, Illinois offers diverse camping experiences within the prairie-lake ecosystem of central Illinois, where elevations range from 490 to 550 feet above sea level. Vandalia's position near the Kaskaskia River watershed creates unique camping opportunities with a mix of wooded terrain and open water access. Summer temperatures typically reach highs in the mid-80s with winter lows averaging in the 20s.
Fishing at multiple locations: Lake Shelbyville provides excellent bass, bluegill and catfish fishing opportunities. "The fishing lake is beautiful and stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish," notes a visitor to Okaw Valley Kampground, which has its own stocked pond for casual anglers.
Water recreation options: Beyond swimming, many campgrounds offer additional water activities. "Lithia Springs is a great campground with a wonderful marina located on beautiful Lake Shelbyville," explains a camper who stayed at Lithia Springs. The marina rents fishing boats and pontoon boats for day excursions.
Hiking trail exploration: Several campgrounds feature walking paths suitable for different skill levels. At Country Bend Campground, campers appreciate "the bridges with trails to ponds" that provide scenic walking routes through diverse terrain without requiring advanced hiking skills.
Clean facilities: Cleanliness consistently earns high marks from visitors. "The bathroom was the cleanest I have seen at a campsite," reports a camper who stayed at Okaw Valley Kampground, while another mentions the "clean shower houses with warm water" at Country Bend Campground.
Recreational amenities: Many campgrounds provide organized activities beyond nature exploration. "Big inground pool, 18 hole putt putt, lots of outdoor games, planned activities on the weekends," describes a Country Bend Campground visitor, highlighting the structured recreation options.
Helpful staff: Campground hosts earn praise for their service orientation. "The owners, Barb and Gary, work their asses off to upkeep this place," notes one Okaw Valley Kampground camper, while another camper shared how "the owners stored our bikes, watched our tent, and even picked us up from the hospital" during a medical emergency.
Yurt camping options: Yurt camping near Vandalia, Illinois provides a comfortable alternative to traditional tent camping. Many luxury yurts include amenities like electricity, beds with linens, and sometimes even private bathrooms. Some yurts at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area are positioned to take advantage of lake views.
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak season. "If camping on weekends May to September will need to book in advanced," advises a Lithia Springs camper. This applies especially to the limited luxury yurt accommodations available near Vandalia.
Weather considerations: The area experiences significant seasonal variations. One camper at Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area mentioned they "went in late April and had a good time with not ideal weather," indicating spring can be unpredictable despite being a popular camping season.
Multiple playgrounds: Several parks feature kid-friendly play areas. "There is a beach for campers to use, and a dock to fish off. A playground for kids," explains a visitor to COE Lake Carlyle McNair Campground, highlighting amenities specifically designed for younger campers.
Swimming options: Beyond natural swimming areas, some campgrounds offer pools. "The swimming pool feels great on the hot summer days," notes an Okaw Valley Kampground reviewer, providing an alternative when lake conditions aren't ideal.
Weekend activities: Scheduled events keep children entertained. "Holiday weekends have so many planned activities, some for all ages," mentions a Country Bend Campground visitor, pointing to organized programming that supplements natural exploration.
Site spacing varies: Some campgrounds provide more privacy than others. "The sites are spacious but fairly level and clean," reports a Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area camper, while another notes that "most of the sites are large and a good distance from the next one" at Lithia Springs.
Hookup availability: Water quality and hookup consistency differ between locations. "Water and electricity are available on site with an old picnic table," explains an Okaw Valley visitor, though some campers have reported inconsistent water quality at certain sites.
Accessibility considerations: Site conditions may present challenges for larger vehicles. "Not a large campground. There's a catch and release lake on site, but not really any fish. There is a super long carp though. Sites are nice but not many pull in RV sites or tent sites," notes an Okaw Valley Kampground camper, indicating potential limitations for certain rig types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Vandalia, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Vandalia, IL is Okaw Valley Kampground with a 4.3-star rating from 26 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 19 glamping camping locations near Vandalia, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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