We live in Illinois and thinking of a week or 2 this Fall in Illinois or nearby state parks and/or USACE instead of the usual trip out West. Would like to hear your favorites. Our priorities are: level sites for our 30 foot MH plus Focus. Water and elec. preferred but can do elec. only. Wooded, natural (not a manicured city park)environment, big enough for some moderate hiking.

We liked Rend Lake COE Peaceful and spacious and there was a good bike path through the park. The site was a little uneven front to back, but a little creativity with leveling blocks and 2X4s did the trick. I think we stayed for 5 days in April 2016.

We find our favorite State Parks and COEs by doing day drives on weekends to check out the local campgrounds. When the sites are full it lets us see how much leveling the occupants needed to do. Anything we can drive to within a day we would go and check it out first. That's where the Allstays.com campground website came in very handy because they have a map of all cgs in any given area that we could go do a drive by and check out first. We've found our favorite campgrounds that way.

Not sure these meet your “not manicured” criterion. That’s kind of subjective. That said Prophetstown State Park near West Lafayette, IN and Echo Bluff State Park near Eminence, MO. Both have FHU sites and interesting hiking trails. The free roaming (not very) wild horses at Echo Bluff are kind of neat too.

It's not really nearby to Illinois, at least not for most normal people, but Letchworth State Park in western NY state is probably the nicest state park I've had the pleasure of camping in so far. The campground itself is good but not great, but the scenery throughout the park and general ambiance of the place is spectacular. Plenty of hiking to keep (most) busy for a week or two.

"Wooded" and "Level"??? Depends upon what you consider "Level"?? Bring something to put under your tires to level out wherever you go. State Parks in Indiana are all great. Lots of variety. Pick your spot and enjoy! But getting any of them "Level", is near impossible, as every site will require some adjustments. We have not been to a bad campsite anywhere in any of the Indiana State Parks. check the DNR web site carefully for reservations and descriptions of the sites. There's variety for everyone, full sun to full shade, level to hilly. Been to a couple in Illinois over the years and found them to be equally as nice.Unless you are looking to park on a concrete slab in a 5 star RV resort in Hollywood California or somewhere like that, make sure you bring your leveling blocks anywhere you go. FYI, some 15 years ago when the price of gasoline skyrocketed and the USA was reeling from a horrid housing market and an economy that just fell apart, we also had some personal things that happened that swallowed up disposable money. We decided, since people travel all over the world to visit Indiana State Parks, maybe we should start looking at them through the eyes of a stranger to this state. We decided to travel much closer to home, easier on fuel and expenses that way. We decided to camp at ONLY the Indiana State Parks and State Recreation areas and look at our state through new eyes. And we did! Over the next 15 years, we ended up staying at every state DNR park that had a campground, and we discovered how great Indiana really is!It's great to discover, or re-discover the precious jewels hidden in your own back yard! You don't have to travel far to see and experience some spectacular places!

Favorite State Park Campgrounds | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

vermilye
Explorer
Jul 07, 2018
DrewE wrote:
It's not really nearby to Illinois, at least not for most normal people, but Letchworth State Park in western NY state is probably the nicest state park I've had the pleasure of camping in so far. The campground itself is good but not great, but the scenery throughout the park and general ambiance of the place is spectacular. Plenty of hiking to keep (most) busy for a week or two.
I agree that letchworth is beautiful. Most sites are electric only, but bathrooms with hot showers.

If you decide to go as far as Letchworth, you might want to spend a couple of days at my favorite state park among the hundreds that I've visited. Ricketts Glen in PA isn't too far from Letchworth (about 3 hours), has two campgrounds (dry, but bathrooms & hot showers). The feature that makes it my favorite park is the stream that runs from the lake. 22 waterfalls along 5 miles or so of trail. All along the trail hundreds of cascades. While Fall is the most beautiful time to visit, the stream runs year round. Some photos.
welove2drive
Explorer
Jul 07, 2018
Ferne Clyffe SP, in IL, most sites appear level, electric, hiking, not far from Giant City SP better hiking.
welove2drive
Explorer
Jul 07, 2018
Turkey Run SP in IN has great hiking trails, river, lodge, covered bridges, golf nearby. Flat, wooded, electric.

Lake of the Ozarks SP in MO, wooded, electric, black top pads, hiking. Missouri has great State Parks!

Johnson's Shut-in's SP in MO is very nice, paved probably level, water and electric. Shut-ins, hiking. Near (20 mintes?) To Elephant Rock SP hiking only , walk paved trail in circle and explore area in the middle. Gigantic rocks, beautiful views. Not much in area so bring food.

Eldon Hazlet SP at Carlyle Lake IL is wooded, electric, gravel pad usually need to level. The Corp. Parks are groomed "park like" and have some have paved pads and FHU.

Shelbyville Lake IL, Corp parks are wooded, electric, some FHU. We were not impressed with the 2 state parks.

Pere Marquette SP in IL, electric, the half of campground furthest from shower is flat, beautiful rustic lodge, hiking, nice drive to overlooks and river road, Grafton cool little river town, wineries, shops, music.
drsteve
Explorer
Jul 07, 2018
Lake Michigan is nice. The Michigan shoreline has some amazing beaches and dunes.
kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Jul 06, 2018
Since the levels of amenities can be so vast, how about the area between Branson MO. and the Ozarks in Arkansas? After kids are back in school, parks should be wide open, and since Branson has become such a tourist area, any level of accomidations should be readily available, and with Mark Twain National forest just to the east, and the Ozark National forest just south, you can still get away from everything for a hike.
TexasShadow
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2018
In MO, Mark Twain State Park, birthplace of Mark Twain, nice campgrounds, well wooded, with water, elec and good bathrooms and showers. This is about 30 miles west of Hannibal, MO.
dedmiston
Moderator
Jul 06, 2018
DutchmenSport wrote:
Unless you are looking to park on a concrete slab in a 5 star RV resort in Hollywood California ...

:B

Please don't come to Hollywood and expect to find luxury RV accommodations. Hollywood is an urban eyesore and nobody camps here except the homeless.

Hollywood has many attractions, but camping isn't one of them.
garmp
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2018
Going through Missouri? I'd suggest Hawn State Park outside of Ste. Genevieve, MO about 22 miles or so. Park can get quite busy and fill up fast during the spring and the fall so check for reservations. Electric only sites, but great hiking trails along Pickle Creek and a beautiful quiet park. About 17 miles west of Hwy 32 is Pickle Springs Natural Area. Day use only with a 2 mile hike that is just fabulous.
You'll enjoy this one.
Hope this helps.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2018
Carlyle Lake COE park. Largest lake in IL. 3 or 4 different campgrounds to choose from. We like Dam West
Bob806
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2018
We're headed to Giant City SP in southern Illinois in October, on our way to Texas. That place looks pretty cool, some good hiking and scenery around.

I don't know how far you're willing to travel, but SE Missouri has some great state parks too (JohnsonShut-Ins, Arcadia Valley area). Don't snooze on Kentucky or Arkansas either, some of the nicest SPs in the nation.