Starved Rock Campground, near Oglesby, Illinois, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying some essential comforts. With spacious sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, it’s perfect for gathering around the fire and sharing stories under the stars.

This campground offers electric hookups and drinking water, making it a convenient choice for both tent campers and RV enthusiasts. Visitors have noted the rustic feel of the area, with heavy tree canopies providing a sense of seclusion. As one camper mentioned, “My campsite was clean and private,” which adds to the overall appeal of the location.

For adventure seekers, Starved Rock Campground is just a stone's throw from the stunning trails of Starved Rock State Park. With over 13 miles of hiking paths leading to breathtaking waterfalls and unique geological formations, there’s plenty to explore. Plus, the nearby Illinois River offers opportunities for fishing and boating, making it a well-rounded destination for outdoor activities.

While some campers have pointed out that the facilities could use a little TLC, the natural beauty and variety of trails make it a worthwhile stop. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, Starved Rock Campground has the essentials for a memorable outdoor experience.

Hunting Closures this fall: November 18-21 & December 1-5

Starved Rock State Park on the Illinois River bluff in La Salle County is one of Illinois'​ most beautiful destinations. Camping near Starved rock features 18 canyons w/ vertical walls of moss-covered stone formed by glacial meltwater that slice dramatically through tree-covered sandstone bluffs. More than 13 miles of trails allow access to waterfalls, fed season runoff or natural springs, sandstone overhangs, and spectacular overlooks. Lush vegetation supports abundant wildlife, while oak, cedar and pine grow on drier, sandy bluff tops. Camping near Starved Rock offers recreational opportunities abound, from hiking to camping to fishing, boating and hunting. Special events are scheduled throughout the year. The Starved Rock Visitor Center is open year-round, and the 1930s-era stone and log Starved Rock Lodge offers luxury lodging, cabin rooms, and fine dining. Starved Rock State Park in Illinois is a dream destination for a midwest nature getaway.

Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

Searching for the best camping near North Utica, IL? North Utica is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near North Utica and user-submitted reviews.

North Utica

The Best Camping Near North Utica, Illinois

For someone that lives in Chicago, this park presents a decent option for a a weekend getaway and an ok hike. You can extend hiking by checking out Matthiessen State Park, right next door. The campground is always super busy and booked. You literally have to reserve 11 months in advance. Starved Rock has about 13 miles of hiking trails, i believe. Check before you go, as the trails are easily flooded and some of them may be closed. I went late in August last year, and there was very little water, the waterfalls were mostly dried out, and people were hiking in the river beds. Dog friendly (leashed). Campground has decent sites, some in the woods, more private, some more open. The only drawback is that it's so hard to get a reservation. 

Decent, But Super Busy

This park is incredible!  The only draw back is that it's very popular.  The campsites are a decent size, but not very secluded.  There are a few that are more private, so investigating before going is a good idea.  The bathrooms were clean, but seem to be built for less people and the toilet paper was gone by nighttime (so you might want to bring some!).  The park is the major draw, not the camping so much.

wish I had the place to myself

The campground is busy, full and very open. Bathrooms were clean, drinking water was available and it was dog and kid friendly. We made our reservations six months ahead. The actual park is very fun and beautiful. Great hiking with kids, and less crowded once you are out on the trails. Also visit neighboring Matthiessen state park for more fun hikes. There are raccoons in the campground, so keep your food enclosed. 

Nice park, okay campground

It's good for kids because they don't allow adult beverages...so the more party crowds are elsewhere.  The campground isn't anything to get excited about.  It had the normal and needed amenities.  Id recommend skipping starved rock and going to Matthessien State Park.  Great trails and way better scenery!  

Ok campground...good for kids

This place is awesome for day hikes and nature walks! There are so many beautiful views, and many beautiful looking sand stone formations! 

Awesome Sand formations

The campground is ok. It's busy and separated from the hiking trails in the state park. The wonderful draw is the hiking trails. You can follow them through canyons formed by the glaciers a long time ago. One of my nature classes had a field trip here and we walked through the history. The park is right along the river with boardwalk trails near the visitor center that change to dirt when you get further away.

Starved Rock

Great place to day hike in to see the falls, but was a little dry, so the falls were not that impressive.  Looking forward to coming back during a spring time hike.

Great family hike

If you want all of your typical creature comforts but still want to be within arms reach of natures beauty, this is the place for you. It's probably the best and most advertised site in Illinois though so be prepared to see lots of people.

Almost too much to do!

Love this campground it has amazing scenery. Unfortunately Illinois needs to put more money into their parks and improve their campground facilities.

Awesome scenery could use some tlc

The campsite is pretty standard, nothing to write too much about, but the trails it is located next to is spectacular.  After some rain, the waterfalls will be flowing and the canyons are great to wander through.  Should also mention that the nearby Matthiessen State Park also offers some great trails and views, including probably the best waterfall that we saw during the trip.  Attached are some videos of us exploring the nearby trails.

love the waterfall and other hiking trails

waterfall

This campground is a large grassy camping area with big oak trees.  The sites are large enough, but there aren't any shrubs or bushes or pine trees to provide privacy from neighbors.  We love hiking in Starved Rock but dislike the campground.

Loved Starved Rock but not the campground

The campsite is separated from the park. The sites are clean and the bathrooms are pretty nice. You can camp pretty much year round. Go in the winter for the ice waterfalls, in the fall for the leaves, in the summer to ply in the waterfalls and in the spring to see the pelican migration.

Nothing short of amazing

This is definitely a tourist attraction for Illinois. A great place to hike, camp, and overall- to visit. I can't wait to go back!

