Really appreciate that. We subbed to yours also. Looking forward to providing and watching all of our content. We go full time in January. Hopefully we'll be at the Tampa RV Show.
I canoed the cache many years ago with my son. The cypress trees and feel of the area were amazing. You won’t believe you’re in Illinois. We also experienced a hard thunderstorm in the middle of the swamp. I don’t advise that 🙂. If one has never been down there, garden of the gods is must destination point.
You went through Rockford, and missed some of the best county parks, that no one knows about. Lol Winnebago county has Seward's bluff preserves, honenegah preserves, and sugar river preserves. Now, while not full sewar hook ups, the prices and cheap, the wildlife, actually wild, and plenty of trails, including equestrian trails! This year, for residents, it's only 15 a night, I think non residents, its only 20. Great places for taking kids, and for any kind of wildlife photography.
At our school we have a 6th grade field trip and it’s around Carbondale Illinois I forgot the name of the state park. But the field trip is called “Nature Camp” And it’s very fun. I live in Ofallon Illinois. And it’s the metro east of St. Louis and it’s only a hour drive. But what we do is swim, camp, nature hiking, rock climbing, and canoeing. It’s very fun for 6th graders and I love it. Also thanks for the tips. I found a lot of information about Illinois state parks in this vid.
we tried the the Great River Road starting in Galeena... Illinois has shut down the first several miles making it hard to follow. We gave up. The middle is pretty boring, you're right.
The thing I like about your channel is that you are both diverse in content. So sick of the same ol, same ol. Been following you both for a while now and will continue to do so. Love that you are actually out doing it.
Dr. Phil told us many times in wildlife class in Belleville IL that he would canoe these waters and study snakes when he was a kid. Eventually Ill make it there. If you want some good paddling go to the Current in Missouri.
We live in Flora Illinois and have 3 hookups 1 50amp and 2 30amp. We let people stay free and its pretty nice. People stop here and restock at our Walmart or get an oil change or just to rest. We enjoy the company and we boondock different places also. Flora is a town of about 5,000 along route 45. We are Matthew and Betty Diefenbach and you can find us on Facebook under Turf Works Lawncare. If you are traveling through southeastern Illinois look us up!
Hey Scott I grew up in Illinois as well in Norwood right outside of Peoria. Thanks for the tips I still have close friends in the state. Never knew about the River to River trail so thanks I looked it up and looks like its a decent trail to hike. Maybe some time after the AT . You never know!!!
That's how you know the ppl making the list didn't fully explore Illinois lol because they aren't aware of the good spots , only ppl from Illinois would know, which works out I guess since maybe that's why they aren't crowded like Starved Rock.
Illinois isn’t a mecca for great State Parks. Especially in the central part of the State. Starved Rock is the oldest, and most popular. Lots of day hiking opportunities with waterfalls. Good place to stay.
This Nomadic Idea: I just got back from a two week trip to Missouri, a state which has an abundance of nice lakes with free camping. I was very impressed.
I know isnt fair to say but I’ from Seattle WA and none of this looks appealing… The lakes seem like ponds and where are the big grand trees?!? I really wanted to find Forrest camping but it’s leaving little to be desired. Please do yourself a favor give Washington State 1 x in your life. You will never regret, you will be awe inspired truly… Thanks for sharing
I am from Illinois and camp a lot, it does INDEED have forest camping, there are many primitive sites that are free in the Shawnee National Forest which is further down in Illinois like stated in the video. Starved rock is the most populated state park because its close to the city. My favorite Forest primitive campsite is by Jackson Falls which is 1st come 1st serve basis in the Shawnee Forest. I suggest traveling to OTHER parts of Shawnee National Forest, its pretty big, go by Jackson Falls and Burden Falls which is the states highest waterfall. Most campgrounds are primitive and 1st come , 1 served basis and costs only about 5 or 8 bucks a night but you can find free sites. There is Garden of Gods, Dixon Springs etc so much free camping.
I'm in Glen Ellyn IL and i want to plan a camping trip for September or October.. this will be my first ever camping trip, but i'm looking for a place where there aren't a lot of people, somewhere rather secluded and private, but near a nice little creek, stream or body of water where i can fish and or swim.. any suggestions?
