Pleasant Creek Campground

Michael Miller

2023-11

There are no sewers at the sites and the dump station is in a difficult place to access for big rigs. They do not accept packages for campers. The campground is located in a fairly dead cell zone and there is no free wifi (they offer paid wifi at $5/day). That being said, the campground was very pretty and serene. It felt a lot more like camping and less like parking. Price was reasonable and I would come back if in the area.

Jason Watkins

2023-06

There's one staff member that's really nice and helpful, but if you try to go here and see an old man or younger girl working there just leave. Terribly rude people with awful attitude. Will leave a sour taste to the rest of the day just speaking with them.The camp ground itself is over priced for what you get. Along with being about 10 minutes from anything you probably came here to do. And be careful parking any trailers here since there are invasive insects here such as carpenter ants that will make a home in them.Overall this place would be honestly decent at best if it weren't for the gross customer service from 2 of the workers we spoke to.

Miquela Bowers

2023-08

If I could rate this place lower I would. We first arrive to the cabin only to find the floor and bed covered in ants and ant larvae both dead and alive. No problem we clean it up and let them of the problem so they can be aware. Then a few hours after checking out we get charged an extra fee and the only time they have customer service is Friday-Sunday and they charge red he Sunday right before closing. They charged us for having a dog in our cabin because they found dog hair only we didn’t bring any pets and the ones we do own were with a dog sitter. They can let guests arrive to completely disgusting cabins but charge them an animal fee for finding some hair in the clean cabin.

Cynthia Poulos

2023-05

Had an awful experience. We rented two cabins and a tent site. to start with. The convenience store smells like mildew. The cabins are more like sheds. It was so hot in there it was like a sauna. Don’t waste your money on the cabin. It’s nicer in the tent. The basketball court they have is laughable. They are not pet friendly. They told me my dogs couldn’t leave the tent site. Why bring them then?? Also when my sons tried to play in the “creek” the owner driving on his golf cart told them they couldn’t play in there. Its camping. You go there to play in nature. If you like being woken up every hour by the “security” golf cart until 2AM this is the place. My kids tried to play in the woods and there was so much glass and garbage I told them to stay out. The fire rings are dented or rusting out. It was just a terrible experience and I would never recommend it to anyone.

Janice dirksen

2023-05

We were impressed with this campground. Midweek so not busy at all. Booked and hour before arriving. Bathhouse and restrooms clean and convenient to our campsite. Absolutely beautiful property and listening to the creek was so restful after a long day of driving. Lots of hiking trails. Staff was exceptional friendly and it looks like maintenance is ongoing.

Jordan Kurtz

2023-05

Nice weekend of camping. Staff was friendly very nice clean public restrooms. One lane and one way roads I never had any issues. When leaving the dump station I did have my wife walk down the hill and radio to me when I was clear to bring the trailer down so there would be no need for anyone to back up. We were at site 14 which is a beautiful sight underneath the large oak trees along the creek. A con to this site is very little grass so after some overnight rain the kids and dog made sure to locate all the mud to bring it back into the camper. But hey what is camping without a little rain.

e m

2023-05

There are few very private camping spots. We stayed at 130 and 131. There were four of us and the cost was $42 each tent site per night. Although we only had two people on each site they charged us extra money because one site had 2 tents. This was ridiculous. The sites were really nice and very green. They included a picnic table and fire ring. There is no wifi and no cell service. The bathrooms were not well maintained. It was very peaceful and the energy of the campsite is good. The wood was $7 for a small bundle, we used 4 per night. This is one of the strictest camp sites I have ever stayed at. That is why it was not full. Too many regulations and money grabbing.

Morgan Pelanek

2022-05

We stayed two nights and three days at Pleasant Creek and it was one of the greatest campgrounds that we have stayed at. The showers were 10/10. They were clean and well kept and the water was nice and hot! The water pressure was great! Our cabin was ADORABLE and so cozy and comfortable and the bed was outstanding. The people were so welcoming and sweet and the after hours check in was easy to figure out. We felt completely safe out in the middle of the woods and had no concerns that our cabin would be broken into and our valuables stolen. We came underprepared to camp and it was an easy 15 minute drive to town to get the things we forgot. Firewood was so easy to get and it was nice and dry and burned very well. We did not have much time to explore the campground completely, but there were hiking trails, horseshoes, a fishing pond, basketball, tetherball, a playground and an arcade for kids to enjoy. The location of Pleasant Creek was perfect. We had an easy 20 minute drive to Cedar Creek Ranch, a 10 minute drive to Starved Rock State Park, and a beautiful drive through the country side to see all of the little farms and grass puppies. This was our first annual best friends vacation week and we will definitely be coming back to Pleasant Creek for years to come!

