We recently went to Illinois to visit family and planned to go to Kickapoo to do some fishing and grilling. It was a pretty warm day, so we found a spot with some shade, flat ground, benches and access to the pond for fishing. We didn't have much luck with the fishing, but neither did the folks who had been in the same spot before us. The park has several ponds with multiple access points. Some have docks where you can fish off of them and others have boat launches as well. A very large area with lots of picnic tables and stationery grills was roped off/closed. We weren't sure why. They also have paddle boats as well as kayak and tube rentals. Entry was free (which was surprising to me) and I was sad to see so much litter strewn about. People should take better care of our green spaces. Hopefully, they have someone who cleans up and maintains these areas. read more

Beautiful park! Been coming since I was a kid- and probably still come as an old man. Lots of trails and places to enjoy nature. Park is always clean and well maintained. read more

We needed an overnight while traveling through Illinois and this was right off the highway. Lovely park with level camping sites and 50 amp electric. Our spot looked over the river and was very relaxing after a long drive. We did not explore other areas , but for our purpose this was great and on read more

Kickapoo State Park - View of the river. - Parks Near Me - Oakwood, Illinois

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3.1 clear lake trail sucks for maintenance, not even wide enough for 1 person, no edge work done for years, the path itself is moderate/rugged is good. And dont expect trail markers when you come to a fork in the path. At one point it just stop and dumps you in a field near a parking lot with no explanation. read more

Lots of excellent facilities and services at this park. I felt like the upkeep and cleanliness was excellent, better than one would expect. The ranger at the campground check in was extremely helpful and friendly! The campground facilities were very clean and had recent remodeling such as new sink, counter, and floor resurfacing. read more

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Wonderful park. They keep it very clean. There are several hiking trails that have great scenery around the lakes.

This is just a review for the park, we did not camp here. The signage can be a bit confusing at times and GPS navigation will take you the wrong way. The bathrooms down by the trails and park could use improvement. Single building tin cans with a regular toilet lid on top but not a regular toilet. The scenery was beautiful though, grass mowed, and a nice place to walk your dogs and stretch your legs. read more

Kickapoo State Park - View from one of the dockside areas of the park. - Parks Near Me - Oakwood, Illinois

Its always nice to take a drive through the state park. Its beautiful, serene, and alot of waterhole. Kickapoo landings is cheap and fun. Dont forget the restaurant and intertainment,also. Great for the whole family. Kayaking, canoe, outboards, etc... tubing is awesome. Bring a cooler. Had a blast. read more

After reading review from a fellow yelper about this place, I decided to go here. It was pretty hot last Sunday, but still we went ahead with our plan. It's just 30 minutes drive from Champaign. We reached at the state park at 4 pm. Since it was our first time, we got a little confused as where to go. We reached office for the map, but it was locked. Thankfully in the area where office is located, there is a box with maps. It had information of all the trails and ponds located in the park. We did hiking on two trails and loved it. We would have done some other trails if it wouldn't have been so hot. There is canoeing available in the clear lake. I would love to camp and canoe here someday. Do visit this place, it's beautiful and you'll find yourself amongst nature. read more

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I stayed the night at the Kickapoo State Park in Oakwood, IL in our 1986 Winnebago Le Sharo on 8/20/1993. It was my 1st time there. Back then, the camping fee was just $11.00 with electricity. We stayed at the White Oak Campground, site C-13. read more

Wonderful staff and a beautiful park. So thankful I was able able to get a spot after a long day on the road.

I got so side tracked with such a great weekend camping that I forgot to check-in! We took our RV down for a weekend visiting with friends and could not ha e been more impressed! This was our first time there. The bathrooms are nice and clean (concrete and tile) the area we were in (lot 78, with electric) was next to shower house #2. All of the lots were mowed down with trails to the shower houses for easy access, and all of the sites we within a very short, so much we didn't even fill our tanks for the weekend. There were also campground hosts, ambassadors if you will, that had first aid stations. There is a river with a landing just up the road from the campground entrance that has access for canoeing and kayaking, concessions, etc. We cannot say enough about this area and will definitely recommend this campground to anyone wanting a fabulous camping trip. read more

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Went here over the weekend and had a really good time. We walked one of their longer trails and really liked that it featured a variety of terrain: gravel, grass, dirt, etc. With the variety of terrain came a variety of different views to take in, all of which were beautiful. My only issue with the is the lack of clarity the signs give while driving in and around the park itself. Sure there are nature trails throughout the park, but many of them weren't clearly marked and we had to make an effort to find a good trail. Definitely not a huge issue, but it was a minor inconvenience as first time park goers. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the park and enjoyed the trail we hiked. With it only being about a 30 minute drive from CU we'll be sure to take advantage of the nice weather and go for a few nature hikes this summer. read more