Busy But Beautiful 

We headed south to Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, Illinois.   Boy was it HOT HOT HOT and HUMID HUMID HUMID.  We were running on 30 amps and one air conditioner.  (our main one decided to quit working a few weeks prior and we were limping along).  Our site was in full sun and the heat indexes were between 112-117 while we were there.  Ugh!  We did our best to stay cool.

We went to see the I&M Canal…a 96 mile long canal that was dug by hand in the 1800s. Very neat rock formations and would highly recommend this area!


Rock Formations are Amazing!!

This place is so beautiful I highly suggest staying here or stopping by for a day trip. We didn't get to do much hiking but made our way up French Canyon. The waterfalls and mossy ledges are breathtaking. The campground was clean and well maintained. We plan on coming back when we can explore more of the park.

Wow just wow

Spacious campgrounds, clean facilities, and tons to do! I'm a big fan of just hiking and exploring around. I could "go for a walk" and be gone for hours! Beautiful scenery year round. Have been several times and will be several more!

Amazing!

Just too many people.  And not Rustic enough for my taste.  No privacy. 

Crowded

went for fathers day on Saturday awesome waterfall and features. although therr are a lot of people. i like turkey run in indiana better.

great park but a lot of people

In general, this campsite was one of my least favorite midwestern camp spots and will not be returning.

The fee for this campsite is $25 a visit, which is about $10+ more expensive than your average State Park. The experience is not worth your extra penny. The campsite itself has 3 camp set-up options: wooded, partially-wooded, and open area. My partner and I stayed in the wooded area at site 113, where we still felt very close and unsheltered from our neighbors. The partially-wooded areas basically fully open, but you can set up between woods and open grass. The open area is a grass slab in the middle of the campground where you may as well be hanging with your neighbors at a city park. This campsite includes all the amenities, if that is your forte on camping (I camp for the full outdoor experience w/o bathrooms, showers, and a soda dispensing machine??!!) Even the park ranger said he disliked the site, but the one he recommended instead, called Cozy Corners, offered the same lack of privacy (we drove through to check before returning to the Starved Rock State Park Campground).

The state park itself is very lovely, which I slices amazing rock formations. However, if you're going for waterfalls, consider that these falls are not being fed by mountain caps and rushing springs, but dependent on rainfall. It is best to go shortly after one.

Backyard Camping

Visited here with the cubscouts and the boys had an incredible time! We camped out the night prior and spent all Sunday hiking! The waterfall canyon is rather breathtaking

Great combination of chill and challenge 

Super busy, barely got to be at our tent 🤧

Kinda dirty, but a nice experience over all

I've been to this lovely campsite three times - once in the fall and twice during different summers. The campground and park are packed during the late fall as everyone around comes to see the colors. Find a campsite that's a little ways away from others if you want a more private experience - they're very close together but you can find ones with better tree cover.

Starved Rock is great because you can walk a mile or two in a loop or do the full "mega hike" which is 13.4 miles through 18 canyons. The park features lots of elevation with many sets of stairs so make sure you bring water, sunscreen and snacks.

Beautiful but busy!

Had a wonderful time planning another visit this year for sure

Great place to hike. Campground is nice. Campground is a drive to get to trail heads. 

loved the whole day there! can't wait to visit again

beautiful trails

I have camped here twice. Once during the week and once on the weekend. If you plan on camping on the weekend, make a reservation ahead of time. The campground was fully booked.

Even though it was fully booked, was not loud and didnt feel busy. Sites have a mixture of good privacy and wide open.

Camp store is good for convenience, but a local has a small campstore with better prices.

Plan to drive to get to hiking and other activities.

Close to main park.

Our family has been camping here for years. Starved Rock State Park and nearby Matthiessen State Park offer beautiful hiking, canyons, and waterfalls along the Illinois Michigan River.

Regarding the campground: There are several options for tent camping, RVing and trailers. I definitely recommend making reservations in advance as it tends to fill up quick!

Showers and toilets are… well… camping showers and toilets… nothing special but do the job.

There is a small town close by with lovely little cafes, shops, and gas station.

There is also a Grizzly Jacks Grand Bear Resort that has an indoor water park and amusement park.

Great as campgrounds go!

Gets really busy in the summer season, look to go in fall/spring when it’s chillier or when it’s raining

Cozy 

Open plan campground (not much privacy). The playground consisted of one swingset - swings only.

Lots of great hiking at both Starved Rock &amp; Matthiessen Park.

Campground showers were hard to use; each push of the button for water only gave you 5 seconds of not quite warm enough water. I happened to use the handicapped shower one night which you would expect to be easy to use but the shower head was just dangling with no place to attach it which meant having to hold it with one hand whilst trying to wash my hair with the other in 5 second intervals. Not impressed.

Dump station didn’t have hose attachment to rinse out pipes with.

Nice open plan campground

Starved rock has so much to offer. trails that lead to caves, waterfalls, lakes and beautiful scenery all around. great for kids too. I have a two and 10 year old and they both do great on all the trails. the campground is pretty but a typical Midwest campground. Some spots are more secluded than others. Some are wooded others are open.  Clean bathrooms, RV and tent camping. Firepits. close to the park so you can get up and hike! 

Amazing hiking

Tent-camped here with my husband and dog and loved it! Great site, very clean, very peaceful! 

Great Hiking

absolutely gotta!!

There is an abundance of spacious level campsites with abundant shade. Bath house is clean, however ladies shower tends to have long lines. Gate staff is always helpful. Close to the state park hiking trails, lodge, fishing. Also a short drive to the old downtown Utica area with plenty of wining, dining and antiquing opportunities.

Wonderful Wooded Retreat

Beautiful in the spring! 

