50% (1 reviews)
Land your limit of largemouth bass, bluegill or crappie at this well-stocked, beautiful lake.
Top camping in Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area, IL
50% (1 reviews)
Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area adventure.
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Jenna
3 weeks ago
Tent
We loved staying at the Positive Outlook site. It was beautiful and felt so welcoming with the lights and snacks. We plan to camp here again! Great communication from Trent.
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Waylon
September 2025
32 ft Class A
With pets
Camp Lakewood is a small and quiet campground. Just minutes off I-70. Our site (22) backed right up to the lake. Very friendly staff and Fatso's (on location pizza, wings, ice cream, and more) has some of the best pizza we've ever had! We will definitely visit again!
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Jane
August 2025
15 ft pop-up camper
With pets
The site is pretty much what we expected as based on images from the website, but it was also much more. We had an unfortunate event or three prior to arriving, let the host know our pop up was not working properly but we had a tent. She was welcoming and friendly.
it is difficult to put into words the calm I felt sitting on the patio feeling the cool breeze off the pond and listening to the music of splashing water.
Another "wow" moment was the fact that the host had a family party on the private area across the pond and we really didn't hear much at all.
The bathroom/shower was clean and the water was hot.
the sites are new gravel, so keep toes and soles in mind. the play area and firepit seemed inviting. This place is highly recommended.
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Renée
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Brady’s place was just right for a one-night stopover on my cross-country trip! There is soft grass for pitching a tent, and a graveled area if you have a trailer. Brady provides a small picnic table, a cooking table, and several chairs, all under a spacious canopy for protection from rain (or hot sun!). There are also lights, an electric outlet, and a hose for fresh water. The outdoor shower is wonderful! There’s also a comfy swinging bench for watching the sun set over the small pond.
My only caveat is that the area is pretty close to the road, with no barrier. There wasn’t a lot of traffic and little to none at night (so noise wasn’t an issue), but you do have to keep an eye on kids or your dog so they don’t run into the road.
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Madeline
August 2025
22 ft Class B
With pets
We absolutely loved this spot and wish we could’ve stayed longer to enjoy this calm, quaint HipCamp! The hot shower was a huge bonus!
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Amy Jo
August 2025
31 ft travel trailer
Beautiful spot, thoughtful owner. Really the best spot we’ve ever been. Caught lots of bass, there’s a little place down the road that serves chicken wings and drinks!
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Amanda
August 2025
34 ft fifth wheel
Place was amazing. It was easy to find and pull into. Crystal was very attentive to made sure we had contact if we needed anything right away. It was very pretty and peaceful. Bonus, all the other campers staying there were super friendly! Would definitely go back if in the area again.
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Karen
August 2025
16 ft Class B
This was a great spot to stay for the night. Peaceful setting and easy access from I-70 while traveling cross country. Brady greeted us and ensured we had everything we needed for a peaceful night.
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John
August 2025
Tent
This is a great place to stay! Quite and well kept.
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Greg
August 2025
Tent
Brady has a fantastic place on a beautiful pond with all the extras that you could ever ask for. This was the best night. I have spent using Hipp camp. He even had two ply in the Porta John. I mean who does that? This place was awesome. I would go out of my way to come back here and stay longer
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John
July 2025
Tent
Great place to stay. Quite and clean. Well set up campsite. Communication with Brady was great. I let him know I was arriving late and he met me to show me the place at 11:00 pm. Very pleasant person. Staying again on my return trip home.
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Sally
July 2025
25 ft Class C
With kids
What an amazing place!! So idyllic , peaceful , quiet.. and everything we needed & more for our stay . We’ve had 3 long days of travel from Colorado with grandkids & dogs. We sure appreciated this wonderful place . The host was super communicative & extra helpful with any of our questions . The outdoor shower was perfect .. especially because it’s been hot & humid . The grandkids loved hanging out by the pond & exploring. We also think we learned about a new toad ( the Wood houses toad .. it kinda screams at night) fun for kids, adults & dogs for sure!!!❣️
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Bess
July 2025
Tent
With pets
It was very nice. The shower was wonderful. Brady was nice. It wasn’t for a light sleeper in a tent. Trains, frogs, and trucks were frequently heard. But the set up is superb!
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Cabinet
July 2025
Tent
Very private and very convenient, perfect for us. No trouble finding it.
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Andrea
June 2025
Tent
With pets
Really well set up and just beautiful at night. Trent was great and guided us for the best place to camp in the heat. Would stay again!
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Caitlin
June 2025
Tent
With pets
An idyllic little spot on a pond, equipped with a nice shower and a lit up table area. It was perfect after a long day’s drive.
The sounds of all the pond creatures were nice to fall asleep to.
A dreamy peaceful camp :)
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Jean Marie
June 2025
20 ft travel trailer
With kids
We made a last minute reservation at Quiet Countryside Camping for a few days when the campground we were staying at flooded. Brady greeted us when we arrived and then gave us our space. The campsite had everything you could need: bathroom, hot shower, fun lighting, Adirondack chairs, fishing poles, bug spray, firewood... seriously everything. We loved the covered picnic table area and my kids had a ton of fun fishing in the pond. We visited the nearby lake beach one day and had a great time. The nights were quiet with fireflies and bullfrogs. We were there during the week so a decent amount of truck traffic during the day. I'm assuming the weekends are quieter. Campsite is set back from the road and feels private. Everything worked out great for our family!
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Robert
June 2025
21 ft campervan
Very nice campground, great playground for the kids and very clean facilities!
Would definitely return!
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Scott
June 2025
18 ft campervan
Amazing spot, beautiful views, fantastic accomodation for my camper, power and water. Covered shelter, firewood, shower, host was very welcoming. Very private and quiet
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Nick
June 2025
20 ft campervan
Nice and quiet spot! Brady is cool and very responsive. The pond was peaceful and full of fish. The shower and bathroom were clean. Would definitely stay here again.
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Camping in Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area, IL guide
Overview
About
Set your inner conservationist free with at least an overnight stay at Oak Ridge Campground. Seclusion-seekers find 10 walk-in tent sites with views of the beautiful lake. Surrounded by shady oaks and rolling hills, the 585-acre lake is a hub of activity. Sport fisherman land largemouth bass that are stocked annually. Boaters find easy lake access with two ramps and a beautiful marina, complete with restaurant.
Boasting 3,100 acres of oak-hickory forest, this state park was named for biologist Stephen A. Forbes. Four established nature trails give hiking enthusiasts a bounty of natural wonders to explore. A 15-mile horse trail circles the lake, taking the rider on a panoramic eye-candy excursion. Swimmers and picnickers flock to the 200-foot sand beach at Rocky Point.
Tent dwellers enjoy a campground separate from the 115-site campground for RVs and campers. An equestrian campground with 21 electrical sites and a cabin that sleeps six ensures everyone has a comfy place to stay.
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