Starved Rock State Park
Illinois State Park
Write a Review 2570 E. 950th Rd. Oglesby, IL 61348 815-667-4726 Official WebsiteGPS: 41.3028, -88.9787
Overview of Starved Rock State Park
Last Price Paid: $25
Reported by Sue on 10/28/2023
Longest RV Reported: 37 feet (Fifth Wheel)
Reported by Dana B on 6/25/2023
Number of Sites 129
Pad Type gravel
Reservations yes
Elevation 623 ft / 189 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Reviews of Starved Rock State Park 31 people have reviewed this location.
“Nice Woodsy retreat with sunny spots and shady spots”
Reviewed 6/17/2021
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 118 |
RV Length: | 24' (Travel Trailer) |
Like others have mentioned we thought the campground would be in the park but still we found the location reasonable, as many of the trail heads we would’ve had to drive to anyways. Our spot had both sun and shade and some trees and privacy between the spots next to us. Our rig is 45 feet long with truck and travel trailer and it fit n... more
Like others have mentioned we thought the campground would be in the park but still we found the location reasonable, as many of the trail heads we would’ve had to drive to anyways. Our spot had both sun and shade and some trees and privacy between the spots next to us. Our rig is 45 feet long with truck and travel trailer and it fit nicely in the driveway. The bathrooms are nice the showers are OK. We had a difficult time getting the water to work at the septic dump when we were leaving.
It was fun to ride our bikes around the campground. It was very quiet at night and then in the morning the birds start their song pretty early.
Besides Starved Rock, we also went to Matheson State Park and hiked there also. It is a very magical in the park also.
We put our tandem inflatable kayak in at Starved Rock’s kayak boat ramp and cruised the Illinois river for about three hours. The nice worker at the Kayak rental shop showed us a map and a route to take which cross the river to some huge lime stone cliffs that we could just glide along with a very slow current the time on the river was super enjoyable.
We definitely recommend this campground.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Spacious Sites ”
Reviewed 6/16/2021
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 61 |
RV Length: | 35' (Class A) |
Sites are well spaced, but watch for ones in full sun. Shaded sites may attract bugs. Big downfall is that gates are actually locked at night and hit or miss when unlocked in the morning. Take care when going through the dump station, if you come in the wrong way, there are tire shredders at the "official" entrance and you can't back... more
Sites are well spaced, but watch for ones in full sun. Shaded sites may attract bugs. Big downfall is that gates are actually locked at night and hit or miss when unlocked in the morning.
Take care when going through the dump station, if you come in the wrong way, there are tire shredders at the "official" entrance and you can't back up.
Never saw a park ranger, camp host maybe twice.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Campground is not really in the State Park”
Reviewed 8/29/2019
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 64 |
RV Length: | 25' (Class C) |
On my approach to the campground, I passed several signs for Starved Rock State Park. So I asked when I checked in if we were in the park - the ranger said the campground used to be lower by the river but it kept getting flooded so it was moved to higher ground. Great! But you can't get to the park or trails from the campground. That w... more
On my approach to the campground, I passed several signs for Starved Rock State Park. So I asked when I checked in if we were in the park - the ranger said the campground used to be lower by the river but it kept getting flooded so it was moved to higher ground. Great! But you can't get to the park or trails from the campground. That was a bit of a disappointment. I'm also wondering if Illinois doesn't really maintain their parks. I camped at Illinois Beach State Park last year and was less than impressed. This parked showed its age and needed some TLC (watch for some serious deadwood hanging in front of site 93). However, there is something to be said about it being rustic, no-frills kind of place. I was in the second loop, initially on site 66. The driveway was very shallow, the trees in the back too low and the slope way too steep. I changed to site 64 which was much better. This was Wednesday before Labor Day weekend so the park was really quiet - every single site was tagged for a Friday arrival. I'm glad I beat the crowds as the night time noises from the insects and the twilight sky were really enjoyable. If you want your solar and satellite then the open grassy sites (59-68, 127-133) were great. Sites 68-126 were all in deep woods. Many sites looked reasonably level, and all had tables, grills and electric and were not laid out in any consistent way. Most of the wooded sites had some trees and vegetation between them but were still fairly close together. Overall, it was fine but for the price, I'd rather have access to the namesake sites of the park and a bit more in the way of upkeep. I'm sure the main park area and trails were worth the visit. T-Mobile worked fine but only with the booster.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Reviewed 5/12/2019
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 101 |
Nice and beautifully wooded, electric site. We arrived after recent rain/flooding and were glad to have our site as it didn't have pools of muddy puddles as some did. We had a nice space between us and our neighbor. We did not utilize the restrooms there. We walked down to the playground area, which is very small, but had a nice fl... more
Nice and beautifully wooded, electric site. We arrived after recent rain/flooding and were glad to have our site as it didn't have pools of muddy puddles as some did. We had a nice space between us and our neighbor. We did not utilize the restrooms there. We walked down to the playground area, which is very small, but had a nice flooring. Our family really enjoyed hiking Starved Rock for a couple days. We came back and enjoyed nice fires and will definitely stay again. If we get a change to try a different site, we would look at 96.