Located about 2 miles from the main entrance of starved rock, the campground books up fast during the summer, reservations are usually needed. Great sites, friendly staff and all around beautiful area.

Beautiful state park camp ground

it’s as close to nature as you can get without actually being in nature 

super busy 

campground is located a couple miles from the main lodge, miles of hiking trails, kayak rental available. the sites range from primitive to fill rv.

beautiful

We had reserved campsites and were told then and in person, plus noticed many signs on the way to our campsite about the NO ALCOHOL rule in this campground. Imagine our surprise when the huge group of young people across the road from our campsite had a party in full swing, with tiki torches, music, liquor bottles, and even a beer funnel in plain sight. They were even kind enough to offer use of the funnel as we walked past. They partied hard until at least 1:30am, well past the 10pm quiet time. And despite the rule of 2 cars max, there were 5 cars jammed into the driveway &amp; road. Never saw even one DNR truck or ranger drive past. Beautiful park, but apparently there is no staff to enforce any of the rules. The bathrooms in the shower building were nice, however the rest of the campground had to make do with portapotties - most of which were well past emptying time. Some showed evidence of bad aim, another had a diaper stuffed in it, most were filled almost to the rim. If this is the "jewel" of the Illinois park system, they should be ashamed. We will not be back.

Beautiful location, out of control & worn out campground

kayak starved rock getting their landing finished up

kayak starved rock

Starved Rock is a great place to go hiking. We loved seeing all of the waterfalls and checking out the lodge and restaurant. There were amazing views and plenty of trails to keep us busy.

Great hiking!

Nice clean and quiet camp ground. Gets very full but people were respectful. Hiking in the park is great. Has a ton of steps/stairs

Good camping great hiking 

The hiking at Starved Rock can be awesome, especially if it has rained recently and the waterfalls are flowing. Camping at Starved Rock, not so awesome. The campground is generally full if the weather is decent, so reservations are frequently required. There are different types of sites from wooded to an open field.None of the sites offer much in terms of privacy. The place has a bit of a run-down feel to it. The campground is not near most of the hiking trails, so you have to drive and park, and it can be crowded. I have been hiking in Starved Rock for years and each year it seems to get busier and more crowded. I highly recommend checking out the trails which can be done in a day, but don't consider it a camping destination.

One day is plenty of time

I set up in site 110 for the night at this nicely wooded campground. My site was very private, set back in the trees and very clean. I had large and small trees and underbrush making it impossible to see the site next to me in one direction, and no one occupying the site on the other side. With the car in the drive blocking the road, I had complete privacy. There was a short walk to porta potties and a nice walk to the modern, clean bath house. The site had the usual picnic table and fire pit and plenty of space to put my tent. There were some sites that sat in a meadow that completely lacked privacy, but with tons of space for kids to play. There is a camp store near the entrance to the campground, but I didn’t go in so I’m not sure what it’s stocked with (besides the ice in the cooler outside). Campers who like to imbibe beware: NO alcohol is permitted at this campground. There are some GREAT trails for hiking in the park, but be prepared for lots of stairs on the boardwalks that take you in and out of the canyons/ravines. I didn’t hike up to the actual “Starved Rock”, but you can observe it from the river bank.

Great Privacy in Great Park

This campground is close to great hikes. Beware of raccoons and poison ivy near campsites.

Great hikes but okay campground 

Beautiful Starved Rock is Illinois's favorite state park. Hiking through forests along the Illinois River to canyons and waterfalls with eagles soaring overhead. Historic lodge with good eating, huge fireplace, quaint rooms, and cabins, and a terrific Visitor's Center. However, none of these are near the campground. The campground is actually about a 10-15 minute drive outside the main park. It's a nice campground; sites have water and electric; showers and restrooms are adequate and clean. Sites are wooded and some seem crowded together. This is a very popular park; make a reservation or you might not get a site.

Illinois favorite

Overall this is about as good as you’ll get for Northern/Central IL.

Campground is ok, and a bit underwhelming but he park and hiking trails are wonderful!

Beautiful Terrain - Bit Crowded

Campsites are spacious with many backed up to wooded areas. The campground is close to miles of gorgeous hiking trails. Bathrooms could use some updates. Close to August Hill Winery which is a nice afternoon stop.

Close to the trails 

Not drinkin

Starved Rock State Park is a nice place. The camp sites are nice as well as pretty spacious on the whole. Lots of green between nearly all sites. It has rained a lot lately and it can be a little muddy, not really the parks fault. There are ports-potties in the loop and really run down shower houses at the entrance of the loops. 
The little store is tiny with limited hours. Firewood is expensive, but I can not vouch for the quality. The loop roads are in disrepair with a lot of broken surface and potholes. Lots of shade in the back. May or may not come back. 

A nice state park 

This place is fantastic. It’s no wonder millions of people come to enjoy the facility year over year. Between the waterfalls and hiking and the adjacent town. This park has it all. Bring your Harley and enjoy the roads

Incredible park

Incredible scenery, very clean, tons to do! It’s amazing! 

Incredible!

This is a nice campground, especially for families. It would be perfect for groups of families traveling together or a reunion or something. That being said, it’s very busy during peak times with lots of children.  Dogs are allowed and lots of people bring them. Plan on making reservations in advance (especially if you need 50 amp or a space for a large RV). Sites have electric and a picnic table plus fire pit and there’s firewood for sale on site. NO alcohol is allowed. The gates are closed from 10p-8:30a so plan accordingly. We have AT&amp;T and barely ever had service on our phones but it’s better up at the actual park  

The back part of the loop had pit toilets and there are flush toilets and showers up front along with a spigot for water. Taste of the water is ok. Dumpsters for trash are by where you pull in and out. A few notes on the bathrooms/showers:

*   Lights are not on inside the bathrooms overnight. 
    
