Camping in Illinois
Illinois has 34 public campgrounds on record, 24 reservable and 9 first-come. Most (25 of 34) are run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Each row below says who runs it, how to get a site, and what it costs.
- 34
- Total
- 24
- Reservable
- 9
- First-come
- Sites
- 16
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- 37
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Boulder Campground - Sites
- 82
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $10 per night
Coles Creek Campground - Sites
- 145
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Coon Creek - Sites
- 180
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Dale Miller Youth - Sites
- 1
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Dam East - McNair Campground - Sites
- 47
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Dam West Campground - Sites
- 108
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Dam West Spillway - Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- For campsite or shelter availability, contact Lake Glendale Concessionaire, Gary and Andrea Dahmer at 618-658-0607. F...
Fishermans Corner - Sites
- 56
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Forrest W. Bo Wood - Sites
- 135
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Gun Creek - Sites
- 100
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $10 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Lithia Springs - Sites
- 104
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Lone Point - Sites
- 61
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Lotus Group Area - Sites
- 1
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
North Sandusky Campground - Sites
- 97
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $15 per night
Opossum Creek - Sites
- 64
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $10 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $10 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $10 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $10 per night
Shagbark Group Area - Sites
- 1
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
South Marcum Campground - Sites
- 160
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
South Sandusky Campground - Sites
- 127
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Spillway Group Area - Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Thomson Causeway - Sites
- 126
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Free
Wilborn Creek Group - Sites
- 1
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
No campgrounds match these filters.
How booking works in Illinois
There is no single system: each campground books through its managing agency. 24 campgrounds book through Recreation.gov. 9 campgrounds take no reservations at all, first-come, first-served.
For a park's own hours, entrance fee, and boundary, see Illinois state parks on publiclandsdb.com.
Narrower lists
By agency
9 first-come campgrounds need no reservation; 0 stay open year-round ; and 0 sit on a named lake . By agency: 25 Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds , and 9 National Forest campgrounds .
Common questions
How do I reserve a campground in Illinois?
It depends on who runs it. Of the 34 public campgrounds on record here, 24 book through Recreation.gov and 9 are first-come, first-served with no reservations.
Where can I camp for free in Illinois?
1 public campground in Illinois charges no fee: Tower Rock Campground. Free camping away from campgrounds (dispersed camping) is a land-management rule, not a campground; see the managing agency.
Is boondocking legal in Illinois?
On BLM land, dispersed camping (boondocking) is generally allowed under the agency's rules. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).
What are the best campgrounds in Illinois?
This site doesn't rate campgrounds. The most fully documented here are Dam East - McNair Campground (15 sourced facts), South Marcum Campground (15 sourced facts), and Dale Miller Youth (14 sourced facts); the table lets you sort every campground by agency, booking, season, and fee.