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Lake Shelbyville

Where to stay at Lake Shelbyville

Every place to sleep at the lake, from a Corps campsite to a boutique hotel, in one list — with each one linked to its own website where it has one.

Federal campgrounds (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

All sites are reservation-only through recreation.gov, the R1S app, or 877-444-6777, up to six months ahead. Card payment only at the fee booth. Season dates are the Corps’ own for 2026.

  • Forrest W. “Bo” Wood Recreation Area ↗

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    North end, near Sullivan

    Full-hookup sites, many along the shore, with a bathhouse and showers, a playground, laundry, a dog park and a boat ramp.

    Season
    April 16 – October 27, 2026

    Link goes to: Reserve on recreation.gov

  • Lithia Springs Recreation Area ↗

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    East shore, a few minutes north of Shelbyville, beside Lithia Springs Marina

    Waterfront tent and RV camping next to the marina and its boat ramp.

    Season
    April 16 – October 27, 2026

    Link goes to: Reserve on recreation.gov

  • Coon Creek Recreation Area ↗

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    West shore, between Findlay and Shelbyville

    Waterfront tent and RV camping with a boat ramp.

    Season
    May 7 – October 12, 2026

    Link goes to: Reserve on recreation.gov

  • Lone Point Recreation Area ↗

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    West shore, near Findlay

    Tent and RV sites on a point with a boat ramp.

    Season
    May 14 – September 7, 2026

    Link goes to: Reserve on recreation.gov

  • Opossum Creek Recreation Area ↗

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    West shore, north of the dam near Shelbyville

    Waterfront tent and RV camping with a boat ramp.

    Season
    May 14 – September 7, 2026

    Link goes to: Reserve on recreation.gov

  • Lone Point Group Camp ↗

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    West shore, near Findlay

    Ten full-hookup sites reserved as a block, two weeks to a year ahead. Open to single-site first-come camping when no group has it.

    Season
    May 14 – September 7, 2026

    Link goes to: Reserve on recreation.gov

  • Wilborn Creek Group Camp ↗

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    Wilborn Creek Recreation Area, by the Wilborn Creek beach

    Ten full-hookup sites reserved as a block. The same recreation area has first-come primitive tent sites, which are not reservable.

    Season
    April 16 – October 27, 2026

    Link goes to: Reserve on recreation.gov

  • Okaw Bluff Group Camp ↗

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

    Okaw Bluff

    Two houses, open year-round, booked through the Lake Shelbyville project office at 217-774-3951.

    Season
    Year-round

    Link goes to: Agency page

State parks and forest (Illinois DNR)

IDNR sites are reserved online at least three days and up to 180 days ahead, or at the fee booth. Each park page carries the reservation link.

  • Eagle Creek State Park ↗

    Illinois DNR

    West shore, four miles southeast of Findlay

    Wooded campground in the state park, with hiking trails and the Eagle Creek golf course. The equestrian trails were closed when checked.

    Season
    January – November

    Link goes to: Agency page

  • Wolf Creek State Park ↗

    Illinois DNR

    East shore, eight miles northwest of Windsor

    Wooded campgrounds, a swimming beach, and horseback and snowmobile trails, facing Eagle Creek across the lake.

    Season
    January – November

    Link goes to: Agency page

  • Hidden Springs State Forest ↗

    Illinois DNR

    South of the lake, a few miles west of Strasburg

    Primitive camping at Possum Creek in a state forest of twelve hundred acres.

    Link goes to: Agency page

Marinas with camping or boats to sleep on

  • Sullivan Marina & Campground ↗

    Privately run

    North end, near Sullivan

    Full-hookup RV sites with showers, a pool and a playground, beside a marina with covered and open slips, fuel and the Northend Pub & Grill on the water.

  • Lithia Springs Marina ↗

    Privately run

    East shore, north of Shelbyville

    Seasonal and transient slips, a gas dock and ship store, Nessie’s floating bar and grill, and boat rentals through 32 Marine — pontoons, fishing boats, party barges, kayaks and houseboats for overnight stays on the water.

  • Findlay Marina ↗

    Privately run

    Mid-lake, west shore at Findlay

    Seasonal covered and open slips with pump-out, showers and a gas dock, and pontoon and party-barge rentals through 32 Marine.