Tom Manno

2022-05

Pleasant Creek is great! This past weekend was our first visit. We camped in the Outback section (sites 403 and 404), which is the primitive corner and a bit further away from the main campground. We had two campsites next to each other, and the group next to us happened to be setting up in the sites on either side of us. After a quick friendly conversation, we agreed to swap two camp sites so they could be next to each other, and the same for us. It worked out great! The site was clean and thankfully full of grass (that appeared recently mowed), which made for a comfortable tent pad. 405 and 406 had more shade than 403 and 404 in the afternoon/evening, but we had shade in the morning. There was a very clean port-o-let nearby as well, which wasn't expected, but certainly helpful to have! We were also on the edge of the property, and like the website says, there is a horse farm next door. We were lucky and got to see 5 horses several times throughout the weekend, and at times they were grazing right next to the fence, just feet away from us!The gentleman at the general store was very friendly while checking us in.Other reviews talk about noisy neighbors and wifi/phone connectivity, which isn't fair - this can't really be helped anywhere. If anything, I was glad to not have good cell signal; we came here to get away from that.This was an alternative to staying AT Starved Rock, which happened to be booked already. We will definitely come back to Pleasant Creek and we highly recommend it! You can't go wrong with sites 403-406 if you're looking for primitive camping.

Tenisha

2023-05

This camp site was ok. It was clean, people were nice. At this site you are required to purchase their firewood, and wifi is available for purchase as well. You'll need it if you have T-mobile. There is no hiking trails at this site you have to go to Starved Rock that's 10min away. They do have a pond that you can catch and release the fish you caught. Would not be my first choice to camp

Jim Wright

2022-05

Very expensive for a campground. The campground itself is fairly well maintained. Decent campsites with water and electric, and small but nice cabins. We stayed two night; on the second night the bathrooms in the Highlands were not working - no water. When it rained there was an issue with mud .... not unexpected. The roads throughout the grounds are very narrow and not well laid out; corners are too sharp for large campers.Overall, I expected a LOT more for the price and would not recommend this campground.

Lauria Edmonds

2020-05

This place was the perfect getaway from the city. We stayed 2 nights at spot 22. Nice and secluded from everyone. Neighbors were friendly and the campground was so quiet. The creek beside out spot offered tranquility while relaxing. Our car battery died and a worker gladly gave us a jump. Bathrooms were clean and warm. Everything was well maintained and all the workers we encountered were extremely friendly. My family loved our visit here and can't wait to return next season.

Courtney Mc Fate

2022-05

I had a great time at Pleasant Creek. I visited the store and got some goodies for great prices. My site was 103-Creekside. The site was kinda cramped with the other sites, but was definitely not too bad. My electric and water both worked great. I met the owner and he was very gentlemanly and kind. The shower house was decent with good hot water with a nice vanity area. I had no cell service at all while in the campground, which to me is a plus. Overall, I definitely recommend this campground.

Jon Washington

2023-05

I stayed at this campground in June and July, its now August 7th and I'm so upset that I'm finally writing this review. I left the campground instead of extending my stay because of the Carpenter ants infestation. They've set up a nest in my camper. I warned staff that I was having trouble with ants, and their response was "It's Illinois, they're everywhere." Thanks, I really appreciate you charging as much as you do and doing nothing.I'm no longer IN the state of Illinois, and I have an infestation that I can't get rid of because the staff had no interest in pest control. If you stay on the Hilltop area near any trees be warned: you will have Carpenter ants.I have sprayed, I have left out poison, I don't keep food in my camper (the whole reason I work and live in a camper is so I can cook for myself, which I can no longer do) and I am constantly bitten throughout the day and night. I am absolutely appalled that I now have an ongoing problem that is costing me time and money because the staff can't care enough to do some rudimentary maintenance of the grounds. Its like camper herpes, and I paid too much money staying there to have to put up with this.