*   Only two showers each for men and women. The women’s showers had a line around 8am. No lines for showers in middle of the day or around dinner time. 
    
*   Showers are the type where you push the button and the (hot!!) water runs for two minutes then turns off and you have to push it again. 
    
*   Shower area is a little bit older but toilets are fine and the sinks have soap and a hand dryer. 
    

RVs will probably like the inside part of the loop ok (42-53, 39-42) but I wouldn’t stay there in a tent unless you had a group and were booking multiple sites. We (tent campers) had site 50 (very similar to 46 and 48 also) and it was okay. You’re fairly close to your neighbors. Site 52 is amazing for tent campers (it’s way back from the road although still drive in) but you’re farther from your electricity there. 

Starved Rock is beautiful but can be very busy on nice weekends. There is dining at the lodge including one place open in the summer where you can bring your dog (has outdoor patio). Matthiessen  State Park is beautiful as well but get there early because by mid morning the parking can fill up. There are things to do in town as well (wineries, shopping).  If you are just going for hiking a weekend is probably a sufficient length of time to stay. 

A note on wheelchair access: the bathrooms are accessible as is the campground overall (there are paved roads) but Starved Rock and Matthiessen are both very heavy on the stairs.

Great campground, close to state parks

The campground is pretty basic. For $25-35 per night, you can get a site with electrical hookup. The east loop has better tree coverage and more privacy. The west loop has more site in a large open space, maybe better for groups. I give 3 stars because there is not much to do at the campground itself. You have to get in your car and drive to any hiking at Starved Rock State park, just 10 min away, and battle the crowds for parking. The campground has just 2 real bathrooms, one for each loop. Each has 2 flush toilets and 2 showers. Showers were pretty rough, no temp control and spraying everywhere but your body. Some portapotties are scattered around, but pretty ripe by the end of August. Use the woods. There are 2 small playgrounds, but one is just a swing set. So if you have kiddos, there is not much for them to entertain themselves with at the campground- no hiking trails, no pond or fishing or swimming, no DNR programs, etc. Park has posted signed that there is ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL allowed, so keep it private and quiet. that being said, the hiking in the general area is awesome!!! Lots of canyons, bluffs, and overlooks. Just be prepared to drive. 
A very basic “store” open after 3pm, just had fire starters, marshmallows, bug spray, ice cream, and pop. Some little souvenirs. No milk or eggs.
For a 30 ft travel trailer, our campsite has just enough room for our slide out and awning. The fire pit was well placed and had a grate for cooking. Electrical was confusing- our site was listed at 50A only. It really was 50/30/20A(see pictures). Easy to back in to, mostly level site for quick set up. Our campsite, 85, had nice shade and lots of trees. You can see and hear your neighbors but there is decent separation. We had space to hang a hammock and have a fire, with a full picnic table as well. 
There are a few sites for fresh water fill, and a dump station. Took about 45 min for us to dump being 5th in line at 10:30am.
Book early- reservations open online 6 months in advance and book up quickly. Most summer weekends are completely full. Spring and fall camping is great here- waterfalls are rain fed and often dry in summer. Sites 96 and 97 would be my picks if I could choose: both are private and have large camping pad areas. Avoid the sites by water  spouts and roads, there is no privacy when everyone is cutting through your site!
Overall, a basic campground with what you need for camping, no frills, no activities or recreation, but close to the hiking at Starved Rock State Park about 10 min away by car. Biking nearby would be an extreme sport, the roads are very narrow with extreme drop offs and no shoulder. Not for kids.

Convenient campground for nearby hiking

Beautiful canyons to hike through! Many waterfalls and streams as well!

Compared to other IL campsites, this one is prettier, but versus places I've been in WI or CO, this doesn't have as pretty scenery.

  

It is well maintained. There are some sites with no privacy, but if you get one in the treed area you will have some. My site could see are neighbor pretty easily but we set up our tent to block the opening in the trees.

  

P.S. raccoons are very used to humans and came up to us looking for food.

Very busy but trees give privacy

The good:

\-Trails are great and have some good waterfalls.

\-The inn is really nice and has good food and a bar for drinks after a long hike.

\-The campsite had enough room and was level.

\-The shower house by the entrance was clean and well kept.

  

The Bad: 

\-The noise at night, from the trails, airplanes, and what I think was a boat horn, kept waking us up all night. 

\-You would have to walk through another campsite to get to the pit toilet next that was in our area. Also, the pit toilet had a lot of rot and was in need of repair.

  

The weird:

Alcohol is banned at the campsites, but the Inn has a bar.

If you don't mind noise at night a great Campground

People get down on Illinois. And I get it. It’s a typical Midwest state and it’s mostly pretty flat. But...then there’s Starved Rock! Easily accessible to most of IL residents, Starved Rock is a great half-day for anyone looking for hiking, waterfalls, and views, views, views! 

Quick tip: We enjoyed a quick trail mix snack at the bottom of the steep inclines. Gave the kiddos the energy they needed to make it to the top :)

Perfect Family Hike!

Love, love, LOVE this campground! There is ample space on most of the outer lots of the loop. Many trails nearby. Starved Rock State Park is absolutely amazing, and it’s not far from the even more amazing Matthiesen State Park. Both have the most beautiful waterfalls, so be sure to hit both but be prepared to walk! 
Make reservations ahead of time. 

My favorite place!

Great place for tourists. 
Canyons are amazing and the lodge is really great. Food is good. 