Chelsie34 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Pre-Memorial Day open space and great temps”
Reviewed 2/14/2019
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
We didn't have a reservation the week before Memorial Day weekend. They had several sites still available and the self registration notes were easy to understand to determine what was available. They accepted cash or pay with card the next day a the ranger stand. They didn't have the grass cut when we arrived but you could tell the... more
We didn't have a reservation the week before Memorial Day weekend. They had several sites still available and the self registration notes were easy to understand to determine what was available. They accepted cash or pay with card the next day a the ranger stand.
They didn't have the grass cut when we arrived but you could tell they were getting ramped up for the holiday weekend as the grass cutting extravaganza began after we arrived.
The trails at the park were beautiful. Getting to the day use of the park was not too far away but you do need a vehicle to get there from the campsite. There were not too many amenities nearby. We did find a disc golf course about 15 minutes away that was fun.
Atlas Roo would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Okay, but could be better ”
Reviewed 10/25/2018
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
RV Length: | 24' (Travel Trailer) |
The hiking trails were okay, the camping sites were trashy. It seems like most of the money at the park is being put into the lodge and not in the campground. The campground seemed to have trash all around and was in need of being mowed. The sites were close to each other. The shower house was so so.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Decent stay if you’re in the area”
Reviewed 6/18/2018
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 95 |
The limited IL state budget is reflected in the cleanliness of the campground. Driving in we noticed multiple empty sites with trash strewn about and, sure enough, we got to our site and their was an entire bag of trash across the road from it right along the pavement. We have a 30 amp hook up and although we were using the 30 amp plug... more
The limited IL state budget is reflected in the cleanliness of the campground. Driving in we noticed multiple empty sites with trash strewn about and, sure enough, we got to our site and their was an entire bag of trash across the road from it right along the pavement. We have a 30 amp hook up and although we were using the 30 amp plug, the power went off multiple times and my husband would have to go out and reset it. I’d stay here again if it was necessary but overall, I wouldn’t recommend it. The one nice thing was that it was quiet even though it was a busy weekend.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“A few complaints but overall, it was OK”
Reviewed 9/21/2017
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 10 |
RV Length: | 35' (Class A) |
The campground in nice and convenient to the state park. There are sites to fit both big and small rigs. 20amp and 30amp plugins are available at all sites with 50amps available at the larger sites. From what I could see, there were no pull through sites and the only paved pads I saw were reserved for handicapped visitors. There wer... more
The campground in nice and convenient to the state park. There are sites to fit both big and small rigs. 20amp and 30amp plugins are available at all sites with 50amps available at the larger sites. From what I could see, there were no pull through sites and the only paved pads I saw were reserved for handicapped visitors. There weren't a lot of sites with shade cover but we found that site 10 was one of the few. The catch was that during this time of year, we were bombarded with falling acorns every time there was a slight breeze.
The main wash house/bathrooms were nice and clean. However, the smaller outhouses (without plumbing) were rather disgusting. I walked in, lifted the lid and was attacked by a swarm of bugs. I immediately walked back out, vowing never to enter again.
On our second night, the entire row of campsites on our side of the campground lost power. We informed the campground host and they contacted maintenance. Due to the late hour there wasn't much anyone could do but they suggested we move sites. Not wanting to pack everything, hook-up, and move at 10pm, we dug out our 100ft extension cord and ran it across the street to one of the empty sites. The park staff had no issue with this.
Overall, we would return to this campground but we would choose a site closer to the main bathhouse. Site #1 seemed to be a nice location for both shade and access to the bathouse.
The Nerdy Nomads would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Peaceful, Natural Beauty!”