Steve Heye

2021-05

Staff seemed to be very attentive, they drove around in the golf cart checking on things on a regular basis. The glades sites we stayed in are small and right on top of each other though, so it was pretty noisy almost all night. Prices seemed a little high but the price on the firewood is a complete ripoff since they don't allow you to bring your own wood. I probably could have just burned my money. Restrooms were small but clean and well kept. The campground was nice with trees, hills and some open areas. Location is great because it is closed to state parks but hidden away a bit. I would go again, but I guess I will need to start a savings account top pay for firewood.

Dawn E Pfluger

2023-08

The ground was uneven for our RV. I wish they would have had curb side trash service or a trash bin closer. It was a long walk to dump trash. It was quite and peaceful, though.

Ken Williams

2021-05

Lots of trees throughout the campground, with more tents than large campers. We have a 30 ft Class C RV and stayed in the Highlands section in a shaded sight based on the staff's recommendation. Site was very deep, so had tons of room. Playground was right behind us. Staff and fellow campers were super friendly. Ground wasn't real level and hookups were at the back of the sight, so need extra cord and hoses. Not a lot of amenities. But if you want a friendly place to get out among trees, this is it.

Sabrina

2023-05

Quiet hours are not enforced. There were other campers screaming all night long. We left minutes after 11am after check-out time and we were charged an additional night even though there is nowhere to even check out or in. We will not be coming back here.

John M

2023-09

Absolutely loved creekside! Only thing that wasn't perfect was their wifi didn't work, but not bad enough to lower my review. Staff are very friendly. Sites are clean. And so close to alot of activities. Hiking, kayaking, site seeing, dining, and much more are within minutes of camp.Edit, as of 2023 the wifi so much better, more sites, and wading pool open. Very nice place!

Lisa Sherman

2022-05

This place is beautiful. The staff was extremely accommodating when we got our camper stuck at a site (whoops)! Our kids loved the creek, playground, the trails, and the arcade! Bathrooms are clean and the wifi works! Will stay here again for multiple days.

Allison Rowe

2022-05

Loved the campground. We stay quite often all around the Midwest and this was our first time at Pleasant Creek. We checked in on Friday, October 15 and stayed through the 19th. We had a site up in the Highlands, and I loved it up on those sites. It’s a narrow path up to the sites and we saw quite a few struggle to navigate with some of the hills and terrain, very difficult for some of the back in sites with larger RV’s. We have an older pop up and didn’t have much trouble. We explored the campground with our dog on a few of the trails and loved that there was space for us to leave the site and explore without actually leaving the campground. We had little to no cell service which was ok, but wished we didn’t have to pay for each device to use internet for 24 hours. I feel like with the amount of money we paid, that internet should have been included. I loved that there was a firewood vending machine for after hours - so cool, never have stayed somewhere where that was an available option. The bathrooms were clean, probably the cleanest bathrooms we’ve seen in our stays this year. The water in the showers was warm, which was nice. It was about 10 minutes to Matthiessen and 20 minutes to Starved Rock, we went to both during our stay. It was chilly the days we stayed and therefore, there were not a lot of campers, I would be curious to see the grounds during a busier time. My kids really liked the campground and I am sure we will be back there again next fall.

Kim Koziol

2022-05

My husband and I come at the end of September. Close to the end of the season for them. We camp here, it is clean, quiet, easy access to a town if you need anything, a restaurant, Starved Rock and another nature walk location which was just beautiful and not to far. We stay 2 nights and 3 days. Perfect amount of time.If you are going qhen it is cold. Nothing is provided for the bed. Bring a sheet and blankets and a portable heater if you want to stay warm. Just turn it off qhen toy leave the cabin and unplug it. Summer you will be able to leave the windows open at night at just a sheet will work.Try it out. It's beautiful. There is a lot of erosion, but that's nature.

Rosie Jalove

2019-05

Nice place, and friendly informative staff. Peaceful and clean - grounds wise.Don’t know if we can go back due to only one full hook up site. We travel with a group of people with trailers - so no room for a group or you don’t see your group all weekend which defeats the purpose. If they were able to fix that - and position it where a group could “share the same space” it would have become a regular go to spot for our group. They have one area you could rent trailers in a group area so they have the right idea but need more of those areas for people with trailers. Those rentals look like they could use a good cleaning - at least on the outside.And a bit overpriced for what you get on the inside.Biggest negative would be the arcade area. They need to put some real attention to the arcade - every thing was FILTHY. We know kids play in there but it looked like nothing has ever been cleaned - like ever. And no seating to “hang out” if you were to want to play games for awhile. We were out of there pretty quick.I wouldn’t say we would never go back but more likely to give other campgrounds a try first.