In the Midwest, located in East-Central Illinois, just outside of Danville, is a trail system that has been getting quite a bit of recognition in recent years. The Kickapoo State Recreation Area has seen a large increase in the number of riders coming to visit. This is due to the quality of the trails and expansion of the system; both done by the local biking club. Because the popularity is growing and new riders are coming to the area, a complete guide to the trails has been created. This guide has everything a visitor might want to know before arriving. Everyone who is considering a ride at Kickapoo and even local, regulars riders should review the information available. Detailed trail narratives, plenty of photos, elevation data and even local restaurants are provided. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/aa2e3a41c3dc40fdb2aee1f3d0c2d058 read more

So yeah...on the website it says no alcohol's allowed. Take that seriously. HELLA seriously. We had some beers. We put them in solo cups. We were being quiet...respectful...no cocky frat boy nonsense...just sitting around the fire, sipping cold beers... When all of a sudden some park ranger on a power trip shined a mag-lite in my face, scolded us all like we were children, and told us to dump out all of our beers "two at a time." Ah, what a waste... That...plus two $120 drinking tickets. *sigh* My very first drinking ticket at 27 years old. I guess there's a first for everything... Putting the kibosh on our party aside...here's the nitty gritty: The hiking trails? Meh. The fishing? No story-worthy catches. The campsites? Large, but not secluded. And if you're brave enough to drink, stick with vodka and mixers. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Ranger Dick's not going to insist on taking a swig of your punch or what have you... read more

We've been camping there for years and still love it!! The park is great with trails and you can rent canoes and paddle boats and fish anywhere. Also at their dock they have a pretty good restaurant and on Friday nights they have jazz bands play. In the campground they have 2 playgrounds and on the weekends they have a projector in their outside theater and show Disney movies! Also on Halloween they let the kids go around trick or treating. read more

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Wasn't Kickapoo set to be shut down or something? *shrug* I'd heard mixed reviews about this place, so my friend and I thought we'd check it out. On a gorgeous fall day, we made the drive to have a picnic at the park (stopping by Sleepy Creek Vineyard along the way: http://www.yelp.com/biz/sleepy-creek-vineyards-fairmount#hrid:4Vmgi8kH_jOv-OoKBotYFA). We smuggled in our bottle of wine despite Kickapoo being an alcohol free facility (oops, tee hee) to enjoy with our cheese and crackers. It was sooo nice. After driving around for a little, enjoying the greenery and series of rivers and ponds, we settled on a very peaceful spot right by the river. We set up at a nice picnic table right in the sun, which felt wonderous on a cool fall day, and just enjoyed an afternoon at the park. At Kickapoo, you can rent canoes, go camping, set up volleyball nets, go fishing, just... enjoy a day among nature. It's not far from campus, so it makes a great day trip opportunity. What a great way to spend an afternoon. read more

I went here in May 2011, and it was an enjoyable experience. Campground was clean and well kept. Plenty of spots for fishing are available. You can hear the traffic off Interstate 74 so it's not as secluded or peaceful as I had hoped. The gnats and mosquitoes were horrible (perhaps this is only the case in early May/Spring). Raccoons are very brave at night and I had to chase them off every night as I relaxed by my campfire. I suggest keeping food including coolers in your vehicle overnight. Not a bad place to spend a weekend! read more

Kickapoo State Recreation Area is a terrific state park in Vermilion County very near the Indiana State Line. Very clean easy in and out RV parking, courteous staff and beautiful campground overlooking the river. Nice pull through sites with 50 amp. Great stop just off I-74 between Oakwood and Danville, IL. read more

Only 30 minutes from champaign. Did a couple trails, very nice and very beautiful to walk through. Will be going again and eventually hiking all trails and would like to canoe as well. The trails were T6, T1 and T3 and weren't difficult. Recommend for an afternoon or morning getaway or something fun for the family. read more

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I'm a fan. The boyfriend and I needed a Labor Day getaway, so we borrowed my parent's car and came down from the city. The staff at the campground was very friendly. They had a basket of tomatoes on the counter with a sign - "Free! Take a few!" It's true, there are no really secluded campsites in this place, and the walk-in sites are the best. That was probably my only problem with the place. Oh - and put your food in the car at night. They have very ballsy racoons. Otherwise, we went canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, star watching, fire building....and buy your firewood from the people down the road who sell it in their driveway - much better deal. We enjoyed it and for the mountain biking alone we'll be back. Great place to spend the last real summer weekend. read more

Convenient check-in for camping and friendly service. Modern restrooms are few, but nicer than some other campgrounds. The only thing that would have made camping better would have been better privacy for campsites (e.g. more trees, bushes, etc.). read more

