Campgrounds and RV parks near Marquette Heights, IL

Marquette Heights sits on the east bank of the Illinois River in Tazewell County, just south of Pekin and about ten miles from downtown Peoria. The location puts campers within an hour of the region's main public-land camping options and a handful of private RV parks. The closest overnight options split into three types. Sankoty Lakes near Spring Bay is a resort-style property with lakeside RV sites, glamping tents, and cabins along the Illinois River. Kentuckiana Campground near Mackinaw is a private family park with hookups and stocked ponds. Public-land camping is available at Sand Ridge State Forest to the southwest and at Jubilee College State Park to the northwest. Sand Ridge is the largest state forest in Illinois, covering roughly 7,200 acres of oak-hickory woodland, pine plantation, and remnant sand prairie. Jubilee College State Park covers about 3,200 acres of rolling woodland and prairie in Peoria County between Kickapoo and Brimfield.

Illinois state-park campsites are reserved through the ExploreMoreIL system. This covers Woodchuck Ridge at Jubilee College State Park and both Oak Camp and Pine Camp at Sand Ridge State Forest. Reservations open up to 180 days in advance and must be made at least three days before arrival, with a non-refundable reservation fee added at booking. Permits are required and are issued on site by staff or the campground host. Equestrian sites at Jubilee College are not reservable and are handled first-come, first-served through the campground host, with self-pay in winter. Private options like Kentuckiana Campground and Sankoty Lakes book directly through the operator's website or by phone, and Sankoty Lakes in particular fills lakeside sites well ahead of summer weekends.