nick marinelli

2021-05

After reading other reviews I wasn't expecting much. But I was pleasantly surprised. The campsite is more attuned with nature than most places. Which was great for the kids. But management is poor. Our campsite had no electricity. They promised to look at it, but didn't. And we found out that previous campers st that particular site also complained about no electricity. So they didn't fix the problem, they didn't give us a heads up and they charged us for the site as if the electricity was functional. Always a good business practice. While I would consider staying here in the future this will not be my first choice.

patti haskell

2022-05

I was hesitant to book here after reading reviews but we have no complaints. The campsite was well maintained with a clean shower house and a pretty setting. We stayed down below close to the shower house. The catch and release pond was great and 2 grandchildren caught their first fish! The only negative thing I have to say is no WIFI unless you pay for it but I can be disconnected for 4 days. I would stay here again without hesitation.

Robert Pauli

2022-05

Spent two nights, it was pretty cold out so campground was very quiet. We were in a pull thru down by general store, easy access. We explored the rest of the place, roads are basically narrow, with little to no room for passing. Lucky we had walkie talkies, so we had another car go to other end of roads and block traffic so we could go thru with 30 footer with no issues. The dump station is up on a hilltop, so if tent camping do not rent site 400 adjacent to sewage dump. Bad internet, no cell service by offices. Overall it's just ok, if busy season it would be a nightmare.

Teresa McCann

2021-05

We had an awesome time! Doing research ahead of time helped me to reserve the perfect site for my family. We had plenty of space. The kids could run and have fun and still socially distance themselves from others.The office is practicing social distancing and requires a mask And I am grateful they are taking it seriously. It was a great 1st camping trip for us!

Agata Tomaszewska

2023-05

Cool place, we were here the second time. Nice and helpful owner. It is a pity that the prices of firewood are higher every year. It was a nice idea to create a games room, it is a pity that you have to pay for ping-pong and there is no dartboard

Paul A. Schreck

2022-05

Spent Labor Day weekend here, and our experience was mixed and overall disappointing.On the NEGATIVE side, where do I begin. I'll begin with the most DANGEROUS situation.We paid for 30 amp service, but our service wouldn't come on at all the first night we were there. We used the service from #121 the first day because it was vacant. But neighbors arrived on day 2 and I had to figure out power. I got our 30 amp breaker to work... for all of 20 minutes before it blew, then I couldn't get power at it again. I complained at the office, and the cashier gave me an adapter... from 110 to 30 amp! I told her in order for me to use the adapter she provided, I'd have to use my own 30 amp to 110 in order to plug into her adapter. She said, "No one's ever brought it back saying it didn't work." I was skeptical, but that was the only solution she was prepared to offer so we tried it. Of course, it didn't work. Fortunately there was a 110 plug provided for our site, so I plugged into that for at least limited power. I returned to the office later that day and told her someone had now brought it back saying it didn't work. She didn't seem to remember our conversation from the morning! I said we were getting by on the 110 outlet, but we paid for 30 amps. She asked if it was working. I said so far, but we'd likely blow that line if we used everything. She told me to TRY that, and if it blew, she'd have the owner come over for a repair. I told her at the very least she needed to let the owner know that the 30 amp service at #122 was UNSAFE. She assured me that she would tell him, but something tells me she won't remember to. She didn't even offer to reduce our fee, or even provide complimentary WiFi.Yes, you read that right, I said "complimentary WiFi." Not only do they charge MUCH more than other campgrounds, they add-on fees for lots of other things! Want WiFi? Pay extra for it. Have too many people in your family? Pay extra for them. Too many vehicles? You get the point from this limited list of fees. My wife and I actually joked that $25 was their go-to fee.Then there's the toilet situation. They claim their system is delicate and can't take too much paper, but I thinks it's just the sheer volume. There are 3 toilets for men, and I presume 3 for women, all for 100s of campers. They were fairly clean--they just needed more of them.On the POSITIVE side, it's an absolutely beautiful property. Lots of trees, amazing birds right at the campsite. The site we had (#122) was mostly level, so not too difficult to get the pop-up ready. It's because of the beauty of the place that we rated it 2.5 stars.

Daniel

2023-06

51 per night to camp?! That's insane the owners of this place should be ashamed of yourself don't run a campground if you can't make it affordable for everyone.. the owners or whoever set these prices are basically telling the public sorry we only want high class people camping here. Low...