Camping

Camping in Illinois

Discover 102 state parks offering camping in Illinois

🏕️ Camping in Illinois State Parks at a Glance

Book ahead 6 months
Nightly fee $8–$35
Max stay 14 nights within a 30-day period
Booking system ExploreMoreIL
  • Reservation fee: $5 non-refundable reservation fee per campsite (non-refundable unless campground closed by IDNR); shelters carry a separate $50 non-refundable fee
  • RV hookups: Electric hookups available at many sites; full hookup (water/sewer) very limited
  • Good to know: Most campsites reservable only May 1-Oct 31, though some parks accept year-round reservations; phone and mail reservations no longer accepted.
Reserve Illinois State Park Campsites →

Official agency: Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)

Booking windows, fees and rules shown as of June 2026 and change periodically — always confirm current details on the official reservation portal above before booking.

102 State Parks
View All Camping Parks →
View All Illinois Parks →

Illinois State Parks with Camping

appleriver hero 1

Apple River Canyon State Park

+4 Picnicking Snowshoeing Hunting Kayaking
Argyle Lake State Park Illinois

Argyle Lake State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
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Banner Marsh (Illinois)

+4 Bird Watching Hunting Kayaking Paddling
Beall Woods State Park Illinois

Beall Woods State Park

+4 Bird Watching Hunting Canoeing Biking
Bishop Hill State Historic Site (Illinois)

Bishop Hill State Historic Site
Buffalo Rock State Park (Illinois)

Buffalo Rock State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Hero image for Apple River Canyon State Park

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area
Cache River SNA (Illinois)

Cache River SNA

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Illinois)

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Carlyle Lake boat marina

Cape Bend (Illinois)
Carl Sandburg State Historic Site (Illinois)

Carl Sandburg State Historic Site
Carlyle Lake (Illinois) (Illinois)

Carlyle Lake (Illinois)

+8 Wildlife Watching Bird Watching Ice Fishing Hunting Sailing Water Skiing RV Biking
Carlyle Lake boat marina

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

+3 Hunting Sailing Canoeing
viewing platform at the top of Castle Rock State Park

Castle Rock State Park (Illinois)

+5 Bird Watching Scenic Overlooks Kayaking Canoeing RV
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Cave-in-Rock State Park

+2 Photography Kayaking

Chain O” Lakes (Illinois)

+6 Horseback Riding Stargazing Ice Fishing Sailing Water Skiing Archery
Chain O Lakes State Park Illinois - sunrise fishing on connected lakes

Chain O’Lakes State Park

+15 Picnicking Horseback Riding Snowshoeing Snowmobiling Ice Fishing Sledding Ice Skating Hunting Disc Golf Archery Golfing Kayaking Paddling Winter Sports Biking
Channahon State Park (Illinois)

Channahon State Park

+4 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Canoeing Biking
sun lighting the shore at a state park near champaign illinois

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Kankakee River canyon view

Delabar State Park

+1 Bird Watching
Dixon Springs State Park (Illinois)

Dixon Springs State Park

+3 Bird Watching Biking Nature

Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area

+1 Hunting
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Eagle Creek State Park

+5 Mountain Biking Horseback Riding Bird Watching Hunting Biking
Chain O Lakes State Park Illinois - sunrise fishing on connected lakes

Edward R. Madigan State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
the pond at Lewis and Clark State Park

Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area

+7 Picnicking Horseback Riding Bird Watching Sailing Water Skiing Canoeing Biking
Ferne Clyffe State Park (Illinois)

Ferne Clyffe State Park

+2 Scenic Overlooks Waterfall Viewing
Fort Defiance State Park (Illinois)

Fort Defiance State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Fort Massac State Park

Fort Massac State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Fox Ridge State Park (Illinois)

Fox Ridge State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
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Frank Holten State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Franklin Creek State Natural Area (Illinois)

Franklin Creek State Natural Area

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
Garden of the Gods Recreation Area (Illinois)

Garden of the Gods Recreation Area
waterfall at Matthiessen State Park

Gebhard Woods State Park

+4 Picnicking Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
Giant City State Park

Giant City State Park
Hennepin Canal State Park (Illinois)

Hennepin Canal State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking

Hidden Springs (Illinois)

Hidden Springs State Forest
Horseshoe Lake State Park (Illinois)

Horseshoe Lake State Park

+3 Bird Watching Hunting Biking
Illini State Park (Illinois)

Illini State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park

Illinois Beach State Park

+5 Bird Watching Kayaking Paddling RV Biking

Illinois Caverns (Illinois)

+1 Picnicking
Kankakee River canyon view

James Pate Philip State Park

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
Anderson Lake State Park

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area (Illinois)

Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area

+7 Horseback Riding Snowshoeing Snowmobiling Ice Fishing Hunting Kayaking Winter Sports
Jubilee College State Park (Illinois)

Jubilee College State Park

+9 Picnicking Mountain Biking Horseback Riding Bird Watching Hunting Kayaking Sightseeing Cave Tours Biking
Kankakee River canyon view

Kankakee River State Park

+8 Photography Horseback Riding Snowmobiling Hunting Kayaking Canoeing Winter Sports Biking
Kankakee State Park (Illinois)

Kankakee State Park

+6 Picnicking Horseback Riding Hunting Kayaking Waterfall Viewing Biking

Kaskaskia River State Fish & Wildlife Area
boat landing at a state recreation area near champaign illinois

