Camping options near Virginia, Illinois include several state parks and private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The region features rolling prairie terrain with elevations around 600 feet above sea level, providing accessible camping throughout much of the year. Most campgrounds sit among agricultural lands with a mix of wooded areas and open grasslands typical of central Illinois.
What to do
Explore pine forest ecosystems: Sand Ridge State Forest offers unique terrain unlike typical Illinois landscapes. "This is a great campground mostly for tents though a few RVs were there too. Large sites in a pine forest with a thick bed of pine needles... Hiking in sand is challenging and you'll get a workout!" shared a visitor to Pine Campground.
Visit historical sites: Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site provides camping near reconstructed 1830s village buildings. "Great camping and great history... I love to walk through all the old buildings and learn about Lincoln's way of life. They even had horses and a bull out in the pastures! All the kids were feeding one of the horses handfuls of grass over the fence," noted a visitor to Lincoln's New Salem Historic Site Campground.
Lake fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer direct lake access for anglers. "There are a lot of fishing docks in campground... All sites at Hickory Point very close to lake," reported a camper at Sangchris Lake State Park Campground.
What campers like
Direct waterfront access: Some sites allow camping right on lake shores. "We always get sites with our own private dock to fish from. Spotty reception but it's great to unplug," commented a regular visitor about Sangchris Lake State Park Campground.
Budget-friendly state facilities: The Illinois State Fairgrounds offers economical camping close to Springfield attractions. "An excellent, budget friendly, overnight spot," shared one RVer about Illinois State Fair Campground. Another added, "Short drive 2.5 miles to Lincoln home. 1 mile from Lincoln's Tomb."
Well-maintained facilities: Campers appreciate clean shower facilities at many area campgrounds. "Pleasant campground with 2 loops. Clean bathrooms with showers. Choice of full hookup or just electric on outer perimeters of each loop," noted a visitor to Prairie Lake Campground at Jim Edgar Panther Creek.
What you should know
Limited shade at some locations: Newer state park facilities often lack mature trees. "Under developed CG. Lots of hunting and fishing opportunities but grounds are years always from being fully grown. Always super windy too!" commented a visitor to Primitive Campground at Jim Edgar Panther Creek.
Weather considerations: Central Illinois experiences variable weather patterns. "It rained a lot while we were here and of course our stairs landed right in a mud puddle but it was mostly well drained and clear water on the gravel," noted a camper at The Double J Campground.
Varied shower facilities: Quality of bathhouses differs between locations. "Nice warm bath house had push button showers with locks on the stalls with a dry space to dress inside the stall," reported a camper at Prairie Lake Campground, while another noted that at Sangchris Lake, "Showers required a push button activation every 10-15 seconds."
Tips for camping with families
Free water activities: Several campgrounds offer complimentary watercraft use. "They offer kayaks, canoes, and peddle boats free to campers. There is an open cabin with games, books, and WiFi. Basketball court, play area, and outdoor games," mentioned a visitor at Buena Vista Farms Campground.
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas. "Springfield KOA is actually in Rochester, but it is only about 25 mins into Springfield and all the wonderful Lincoln historic sites. The campground is very nice, a lot of amenities for families like pool, little bikes, miniature golf and horseshoes," noted one camper.
Space for outdoor play: Some campgrounds provide open areas for recreation. "Lots of families with kids riding bikes around the loop and some playing wiffle ball in the open field," observed a visitor to Prairie Lake Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site escort services: Some private campgrounds offer arrival assistance. "We have stayed here twice, and will stay again for sure when in the area. Fantastic camp hosts, large pull through spots, pool, mini golf, and more. Very convenient to get too and the check in is very fast," commented an RVer about The Double J Campground.
Sewer connection limitations: Not all sites with utilities offer full hookups. "Our site was fine. This KOA has many family activities, including a pool, mini golf, jumping pillow & a huge field for the kids to play... Only bad thing - While checking in, the lady told me we couldn't use our sewer. She said the whole row was backing up," reported an RV camper at Springfield KOA.
Road access considerations: Routes to some campgrounds require careful navigation. "Lots of wonderful signs directing you to the campground once you exit the interstate. Secluded. Quite. Not crowded, even when it's full. The roads leading to the campground are narrow, luckily we didn't encounter someone coming the other way!" warned an RVer about Springfield KOA.
