Looking for the best options for RV camping near Willow Springs? Finding a place to camp in Illinois with your RV is easier than ever. The Dyrt can help you find the perfect RV campsites that are scenic and easy to access.
Fox Bluff Vacation Cottage and RV Resort spans over a mile of frontage on the Fox River, is 52 miles from downtown Chicago. It is just minutes to Yorkville and Oswego, both with great restaurants and attractions including Illinois largest waterpark Raging Waves. Snuggled between a soaring canopy of 80-foot trees, lies Fox Bluff's resort style pool, 20 person hot tub, hilltop cabanas and a 100 ft pavilion replete with fans, music and a poolside big screen TV. Post pool time, spend some quality time in our two clubhouses - The Fun House and The Social House. The Fun House has ping pong, pool tables, bags and big screens, while the more formal Social House, kept pleasant with AC, can host events or just chill and watch TV or play cards. In need of some action? - Get active on our newly minted pickleball court, basketball court or volleyball court or simply head out for a walk and explore our 160 acres of extensive paths. Fox Bluff is focused on your well being and provides a relaxing atmosphere in a tranquil natural setting while spending time with family and friends. Come visit us at the Bluff and discover your new home away from home.
$65 - $95 / night
$45 - $70 / night
Conveniently located along I-80, our Love's RV Hookup-Morris IL 859 provides the RV traveler with a safe, clean and well-maintained place to stop for the night as you travel across the country. Our reservation and check in process makes booking a site quick and convenient. Guests can make reservations, pay and check in or out on their own devices or at the designated Kiosk located on site, providing an automated and contactless experience that quickly gets you back on the road to your destination. With full hook-ups at every site, including Wi-Fi and 30-Amp and 50-Amp service, water and sewer hookups, we also offer more amenities than any other national travel stop network.
$37 / night
Open year round!! Our RV park and campground contains small lakes and beautiful forestry. We welcome campers and Rvs for short term stays. We have full hookup sites including electric (30 and 50 amp), septic and water. Primitive sites are also available for year round or seasonal
Fox Bluff Vacation Cottage and RV Resort spans over a mile of frontage on the Fox River, is 52 miles from downtown Chicago and is just minutes to Yorkville and Oswego, both with great restaurants. Snuggled between a soaring canopy of 80-foot trees, lies Fox Bluff's resort style pool, 20 person hot tub, hilltop cabanas and a 100 ft pavilion replete with fans, music and a poolside big screen TV. Post pool time, spend some quality time in our two clubhouses - The Fun House and The Social House. The Fun House has ping pong, pool tables, bags and big screens, while the more formal Social House, kept pleasant with AC, can host events or just chill and watch TV or play cards. In need of some action? - Get active on our newly minted pickleball court, basketball court or volleyball court or simply head out for a walk and explore our 160 acres of extensive paths. Fox Bluff is focused on your well being and provides a relaxing atmosphere in a tranquil natural setting while spending time with family and friends. Come visit us at the Bluff and discover your new home away from home.
$75 - $90 / night
Lake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family-owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago. The camp is 120 acres of natural beauty on the banks of the Kankakee River. The wooded habitat abounds with fish, wildlife, and native plants, and we offer many amenities for recreation and relaxation. The Kwak family has been serving our camping friends for over 50 years. Please join us for recreational vehicle camping in this scenic, peaceful, and friendly setting. We’re open April 15 to October 15, with sites available nightly through seasonal stays. Please explore our web pages, then contact or visit us if you have questions.
$33 - $43 / night
Conveniently located along US Route 20, our Love's RV Hookup-Hampshire IL 763 provides the RV traveler with a safe and well-maintained place to stop for the night as you travel across the country. Our reservation and check in process makes booking a site quick and convenient. Guests can make reservations, pay and check in or out on their own devices or at the designated Kiosk located on site, providing an automated and contactless experience that quickly gets you back on the road to your destination. With full hook-ups at every site, including Wi-Fi and 30-Amp and 50-Amp service, water and sewer hookups, we also offer more amenities than any other national travel stop network.