@@ThisNomadicIdea No, not with an RV, but rather with my SUV... i want to do tent camping for my virgin camping trip, then at later times do cabin, and RV camping trips 😁 thanks for the suggestions, i will look into them.. however, i have been to Starved Rock before, but not for camping.. it's beautiful, but a bit too touristy for me, unless i haven't been deep enough into it to shake all of the people 😅 lol
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Camping at a farm would bring back childhood memories! Great Boondocking in Illinois ideas! 💡
Did we get the hook and the value?
This Nomadic Idea Absolutely!
Good to see midwest options! Thanks guys
Thank you for watching
Great video. This is going to be a fun channel to follow. Thanks for posting this information. Very cool.
Really appreciate that. We subbed to yours also. Looking forward to providing and watching all of our content. We go full time in January. Hopefully we'll be at the Tampa RV Show.
I canoed the cache many years ago with my son. The cypress trees and feel of the area were amazing. You won’t believe you’re in Illinois. We also experienced a hard thunderstorm in the middle of the swamp. I don’t advise that 🙂. If one has never been down there, garden of the gods is must destination point.
Absolutely! It’s a great area.
You went through Rockford, and missed some of the best county parks, that no one knows about. Lol
Winnebago county has Seward's bluff preserves, honenegah preserves, and sugar river preserves. Now, while not full sewar hook ups, the prices and cheap, the wildlife, actually wild, and plenty of trails, including equestrian trails!
This year, for residents, it's only 15 a night, I think non residents, its only 20.
Great places for taking kids, and for any kind of wildlife photography.
Thanks for these recommendations! All sound like great options. The first one would be a great addition to the Harvest Host Program.
We talked with him about that. It's a really nice big piece of farm he has.
Love your video. Nice to see reviews on Illinois camping
Thank you!
At our school we have a 6th grade field trip and it’s around Carbondale Illinois I forgot the name of the state park. But the field trip is called “Nature Camp” And it’s very fun. I live in Ofallon Illinois. And it’s the metro east of St. Louis and it’s only a hour drive. But what we do is swim, camp, nature hiking, rock climbing, and canoeing. It’s very fun for 6th graders and I love it. Also thanks for the tips. I found a lot of information about Illinois state parks in this vid.
That State Park might be either Fern Clyfe or Giant City. I went to SIU in Carbondale. Lot to do around there.
We just found your site when researching free camping in Illinois! Thanks for sharing!~ Shion and Matthew
Taking the Great River Road down the west side of the state would be more interesting than heading through the middle.
Absolutely! Not many RV Parks but a much nicer drive for sure. Thank you!
we tried the the Great River Road starting in Galeena... Illinois has shut down the first several miles making it hard to follow. We gave up. The middle is pretty boring, you're right.
Thanks for this Scott. As a Wisconsin resident, these are all so close. I'm gonna go "south of the border" and check some out.
Let us know if we were on the mark? :-)
Very good options 👍.
Thank you!
Thank you. Thank YOU.
this is so so helpful.
Thank you. ⛺
M. Elgin Illinois.
The thing I like about your channel is that you are both diverse in content. So sick of the same ol, same ol. Been following you both for a while now and will continue to do so. Love that you are actually out doing it.
You haven't seen nothin yet. Yes, that's the plan. I would die if we did all our RV videos, inside a RV. HA
Dr. Phil told us many times in wildlife class in Belleville IL that he would canoe these waters and study snakes when he was a kid. Eventually Ill make it there. If you want some good paddling go to the Current in Missouri.
Hello can you guys update this for 2022 thank you for sharing
I was sold as soon as you said Pyrenees!! Great tip that we’ll probably use because we travel to Beloit often :)
You will love this farm. The Pyrenees are awesome as t hey follow you up the road. Yes, you have to meet them first for a formal introduction.
Thanks for sharing these places. Nice list.
Thank you. Let us know if you go to any of them. Would love to hear what you think.
Thank you! Just got into this last year and I needed help thanks so much
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching & Happy Holidays.
