Sitting along the bluffs and bottomlands outside Kampsville, McCully Heritage Project runs as a privately managed property with a range of access options, from drive-in sites to hike-in primitive camping along marked trails. The terrain puts campers near both river and lake water, and the largest site includes a launch point for paddleboards and kayaks. Cats and neighbor dogs roam the grounds, a quirk worth knowing before arrival.
Sites here can accommodate larger groups. One reviewer noted fitting a dozen people over the Fourth of July weekend, which gives a sense of the spatial scale available at the top end of the site options. Free firewood is provided, and the donation-based fee structure keeps costs low, with rates ranging from $20 to $100 per night depending on the site. Hiking trails wind through the property with lookout points along the way, though newer trail sections could use additional marking.
Amenities include drinking water, flush toilets, showers, and WiFi, which puts this above many comparable private campgrounds in the region. Kampsville River Park sits nearby for campers who want to compare options or need overflow space. Tick awareness is warranted, particularly in warmer months. Reservations are available, and pets are welcome. Those planning a stay should come prepared to navigate rough access on the way in.
Description
Pitch your tent in one of four widely spaced sites. Each site has enough room for multiple tents and includes a fire pit and picnic table. The sites are just a short walk from our shower/restroom facility. The fishing ponds are just a quarter mile walk from the campsites, and access to the numerous trails throughout our 940-acre property is directly from the campsites. While we have four designated sites, it is rare for all to be full, and likely that you'll be the only campers here most days. We are located in a very remote/rural part of Illinois in a county nestled between the Mississippi& Illinois Rivers, but only 75 miles north of downtown St. Louis. We have been included in John Shirle's"The Best in Tent Camping: Illinois."
The McCully Heritage Project is a 940- acre environmental center located one mile south of Kampsville in beautiful and remote Calhoun County. We are a private non-profit left as the legacy of Howard and Eva McCully.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsMcCully Heritage Project is located in Illinois near Kampsville
Coordinates
39.28347673 N
90.62239755 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage
VerizonLTESome Coverage- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Group
- Cabins
- Equestrian
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- WiFi
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
Drive Time
- 1 hr 17 min from St. Louis, MO
- 1 hr 18 min from Springfield, IL
- 2 hrs 10 min from Columbia, MO
- 2 hrs 19 min from Jefferson City, MO