$40 - $599 / night
Guide
Camp Sullivan offers a charming and well-maintained space for campers of all kinds, from tent enthusiasts to RV travelers like us. All the RV sites here are back in, and while they are tight, they are certainly manageable. We brought our 36-foot RV, the Badger, and although it barely fit, we were able to position it close enough to the power box by choosing not to extend the slide. This turned out to be a smart decision, considering the timbers that line the gravel surface of the site. These timbers add a bit of a challenge when maneuvering a larger rig, and in our case, (note to staff) removing the timber closest to the road would have made things much easier.
Each RV site is equipped with 15, 30, and 50-amp electrical connections, though it’s worth noting that there’s no water or sewer available at individual sites. As a result, water conservation becomes essential. The bathrooms here, however, are clean and well-kept, which is always appreciated, especially after a few days without on-site water. There is also a stainless steel sink for use in front of the RV area's bathroom where you can do dishes.
Security at Camp Sullivan feels solid, and while there is some noise, it wasn’t disruptive. We stayed over a weekend, and though there was a lively group in the group campsite Saturday night, they respectfully wrapped up their activities by quiet hours, ensuring a peaceful night's sleep.
The roads throughout the campground are in good condition, and the trees aren’t a concern for your RV clearance. In addition to RV sites, Camp Sullivan offers a range of accommodations for all kinds of campers. There are small rental cabins, large bunkhouses for group camping, and plenty of tent sites spread across the grounds. We didn’t have the chance to check out the"Barn" yet, but it’s a major feature here, housing a climbing wall and concessions.
We also noticed staff busy cleaning the bunkhouse areas and taking care of trash removal, even on a quiet Sunday. Everyone we encountered was friendly and added to the overall positive vibe of the place. Camp Sullivan is an excellent spot for a weekend getaway or an extended stay, (up to six days allowed) with plenty of amenities and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s a place where we feel comfortable and cared for, with just the right balance of adventure and relaxation.
Scout
We booked a month stay but weren’t able to stay over 2 weeks because water is so horrible. Our cat got diarrhea, clothes got ruined, you can’t even make tea with that water. But everything else was good. Nice helpful staff, clean, quiet rv park.
Guide
Lovely area and there’s so many beach areas nearby. Not on the lake but close! Best hike nearby is Mount Baldy! It’s short and you have the beach to yourself!
ScoutConvenient to Indiana dunes, each site is easily accessible and spacious. The facilities are fairly clean and showers are available though we didn’t use them. Would recommend as a stop over. As a solo female traveler I felt safe.
Traveler
Can get a little crowded ar times
TravelerAdvertised as $25 a night, but you must have an Indiana Dunes park pass, which is only good for this specific park. Site was fine, facilities were decent.
Traveler
Beautiful spot, very peaceful. We’ve been here for 3 months. There are two lakes, catch and release fishing. A small beach with a snack shack. Well run and maintained. Reasonably priced
Ranger
I somehow booked a different campground- website was confusing apparently. However the worker was so helpful and found me a spot anyway. Sites are kind of small so not a lot of space for big big campers. Cute lake and relatively quiet. Odd though that when I asked questions like where can we fill water and if they had a park map I got looked at like I had 3 heads.
Traveler
Sites are very close. You can watch the traffic on the highway from your camper.No picnic table, no firing, bathroom and showers were clean. Thought it strange that you needed a combination to get in the bathroom.Seems like most people live there. With a few sites for People passing through. If you’re looking for a place to park for the night and take a shower this is all I would recommend this place for
Ranger
I was here for three months this time as i get to business completed. The park was still kept up very nicely and this time I was here long enough to be able to see how. The grass is mowed every week. There is patroling at all hours for security. The laundry machines are great the dryers ore good. The dog park is clean and secure. The lake is natural and kept free of litter and garbage. The park is much bigger than i thought it was last year. The store has many items you may need. The showers are cleaned and work great. The camp water is high in Iron. The pot roads need service as thay do have a lot of pot holes. Good thing for the 5mph speed limit.
