Comlara County Park

Campground is not well maintained. Only has electricity and shared water spaced out randomly. Dump station is just ok. Roads have lots of potholes and shower house is not updated. Most loops just have chemical toilets.
We wanted to use our kayak but we would have had to pay $10 per day or $48 annual. Too expensive on top of camping fees. Beach was closed.
Sites are spaced well apart and some have lake views. Emerald lake is very pretty.

Quiet, lots of trees, sites around the edges were at least spaced relatively far apart. We did not use the public restroom as others did in previous reviews so can’t speak to the condition of those. Campground was pretty full on a rainy Friday night in early July but we were able to get a walk-in reservation around 5 pm. Our site was not level even up on 4 tiles (our max), but I liked being on the edge near the woods, so it was okay for just one night. Electric hookup only. Dump station onsite. We’d stay here again as a pass-through for sure.

Called before our stay to verify that the shower house was open and heated. Was told they were. Much to our surprise, NO HEAT 53 in there actually. You get 3 seconds of water before you have to push the button again. Took 15 mins for the water to actually get warm with constantly pushing the button. This is the ONLY campground that we have been to that they have a timer on the water. It’s ridiculous!! You cannot wash your hair in 3 seconds!! And not having the heat on and it being so cold can cause health problems!! Don’t lie to people just to get business. That’s the quickest way to lose business!!

We made a last-minute reservation here as we were just passing through. We got a 50-amp pull-through that was level enough to not have to unhitch. This park is just a mile from the Interstate and very convenient for our needs. There are pit toilets on each loop and a bath house in the middle of the park. We didn’t use them so can’t remark on cleanliness. The lake is beautiful. We would stop here again.

The spaces are wide open and well maintained. There are a number of hiking/bike trails and even some MTB trails available. The county highways around the park are well maintained and nice to bike on with very low traffic and nice views of the lake. Lot of nice and new fishing docks in different spots around the lake as well!! The only 2 things I would list is that there is not a lot of full shade spots but there is enough trees where you are not in the sun all day. The showers supposedly have hot water and the sign says let run for 2 minutes for hot water. They are button controls and I pressed the button for 5 mins to get some luke warm water.

Other then that it was an overall good experience.

Very clean with level parking and very well taken care of grounds. Very crowded May weekend. Lots of families. No booze or marijuana allowed. Our spot was level enough and had an extra long spot to park. Only reason I wouldn't stay here again is because I enjoy camgrounds that leave the nature and foliage untouched. But if you like a more manicured environment this was very nice. Has a place to fetch water and dump your tanks and has clearly marked storm shelters and a swimming beach and canoe/ kayak rentals. The sites are big and very spread out. They could put more here if they really wanted to make bank but I'm grateful the privacy and comfort of the campers is a priority. Dealing with staff and registration was a pretty hands off experience. Probably for covid precautions

the first time my wife and i stayed here it October of 19 and we have been back 2 more times during the week and on the weekend all 3 trips the camp ground full with lots of what seam be big groups that get 4 to 6 sites all in next to each other and have loud party... there is water many place and people run 100s of ft of hose to hook up to there camper so others can't uses the water... the campground area is amazing but other campers are just down right rude... its been this way on all 3 trips here... i won't be back bc if this.

The park just happened to be reopening (COVID-19) as I was passing through central Illinois, near the geographic center. The day had a rainy start but cleared up beautifully. Since the park had just opened, the grass was trimmed and in great shape. Lots of people were showing up for the weekend but the majority of sites are nicely spread out, particularly as you go further back in the campground, so you don't feel crowded at all. This park reminds me of my other favorite county park near Cedar Rapids, Squaw Creek.

The pull-through sites are quite long but have a generous upward slope. I had to use several layers of leveling blocks to get close to level. There are water spigots spread around the campground, not enough that everyone can have a connection even with a long hose. But a number of people did connect so I suppose you might need to ask them to let you get water if you had a nearby site. Electrical boxes were in good shape aside from the anticipated wasp nests from the long period of not being used.

The lake is extensive so a lot of boats were out as well as folks fishing from the banks. The trails are also extensive but not well marked, or marked at all for that matter. It took a while for me to find the start of the John English Memorial Trail (go past the turn into the campground, to the next paved drive on the right into the service area - the trail opening is on the left of that drive) but I didn't have a chance to explore much further. There is a trail map available at the office. The other trails are spaced around the far side of the lake, particularly mountain biking, so you might need to drive there to get to the trailheads.

My T-Mobile connection was not great at all though a booster helped. AT&T was hot averaging 36 mbps down and 6 mbps up. I wish I could have explored more since the park and the weather were so nice. Oh, the dump station is way back in the back of the large parking area by the beach and boat launch. There is only one sign (okay 2, but right next to each other) at the exit of the campground saying go right but after that, you've got to figure it out on your own. Easy access right off Interstate 39 as well. This is pretty much a winner.

We spent one night as we were heading north. Spot was level with some shade, fairly room. We could see our neighbors but adequate space between rigs. Campground was quite however it was a Wednesday. I’m sure it’s a busy place on a weekend. No one at the kiosk to check you in. Did not use the showers. Used one of the vault toilets while out walking. It was the cleanest vault toilet I think I’ve ever used! Hook ups included electric. Dump station was towards the back of the park towards the beach. I would stay here again.