Campgrounds and RV parks near Fairmount, IL

Fairmount sits in Vermilion County in east-central Illinois, minutes from Interstate 74 and within a short drive of two large Illinois Department of Natural Resources properties: Kickapoo State Recreation Area and the Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area. The immediate area is farmland, but the corridor along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, a National Scenic River, gives the region a wooded, water-oriented character that stands out from the surrounding prairie. RVers based near Fairmount can choose between state-run campgrounds inside those parks or private full-hookup parks a short drive west toward Champaign. Redear Campground at Kickapoo, the equestrian campground at Middle Fork, and Gray Squirrel at Walnut Point State Park cover the public-land side. D and W Lake Camping and RV Park in Champaign and Horseshoe Lakes RV Campground round out the private options. The area works well for a mix of paddling, fishing, and hiking trips, and the flat terrain and interstate access make it a practical overnight stop for RVers routing between Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis.

Illinois state park sites, including Redear at Kickapoo, the equestrian sites at Middle Fork, and Gray Squirrel at Walnut Point, are booked through the state's ExploreMoreIL reservation system. Reservations for the main campground at Kickapoo can be secured up to 180 days in advance via ExploreMoreIL, and non-reserved sites are available upon arrival with a two-night maximum stay on those walk-ups. Campers must have camping equipment with them the day they register to camp and occupy the site that day. Private parks book directly. D and W Lake Camping and RV Park takes reservations by phone or through its own site, and Horseshoe Lakes RV Campground handles bookings through its own office. For summer holiday weekends and Illini football Saturdays in the fall, private parks near Champaign fill early, so book several weeks out.