ScoutThis is a nice national park campground and has all that you would expect from that, but the mosquitos here are insane!!! I came back with giant welts from the bites even with bug spray on. I honestly couldn’t wait to leave!
ScoutSites are ok. Very close together. Traffic from I-80 is loud. Staff is very nice. Cleanest campground bathrooms I’ve ever seen.
TravelerThis was a very nicely managed site. All services you might want, even showers. Our spot wasn’t very closed off from other sites, and you’re not likely to get much privacy here
Traveler
This was our first time camping tryout and we had a blast. It is deep enough in the forest preserve to feel like camping but is not far from our home, which allows for a quick getaway. The campsite was very clean and the staff/ranger nice and knowledgeable. The ranger offers evening entertainment for the kiddos and during our stay, blew gigantic bubbles for the kids to chase around.
The toilets on the loops are vault and the ones by the main entrance are flush. Didn't use the showers on this trip but both facilities were well maintained and clean.
As other reviewers said, since it is in the forest preserve, the gates close an hour after sunset and reopen at sunrise. The ranger did cruise through the sites to make a formal announcement so that visitors could leave. It is also close to a main road and you could easily hear cars passing by throughout the night. We will definitely be revisiting as a quick getaway spot.
GuideNice Privat Spot and lots of Shade, Train is on Duty all Night Paid $12.50 with my Senior Discount 👍
Scout
"Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week. The location was perfect for a peaceful retreat, and the amenities provided everything we needed for a comfortable and enjoyable visit. The kids had a blast with the available activities, and it was the ideal setting for our family to come together and create lasting memories. The staff was exceptionally friendly and went above and beyond to ensure our stay was pleasant. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a family-friendly getaway!"
Legend
OK, let’s put the most important thing here in perspective – you are in north central Illinois and there should be absolutely no reason to find a beach anywhere in this state apart from a few select places bordering Lake Michigan, right? Other than this, finding a proper beachhead is impossible. Yet, here at Hi-Tide Recreation, the sandy beach is exactly what you’ll find and what a great time it is for the whole family, complete with all of the many on-water distractions and entertainment options this place offers from sand castle building, waterslide, ‘moonwalk,’ ice berg (a 15’ climbing wall in the center of the lake), water trampoline, log roll, rocket balls, floaties, inner-tubes as well as floating ‘lilly pads’ and shallow waters for the young kids. Let’s just say, in the heat and humidity of a Midwest summer, Hi-Tide offers a really great respite with this toy-packed lake refuge.
As for the campground, upon entry, you will have no other choice but to head straight to the main lodge where you will check-in. Here you’ll meet the crew that run this place as well as see the market that’s here, offering up just about anything you could think of (and quite a bit of what you didn't imagine) while you are camping: ice, propane, s’mores, ice cream, chips, soda, water toys, firewood, fishing supplies, RV maintenance items and campground gear. You'll also discover an arcade complete with video games as well as air hockey, foosball and billiards.
Behind the market, you’ll find both pedal carts for rent as well as a pretty decent 9-hole mini-golf course that has recently been upgraded. There’s also a picnic area back here, lakeside deck, fishing dock, further afield as well as an in-ground community heated pool and playground just in front of the main office. The on-site restroom and shower facilities are first-rate, offering sparkling clean and well-maintained showers, toilets and even baby changing stations. There’s also an on-site laundr-O-mat located right near the shower / restroom facilities with 4 sets of coin-operated washers and dryers. On-site, you’ll find a proper dump station as well as designated dumpsters throughout the entire property. A handful of reservable small pavilions (no electric, 60 people max) and large (electric, 80 people+) are offered for rent at $50/day and $100/day respectively as well as a very small ½ mile hiking loop that follows the Little Indian Creek, which is kind of a joke, but hey, it’s a nice stroll.
Like most entertainment-themed campgrounds like Hi-Tide, every week has a theme, so there’s planned activities like bingo, hayrides and disco parties to keep both young and old alike busy and entertained. In short, what’s the upside to being here at Hi-Tide? Well, if you have a young family and are looking for a lot of distractions and planned activities that allows you to enjoy a fairly mindless planning experience that you can either participate in with the kids or just let them run wild and do their thing, well then, Hi-Tide has you covered in spades. Nobody is going to get bored in this place!