Private campgrounds and cabin villages

  • Robin Hood Woods Campground & Cottage Resort ↗

    Privately run

    Two and a half miles east of the dam on Route 16

    More than two hundred wooded sites with water, electric and sewer, plus waterfront log and cedar cabins and a family cottage on the resort’s own pond. Outdoor pool, two bathhouses, game room, playground and store.

    Phone
    (217) 774-4222

  • Whitetail Crossing Cabin Village ↗

    Privately run

    Minutes from the lake, north of Shelbyville

    Eighteen cabins from studio to four bedrooms, two tiny homes and an RV campground, with a pool, fishing ponds and trails. Open since 2001.

    Season
    April 1 – December 1
    Phone
    (217) 774-3000

  • Coon Creek Lodge, RV Park & Cabin ↗

    Privately run

    Coon Creek Road, half a mile from the lake

    A seven-unit lodge of efficiency rooms with a patio, grills and a fire pit, a seasonal RV park with full hookups, boat storage, and a cabin in the woods behind the park that books through Airbnb. Lone Point and Coon Creek ramps are minutes away.

    Phone
    217-756-3147

  • Arrowhead Campgrounds ↗

    Privately run

    Half a mile east of Lone Point, near Findlay

    Sites with electric and water, a fishing pond, showers, bait and a recreation room, plus tent sites and two cabins. No website of its own; the state tourism listing is linked.

    Phone
    (217) 756-8884

    Link goes to: Booking site

Cabins and lodges

  • Lithia Resort ↗

    Privately run

    Near Lithia Springs, east shore

    Log cabins, a lodge, vacation houses and efficiency rooms in a wooded setting, open since 1973, with catch-and-release fishing ponds and fishing-guide referrals. Military and veteran discounts.

    Phone
    217-774-2882

  • Wolf Creek Lodge ↗

    Privately run

    Windsor, on twenty wooded acres bordering Corps ground

    Six cabins from one to five bedrooms with full kitchens, porches, grills and fire rings, open year-round. Lithia Resort’s second location.

    Phone
    (217) 459-2008

  • Gregory’s Lodging & General Store ↗

    Privately run

    A quarter mile from Lithia Springs Marina and campground

    Cabin units with full kitchens and private decks, electric hookups for boats, charcoal grills, fire pits and a covered pavilion, with a general store for bait and supplies. Veteran owned.

    Season
    Through December 5, 2026

  • The Shed at Lake Shelbyville ↗

    Privately run

    West shore, three and a half miles from Findlay Marina

    A pet-friendly, fully furnished one-room shouse on public land beside Corps ground, with a full kitchen, an attached garage that fits a boat on its trailer, a dog enclosure and a fire ring.

    Phone
    309-838-2350

Hotels, motels and inns

  • The Shelby Inn ↗

    Privately run

    Downtown Shelbyville, a few blocks from the lake

    A forty-one-room boutique hotel around a courtyard, with boat and trailer parking, and the restored 1904 Tallman House as its lobby.

    Phone
    (217) 774-3991

  • The Foxmore Venue and Lodge ↗

    Privately run

    East Main Street, downtown Shelbyville

    An eight-room boutique lodge above a wedding and event venue in two restored 1893 buildings, with The Fox Den speakeasy beneath.

  • Spillway Motel & Bait Shop ↗

    Privately run

    Route 16 east of Shelbyville, below the dam

    Ground-floor rooms with fridges and microwaves, electric hookups for boats and a bait shop on site. No website of its own; the booking site is linked.

    Phone
    (217) 774-9591

    Link goes to: Booking site

  • Gateway Inn ↗

    Privately run

    South Hamilton Street, Sullivan

    A twenty-eight-room motel a couple of minutes from the square and a few from the Bo Wood ramp. No website of its own; the booking site is linked.

    Phone
    (217) 728-4314

    Link goes to: Booking site

Vacation rentals

Individual houses come and go; these searches are kept current by the platforms themselves. Several of the cabins above also list there.

Every entry above was checked against the operator’s own site or agency page on September 11, 2026. Seasons, rates and availability are theirs to set — confirm with them before you drive. We have no arrangement with any of these businesses; we list them because a buyer who has spent a weekend at the lake is a better buyer.

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