I've been looking at campgrounds in Illinois, trying to decide if I want to go there or not, and am not having much luck. Putting lots of miles on Mar-E, with little results. Since campground reservations are booked well in advance, 6 months or more, some are already booked for the summer / fall season. So if I find one that may have a opening at some time, I've been making a reservation, checking it out and then, mostly, cancelling it.
There are a myriad of reasons, why reservations are being cancelled: to far to go on a Friday after work, tricky sites for a newbie to try to back into or some other reason.
I am defiantly spoiled by my first trip to Coles Creek with full hook-ups on a lake and nice big sites, but I know not all campgrounds are alike. So I wonder if maybe Illinois is just not the best place for camping.
Coles Creek COE, Carlyle, IL
Large paved spots, loop with full hookups other with electric only. Group sites available also.
Illini SP, Marseilles, IL
Great Falls loop has some sites on the river, electric only. Some sites are very narrow. Other sites on this loop are more rustic for tent camping or small towables.
White Tail look has no view of the river. No hookups.
to 
Fisherman's Corner COE, IL (Mississippi River Pools) Sites close. Those on the river are right on the river (5' -10' maybe?). Some with electric
Starved Rock SP, La Salle, IL Mostly in the trees, hard back-ins
Shabbona Lake SP, IL Some sights in trees, some on the lake. Electric
Prophetstown SP, Prophetstown, IL Might be OK, but seemed a little spooky. On the Rock River. Sights were on grass that I saw.
No Stars
Nauvoo SP, Nauvoo, IL Very small campground for RV, no big rigs, road was bad (lots of potholes), no amenities. Tent camping area looked much nicer than the RV campground. Sites very close to trees also. Tough back-ins.A really bad experience
Been trying to get out camping. Booking the little amount of sites I can find that are not already reserved for the season. Leaves time to take a day trip to check them out. So between bad weather, iffy campgrounds, or tricky back-ins (for a newbie). I've cancelled most of them.
Was watching the temps for this weekend, but thought I'd give it a shot anyway. Picked up Colt to fill the tank, and seemed to only want to register 1/2 full, but figured that would be OK for 2 nights. Had a site reserved that I'd seen before, on the river, nice and shady, so I took a chance on the heat. BAD IDEA! Due to all of the rain, I got stuck in the mud (site was very narrow) but was able to get out. All of the practicing I've been doing with my BIL helped some, but not enough. Nothing like the real thing to bring your confidence level down.
Another lady camper who was waiting for her DH ended up backing it in for me. Not a dry spot on the site. Everything was mud. Left Mar-E running for over an hour while trying to get set-up, with the AC on so at least Zorro was staying cool (after he went rolling in the mud to get cool ~ yes my always clean dog got actually dirty ~ bad dog!
). Stood in the mud to get to the basement stuff, the electric kept tripping, and couldn't get the AC to work. After 2 1/2 hours in 100+ feels like temps, decided to give up and head back home. Picked up a friend to help spot me in the lot, took quite a few tries but I finally got Colt backed in. Luckily the pickup truck & plow that are usually next to me were gone, so I had a lot of room.Plus Mar-E seemed to be struggling. Wasn't sure if it was the heat or what. But when I got back to the storage lot, the bolts on the battery on Colt seemed pretty hot. Something dangerous I'm thinking, so need to find someone I can ask about that too.
A little disheartened right now, but not giving up the fight yet.