Downside? While it is true that you are out in the middle of nowhere, which has a semblance of feeling as though you are engaging in nature, with all of the entertainment and distractions that you will discover here, along with arguably the biggest downside – the place is completely overrun with management packing in RVs and 5th Wheelers as close to each other as possible – it will be actually pretty difficult to truly commune with nature. This is a campground campus that packs RVs in pretty snug, while feigning at offering tent campers some nice flat land to pitch a tent, and for those that don’t have either, you can still rent a cabin. But make no mistake about this place, you are in a little ‘camping city’ and everywhere you go, you’ll have endless options to distract you and keep you entertained, as well as being overwhelmed by the sheer sense of over-crowdedness. So, if you want peace and quiet and some really pristine moments with nature and wildlife, this really isn’t going to be the place you want to call home for a night or two under the stars.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) When you get tired of rustling up beans & franks for dinner and want to try out some local fare, you’ll have to drive a decent distance from here to get to anything, let alone of quality. The closest place you could consider is Somonauk, located on 34 just continuing due east where there’s just a few joints: Hot Diggity Dogs, Rambo’s Bar & Grill where Uncle Milty’s Pizza Palace is located right next door too, but the standout favorite in town is Country Kitchen for down-home Midwestern comfort food; (2) If you have any form of watercraft, you won’t really be able (or want) to use it here on the small lake that Hi-Tide has, especially with all the kids swimming, but nearby and just east is Lake Holiday which makes for a very great place to dip your kayak, canoe or outboard in; (3) For kicking back and enjoying some drinks, I highly recommend Tin Roof Tavern right on 34, where Teeks serves ‘em up strong, there’s a juke playing good tunes and even a mechanical bull riding, but was unfortunately not working when we were there; and (4) If you are looking for a real outdoors encounter with nature that may (or may not) include camping, give Shabbona Lake State Park a visit – it’s only 20–25 minutes from Hi-Tide and has everything, whether that’s fishing, hunting, hiking, biking or kayaking – you’ll be amazed at what you have so nearby.
Happy Camping!
Traveler
This is actually our second visit here. It’s only 20 minutes from our home, so we expect to come back many times. It’s a unique location about .5 miles from the actual beach and there’s a path/boardwalk that takes you right there. This is one of the few state parks that has a year-round heated bathroom with shower, so even with our popup camper we were able to take advantage of the decent weather for our first trip of the year. Sites are decent sized and have asphalt driveways with concrete pads. Sites are electric only, but there’s several water fills, even in winter. Very popular campground so you do have to book well in advance during regular season. Be aware that because it shares an entrance to the state park beach, entering on a summer Saturday or summer Sunday can take upwards of 45 minutes or more.
Legend
Out of the barren, desolate field after field drive-by wasteland that is the Illinois countryside, at least in late Autumn / early Winter, you’ll be heading down winding roads with all sorts of twists and switchbacks before arriving to Deer Creek Campground. What I love most about this cleverly hidden natural outpost is that if you don’t know where you are going and don’t have this destination in mind, you will never find it. And I bet the very great people here at Deer Creek had that in mind when they purchased this land from nearby Mallard Bend Campground, but that’s likely a story for another day.
As for this hidden camping outpost, located somewhere south of Sandwich, whose main highway artery is 34, east of Sheridan, which is a tiny town I had never heard of before and due west of a hamlet called Millington, which is nothing short of purely residential, you’ll follow E 2750th Road south from 34 until you hit N 4351st Road, right as the road bends on a 45 degree curve, where you’ll head east until you come to your first possible right, about 200 yards give or take, where you’ll turn in, on gravel nonetheless, so drive slow, where after 100 yards, you’ll hang a left (do not go straight, or you’ll be visiting Mallard Bend Campground) and follow the gravel road till its completion. Here, there’s a guard station and gate where you’ll check-in. After doing so, you’ll have about 2 dozen spots to park your RV at.
