Illinois
66
Illinois State Parks
We have been utilizing the horse campground at Forbes State Park for more than 20yrs. Due to illness and other factors we have been unable to camp for the last 3 years. This past Memorial Day weekend we chose to go camp and ride. We arrived Friday afternoon and we were floored that the campsites had not been mowed. There were tall weeds around everything, the campfire pit, the trashcans, the out houses. The out houses were disgusting and almost full! I understand that there have been many budget cuts throughout the state but being the first big holiday weekend of the year I would have thought the campgrounds would have been more presentable. Very disappointed.
For those that like to drive in a trailer, plug in your electrical outlet, boat on the water and enjoy high tech modern camping this is a great park.
Not many pine trees!
If you like hiking trails, bicycling, primitive camping, and jogging, you will be disappointed.
The parks roads are dangerous to cycle on, trees/shrubs grow right up to the side of the pavement, many blind curves and many speeders. Many small unexciting hiking trails, only one really good long trail in the campground. Overall a great place to Picnic, camp and boat. A great recreation area.
Not many pine trees at this park.
My family and I have been camping at Forbes for 20 years. The campground is a great atmosphere and have had a lot of great times there. Although recently the prices have taken a dramatic increase. The prices have almost doubled from what they use to be. I recommend it to anyone looking for that quiet atmosphere. Since they have made improvements to the shower house and bathroom facilities the need for more water hook ups are needed . Some camp sites you can reach the water hookup some you cant unless you take extra hose. I read a review of the camp ground hosts being rude and crude.....I have to agree I know hosts are not all the same year round and they change throughout the year and not all are this way, I have had only one complaint due to a camp ground host. The hosts we had the pleasure to speak with during our time there was exceptionally rude. I can only guess to the reason why. But I have to bank on our young apearance being the reason for the rude greeting. Wish I had taken his and her name. Although we had a bad experience My wife and I plan to return and hope we do not have the same experience as before. Hope everyone has as good of a time as we have had over the years.
Forbes is a great family place to go. The park has all paved roads great for walking a bike rideing. The bathrooms are very clean all the time. Always very friendly people! All around fun and beautiful place! me and my family went there for a day this fall it was bueatiful and very neat. the picnic areas are great and we are planing many more trips to this park even tho we live very near there. the water was also great it seeemed clean and safe for the kids i will hightly recemend this to any family looking to take that weekend of. I have stayed several times, but see this place needs improvements. Whoever maintains and supervises, needs to work abit harder.
Dirty campsits, litter near sites, Piles of campfire ash piled near sites. Dirty dipers in womans bath room. 2barking dog rule not enforced. $20 is too much to pay. They need clean... Given the fact that the hook up is electric only and the fishing is almost non-existent its is definetly not worth the $20 fee!
The camp hostest is something else... probably one of the rudest people you will find in the area. If you do visit, please do not let her leave you with the impression that all locals act like her. I am from Salem,IL I have been living in Dallas, TX now for 5 years. I miss the serenity and tranquility of nature, fishing, hunting and all around nature of Forbes SP, I hunted and fished many seasons there, but most of all I miss my home... We camp at many campgrounds throughout the state of Illinois, and Stephen Forbes is one of our favorites. Besides the great fauna, the fishing is spectacular (Mostly by boat). The campground is great, and kept very clean. The hosts are wonderful. I would recommend this park to anyone. Cost of camping - $20.00 per night i love camping. only place we go is forbes we like the invirorment its always friendly and cosey. we always feel at home when were there. i was looking up your web site and you dont have the cost up on it its been 3 years scents i been there. so i would like to now what each night would be for tent and pull trail. we would be using tent for now but will go back to pull camper. so i would now the price for both please. it would be informationable. this summer will be are first camping out in tent in 3 years and not sure of price on it. so please email me back thanks jo ferrell it was amazing
