(815) 824-2106
Park Features & Amenities
Camp Basics
Sites:
Pull Through Sites:
Full Hookup Sites:
Pets Allowed:
Age Restrictions:
Extended Stay:
Shaded Sites:
Credit Cards Accepted: Visa, MasterCard
Utilities & Amenities
Power: 50 Amps, 30 Amps
Restrooms:
Showers:
Dumping:
Recreation
Fishing:
Golf:
Playground:
Horseshoes:
Boat Launch:
Traveler Tips
Traveler Reviews
great getaway for family fun
Have been coming here for years when the kids were small, before full-timing. This park is a top camping draw for families from The City and fills almost every Summer weekend, during the week not even a tenth filled.
This park features a big fishing and paddle sports lake, no motors over 10hp. Buy a license! DNR Police are active here.
The day-use and camping sections are separate and distinct. There is a restaurant at the day-use side and a great camp store with fishing and camping supplies as well as food and ice cream treats on the camping side.
There are boat rentals at each location.
There are 150 camp sites, FCFS and ReserveAmerica. They are all back-in, electric only, level is debatable. The park works hard to keep the woods at bay and is constantly pushing it back, but the sites are still very woodsy, many are in twilight all day. The State Park has a booster club and many supporters. See this web site, not Illinois DNR, for lots of info about the lake and park, as well as pictures of the camping sites and lots of fish pics:
http://shabbonalake.com/camp-site-photos/
This is a camping park mostly tent camping, pop-ups, and travel trailers. Motorized RV are probably truck campers and small rv's. Check the photos in the above noted web site. Large Class A's and 5th wheels would have a chore getting in. There is a fire ring and picnic table at every site and there is plenty of grass around before giving way to the woods.
There are good hiking trails, including a formidable one around the lake.
Families and children play all day and never stop exploring the woods. This is not a quiet place...it is not supposed to be.
Besides the usual outhouses there is a single shower and bathroom building which, though cleaned daily, is severely taxed when the park is full. It is rather Spartan, at best.
Four host couples, scattered about the park keep things running smoothly without spoiling the fun.
Great for family camping and fishing
Have been coming here for years when the kids were small, before full-timing. This park is a top camping draw for families from The City and fills almost every Summer weekend, during the week not even a tenth filled.
This park features a big fishing and paddle sports lake, no motors over 10hp. Buy a license! DNR Police are active here.
The day-use and camping sections are separate and distinct. There is a restaurant at the day-use side and a great camp store with fishing and camping supplies as well as food and ice cream treats on the camping side.
There are boat rentals at each location.
There are 150 camp sites, FCFS and ReserveAmerica. They are all back-in, electric only, level is debatable. The park works hard to keep the woods at bay and is constantly pushing it back, but the sites are still very woodsy, many are in twilight all day. The State Park has a booster club and many supporters. See this web site, not Illinois DNR, for lots of info about the lake and park, as well as pictures of the camping sites and lots of fish pics:
http://shabbonalake.com/camp-site-photos/
This is a camping park mostly tent camping, pop-ups, and travel trailers. Motorized RV are probably truck campers and small rv's. Check the photos in the above noted web site. Large Class A's and 5th wheels would have a chore getting in. There is a fire ring and picnic table at every site and there is plenty of grass around before giving way to the woods.
There are good hiking trails, including a formidable one around the lake.
Families and children play all day and never stop exploring the woods. This is not a quiet place...it is not supposed to be.
Besides the usual outhouses there is a single shower and bathroom building which, though cleaned daily, is severely taxed when the park is full. It is rather Spartan, at best.
Four host couples, scattered about the park keep things running smoothly without spoiling the fun.
Great place to fish and camp
LOCATION: about 70 miles due west of Chicago and 7 miles east of I-39/51, off Rt 30. Address for GPS is 100 E Preserve Rd, Shabbona, IL. The park is 1500 acres with a 150-site campground and 318-acre lake built for fishing.
CAMPSITES vary - some sunny, some shaded, some level, some not. Pads are gravel with the exception of sites for those with disabilities, which are cement. Each site has a firepit. Several sites do have 50 amp service and big rigs are welcome although the number of sites is limited due to the terrain and trees. 50 sites can be reserved ahead of time between May 1 and Oct 31 by calling the park office at 850-824-2106. 100 sites are first come, first served. You must be ready to camp in order to obtain a site. The park is very popular during the months between May 1 and Oct 31st and often fills up by Friday. Cabins with a double set of bunks and one double bed (no cooking or bathroom)are located on the lakeshore. They can be reserved year round. ISSUES: Due to a lack of funding by the state, the campground does have some issues: watch for some potholes in the road. There is a large shower building with flush toilets which is adequate. There are several outdoor privies scattered through the campground. They are just that - privies.
The campground is open year-round to accommodate those who like to go ice fishing, however hours and rates change during the Off season from Nov 1 through April 30 when the shower building is closed. The dump station and drinking water are available year round.
AMENITIES: The park has about 7 miles of walking/mountain biking trails which are marked. Two trails begin within the campground which also has a nice playground for the kids as well as volleyball and badmintion pits and a small fishing pond for kids. There is a boat ramp in the campgound and a dock for boats used by campers. No fee to put your boat in. The camp store sells bait, tackle, fishing licenses and basic camping supplies and food. They also rent boats, pontoons and paddle boats. A restaurant and marina (with a second boat launch) are located within the park, outside of the campground. Several fishing tournaments are held throughout the year and at least 4 state-record muskie have been caught here.
NEARBY: A public "country club" golf course butts up to the north end of the park with a view of the lake. A small local grocery store and places to dine out are close by. The nearest town with "big box" stores is about 15 miles away.
DON'T MISS: Each year on July 4th catch the fireworks display over the lake and in February go night fishing on the lake.
For more information and to see photos of some of the trophy size fish caught at the lake do a search for "Shabbona Lake Online."