Kickapoo State Recreation Area

+8 Mountain Biking Horseback Riding Bird Watching Scuba Diving Kayaking Paddling Canoeing Biking
Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Illinois)

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

+2 Picnicking Hunting
the pond at Lewis and Clark State Park

Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park

+8 Picnicking Horseback Riding Cross Country Skiing Snowshoeing Ice Fishing Sledding Waterfall Viewing RV
Lake Murphysboro State Park (Illinois)

Lake Murphysboro State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Carlyle Lake boat marina

Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
Lincoln Trail Lake autumn colors with fishing boat Illinois

Lincoln Trail State Park

+6 Wildlife Watching Picnicking Ice Fishing Scenic Overlooks Hunting RV
Lowden State Park (Illinois)

Lowden State Park

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking

Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area
Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area (Illinois)

Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area

+2 Hunting Biking
waterfall at Matthiessen State Park

Matthiessen State Park

+5 Picnicking Horseback Riding Cross Country Skiing Waterfall Viewing RV
Beall Woods State Park Illinois

Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking

Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area

+4 Scuba Diving Hunting Kayaking Canoeing
Mississippi Palisades State Park (Illinois)

Mississippi Palisades State Park

+5 Bird Watching Sledding Waterfall Viewing RV Biking
Moraine Hills State Park (Illinois)

Moraine Hills State Park

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
Moraine View State Recreation Area (Illinois)

Moraine View State Recreation Area

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Nauvoo State Park (Illinois)

Nauvoo State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
New Salem State Historic Site (Illinois)

New Salem State Historic Site

+3 Bird Watching Canoeing Biking
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park

Palestine Lake State Recreation Area

+3 Bird Watching Canoeing Biking
Pere Marquette State Park (Illinois)

Pere Marquette State Park
Postville Courthouse State Historic Site (Illinois)

Postville Courthouse State Historic Site
Argyle Lake State Park Illinois

Pyramid State Park

+8 Picnicking Horseback Riding Bird Watching Hunting Kayaking Canoeing RV Biking
Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area (Illinois)

Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area

+3 Bird Watching Canoeing Biking
Randolph County State Recreation Area (Illinois)

Randolph County State Recreation Area

+1 Sailing
Red Hills State Park (Illinois)

Red Hills State Park

+5 Horseback Riding Ice Fishing Hunting Kayaking Canoeing
Soccer Fields and PA 642 Bridge in Milton State Park

Rend Lake State Park

+4 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Golfing Biking
Walkway leading to the lake at a state park near rochester mn

Rice Lake State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
large boulder at Rock Cut State Park during autumn

Rock Cut State Park

+1 Winter Sports
Rockwood State Park (Illinois)

Rockwood State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area (Illinois)

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area

+1 Hunting

Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

+4 Horseback Riding Hunting Kayaking Canoeing
Beall Woods State Park Illinois

Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Sand Ridge State Forest (Illinois)

Sand Ridge State Forest

+3 Bird Watching Hunting Biking

Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area

+6 Photography Picnicking Bird Watching Hunting Kayaking Canoeing
Sangchris Lake State Park (Illinois)

Sangchris Lake State Park

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
Shabbona Lake State Park (Illinois)

Shabbona Lake State Park

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area

+5 Wildlife Watching Picnicking Bird Watching Hunting Biking

Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area

+6 Photography Picnicking Bird Watching Hunting Kayaking Canoeing
mspalisades hero 1

Siloam Springs State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Chain O Lakes State Park Illinois - sunrise fishing on connected lakes

Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area

+2 Bird Watching Biking

Ten Mile Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area

+1 Hunting
Tunnel Hill State Trail (Illinois)

Tunnel Hill State Trail

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site (Illinois)

Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site
Volo Bog State Natural Area (Illinois)

Volo Bog State Natural Area

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
Walnut Point State Park (Illinois)

Walnut Point State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
mspalisades hero 1

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Carlyle Lake boat marina

Weinberg King State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Argyle Lake State Park Illinois

Weinberg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area

+2 Bird Watching Biking
Weldon Springs State Recreation Area (Illinois)

Weldon Springs State Recreation Area

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
trail through the forest in a state park near galena illinois

White Pines Forest State Park

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
Wildlife Prairie Park (Illinois)

Wildlife Prairie Park

+5 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Hunting Biking Nature
William G. Stratton State Park (Illinois)

William G. Stratton State Park

+2 Bird Watching Biking
William W. Powers State Recreation Area (Illinois)

William W. Powers State Recreation Area

+3 Horseback Riding Bird Watching Biking
Argyle Lake State Park Illinois

Wolf Creek State Park

+4 Bird Watching Hunting Rafting Biking

World Shooting and Recreational Complex

More Camping Destinations

More Activities in Illinois

❓ Camping in Illinois — FAQ

How far ahead can I book Illinois state park campsites?

You can reserve Illinois state park campsites 6 months in advance via ExploreMoreIL. Booking windows change periodically, so confirm on the official reservation portal before planning. (As of June 2026.)

How much does camping cost in Illinois state parks?

Nightly campsite fees in Illinois state parks typically run $8–$35, depending on site type (tent vs. RV/full-hookup), season and residency. Exact rates are shown at booking.

How long can I stay at a Illinois state park campground?

The maximum stay is 14 nights within a 30-day period. Confirm current limits with the official agency before your trip.

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