Litchfield, Illinois, booms during the summer months as visitors from all over the country travel Route 66 into its historic downtown, home of the oldest restaurant and drive-in theater along the Mother Road. Litchfield's other main draw is Lake Lou Yaeger, a mecca for the serious fisherman, boater and water-skier. For those who want to sleep under the stars to the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore, a number of campgrounds are within a 10-mile radius of Litchfield.
The city of Litchfield operates a 300-acre park with two campgrounds at Lake Lou Yaeger. Jet Skis and other personal watercraft are allowed on the lake on weekdays, and boats have no speed or horsepower limits. Licensed anglers can fish for largemouth bass at the stocked lake, and guarded fee-based swimming is available at the main marina. Open April though October, the park's smaller campground has 44 RV sites with water and electric hookups, while the 350-site primitive campground has lakeside sites that are leased by the season, with most sites only accessible by boat. If you prefer more creature comforts, two cabins with beds, electricity and air-conditioning are available.
Honey Bend Campground & Resort is less than 6 miles outside of downtown Litchfield, but its rural location amid cornfields and green meadows feels miles from civilization. Except for a train that runs through the area a few times a day, the family-friendly park is tranquil and laid-back. Long-term campers occupy many of the full and partial hookup sites that line one side of the park, but overnight campsites are centrally located to a laundry, restrooms and showers. The campground has a host of amenities, including a playground, swimming pool and miniature golf course. Bring your rods and reels for licensed angling at the park's small fishing ponds.
Although located in a secluded, wooded setting, Lankel's Lazy Days Campground in Litchfield is close to major highways, shopping and restaurants. More than 120 sites with full and partial hookups are tucked between tall trees that shade the 28-acre property. A stocked 5-acre lake provides licensed fishing opportunities and a second lake offers a sandy beach for swimming. Restrooms, hot showers, a dump station and camp store are centrally located, and horseshoes, basketball and planned activities -- including hayrides, potlucks and bingo -- keep campers busy from April through October.
Year-round Kamper Kompanion RV Park is a small campground with nearly 30 full hookup sites on 10 level acres. While you won't find any water-based entertainment at this quiet park, Lake Lou Yaeger and the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center are less than 8 miles away, and pizza joints and ice cream shops are in walking distance. For those who would rather chill at the campground, a playground and dog park are on site, and wireless Internet and satellite TV are available.
Open from April through October, Rainmaker Campground is nestled along the shores of Lake Lou Yaeger, about 8 miles east of Litchfield in Butler. Most of its 225 sites are occupied by permanent trailers, but about 25 are open for overnight travelers. Surrounded by hiking trails that loop around the lake and forest habitats, the pet-friendly park has plenty to keep outdoor enthusiasts active. A ramp and dock are on site for boating and canoeing opportunities, and licensed anglers can cast lines for bass, walleye, crappie and catfish. Saturday afternoon lake parties, a playground, ladder golf and volleyball games add to the fun.
