Great Places to Camp in the Midwest

Here is a helpful campground directory link that lists Illinois state campgrounds with available facilities for RV and tent camping, also included are some helpful tips for picking a good campsite. With spring not too far away, this would be a good time to check out the local parks nearby and make your reservations ahead of time for the best sites.
Tips for picking a good campsite:
1)A good idea to find the best site to fit your needs would be to take a drive around the park and check out whats available, keep in mind of what camping needs to keep in mind, bathroom/showerhouse location is a plus, for convenience.
2)Always arrive before dark, the best sites are usually taken by later in the day.
3)When it comes to garbage containment, it's always good to not camp next to a dumpster, especially during a holiday weekend when the park can be extremely busy meaning there will be a lot of camp food scraps that will become rather "smelly" after a few hot days.. Find a tree that is upwind to tie up your garbage, this also helps to keep critters out.
4)Avoid setting up camp in a high grassy area, makes a great insect haven.
5)When camping always keep in mind how weather can make a difference in the outcome of your safety, Get the best protection from lightning by camping near a dense grouping of trees, all the same height in a low area away from water is always a good idea.
and last but not least become familiar with identifying poison ivy and poison oak, when in doubt avoid "leaves of 3".
Following these simple guidelines will assure a safe and enjoyable camping trip.

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Benefits of a ground sheet for your camping tent

* Adding a ground sheet to your camping gear will provide additional protection for your tent floor in the event there was a sharp object underneath that could possibly cut through the tent floor, it is cheaper to dispose of a ground sheet than to repair or replace your tent.
* The ground sheet provides a barrier between your tent and the ground to assist in easier & faster tent clean up when time to pack up, also by having the ground sheet properly fitted under tent allows for moisture & rain to remain under the ground sheet and not in your living space. The recommended fit should be approx 1” spacing around the outside perimeter of the tent and the ground sheet to allowing run off from the tent to travel under and not settle on top of the ground sheet.