Great for tourist

Starved Rock State Park is a really cool and beautiful area.  You can hike around for miles and of course there are the waterfalls!!  But the campground is not actually in the park and you have to drive to get there.  It feels like camping in the middle of a cornfield with a few trees around.  Sites are very close together and it doesn’t feel very nature-y to be there.  Highly recommend a visit to Starved Rock but the campground is just “meh”.


Mediocre Campground in an Awesome State Park

I think this place attracts a lot of junkies and drunks. 

Can get noisy at night.

Starced Rock is a gem in Illinois but shady people at campground

Overall a decent place to stay.  We didn't experience the noise some reviewers did, but there's not much in between sites on the western loop.  Trees surround the loop, and it appears the eastern look has more secluded sites.  My biggest complaint was the sites don't appear to be well maintained, and previous campers didn't do a good job of cleaning up after themselves.  Lots of plastic bottle tops, small pieces of paper towel, etc were all over the place.  Too bad since it's an otherwise nice place.

Decent campground, not well maintained or cleaned

The park is beautiful with trails through canyons and lots of history. Many of the  sites are wooded with decent privacy. The facilities are clean but in bad need of updating. I like that it’s short get away from Chicago. 

Beautiful State Park

The campground has easy access for trailers, tents, and rvs. The shower/bathroom facility is good, but there is only one and I’ve seen this park get really busy.  Campsites can be woooded or open. 

Easy access camping in beautiful area

If you want more trees and privacy stick to the east loop if you want more flat land that is easy to drive up and camp, go to the west loop. The Camp store is cute but tiny. There is also a vending machine by the bathhouse and a 24/7 wood vending machine by the camp store. 

3 state parks are within a 5-10 minute drive making early morning hiking very easy. Welcome to the Disney Land of outdoors! 

The campground itself is off of Starved Rock’s main entrance but we think it’s perfect because I don’t need that much traffic with cars and people constantly walking/driving by. I do wish there were walking trails off the campground though. 

Beautiful Campground

We visited the first weekend in November so we still had some leave to peep. The weather was unusually warm and beautiful so we were able to hike both days of our visit but it was packed with people who had the same idea. Also, as we left the park to go to our campsite (around 2 PM) the camp was getting a rush of afternoon hikers. The place is busy!!!

The campsite itself is off the State Park premises,which isn’t bad since it’s not swarmed park attendees not spending the night. It has an electrical hookup on each campground for RVs. There is also a bathroom with running showers and toilets, pretty nice. And there is a camp store (which is currently closed for the season). The campsites themselves vary in size and fire station. Our campsite was a little small but if you want fully forested campsites I suggest you keep your choices between #s 30 and 100.

We had a blast, the state park itself was fantastic, plenty to see. Starved Rock and the other peaks were fantastic and Wildcat Canyon was a sight to behold. Illinois Canyon is huge and worth the visit. I understand that with the spring runoff there are many waterfalls to behold. We plan on coming back then. Great place to camp!!!

Great Hiking but the Campsite is Hit or Miss

**General:** 133 site campground in two loops; we camped in the East Loop so most of my comments are regarding this loop. The very friendly attendant at the check-in booth (this is potentially luck of the draw) spent time answering all our questions. 

  

**Sites/Facilities:** Many of the sites are fairly close together but have trees separating them. All in the East Loop are shaded except for Sites 59-68 and 128-130, which are in full sun with no physical separation between them. The driveways are all dirt/gravel and most appear to be level. Most of the sites are 30 amp with about 20 of them having 50 amp. All sites have a large picnic table and fire grate. Each loop has a bath/shower house but depending on which site you are in, it can be quite a hike to get to it. Of note is there are seven handicap accessible sites, all in the west loop – more than I’ve seen in any other campground. 

  

**Bathhouse:** The East Loop bathhouse was ok but not great (could use a facelift). Was going to use the shower but it was very chilly the next morning (I was assured at check-in that there was plenty of hot water). There are more than sufficient vault toilets, including a handicap accessible one, in each loop. 

  

**Activities/Amenities:** There is a camp “store” (more of a trailer vending machine) offering 24-hour self-serve ice and firewood. There was also a small gift shop, but it was not open when we were there. There is only one playground, at the end of the East Loop so not centrally located for campers. One dumpster (closer to the west loop) and the camp host is in the west loop. 

  

**Conclusion:** My main beef with this campground is that it is quite a distance away from the rest of the park and is not accessible to the hiking trails, visitor center, etc. by foot. (although some see this as an advantage!) Not the fault of the campground but I was dismayed at the amount of trash in sites (as well as on the hiking trails).

Very popular state park

We have camped here twice and it is beautiful in any season! Great privacy and good size sites in the northern east loop. Around site #100  (90-110 approximately). We looked up a drive through on YouTube to help pick out a good one. The second time we came here, we intentionally picked a pair of sites that were next to each other/connected and also by the bathrooms. The port a potties are nothing amazing and they were actually getting full the first night we were there, but then they were taken care of. Great hiking, scenic views, good playground by the showers. Will definitely be back again and again.

One of our favorites

This park is popular, has plenty of space, though can use updates and better Leave No Trace practices (litter). During our time, park and cg was busy, full at times. Hiking was great with geological aspects. Has Lodge, CG store, lots of history.

Beautiful Popular Park

I was there this past November and again blessed with great weather this past weekend (April 16-18, 2021). I live the park, some of the canyons has waterfalls. The campsites in Loop 2 are close together and small. I booked two campsites but I had friends bail at the last minute but I still kept the two campsites, which was fortunate. 

Park is Great but the Campsite, well...