Reviewed 7/31/2017
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 6 |
Site Number: | 53 |
RV Length: | 36' (Class A) |
We stayed at Starved Rock State Park as part of a large, extended family get together. We arrived on Monday and enjoyed the park with our two dogs. On Friday our family members and we were able to use our very large, shady campsite as the main gathering place for our visits. There was plenty of parking available in the park and our fa... more
We stayed at Starved Rock State Park as part of a large, extended family get together. We arrived on Monday and enjoyed the park with our two dogs. On Friday our family members and we were able to use our very large, shady campsite as the main gathering place for our visits. There was plenty of parking available in the park and our family members carpooled to our site so we would not exceed the allowed number of vehicles per site. The camp hosts were aware that our family was gathering and were very accommodating and gracious about it.
Making our reservations in advance through Reserve America was an easy process. We actually arrived one day early and the camp hosts were very helpful in allowing us to extend our reservation to cover the extra day. There were two camp host couples and both were very friendly and frequently visible throughout the campground. They took time to get to know the campers and stopped and visited with us when they saw us sitting out enjoying the beautiful campground or out walking our dogs.
On our first day, as we were setting up camp, our hydraulic stabilizers failed, and our T-Mobile cell phones had no service in the park. The host took the time to copy a list of all of the rv techs in the area so my husband could drive to the closest location to get a phone signal and find help. This was obviously beyond his required duties and we were very appreciative of his kindness.
There is plenty to do and see in the area because Starved Rock State Park has some of the best hiking around. From easy trails for the less rugged like us, to more challenging trails for the more athletic, there is something for everyone.
Our campsite was very large and had a couple of mature shade trees on it. It was grassy and just beautiful. There was a gravel pad for our rv and it was reasonably level. There was plenty of room for our 34-foot motorhome, our tow dolly, and our GMC Terrain. Our campsite included a wonderfully well-constructed fire pit with a very usable grill. It was an electric only site, but a dump station and water were available. The whole campground is surrounded by forest and in the evenings we loved sitting outside watching the bats fly over and listening to the call and answer of the owls.
We were near the bathhouse, which was reasonably clean. There were not enough bathroom stalls and showers for the number of campsites, however.
We look forward to staying at Starved Rock State Park on future visits to the area.
Meander Here and There would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“The most-scenic hikes in Illinois”
Reviewed 12/25/2015
Nightly rate: | $25 |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
RV Length: | 23' |
Lets face it, Illinois is pretty flat and pretty boring (as most of its historic tallgrass prairies have been taken over by farm fields and suburban strip mall sprawl). Thankfully, there is one place that's quite different-- Starved Rock State Park. Now, first impressions might still deceive you about this place. The current campg... more
Lets face it, Illinois is pretty flat and pretty boring (as most of its historic tallgrass prairies have been taken over by farm fields and suburban strip mall sprawl). Thankfully, there is one place that's quite different-- Starved Rock State Park.
Now, first impressions might still deceive you about this place. The current campground is located on higher ground a few miles away from the main park and surrounded by corn fields. It has 2 loops-- one wooded, and one more open that has woods surrounding it. Both feature electric-only hookups and grass or dirt sites. Like many state parks, it's more suited for weekend camping trailers and tents than mega-sized motorhomes (although a couple sites could fit them fine).
Years ago, the campground used to be down along the river near the hiking trails, but it was moved to higher ground due to frequent flooding. The main hiking trail (connecting the various canyon trails) runs just a few feet above the Illinois river in some spots, so it can often mean trail closures in the Spring or after heavy rains. But time your visit right, and you can see spectacular waterfalls after these rains (or amazing "ice falls" in the wintertime).
Weekends are ridiculously crowded (both on the trails and at the campground) since this park is less than 2 hours from Chicago, so the best time to visit is mid-week. The park has good cell service, and has a dump station with potable water. It's a fairly easy drive to/from I-80.
WinnieViews would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Winnie Views: Inspired & Invigorated at Starved Rock
After my hectic first week back in Illinois in early May (which culminated in a insurance fiasco that postponed my cancer surgery until June), I now had 3 extra weeks on my hands. While I still had p...
Illinois
Our final destination was Chicago by the end of the week as Kathy had a plane to catch to get her back home, but we weren’t in any hurry. In case y’all have never looked at a map, Illinois isn’t exactl...
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Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- Partial Hookups
Recreation
- boat ramp
- fishing
- picnic area
- playground
- recreation trail
- water access
Site Amenities
- big rig
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- dump station
- firewood
- general store
- recycle
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- trash
- water available
Pets
- pets
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