Regarding the spaces themselves, they are large, tree-lined and completely surrounded by some of the most lovely people I have ever met while out in these parts camping. There is but a single lane with ample space on either side of this lane to park any size of RV or 5th wheeler. Unlike most of Illinois, the land here does slant sideways a bit, but at least where the gravel RV slabs are at, you’ll have to problems setting up on fairly flat land. All of the traditional hook-ups (30 / 50 electric amp, water, sewage) are available, along with a designated dump site. Beyond this, there are no other amenities per se, so those RVs outfitted with their own bathrooms and showers are better suited for this particular location. As for tent camping, this isn’t really the place for it as the place has been specifically designed for the wheeled camper in mind. Here, you’ll find all sorts of RVers that have parked for what looks to be an entire season, if not in some cases, for the whole year.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you come bearing watercraft, you’re in a lot of luck as just due south, you’ll have easy access to the Fox River – and if you can bribe your way onto Mallard Bend Campground, I’ve been told they have an excellent launch; (2) Thinking about fishing and don’t know where to go? Head back from whence you came to Lake Holiday, where there’s no shortage of great places to cast a line from to do some decent catch & release fishing for the likes of blue gill; and (3) When you get tired of opening up your onboard fridge trying to figure out that next meal, then head west to Sheridan to Old Mill Tavern, which on the weekends has an amazing fried chicken dinner or try out Calico Café, which has a pretty amazing breakfast spread; and (4) Looking for somewhere to kick back and throw some shine down? Then head on over to nearby Millington, where you have two options: Jimbo’s Place and The Last Chance Saloon – and if it were me, I would visit them in that particular order!
Happy Camping!
Legend
As we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch.
If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs.
As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location.
If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo.
Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
Traveler
Loved everything about this place. The staff is so helpful, well maintained, nice trail system. We tent camped on site #1 and would definitely book that spot again. We also came back last weekend and stayed in one of the large cabins- game changer in the winter! It’s a perfect spot for a weekend away from Chicago, will definitely be back.
RangerI stayed here for two weeks when I first started rv'ing full time while I finished up work and finalized the selling of the house.
It has a well maintained laundry and shower facility. Propane, full hookups, fairly sized fenced in dog run area, a lake with a beach front. Play ground for the kids and a strict 5MPH speed limit. The only down fall is the constant ambient sounds of highway trafic which is about 1/2 mile away from route 90.
Scout
I’ve been to this site a handful of times growing up and it’s a good campsite for the kids. Lots of activities to do everyday like crafts to keep the kids preoccupied during the day. RV, tent, and cabins make it easy for everyone to enjoy their stay. Bathrooms need some attention and hotter showers would be wonderful. Always came here for trick or treating and it’s a fun event for the camp ground with plenty of spooky things to do. Might come here when I have kids of my own, but I know there are better camp sites out there!
Legend
Located just 7 miles south of nearby Sandwich, which is by no means a roaring metropolis mind you, but certainly a nice quaint Midwestern town that will offer up a small bit of refuge and resource, should you need anything while staying out in these parts. This hidden campground gem, which is incredibly homey and likely a communal outpost for many fellow campers for more than the past half century, sits right on the Fox River and therefore offers pretty stunning views as well as great access to some decent fishing and kayaking.
While incredibly family friendly, Rolling Oaks, which is also pet-friendly, offers an abundance of amenities in addition to river access, including: horseshoe pits, playground with slides and swings, volleyball courts, 2 outdoor swimming pools and a maintained lake perfect for cooling off during the heat, propane exchange station, covered pavilions, scattered picnic tables, stand-up BBQ grills and fire rings, snack bar with sandwiches, burgers, wings and pizza as well as all of the traditional hook-ups (electric 30 / 50 amp, water and sewage) for pull-thru, back-in partial and full sites for RVs and 5th Wheelers. The bathroom and shower facilities are not amazing, but decent. Further down the road is a general store where you can buy those items that are ‘must-haves’ and for everything else, it’s just a short drive to nearby Sandwich.
