We chose to make the ascent from the river over two days, stopping at Indian Garden halfway up so that we could take some side hikes. This campground is very convenient for that purpose, but I don't know if there's any other reason to stay here. The area is absolutely gorgeous and frequented by lots of deer. It's a quick trek out to a stunning view of the colorado river and to get a unique perspective of the canyon. However, the campsites are very close together and you don't really feel like you're in nature. 

If you're using this as a jumping-off point for other hikes, I couldn't recommend it enough, but if you're imagining this as your final destination I would advise you to hike down to Bright Angel Campground or somewhere in the backcountry instead.

If anyone is hoping for a secluded backcountry experience, they will be disappointed with Bright Angel Campground. However, everyone else should be pretty happy with this beautiful place.

We went in December and the leaves were all yellow, making the creek especially pretty. For those used to roughing it, the running water may not be a huge deal but it's pretty nice to have that luxury after a long day of hiking through the canyon. Plus, if you forget any supplies/food you can just run over to Phantom Ranch and purchase them. 

Of course, the hiking experience is the main draw of this place. I don't think anyone is making this trip just for the opportunity to stay here, but Bright Angel Campground certainly doesn't take away from the overall experience. From the South Kaibab Trail, it doesn't take long to get here, we made it down in just over 3 hours. From there you can just take the day to relax and soak in the beauty or go off on a side hike.

Sites are fairly close together, but we didn't find that to be much of a problem. I do wish our fellow campers were more respectful of the red light rule, but noise was not a problem. The numerous deer that just hang out all around you made more noise than the campers, and that was just fine by me.

Although this is listed as "dispersed" camping, the camping on the Manistee River Trail side of this loop is mostly at designated sites. Most sites seemed to be able to accommodate large groups. The sites along the bluffs tended to be farther from a water source, but never too far. No matter where you end up setting up camp, you're in for a beautiful and gentle hike.

We stayed at the walk-in sites at the South Campground. Our site (52) was just beyond a hill so we couldn’t see a single other camper. There were quite a few mosquitos in mid-July but what else can you expect. The site was spacious and had good tree cover. The trails in the park were well maintained, allowing easy access without taking away from the natural beauty. I only wish we had had more time to explore!

Not a bad campground if you’re in the area. Sites are spread out so even though they’re wide open, you don’t feel like you’re camping with your neighbors. The bathrooms (no running water) were extremely clean. The river seemed lovely but we didn’t have a chance to really explore. I probably wouldn’t make this spot a destination but it’s a perfectly enjoyable stop along the way.

Although the park is tiny and you can’t really escape the sound of the road, the walk-in sites are spaced out well and heavily wooded. Perfect for a quick escape from city life.

The area around Big Manitou Falls and the swimming area are too developed and close to the road for my taste and many of the less developed trails are still closed - but the backpack campsites are gorgeous and worth the trip. It’s only a 1.5 mile hike and there is a vault toilet so it’s a nice compromise between convenience and true backcountry camping. The White Birch site is almost right on top of Little Manitou Falls and it’s an easy trek from the campsite to some boulders where you can sit and watch the water. There is access to the opposite side of the falls from a parking lot so it’s not completely secluded but we only heard one or two visitors during our entire stay.

Cute little campground with lots of tree cover, not too noisy despite the close proximity of neighbors. Great access to the caves.

This is your run of the mill campground. Lots of RVs, close sites, not much privacy. That being said there is nothing wrong with it, it’s just not a campground I’d go out of my way to stay at again.

The sites were well spaced and well sized. The sites on the river were really pretty but full of mosquitos. The sites on the other side are also nice and have a much smaller bug presence. There’s a little trail along the river you can walk on which is nice. This seems like an ideal spot if you’re looking to have a peaceful trip down the river. It was also nice for us just looking to relax in a quiet lovely area.

The campsites were relatively small but had nice separation and vegetation between them so you didn’t feel on top of each other. It was a quiet campground and felt peaceful at night. The trails around the campground are very pretty although not extensive. It’s a great place to stay while enjoying the region.

We happened to have a very private site completely surrounded by trees but a lot of the sites are small not well covered and very close to neighbors. However, regardless of where you are the campground can get really loud and busy and no one seems to care. There was a pack of kids screaming by our site on electric scooters all night, with people shouting and playing music. Even though the site and park were really nice. This seems more like a place to come with family and friends and have a big party.

We had a pretty cool site up on a hill which was awesome. But the noise from the congested RV campgrounds below made it feel less peaceful. I can deal with mosquitos, but the mosquitos here were unbelievable. It seems like a fun way to get out on a lake, but in terms of hiking or rest and relaxation it wasn’t really our thing.

This place is very quiet with good separation between sites and lots of trees. The sites on the water are stunning but the sites on the other side are more standard (but still nice). This was a great way to car camp near pictured rocks without dealing with the closer campsites that are booked well in advance.

There are campsites here with direct access to the beach. The campsites are relatively close together but there a lot of tall trees and it was nice and quiet. We stumbled upon this campground completely by accident just in time for sunset and it was absolutely spectacular.

The dunes here are lovely and feel a little less busy than Indiana Dunes. You can also access it all by hiking directly from the campgrounds. The campsites are a mixed bag. Some are right on top of each other and some have nice vegetation between them. Regardless, it isn’t ideal for a a quiet getaway but if you get the right site it’s not bad.

I’d give it 3.5 stars if that were an option. The old folks who run the place are great. We ended up camping here when we tried to take a last minute trip to the dunes but found everything was booked. They have a decent spot for stargazing down by the pond. The sites are nice and far apart but there isn’t much vegetation between them. Each site had a standard picnic table and fire pit, the bathrooms were clean and serviceable.It felt more suited to RVs than tents but wasn’t an RV parking lot like some places are.

I enjoy Illinois beach state park for a quick getaway. It’s a great spot to cook out and have a beer. However it is generally loud, with no vegetation between you and your neighbor. It’s not an ideal spot to connect with nature. The beach is pretty but it’s more interesting to look at the derelict old buildings and nearby out of use nuclear power plant.