Starved Rock State Park and the surrounding area has some of the most beautiful views in north central Illinois.  We’ve spent many days exploring trails for river views, bluffs and overlooks, even waterfalls!  There is so much to see here!  Whether you stay in a tent, cabin, or the resort, you’re sure to find a treasure for the eyes and spirit.  Just note that the peak season is really crowded these days!

Great views on every trail

The park is amazing as you can see in the photos.  Many hiking trails,  fishing possibilities and a visitor center with a museum. The campground is very tight.  The road i s very narrow and if someone is trying to move into their spot, you cannot get around them.    The only garbage drops are at the front of the park since trucks cannot navigate the road. There are two sections, sites 1 to 58 and 59 to 133.   Sites 1 to 58 include 7  handicap sites and this section has more space between sites.  In the other section, sites  84 to 109 are the largest.

There are 2 playgrounds and shower houses.  All sites  have electric and if you need to fill the water tank of your RV the only water fill is at the dump station at the front.

The campground is a good distance from the visitor center and the park is very large.  If you have young children a vehicle  to drive around would be good.

We have both A T &amp; T and Verizon and both had limited connections.

Even taking all  these items into consideration, I will return, the natural beauty of the park is well worth it and there is enough to keep you busy for at least a week.

Park is Amazing!

Campsite is not on the same spot as the starved rock or trails. Doesn’t matter. In my opinion, it keeps the traffic down. Nice spots, power available, shower, toilets, pop vending machine. Love this area. 

10/10 would come back

The place was well run, sites vary from heavily wooded to wide open in grass. A decent amount of tenters mixed in with trailers. The showers were very hot, almost too hot for adults. Camp hosts were excellent. 

Nice location and sites

We got there in the rain.  The site had electricity and water.  Standard site.  The sites were paved and large.  The bathroom near our site was not the greatest, the woman’s room door did not open so we used the men’s room.  There is one toilet, which is non-flushable outhouse style.  That was not a problem but it was not very clean.  

A safe spot, beautiful surroundings 

Grass was tall, several sites were flooded/standing water, felt bad for those campers. Most sites have very very little gravel for car/camper and no gravel around fire ring, just tall grass. Shower house is a joke. 2 showers, 1 stall, 1 urinal for men. No temp control, the hot water is blazing unsafe hot. My kids were in pain. No alcohol, no playground execpt 2 swings in a literal mud pit. Camp store had insane prices for wood and ice. For being such a huge SP, the campground was a joke.

A let down

The campground itself is pretty basic. The sites were extremely close together. I wish we would have been able to pick it out when we got there, because there are so really. It and open sites. I found 99, 101 and 105 to be the best ones! We stayed at 115 with not much room!
The best part about this is the sites outside of the campground. There are several trails and history about starved rock! Unfortunately they recommend you drive to them. I understand why as biking or walking from the campground may not be the safest on the narrow country roads. 

Sites better than campsite

Nice spot for an overnight

Typical RV camp ground in a wide open area. 

Decent camp ground

We arrived at Starved rock a little after 3pm, check in was a breeze and the host was very helpful with directions and information about where to get firewood and how late the camp store was open. We arrived on a Friday and enjoyed even the weekend tourists as no one was super loud or had bright lights on. The campground is set up very well and leaves a ton of space between sites and even the other side of the campground. The shower house was very clean and right as you enter the campground. There are small outhouses in the median between the rows of sites, easily accessible but not ada accessible. There are some trails that walk you around the campground but nothing that leads to the parks more popular trails. 
The park itself is beautiful and has very well kept trails and parking lots. However, the maps that were drawn up are terrible. Some of the parking lots weren't even on the map and some of the canyons were not marked on the trails. We started at the top and walked the ridgeline down to the main parking lot, glad we did because that lot was completely full.

Quaint, quiet and clean campground. 

I got here after dark and paid for a walk-up reservation. They don’t differentiate tent and RV sites, so I picked one that looked like it wouldn’t be near other RVs since I’m tent camping. 
Registration was easy although a bit confusing about credit card options. Everyone was quiet and the bathrooms were clean.

A dog ran up to my tent and scared the crap out of me at like 11pm, but he quickly apologized. I’m not sure if he was unleashed or on a long leash, but there were a lot of dogs. 

Clean and Quiet

Due to limited availability, I was forced to pick an inner loop site and was worried it would be small. This site was plenty big enough for our 8 person tent and a pop up screen house. Ample tree cover and privacy. One day had very heavy rains and the fire ring area did have some minor flooding but the tent pad section stayed drier. This campground is always quiet, well maintained, and never disappoints. 

Nice inner loop site 

Site 105 is one of the bigger outer loop sites. Behind the tent pad there is a nice trail to the ravine. Lots of tall trees and privacy. During a whole day of very heavy rain, there was minimal flooding. One of my favorite sites here. This campground is always clean and quiet. 

One of the better sites

We camp at this campground a few times a year. We love the quiet and simplicity of this place. Site 104 is a good sized inner loop site. Everyone knows about hiking Starved Rock, but I recommend the short drive down the road to Matthiessen State Park. Much less crowded with better  trails, in my opinion. 

Frequent camper here

Love this campground! It was my first time going camping with just my boyfriend and his dog. Each campsite was very spacious and came with a table and fire pit. We had a site right next to a forest and we found a little river so we decided to go exploring a bit and had loads of fun! The bathroom and shower facilities were nice and clean. We heard coyotes at night (they were laughing, no joke) so that was a little scary! We went to Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Park for hikes and loved both!

First time camping with my bf! 