What I love most about Rolling Oaks Campground, unlike many of the other available nearby options is that this location really feels as though it perfectly balances the seasonal ‘year rounders’ who rock up with their RVs for the annual stretch and those that are simply looking for a long weekend getaway, whether it be in their RV or for those of us that want to pitch up for the night in our tent cabins. There’s also a very strong community vibe here, which happens as a result of countless activities, group get-togethers and themed events, such as larger-than-life celebrations around the traditional holidays like 4th of July, Memorial and Labor Days, Halloween, etc. From potluck dinners and line dancing to hog roasts as well as line dancing and live music on the weekends, there’s a lot to enjoy here at Rolling Oaks.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you time it right – and I certainly would do a bit of work to do so with the family en towe – I would time your visit during the Sandwich Fair, which is one of the largest and most enjoyed statewide celebrations offering up traditional carnival rides, sweets & treats as well as other diversions like tractor pulls and pie eating contests; (2) Here you are located to some of the best state parks in the entirety of Illinois, whether that’s Shabbona Lake SP to the north, which offers up some pretty amazing fishing as well as proper hunting grounds or Starved Rock SP to the south, providing you with countless trails to hike and dells to scale; (3) For those wanting to dip their canoe or kayak in the water, I highly recommend that you first engage the Fox River that this property straddles or, if you are looking for something a bit different and slightly more challenging, check out nearby Illinois River, where the expanse is greater and the currents much more challenging and you should be easily able to spot one of the many bald eagles that call this river home; (4) When you grow weary of foraging for that next meal in the remnants of your onboard RV mini-fridge and want to try out some local fare, check out Old Mill Tavern, which is an old-school saloon, but features great fried chicken on the weekend, or Newark’s Country Kitchen for some great down home Midwestern comfort food, whether you are looking for biscuits & gravy for breakfast or fried catfish for lunch or dinner; and (5) If you are a die-hard foodie like me and don’t mind a slightly longer drive to discover two of the most amazing restaurants in the area, then head on over to Ottawa for Lone Buffalo, which operates both as a high-end micro brewery and secretly serves up some of the best gastro-pub food you’ll ever enjoy of which, I HIGHLY recommend the fish-n-chips OR make your way west down I80 to Ladd, where you’ll discover the best fried chicken of your life at Rip’s Chicken (and don’t forget to order the slaw, crispies and fried pickles, which completes the otherwise cholesterol-fueled meal!).
Happy Camping!
Legend
Like most campgrounds in Illinois, Mallard Bend Resort, which is located just outside of Sheridan, completely in the boondocks, by the way, is a seasonal campground (open April 15 until October 15) that is generally closed during the winter, but open the other 3 seasons. And while some would complain that this 37 acres of rolling woodlands is ‘clear out in the middle of nowhere,’ if you ask me, that’s it’s allure. Trust me, if you don’t know where you are going and don’t have this destination in your GPS, you will never find it or even just roll by it on accident and spot it. This hidden gem is definitely family-oriented and has been around since 1983.
While Mallard Bend Resort does in fact sit pretty far back from the main road you’ll need to access to find it, this hidden camping outpost, located somewhere south of Sandwich, whose main highway artery is 34, east of Sheridan (which is a tiny town I had never heard of before ... and I am from this area!), is also positioned due west of a village called Millington, which is purely residential, save a bar and restaurant (more on that later), you’ll follow E 2750th Road south from Route 34 until you hit N 4351st Road, hanging a right as the road bends on a 45 degree curve, where you’ll head east until you come to your first possible right, about 200 yards (give or take) where you’ll turn in, on gravel nonetheless, so drive slow, where after 100 yards you’ll reach the gated entrance to Mallard Bend Campground.
But be careful, if you don’t go straight at this point, and instead, hang a left to follow the gravel road, you will drive another 100 yards or so before reaching yet another gated entrance, but this is Deer Creek Campground (which I have supplied another review here on The Dyrt, in case you are interested) and these two properties, as I discovered, should not be confused with one another. Immediately after passing the gate, the main office, which honestly looks more like a main house, will be on your right and it’s here that you’ll check in.
