Camping

Camping

Camping at Our Preserves

We proudly operate campgrounds at Illiniwek Forest Preserve in Hampton, IL and Loud Thunder Forest Preserve in Illinois City, IL.


lliniwek and Loud Thunder Forest Preserve's 2023 camping season is now closed for the season.  The tentative opening date is tentative for 2024 is the first weekend in April (April 5). In 2024 Illiniwek will remain a first come, first serve campground.  Loud Thunder Forest Preserve will begin taking reservation March 1, 2024, walk-in's need to stop at the Park Office to check availability.


Check Illiniwek's Facebook & Loud Thunder's Facebook pages for daily updates.


  • Illiniwek reserves camp sites on a first come, first serviced basis. Details below.
  • Loud Thunder accepts online reservations. Details below.


The camping season is generally the first weekend in April through the last weekend in October of each year as weather permits. Water access is weather dependent at both Illiniwek and Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, and will not be available until night time temperatures stay above freezing. Advanced notices of closures will be posted as soon as practicable on Illiniwek's & Loud Thunder's Facebook pages.


WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR STAY!


Important Information

Illiniwek Forest Preserve Camping

Camping at Illiniwek

Illiniwek Camp Office Hours: 

Monday - Saturday: 8:00AM-8:00PM

Sunday: 8:00AM - 5:00PM

Camp host is available after 5PM on Sunday and on weekdays until 4PM.

Camp Office: (309) 496-2620

Maintenance Building: (309) 203-1404


Camping is typically available from the first weekend in April through the last weekend in October as weather permits.

Why is the Illiniwek Forest Preserve location so great for camping? We think it is because the park is set on the Mississippi River and is ideally situated for a combination of recreation, both on land and in the water. This means you can spend the day fishing and eat it for dinner while you camp overnight.


Facilities available at Illiniwek include 25 primitive camping areas of which 17 are located within feet of the Mississippi Riverfront, 60 campsite pads with water and electric hookups to serve RV's and other mobile camping options, two shower houses (one of the shower houses is ADA Accessible), and a dumping station. Other amenities include boat launch ramps (ADA Accessible), hiking & biking trails, a reservable picnic shelter, children's playground, and a wooded bluff scenic overlook of the Mississippi River.

 

There is only one camping unit allowed per site. Campsite reservations are available only for organizations such as scouts or youth church groups. All other campsites are first come, first serve.  Campers must secure a camping permit at the Camp Office before setting up camp on a site.

 

Illiniwek Campsite Maps

Camping Rules and Regulations


Camping Cost

Illiniwek Forest Preserve Primitive Camping Camping on Pads with Water and Electricity Hook Ups
County Resident $16 ($19 for River Site) $22
Non-County Resident $18 ($21 for River Site) $24
Senior Citizens (Over 62) $15 ($18 for River Site) $21
Youth Group (Per person) $2
Loud Thunder Camping
Reserve Button

Camping at Loud Thunder is typically available from the first weekend in April through the last weekend in October as weather permits.

 

Park Office Hours:

             April                     Memorial-Labor Day         Labor Day-October        November-March  

Monday

  8:00 AM - 4:30 PM       8:00 AM - 4:30 PM    8:00 AM - 4:30 PM    8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday   8:00 AM - 4:30 PM       8:00 AM - 4:30 PM    8:00 AM - 4:30 PM    8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday   8:00 AM - 7:00 PM       8:00 AM - 7:00 PM    8:00 AM - 7:00 PM    8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday   8:00 AM - 7:00 PM       8:00 AM - 7:00 PM    8:00 AM - 7:00 PM    8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday   8:00 AM - 7:00 PM       8:00 AM - 8:00 PM    8:00 AM - 7:00 PM    8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 7:00 PM       8:00 AM - 8:00 PM  11:00 AM - 7:00 PM           CLOSED
Sunday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM       8:00 AM - 7:00 PM  11:00 AM - 7:00 PM           CLOSED

Camp the way you like. We understand that some people like to pitch a tent and cook over the open fire, and others just don’t. That’s okay with us because we have campsites for both. The only restriction is that equestrians must utilize the designated sites at within the Horse Corral campground, all others may utilize any campsite of their choosing regardless of their camping unit. Only one camping unit is allowed per site, "children's tents are considered a camping unit". There are five campgrounds located within the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve. District policy does not allow staff to issue refunds of any kind on reservations or the relocation/switching of reserved sites, reservations require a two night minimum. All campers must secure a camping permit and check-in (reservation or no reservation) at the Park Office before they set-up camp.

North Shore
 – located next to the Mississippi River

  • Riverview Campground – 30 primitive campsites (non-electric) along the Mississippi River with boat ramp access to the Mississippi River, hiking trails, bathroom & shower building, water access, and picnic area

West Shore – located on the West side of Lake George

  • Horse Corral Campgrounds – (Equestrians are restricted to camping in the Horse Corral Campgrounds) 13 electrical 20 amp service with water primitive campsites and 16 full hookup sites, two of which are ADA accessible. Also, in this area of the campground there are 2-two unit sites that can accommodate 2 camping units. There is also a dump station, horse trailer parking and wash station, horse arena, pavilion with flush toilets, additional water access, and picnic area. 
  • Indian Meadows – 20 primitive campsites with shower building and water access
  • White Oak Campgrounds– 26 RV campsites with electricity and water hook-ups and shower building, please note only one campsite, campsite W-26, includes water, electricity and sewer hook-ups
  • Deer Haven - 35 full hookup pull through campsites, three are ADA accessible. 

There is no surcharge or processing fee for reservations made online. Click on the "FIND & RESERVE YOUR CAMPSITE" link, if you need assistance, you may call the Park Office, 309-795-1040. Reservations are not mandatory, however if you do not have a reservation then campsites will be available on a first come, first serve basis but you must stop at the Park Office and secure a campsite before setting up camp.  District policy does not allow staff to issue refunds of any kind on reservations or the relocation/switching of reserved sites, weekends require a two night minimum.

Reserve Button
Loud Thunder
Forest Preserve
Riverview
Campground - primitive area
with no water or
electric service
Indian Meadows
Campground - primitive area
with no
water or
electric service
White Oak
Campground -
RV pads with water
and electricity hook-ups
(only campsite W-26
has a sewer hook-up)
Deer Haven
Campground - RV pads with water, 
electricity, sewer
hook-ups
Horse Corral 
Campground -
primitive area with water & 20 amp
electrical service
and RV pads with
water, electricity and sewer hook-ups
County Resident $16.00 $16.00 $22.00 (Campsite W-26 is $25.00) $25.00 $22.00 (water/electric)
$25.00 (water/elecric/sewer)
County Resident,
Two Unit-Tent Only Campsite 
Not Applicable $32.00 Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable
Non-County Resident $18.00 $18.00 $24.00 (Campsite W-26 is $27.00) $27.00 $24.00 (water/electric)
$27.00 (water/electric/sewer)
Non-County 
Resident,
Two Unit-Tent Only Campsites 
Not Applicable $36 Not Applicable Not Applicable
 
Not Applicable
Senior Citizens (Over 62) $15.00 $15.00 $21 (Campsite W-26 is $24.00) $24.00 $21 (water/electric)
$24 (water/electric/sewer)
Senior Citzens (Over 62),
Two Unit-Tent Only Campsies
Not Applicable $30 Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable
Youth Group (Per person) $2 $2 Not Applicable Not Applicable $2
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