The Starved Rock are is gorgeous. The campground is poorly laid out. It’s disconnected from the state park, there are no trails that lead from the CG. The loop with the lower numbered sites is very open, however sites are well spaced out. The other loop with the higher numbered sites offers more trees and privacy. Both loops have a shower building with toilets at the loop entrance which are not really close to any actual sites. There are pit toilets and port-a-potties but they weren’t in great shape. We’d recommend sites 50, 52, or 54 as they provide some tree cover and have good proximity to the bathrooms. 

Okay campground in beautiful area

one of the better campsites in the surrounding area. there is a decent amount of trees and vegetation separating each campsite which i loved! my only complaint is the grounds were busy and someone who was sitting outside kept shining a flashlight into our tent for what felt like all night. 

nicest in the area

The campground is separate from the park and it's a good thing.  Super quiet.

Quiet location

Great camping experience at Starved Rock Campground.  Well maintained.  Relatively level sites.  Good space between campers.  Heavy fire pits and grates.  The hiking trails are challenging but rewarding.  

Nice campground.  Spacious sites.  Awesome hiking.

Could’ve been much better. Somewhat dirty, dumpsters overflowing with trash. Campsites were a little on the small side. Really cool area with really neat hiking.

Okay

I stayed here for 1 night- site#12 in the west loop. The staff was friendly and the grounds seemed to be well maintained. I loved that it was so close to Starved Rock Park(5 minutes). Electricity was available at the camp site. I wish that there was water at each site but luckily, we were able to fill up directly across from our campsite. If you have your hose connected, be sure to pull the diverter down so water will be redirected into the hose. There was a dump station at the campground entrance but we had issues with the hose working. Given the location, I would stay here again if I were to visit the park. I gave this 3 stars because I was comparing it to other campgrounds I've stayed at and the amenities they've offered.

Overall good experience

Easy walk-in process. Well maintained grounds and facilities Near Starved Rock Lodge for hiking and a meal with a view. Dog friendly on back deck. 

Beautiful park great location

While I find it hard to believe that Starved Rock SP was voted the #1 attraction in the state (I mean, come on, there’s Wrigley Field, there’s the Bean, there’s Jon Hancock tower, there’s Galena and so many other amazing attractions to choose from after all!), I will admit that this outdoor natural amusement park is one incredible destination. Located in north central Illinois, just a few miles south of Utica and 3 or so miles east of Oglesby, what makes Starved Rock SP more like a 'needle in a hay stack' is that those coming from out of town (er, dare I say Chicago), it's quite an EZ place to find and get to, unlike most natural wonders, which would have you spending hours driving down winding roads in the middle of nowhere – with this campground, just take I90 south to 80 E and BOOM! You’re here. 

  

PLEASE NOTE: Rather than just 1 campground here at Starved Rock State Park, there are actually 3 individual campgrounds to choose from – Starved Rock State Park West Loop, Starved Rock State Park East Loop and Starved Rock State Park Youth Group Area – each with their own configuration, # and type of sites, overall vibe and amenities. For the purposes of this review, I will focus my comments on Starved Rock State Park – West Loop Campground. Upon entry, you’ll check-in at the Ranger Station, where you’ll confirm your reservation and be given directions to the specific campground and site that you have booked. For this West Loop Campground, which is comprised of sites #1– 54, plus 4 campground host sites, after passing the Ranger’s Office, you will immediately hang a left, before reaching the Camp Store mind you, and from here, you will drive a simple football field-shaped, completely wide open and barren loop that is intersected with two individual lanes, intersecting the loop into 3 distinct areas: upper, middle and lower, with restroom facilities in the two upper loops and a children’s playground in the third and lower loop, before completing the loop and returning to the Ranger Station. Sites are numbered from low to high with numbers ascending in alternating fashion on either left or right side of the road beginning right after passing the community shower/ restroom facilities, where you will note that there is fresh water opposite of this facility. Exterior sites in the loop are more preferred as they offer up a nice tree line and some additional privacy, versus those on the interior of the loop. Upon exiting Starved Rock SP – West Loop Campground you will pass by the 3-4 campground hosts, all in their RV/ trailers and exiting the campground campus itself, just as you pass the Ranger Station, you will find the dump station. 

  

For a very detailed map, complete with what amenities and even which sites have full, partial or no shade, please check this out: https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/parks/camp/documents/starved-rock-state-park-campground.pdf

  

If you time your visit carefully, towards the latter part of Spring or early Summer, you’ll be greeted by fresh, seasonal waterfalls that make for quite the refresher after a good couple of hours of hiking this fantastic spot that offers fishing, dining, boating, picnicking and no shortage of extraordinary views of Illinois’ finest natural outcrop. Apart from quick and EZ access to the mighty Illinois River, I also love the 13+ miles of hiking trails that form snake-like patterns throughout, across and over the nearly 20 or so canyons that make up this SP. 

  

The best map of hiking trails at Starved Rock SP can be found here: https://www.starvedrocklodge.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Starved-Rock-Trail-Map.pdf 

  

Whether you are looking at Starved Rock SP East Loop or West Loop Campgrounds, combined, there’s some 133 Class-A Premium campsites complete with electricity as well as showers and bathroom facilities, while most of which are outdated and in need of a fresh coat of paint, they are generally fairly clean. Wherever you end up parking your RV or pitching your tent you’ll be able to access all of those activities like rappelling, hiking and kayaking that brought you to Starved Rock SP in the first place. All of these sites have standard 20 amp electric plug-ins, plus there’s also the option for a 30 amp electric car or camper hookup with just a few spots offering up 50 amp electric for the big rig RVs. On campus, there’s both a campground store as well as Jack’s which is just off Route 71, where both offer up wood for sale 24/7 as well as ice, batteries, chips, sodas, marshmallows, rain gear and various other sundries. Additionally, there’s 8 covered shelters here and are also offered on a first-come, first-served basis with some offering wood-burning chimneys, perfect in the fall or winter and great for roasting s’mores or just curling up next to your honey. 

