Illinois Beach State Park Campground: Lakeside Camping Oasis

Illinois Beach State Park Campground, located within Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park, provides a unique opportunity to camp amidst the natural beauty of Lake Michigan. The 4,160-acre park boasts over six miles of shoreline, featuring dunes, wetlands, prairies, and black oak savannas. The campground offers 241 Class A Premium sites, equipped with electricity, showers, and sanitary facilities. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the peak season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. While campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, they tend to fill up quickly, particularly on Fridays during the summer. The campground is open from April 1st through December 30th. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including swimming, boating, hiking, and fishing. The park features several trails, including a 2.2-mile loop trail in the southern unit and the 1.8-mile Camp Logan Trail in the north. Bird watching is also a popular pastime, with over 650 plant species recorded in the dunes area. Illinois Beach State Park has a rich history, serving as a Union prisoner of war camp during the Civil War and later as a National Guard training facility. Today, the park is a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering a serene escape along the shores of Lake Michigan.