Kickapoo State Recreation Area
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(217) 442-4915
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Construction Park noticeThe IDNR Office of Mines and Minerals has identified a significant seepage of water from neighboring lake embankments within Kickapoo State… (more)
The IDNR Office of Mines and Minerals has identified a significant seepage of water from neighboring lake embankments within Kickapoo State Recreation Area. Out of an abundance of caution, the river has been closed to public access until IDNR can fully assess the stability of the riverbank. IDNR will follow up with more information as it becomes available. Middle Fork Vermilion River Project: Beginning September 14, 2026, a portion of the river south/downstream of Mile Marker #8 will be CLOSED and marked by buoys, float lines and/or signage. This is a streambank stabilization project which will impact 750' of shoreline and 30' into the river, lasting approximately 90 days. During active construction, contractor personnel may hold watercraft for periods of up to 15 minutes or require portage along the left descending bank for public safety. MAP UPDATE: The following areas of the park are CLOSED: • All Mountain bike trails following rain events are closed until they dry out. • Mountain Bike Trails from the Monday before shotgun deer season until the Monday following muzzleloader season. • All Activities until 1:00 PM except permitted turkey hunters, in open hunting areas…
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Kickapoo State Recreation Area is a 3,947-acre recreation area in Vermilion County, about 7 miles west of Danville.
Fees and passes
Free: 'The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) does not charge an Entrance Fee to any state owned or operated land.' Camping, cabins and shelters are fee-based.
Statewide fee rule from Illinois's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- ExploreMoreIL (IDNR camping, cabins, group camps and shelters)
Reservations for the main campground are available from May 1st to Oct 31st at ExploreMoreIL™ and any camping outside of this timeframe will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
Reserve Your Campsite
For campers, Kickapoo SRA has a variety of options for tent, trailer, and group camping, with 184 sites at the facility. Electrical hookups are available on sites 1-101, with both 30 and 50 amp service on selected sites. Centralized water spigots exist throughout the campground, along with two shower buildings and a sanitary dump station for camper use. These facilities are winterized and closed from December 15th to March 31st depending on weather. Campers occupying electrical sites are required to pay for electricity even if the service is not used. Walk-in sites are available to campers throughout the year and can be obtained from the campground host at the check station.
Read more from the park
The maximum length of stay is 14 days in a 30-day period, and all campground guests must check in with the campground host before entering the campground.
Campers must have camping equipment with them the day they register to camp as well as occupy the site that day. All campers must obtain a camping permit from the campground host or through reservations before entering the campgrounds. Reservations for the main campground are available from May 1st to Oct 31st at ExploreMoreIL™ and any camping outside of this timeframe will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Trails
Hiking and Running
For physical fitness, the 7.6-mile out-and-back running and hiking trail offers a chance to exercise while enjoying awe-inspiring natural scenery. The course is rated difficult and is designed to meet the demands of experienced outdoor hikers or runners, passing through forests, bottomlands, and the edge areas of abandoned croplands.
For a less demanding walk, there are a number of shorter, easier, and well-marked hiking trails in the park.
Kickapoo Mt. Bike Trail Map
Complete Guide to the Kickapoo Mountain Bike Trail System
Fishing
Fishing, Boating and Canoeing
With 22 lakes and access to the Middle Fork River, Kickapoo is known for the opportunities it provides for water-based outdoor activities. Anglers find excellent fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, bluegill, crappie, and redear sunfish. Especially popular are the annual fall and spring stockings of rainbow trout, which provide an unusual opportunity for central Illinois anglers to fish for catchable-size trout.
There are 12 launching ramps on nine of Kickapoo's lakes. Boat and canoe rentals are available for Clear Pond. Only electric motors are allowed on the park's lakes.
For people wanting to canoe the scenic Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, a canoe rental and shuttle service is available.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Park or camp store
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Accessibility at Kickapoo:
•
Parking - Parking lots are asphalt, except for the hunting parking lots, which are gravel with accessible parking spaces. There is an approximate 10-15' distance to the nearest concrete sidewalk. There is a wheelchair ramp into the site office.
•
Restrooms - There are accessible flush toilets in the shower house of the campground. There are vault toilets at the Ironwood Shelter.
•
Trails - The park has a 3/8-mile wheelchair-accessible trail available.
•
Fishing - There are three accessible fishing piers available at Kickapoo. The Clear Lake pier is a wooden plank dock and approximately 40' from the parking lot. The Long Pond has an aluminum dock with a railing and has a 40' distance from the parking lot. High Pond is a wooden plank dock with a handrail and is approximately 20' from the parking lot.
•
Camping - Campsites 40, 43, 44, 72, and 73 are the accessible campsites in the campground. These campsites can be reserved through ExploreMoreIL™.
•
Service animals are welcome in the park, but outdoor water fountains are not available.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 10906 Kickapoo Park Rd.
Oakwood, IL 61858 - Nearest town
- Danville — about 7 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 40.1400, -87.7350
- Phone
- (217) 442-4915
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Illinois State Parks (IDNR state parks and recreation areas) — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- IDNR All Parks list (AEM content-fragment list JSON) + each unit's landing page for official title, coordinates, address, phone
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology