Illini State Park

It is a great quiet campground. Only different thing is you're totally on your own with check in. There were no employees to help. That's definitely not a game breaker but without a campsite map it was challenging to find our site. Now that we know the layout we'll definitely go back.

Nice campground along the river. No privacy between camp sites and they are close together. It's close to town for any supplies you'd need, but a bit on the noisy side. Sirens from town, trains rolling through and people talking with how close the sites are. Overall, I'd stay here again.

Camping was fine - the one bathroom with running water with two stalls for the entire camp ground - unless you want pit toilets. It was fine. Enjoyed being on the Illinois River. Driving in was very confusing - Google directions bring you into a closed road - people in "office" told us we missed signage... but were not helpful otherwise.

It looks like a hurricane went through it. It’s dangerous. Don’t bring dogs or kids. I think the area in general is very stunning but I would say do not go here unless you brought a swamp boat, hunting gear and rock climbing gear. It looks abandoned after a hurricane came through it. Plus I live in the area and I always see cars trucks and other vehicles parked but never any people. And I drive a few times a week. Lastly I was going through the trails where I guess you can bring vehicles in and you can almost fall off the edge. No guard rails or safety. And I swore one time I saw a gator but maybe I was just shocked by the state of the place. It’s stunning area but just needs a lot of work. All in all I think it’s stunning place but I just get a bad vibe and feeling like something very bad happened and the exact feeling I get is, unsafe. If anyone wants to put a volunteer group to clean it up let me know. I just don’t like going there alone. I feel a tree could fall on my car literally or a gator could get me. Not saying there are gators there. It’s just the feeling I get.

Awesome state park: only one thing.. if you plan on doing extended stays, just do it through the portal online. There was a host there (not the older gentleman, but a woman, early 50's maybe) who not only gave me and my girlfriend a hard time, but called the cops on me, because I was "rude" to her when I went to the office to ask why she declined my reservation. However, the host that was an older gentleman reassured me that she (the older woman host) loves drama and holds the title of President for the Illini State Park Karen Committee.