Summer is almost (officially) here; all the while Chicago is currently experiencing some early summer heat. Now is the time to for some outdoor adventures. Luckily, Illinois offers some of the best great camping grounds, walking trails, forest preserves, and more. According to an article on NBCNews.com, there was a recent ranking of the best places to camp in the Midwest and the polling gave high praise to a state park in Illinois. The ranking came from “The Dyrt” app, an app that specializes in camp availability and reviews, named Sangchris Lake State Park to their top 10 list, coming in at No. 6.
The great state of Illinois has blessed us with fortune by means of gorgeous green environments, just because these other campgrounds and woods in The Prairie State didn’t crack the top 10 doesn’t mean that Sangchris Lake State Park is all there is to offer. We take a look at some of the best camping places in Illinois and choose some must-visits along the unique trails…we also can’t forget some great lake scenery to go with our roasted marshmallows.
Starved Rock State Park
This omission was truly a shocking one of not making it onto the list. According to the website, in 1966, Starved Rock State Park was named a National Historic Landmark. Starved Rock is a very beautiful park with such breathtaking landscapes, it’s mainly known for its waterfalls. Starved Rock State Park is located at 2678 East 873 Road, Oglesby, IL. This historic state park even offers lodge and cabin accommodations, a campground for tent and RV setups if you prefer a more outdoors kind of setting. Plan a hike along the walking trail and soak in the natural beauty of nature or enjoy some events by the visitor’s center.
For more information, please visit starvedrocklodge.com.
Camp Lakewood Campground
This campground is located about an hour south of Decatur, in the city of Effingham – Camp Lakewood Campground. While this campground goes for a more traditional fashion of camping, it still offers some modern amenities like deluxe cabins for rent and a laundry room to name a few. Camp Lakewood has an abundance of activities to do like hiking, fishing, a nearby winery to wet your whistle, and many more. Plus, the city of Effingham has plenty of of other amenities if the outdoors isn’t your cup of tea. There’s a traditional feel to the city and walking around exploring the neighborhood can definitely be its own nature walk.
For more information, please visit camplakewoodcampground.com.
There are many more forests, lakes and rivers, and a lot more nature out here in Illinois. These campsites and parks capture what’s best about the Midwest, when we need a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life – we take life, one day at a time. So, kick back and light the fires, gather the friends and family, grill those fat steaks and enjoy the summertime in the Great Prairie State.
