Starved Rock State Park, Utica IL

[Vern]

I am starting to dream about our 2015 camping schedule and am following up a vague lead we received from a friend of a friend. What can anyone tell me about camping at Starved Rock SP in Illinois? When we camp, we like hiking and soaking up some natural beauty and are wondering if maybe Starved Rock might fit the bill. I don't really know anyone who has camped there, so any impressions or other info would be appreciated.

[delomax]

We haven't camped their.....yet :-) But we have done a few of the trails and enjoyed them very much!! My niece & family camped there last year and loved it (we couldn't go) lots of hiking, the kids found fossils and had a great time. It's a wonderful park for watching the eagles at the locks.
We camped up river at Illini State Park, which is right on the river and you can watch the barges go past from your campsite.

[Vern]

I have read some online reviews suggesting the crowds on the trails can become pretty heavy. Makes me a little apprehensive about planning a trip with this as a destination, since we try to avoid big crowds. Maybe we will try to "sample" it first on an overnight stop en route to elsewhere someday. The January to March bald eagle viewing sounds very interesting, but that is not a time of year we camp.

[Duramax mom]

Matthiessen State Park, is very near Starved Rock and is a very beautiful park as well. I live 20 minutes from these parks, besides the camping, hiking there are several tourist shops in Utica and nearby town of Ottawa. I also enjoy the lock and damn on the Illinois river which is right next to Starved Rock. I highly recommend stopping and spending a couple days here!

[rjc1024]

I would definitely agree with Durmaxmom regarding Matthiessen State Park. Very close to Starved Rock and a great place to hike. I have been to Starved Rock lots of times but only camped once. Many of the campsites are under heavy shade so they have little, if any, grass. Made for a muddy campsite as we had some rain. We also had a few porta-potties near us that were completely filled the entire trip (at the time we had a pop up with no bathroom). The lodge, hiking and scenery are great. The campground can be a different story depending on where you are and how busy it is.

[Duramax mom]

There is a campground right off I80 near Starved rock called Hickory Hollow Campground, I've not camped there but have been wanting too. I've drove through it a couple times and the owners seem very nice and the campground is up to date, clean, and pet and child friendly with pull through sites!

[NO3putt]

We stayed this summer at Hickory Hollow and was very pleased with the facilities and jusy a short drive to the SP.

[Archicamper]

I camped at Starve Rock this last weekend. Not many campers and the trails were not as crowded but still a nice weekend. Absolutely need reservations in the summer and fall. Pretty crowded in the summer. Easy access from Chicago.

There are two campgrounds. One is heavily wooded and the other is pretty wide open. The lodge adjoining facilities are great. Consider doing a meal there. There is hiking at the park, between the park and Ottawa and Matthiessen State Park is nice as well. I have also stayed at Hickory Hollow as well and I prefer the state park. You have to drive to the hiking trails no matter which campground you stay at.

[Vern]

My sincere thanks to all the above posters for this feedback.

[Dodge Guy]

Starved Rock is very nice! The weekends would be busy/crowded. during the week would be more enjoyable due to the lack of people. The trails and overlooks are beautiful! Hickory Hollow is a very nice campground. and a short drive to Starved Rock.

[Taranwanderer]

I tent camped there for a night back in the 90s as I was on my way from PA to MN for my college room mate's wedding. I remember thinking, "I wish we had more time to camp/stay here," but we had to get back on the road for the wedding. Nice place, I would imagine that with it's proximity to Chicago and Jolliet it could get crowded easily.