“wasteland turned natural wonderland”
Where in Illinois can you go running or hiking, canoeing, fishing for trout, camping, hunting or scuba diving -- all against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty? Kickapoo State Recreation Area near Danville in Vermilion County, that's where. The site is easily reached via Interstate 74. Once a scarred wasteland ravaged by turn-of-the-century strip-mine operations, Kickapoo State State Recreation Area's 2,842 acres now provide an outdoor playground with something to appeal to every member of the family. Twenty two deep water ponds, ranging in size from 0.2 of an acre to 57 acres, provide a total of 221 acres of water for boaters,canoeists and anglers. Lushly forested uplands and bottomlands along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River is habitat for enough birds, wildlife and wildflowers to please any nature lover, while nature trails and running trails provide pathways to inspiration and physical fitness. If you want a less demanding excursion in the outdoors, there are facilities for camping and picnicking. Kickapoo owes its crystal clear ponds and luxuriantly forested ridges and hillsides to the regenerative powers of nature. Nearly a century of coal production using strip-mining techniques devastated the landscape. But during the past 50 years, trees and vegetation have gradually reclaimed naked ridges of subsoil, and stagnant mine ponds gradually have cleared. The park apparently was the first in the nation built on strip-mined land, and one of the first to be subsidized through public contributions. The state's initial purchase of 1,290 acres of mined lands from United Electric Coal Co. in 1939 was largely underwritten with contributions collected from Danville area residents.
Reviews of Kickapoo State Recreation Area
17 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G/5G
Confirmed by 8 users | Last reported on August 14, 2024AT&T 4G
Confirmed by 3 users | Last reported on October 02, 2019T-Mobile 5G
Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on August 14, 2023Reviews
Nice campground with evenly spaced sites and mostly level sites that have electric at each site. Water spigots throughout the campground and potable at the dump station for filling RV’s. The inner loop sites back up to each other so they aren’t as private as the outer loop sites. The bathhouses are minimal – one toilet stall in the men’s (shower house 1) and one urinal, 2 showers. Not very nice and questionably clean. The grounds themselves are nicely kept. As someone else mentioned, watch out for the speed bumps, they are wicked. I did not have a reservation on a Tuesday night and got a site easily enough but there were a considerable number of sites occupied for mid-week. Cash only. Strong Verizon 4g signal.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 86
RV Length: 24 ft
RV Type: Truck Camper
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
This was a salt quarry about 100 years ago, and now it is a series of beautiful ponds. After long days of driving on our way home to Virginia from Seattle, we found plenty of park roads to explore on our bikes. The next morning we rented SUPs at one of the ponds ($10 per hour) where you can also rent kayaks, next door to the bistro/ice cream parlor. A lot of folks fishing. Mountain biking trails. Sites are spread out with lots of trees. Several playgrounds. We could hear the trucks on the highway in the distance at night, but the white noise of the fan and ear plugs blocked it. A little confusing getting back on 74 east, so be careful.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 85
RV Length: 20 ft
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
It's a nice place with plenty of outdoor adventures. Hiking, kayaking, floating are all good options here. There are also multiple playgrounds for kids, shower houses, and wildlife most mornings and evenings
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 4
Site Number: -
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
Would not recommend staying weekends in the summer. Weekdays you will have the place to your selves. I dry camped . Shower were clean but very old. Bring your own TP, the moisture and humidity makes everything wet . They will delivery wood - 5$ for a bundle. Each camp spot has a picnic table and a grill pit. Lots of hiking trails for mountain biking or hiking. Lake access you will have to drive there. Dogs allowed - super pet friendly. Camp store - has very little to no supplies . make sure you bring everything you need to closet fuel stops is a 20min drive away
Nightly Rate: $10.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: -
RV Length: 23 ft
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
Kickapoo was a nice surprise. Very nice campground. I first tried to use non electric site $10 but found my battery to be bad. Moved to electric site $20. Very nice and quiet. Host was very good especially when I told her I needed electric spot. I paid the extra put it in the self pay spot when I left
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 10
Site Number: -
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
We pulled in later in the evening on a Friday and there were plenty of spots available for tents. Nice trees and lake.
Showers are a bonus!
You can hear the freeway noise but it didn’t keep us up-the peaceful lull of the frogs or crickets singing covered it up.
Can’t believe it was only $10!
Nightly Rate: $10.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 183
RV Length: 8 ft
RV Type: Teardrop Trailer
It’s not a bad spot at all, but could use a bit more upkeep, as is the case with many IL state parks. The highway noise is a bummer since it’s such a big park that would otherwise feel tucked away. Lots of deer. The electric sites seem like they’re probably more of a four-star experience.
Nightly Rate: $10.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 124
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
The park has been updated and is well maintained. The lower electric sites and very spacious! Clean restrooms. Nice pull through spots and back in spots.
Very quiet during the week. Gets full on weekends with lots of families.
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 15
Site Number: 94
RV Length: 40 ft
RV Type: Fifth Wheel
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
We stayed in Fox loop and it was very big rig friendly. Large spread out sites, trees trimmed up high. The other loops looked ok but not as easy for large rigs. Sites have electric only but there is potable water available and a dump station. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit and lantern holder. Restrooms and shower houses also scattered about but we didn’t use them.
Nightly Rate: $24.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 94
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
Very hospitable hosts and beautiful clean camp sites. You will have everything you need for camping for a great camping experience. We love it here and we will be back!
Nightly Rate: $20.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 16
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Kickapoo State Recreation Area
Hours
- Sun - Thu: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
- Fri, Sat: 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
Problem with this listing? Let us know.
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- State park or forest
- Back In RV Sites Count
- 12
- Last Nightly Rate
- 20.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 40 ft
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 10.0
- Max Stay
- 14
- Pull Through RV Sites Count
- 7
- Sites Count
- 184
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Paved Sites
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Rec Facilities
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Pull Through
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Back In RV Sites
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Potable Water
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Sites
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Vehicle Wash Permitted
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Water Hookup
Campground, Restrooms
Nearby Hotels
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