Kitty-cornered from the main office is one gem of an amenity, where you’ll find an absolutely wonderful community pool, complete with concrete deck patio, lounge chairs, tables and sun umbrellas. This definitely created a lot of excitement for the kiddos who weren’t expecting a pool at this place. Speaking of amenities, Mallard Bend Resort packs quite a punch by including more than just the heated, in-ground pool, but also features: community clubhouse with a snack bar, ping pong, air hockey, foosball tables as well as a shuffleboard court and lounge. There are a handful of kid's playgrounds scattered throughout the property. WiFi is available only at the Clubhouse and pool. A brilliant kayak / canoe launch is located at the river basin, south of the property. Firewood and ice are both sold onsite. There’s a decent-sized pond perfect for swimming or fishing and is stocked with a ton of water toys for the tots. And if you’ve got bikes, bring ‘em, because there’s some decent trails around here for biking and hiking. Scattered nearly everywhere you look are well-maintained Adirondack chairs, picnic tables and in-the-ground fire rings with foldable grills.
There’s slightly more than a hundred pull-through and back-in sites here, all available with full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage) with nearly every site I saw completely shrouded in thick wooded forest cover. While the clubhouse, pool and children’s playground are located at the front of the property, once you get passed the RV slots, towards the rear of the property, you’ll be able to access the restroom / shower facilities, community pavilion, designated dump station and a coin-operated laundr-O-mat. Just beyond this is where you’ll discover the pond where you can fish or swim, where on either side, there’s two spots perfect for catching some shade – Ali’s Cove or Megan’s Nook – both of which are great for throwing down a picnic blanket or setting up some lawn chairs and enjoying a picnic or 'siesta' in a properly hung hammock. Further beyond this is where the kayak launch is at on the Fox River.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Should you have a canoe or kayak, you’re in a lot of luck as just due south of this property, you’ll have easy access to the Fox River, and further beyond this, if you don’t mind a slight drive to get there, the Illinois River is much larger with greater currents, but the amazing wildlife you’ll discover like Bald Eagles up and down the banks will be your reward; (2) Thinking about fishing and don’t know where to go? Head back northward to Lake Holiday, where there’s no shortage of great places to cast a line from and engage in some decent catch & release fishing for the likes of blue gill or croppie; (3) When you get tired of opening up your onboard fridge trying to figure out that next meal, then head west to Sheridan to Old Mill Tavern, which on the weekends has an amazing fried chicken dinner or try out Calico Café, which has a pretty decent breakfast spread; (4) Looking for somewhere to kick back and throw some shine down? Then head on over to nearby Millington, where you have two options: Jimbo’s Place and The Last Chance Saloon – and if it were me, I would visit them in that particular order!; (5) IMHO if you are an RVer, the best spots are on the lateral sides of the property, specifically on the east side at sites #59 – 65 (which will put you closest to the clubhouse and pool, so be careful if the noise and traffic bother you here); #65, #67 – 69; #87 – 89; or on the westside with spots #2, #5, #7, #8 and #10;( 6) To my tent camping bredren, you’ll want to target the river sites, which are the absolute best spots in this entire place anyway, so ask for R1–R10 (with R10 being the best); and (7) If you’re looking for a place to take the kids to where a change of scenery might be in order, check out Pirate’s Cay Indoor Waterpark over near Norway, just south of Highway #52.
Happy Camping!
GuideThe sites here are pretty close together and not particularly private. The good thing is it wasn't particularly booked up the night I stayed there. No showers and the pit toilets exist. (I've seen worse, I've seen better, clean but doors are a bit hard to shut the door, no handwashing readily available). I'd recommend this for folks bringing a camper more so than planning to pitch a tent if you want to stay more than one night. It's a good spot for a quick overnight just outside Chicago.
ScoutWe stayed 2 nights and the campground was thickly wooded and beautiful. We had good cell service but obviously the trees prevented Starlink. Our site was huge and the bathrooms were clean with individual locking showers and a dish sink. Short drive to the beaches.
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