I absolutely adored Kickapoo State Park; if some of y'all don't already know, I'm a hiking, nature loving, Dora the explorer type of girl. Now Kickapoo (hehe; poo) is only a 30 minute drive from lovely Champaign, and when you're ready to experience adventures outside of bars and restaurants; it's the place to be. The road to get to the actual state park is a little small- two car lanes, but quite narrow; could require some off roading, and Goldie Hyundai Sonata does not off road. Luckily her brunette companion does :) Thus getting there is sorta tricky but well worth the adventure. There's a lake for fishing, kayaking and canoeing as well as some hiking trails. On the opposite side is a kayak/ canoe landing; where you can easily slide your kayak or canoe down, yet not so easily push it back up; the struggle is REAL. What awaits is a vast estuary of pristine beauty and peace. The sound of water trickling from rocks and small falls (very small) are enough to keep you coming back for more nature nirvana, the perfect place for the family or individual. Be warned however, when the current kicks up, you can definitely wipe out getting out of your kayak or canoe. Other than that stay safe and happy trails! read more

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The campground and park were nice. Bathrooms and sites were clean. Many sites are pretty open and visible. We found a nice spot that was a little more wooded and shady. However, our camping experience wasn't great. Unlike other reviewers, we found that campground rules were NOT enforced. The site next to us, although not wild, were loud in conversation, laughing, and playing music until 3:00am. Their site had 4 tents and at least 8 people. Also, even if we wanted to complain, there was no host or rangers around to speak to. read more

We came here for bike packing a couple weekends ago. It was super fun! When we got to Kickapoo though, there was nobody to check us into a camp spot. All there was was a sign saying "back at 3:30". Since it was 4pm when we showed up we waited & wasted valuable daylight trying to figure out what to do. After waiting about an hour or so, we decided to go ahead and setup camp and check back later. When I asked about it at Kickapoo Landing, they sighed and told me that it happens all the time and they just tell people to go ahead and setup camp and check back later. This is all very inconvenient to deal with when your camping and you want to do other things like fishing and hiking not stopping by every hour to see if the state park employee has returned. While setting up camp in the area reserved for walk in "primitive" camping, we noticed the array of amenities available! What they call "primitive" is not primitive at all. There are outhouses fully stocked with toilet paper, picnic tables, potable water spigots, and campstoves for grilling! You also have access to hot showers and Kickapoo Landing where you can buy firewood and even grab dinner! It turns out too that the Kickapoo Park employees do a check at night so if you haven't paid your camping fee, you can do it then. We did manage to get everything squared away beforehand though & they give you a sheet of paper to display at your campsite. We loved how close town this was and we'll probably be back! A downside to its proximity to town is that you can hear the hum of the highway all night long! read more

The fishing areas and campgrounds are great here, but I love to hike and this is not a very good park to do it in unless you are looking for some very rough terrain. All the hiking trails are "rugged" which is a nice way of saying they are not taken care of. They are overgrown, and poorly marked. The last time I went I put on plenty of bug repellent and was still attacked by insects and came home with a tick on my leg. This was due to the fact I was walking through brush and branches most of the time. I also would not suggest their mountain biking trails unless you are an expert. They are also overrun with growth. read more

We have camped out twice per month all camping season. We have enjoyed the clean camp grounds and activities available.

Kickapoo has space, a few ponds, one has a little boat landing, some camping spaces, some trails, and a stable that offers trail rides.this little island of serenity in the Midwest makes a good get-away place. The trails offer good hiking, running, and bike riding but they are not marked we'll and that's my biggest dis on the park. read more

I am still a fan, but why are the roads to my favorite trails still blocked off.

A group of friends and I recently went camping here. Overall it was a great experience and a beautiful park. The staff was friendly and helpful, the facilities where clean and well managed, and the park offers a lot of amenities (tubing, canoe and kayak rental, etc.). My only two issues are that, a, we went tubing and the water level was far too low. We walked about as much as we tubed. The park really should not have allowed us to rent tubes and "float" down the river. And b, the camping area we were seemed much more spread out on the map than it really was. We were in campsites around the 120-130s and while the area was full yet quiet, it was very close quarters. If I were to go back, which is very possible, I would reserve a site between the numbers 109-121. read more

What, no drinking? What are we, in high school? Who are you to tell me I can't drink in a State run park. Anyway we just stopped on by here for one quick night rather than to enjoy the atmosphere etc. The river looks pretty cool but it says no swimming so that is not a plus. The staircase to the water is well built. We are here on a Monday night in July and there is only one other family camping. Most sites are right out in the open, it looks more like a group camping area but the sites around the edges (we are in 133) are shaded and not so open. These bugs are unreal, I have never seen so many different types of biting insects in one place. I am covered with welts and am not usually sensitive like this. The lightning bugs are awesome here though. There is a pit toilet near us and a water spigot nearby. I will not be back. Morning can't come soon enough for us to get out of here. read more

Campground is clean and very well setup. There are a few trails very close to campground that are nice for quick walks/hikes. However there are also long- more adventurous trails that are challenging for the best hikers. There is also canoeing, kayaking, and tubing available. Love this campground! read more