Thank you for the advice
Go Dawgs!!!!! :-)
We live in Flora Illinois and have 3 hookups 1 50amp and 2 30amp. We let people stay free and its pretty nice. People stop here and restock at our Walmart or get an oil change or just to rest. We enjoy the company and we boondock different places also. Flora is a town of about 5,000 along route 45. We are Matthew and Betty Diefenbach and you can find us on Facebook under Turf Works Lawncare. If you are traveling through southeastern Illinois look us up!
Thanks! Good info.
@@ThisNomadicIdea we also have a dump station. You have to blue tank it which we have. We actually have someone here right now.
Hey Scott I grew up in Illinois as well in Norwood right outside of Peoria. Thanks for the tips I still have close friends in the state. Never knew about the River to River trail so thanks I looked it up and looks like its a decent trail to hike. Maybe some time after the AT . You never know!!!
I lived in Peoria for 10 years. That is crazy!!!! Shawnee National Forest is really cool. Some awesome hiking down there.
It's still not on compendium yet actually.
Thinking about stealth living BUTTT living in suburbs then the pure coldness and snow and wer too park every nite in Illinois....
I hate it when people who don't really know Illinois try to make lists like this.
That's how you know the ppl making the list didn't fully explore Illinois lol because they aren't aware of the good spots , only ppl from Illinois would know, which works out I guess since maybe that's why they aren't crowded like Starved Rock.
Awesome video
Thank you
good information
Thanks.
Other than your first choice of places to go, you haven’t told us anything we couldn’t find on a map of Illinois. Starved Rock state park? Reassure?
Illinois isn’t a mecca for great State Parks. Especially in the central part of the State. Starved Rock is the oldest, and most popular. Lots of day hiking opportunities with waterfalls. Good place to stay.
This Nomadic Idea: I just got back from a two week trip to Missouri, a state which has an abundance of nice lakes with free camping. I was very impressed.
Need more info
I know isnt fair to say but I’ from Seattle WA and none of this looks appealing… The lakes seem like ponds and where are the big grand trees?!? I really wanted to find Forrest camping but it’s leaving little to be desired. Please do yourself a favor give Washington State 1 x in your life. You will never regret, you will be awe inspired truly… Thanks for sharing
Which is why we left Illinois.
I am from Illinois and camp a lot, it does INDEED have forest camping, there are many primitive sites that are free in the Shawnee National Forest which is further down in Illinois like stated in the video. Starved rock is the most populated state park because its close to the city. My favorite Forest primitive campsite is by Jackson Falls which is 1st come 1st serve basis in the Shawnee Forest. I suggest traveling to OTHER parts of Shawnee National Forest, its pretty big, go by Jackson Falls and Burden Falls which is the states highest waterfall. Most campgrounds are primitive and 1st come , 1 served basis and costs only about 5 or 8 bucks a night but you can find free sites. There is Garden of Gods, Dixon Springs etc so much free camping.
@@melimels22 thanks for sharing these places. I will be checking them out this summer for sure!!!
@@ThisNomadicIdea oh no.. I just got here!
@@melimels22 Hiked the River2River trail back in 2005. Shawnee is a great under estimated NF. Dutchman's Lake is a cool spot to boondock also.
Are you telling us that all these places that you mentioned are free?
Even the state parks?
You didn’t watch the whole video.
I'm in Glen Ellyn IL and i want to plan a camping trip for September or October.. this will be my first ever camping trip, but i'm looking for a place where there aren't a lot of people, somewhere rather secluded and private, but near a nice little creek, stream or body of water where i can fish and or swim.. any suggestions?
With a RV? I would look at Starved Rock SP or go down to Shawnee National Forest. Fern Clyff SP is nice with water, waterfalls and less crowded.
@@ThisNomadicIdea No, not with an RV, but rather with my SUV... i want to do tent camping for my virgin camping trip, then at later times do cabin, and RV camping trips 😁 thanks for the suggestions, i will look into them.. however, i have been to Starved Rock before, but not for camping.. it's beautiful, but a bit too touristy for me, unless i haven't been deep enough into it to shake all of the people 😅 lol
Starved rock cost money to camp there