Starved Rock State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Illinois may be best known for the big city of Chicago, but located less than 100 miles from the city is Starved Rock State Park, voted the #1 attraction in the state! With active waterfalls, 13 miles of trails, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing and 18 canyons, there is so much natural beauty to take in and things to do. If you’re considering a trip with family and friends to Starved Rock State Park or just interested to learn what makes this park so unique, keep reading.
Spring 42-77 F
Summer 63-85 F
Fall 40-77 F
Winter 13-35 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Starved Rock State Park
Make sure your Starved Rock State Park camping trip is a success by opting for a comfortable glamping experience. Skipping the tent and going with an RV offers a private bathroom, stocked kitchen for family meals and quick snacks and the best feature – a cozy bed! If you’re going to choose an RV for your trip, consider renting one fromRVshare.com. It’s easy to find the perfect RV for your needs, that fits perfectly into your budget. Plus, all rentals come with nationwide insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance and a support team to help through the whole process.
Once you’ve found your perfect RV, you need the perfect campsite. The Starved Rock State Park campground is located on the shore of the Illinois River, making it a great location for many of the popular recreational activities. The campground has 133 Class-A premium sites with full hookups. These popular campsites fill up quickly, especially on the weekends, but there are plenty of other campgrounds in the area. Here are some worth checking out:
Pleasant Creek Campground
Located just 10 minutes from the park, Pleasant Creek Campground is a newer campground, nestled along a tributary of the Vermillion River in a wooded setting. This family-friendly, quiet campground offers plenty to do while at the campsite, but a great location for enjoying the park and local attractions as well! Rates begin at $28 a night.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: no
Wifi: no
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: stocked fishing pond, general store, on-site trailers for rent, new bathhouse and showers, basketball, tetherball, volleyball, playground, game room with ping pong and arcade games, dump station and more.
LaSalle/Peru KOA Journey
Located minutes from the State Park, with easy access from major highways, this KOA offers many amenities inside the campground, but also nearby some of the local activities and things to do! It’s a quiet, family-friendly campground.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: pool, pavilion, dog park, propane, fishing, cable TV, firewood, planned activities, mini lodges and more.
What to Do at
Starved Rock State Park
Inside Starved Rock State Park
There is so much to see and do inside Starved Rock State Park – from viewing unique canyons and waterfalls to enjoying nature on the water and historic tours, everyone is sure to have a great time. Here are some of the things worth checking out:
Canyons and Waterfalls – Illinois may be known as a flat state, but visitors to Starved Rock State Park can see a different side of the geography! There are 18 canyons, and you can see waterfalls in 14 of them. Some of the most scenic waterfalls are found in the St. Louis, French, Wildcat, Tonty, Ottawa and Kaskaskia canyons, and the best time to enjoy them is in the spring or after a heavy rainfall. Don’t be afraid to visit in the winter – the freezing creates amazing icefall sculptures in the canyons.
Hiking – Exploring the canyons is the park’s most popular activity, and there’s no better way to do that than by hiking there! There are 13 miles of well-marked trails, all with a variety of different natural sites to see and even some wildlife viewing. Between June 9th-November 17th, free guided hikes are available every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30am.
River Activities – If you enjoy your nature time out on the water, there are plenty of options! Canoeing and kayaking is available on the Illinois River, Fox River or Vermillion river. The Illinois River offers fishing, including ice fishing in the winter and boating. And for those looking for more adventure, Vermillion River Rafting offers whitewater rafting and kayaking adventures on the Big Vermillion River.
Sporting Activities – There are lots of sporting and recreational activities available within the park, including horseback riding, hunting and fishing, cross country skiing, ice climbing and more.
Historical and Cultural Activities – History buffs will appreciate all the historical and cultural activities available inside Starved Rock State Park. These include the Hegeler-Carus Mansion, a Victorian-era mansion on the National Register of Historic Places, the Reddick Mansion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and the LaSalle County Historical Museum.
How to Get to
Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park is located on E. 873rd Road, in Oglesby, Illinois. For more information and directions, click here.
Entering Starved Rock State Park
No need to worry about an entrance fee – Starved Rock State Park does not charge an entrance fee for admission!
There is something for everyone to do and experience at Starved Rock State Park! We can’t wait to hear about your next camping trip. When you post your fun vacation photos on social media, don’t forget to tag us, or shoot us a photo and some details at [email protected]. We may just feature your story on our blog or social media channels. Happy camping!
Frequently Asked Questions About Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park has mild summers with temperatures in the low- to mid-80s. Winters can be chilly, with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing. Spring and fall are usually temperate.
Many people prefer to visit Starved Rock State Park from April to September when the weather is warm and dry. However, the winter months are less crowded and offer amazing wildlife-viewing opportunities.
Foxes, raccoons, coyotes, opossums, squirrels, and many bird species can be spotted in Starved Rock State Park. Visitors can also see eagles in the park in January and February.
Leashed pets are welcome on any of the hiking trails in Starved Rock State Park. Pets should not be left alone in cabins or RVs for more than two hours at a time within the park.
The park offers accessible parking, restrooms, trails, and picnic areas. There are also seven accessible campsites at Starved Rock State Park.