  

Insider’s tips: (1) IMHO the best campsites in Starved Rock SP– West Loop Campground are those that fall against the treeline on the exterior of the loop, with sites #20, #22, #23, #24, #27, #43, #45 and #46 offering up the most privacy; (2) For those bringing their kayak, canoe or boat with them, you’re really going to enjoy the Illinois River as there’s no shortage of places to explore and while we attempted to land on Leopold Island, it was completely soaked, so we ventured onto Plum Island and had a very nice picnic on the beachhead there; and (3) The two nearest towns near Starved Rock State Park are Utica or Oglesby, wherein I would recommend a visit to either long-time favorite Garzanelli’s Supper Club, which has a pretty amazing Midwestern take on Italian food or Lodi Tap Room for some pretty amazing glorified bar food, otherwise, if you don’t want to drive anywhere, just stay put and enjoy the fare at Starved Rock Lodge; (4) Looking for a place to ‘whet your whistle’? Then head on over to Aces &amp; Eights in Tonica for a cool biker bar with some decent Americana fare and cheap tall boys OR head into Utica to check out Obscurity Brewing Bier Garten for some unusual draft brews or August Hill Winery for some fairly mediocre wine from Illinois; (5) If hiking is your thing, and being here at Starved Rock (and don’t forget nearby Mathiessen SP), then you’ll want to take full advantage of all the great hiking trails, of which I highly recommend for a shorter hike, checking out the loop around Lover’s Leap, which is the most popular, but for those wanting a slightly longer and more challenging hike, look at either Wildcat Canyon or Lasalle Canyon; and (6) Finish off your entire camping experience by visiting Two Girls and a Cupcake for some sweet, albeit overpriced, desserts and treats. 

  

Happy Camping!

Camping Bliss Here @ Starved Rock State Park West Loop Campground

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Starved Rock State Park, nestled on the Illinois River bluff in La Salle County, and it truly is one of Illinois' most breathtaking destinations. The park's unique geological formations, lush landscapes, and abundant recreational activities make it an ideal spot for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. Scenic Beauty and Trails The park is renowned for its 18 canyons, with their vertical walls of moss-covered stone, formed by glacial meltwater. These canyons slice dramatically through tree-covered sandstone bluffs, creating a stunning backdrop for exploration. I spent hours hiking the more than 13 miles of trails, which offer access to beautiful waterfalls, sandstone overhangs, and spectacular overlooks. The trails vary in difficulty, making them accessible for both casual walkers and avid hikers. My entire team of Student Life Saviour is planning to visit the part at: [https://studentlifesaviour.com](https://studentlifesaviour.com) as they also loves outing.

It is excellent

We stayed in the east loop which is heavily wooded compared to the west loop. Site 99 has no grass but is very large - ended up camping behind the RV on a little point that overlooks a ravine. Very neat, rustic feel.  Heavy tree canopy means no Starlink. Verizon and AT&amp;T both had only 1 bar. TV was nearly impossible to hold a signal. From our site closest bathrooms were a short walk but are port-a-pots. Shower house is likely a drive away especially if you have women and children in your party. All of the Starved Rock State Park trails and sites to see are a drive away, not part of the campground. For me the most annoying thing we encountered… there must be a small airport nearby because there was nearly constant small planes buzzing around thought out the day. Would stay here again, but not a favorite.

Very rustic feel, limited, dated and poorly maintained facilities

Very friendly host at the gate! Just what my wife and I were looking for. Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!

One night stay while traveling home

Stayed in the east loop, overlooking the ravine, had a small trail behind our site that was all wooded. Decent pines and brush separating sites on both sides. Didn't feel like the sites were on top of each other. Not too far from refill station, farther from toilets which is nice to reduce flies and bugs. We'll definitely stay here again. 

Didn't bother with $9 bundle of firewood from the vending machine. Jacks had a wagon load of firewood for $20 cash, much better deal and it lasted for 3 nights. 

Keep in mind the grounds are fully separated from the state park, you'll need to drive 8 to 10min to get to the hiking trails. Biking out of the campgrounds also didn't seem close enough with young kids. 

Relaxing weekend in the middle of everywhere

It is a nice campground (sites are great and it was a reasonable price for out-of-state), but the facilities are in need of updating.  There is only one shower for about 60 sites.  Campground bathrooms are portable toilets.  Campground is about 1 mile away from visitor center and park/trails.

Needs Some Updating

Picked this spot outta the air. What an amazing history and geological area. The campgrounds were large and dark with shade trees. Limited 50 Amp sites as it is old. 

Summer trip week 2 the return home

May 15-20, 2025 

Easy check in, empty on Thursday, site 47 Is full sun and level. 

Not much shade in the western sites, plenty of grass, pads are gravel, mostly even. ADA sites are concrete. Site 49 and 51 have some shade. The eastern sites are wooded, narrow and secluded cept for a few near the shower house. 

Electric was 20&amp;30amp, newer metal fire pit with adjustable ring. Large wooden table. Pit toilets are ADA compatible, shower house has 2 showers, 2 stalls and urinal. Push button with good pressure and heat. 

Cellular, T-Mobile 5G 2 bars outside, 3 bars LTE inside camper. 

The Hosts were great, and very helpful. The campground overall is old and could use an upgrade. The toilets, showers, and playground, although the youth area has a newer area for the kids. 

The park could use more water fill stations and there are two spots for dumping but only one septic hole. Trash dumpsters are located away from the camping area which makes for a nice walk in the evening.

Photos of Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

Real photos from real campers