Campgrounds and RV parks near Annawan, IL

Fishing, paddling, and hiking anchor most trips in this corner of Illinois. Johnson Lake covers 58 acres with a maximum depth of 21 feet and holds largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, and bullhead, and only electric trolling motors are permitted on the lake. Hiking trails at Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreational Area range from short lakeside loops to routes through pine plantations and oak woodland. The Hennepin Canal towpath is the region's marquee long-distance trail. The old towpath provides 105 miles of walking, running, and cycling along the canal's main line and feeder routes, and 70 bridge and 32 lock locations offer fishing access for bluegill, crappie, walleye, and bass. Ryan's Round Barn, a historic landmark inside Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreational Area, is open seasonally for tours led by Friends of Johnson-Sauk Trail and makes a good rainy-day stop for families.

The main camping season runs from May through October. At Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreational Area, the shower building, sanitary dump station, and water are open May 1 and close November 1, and the park does not provide water from November 1 to May 1, though the campground stays open through winter for electric or non-electric dry camping. ExploreMoreIL reservations for the Chief Keokuk Campground, cabin, and Black Hawk Group Camp run May 1 through October 31. Prophetstown State Park follows a similar cycle, with its campground typically open May through October. Electrical outlets and a dump station are available for trailers, and 43 sites can be reserved through ExploreMoreIL. Winter access is limited but possible. Ice fishing, ice skating, and sledding are available as conditions allow, and the Hennepin Canal towpath doubles as the longest snowmobile trail in the state at 91 miles. Hunting seasons can also trigger short park closures in November, so check with the park office before booking a late-fall trip.

Sites in this area lean rustic rather than resort-style. The Chief Keokuk Campground at Johnson-Sauk Trail has about 95 sites, with 70 electric pads and 25 non-electric tent-only sites not accessible by vehicle, plus parking spurs, tables, fire rings, grills, flush restrooms, hot-water showers, and a dump station. Cell service is reported as fair. The Hennepin Canal sites are basic. There are no dumping or pump-out stations along the canal, and drinking water is scarce, currently available at the visitor center hydrant rather than at Locks 21 and 22, so plan to bring plenty on hot days. Prophetstown State Park has a mixed campground. About half the sites have electric and the other half have none, water hookups at sites are not standard, water spigots are placed around the campground, and a dump station sits at the back of the park.