State Recreation Area

Randolph County State Recreation Area

Randolph County, IllinoisAbout 1,138 acres
Status
Status not posted
Entrance fee
Statewide rule — see below
Day-use reservations
None mentioned
Dogs
Not stated — check with park
Camping
Yes
Official site
dnr.illinois.gov(618) 826-2706

Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current

Overview

In Randolph County, about 3 miles northeast of Chester, Randolph County State Recreation Area covers about 1,138 acres.

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
Booking system
ExploreMoreIL (IDNR camping, cabins, group camps and shelters)

Check availability and book

We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.

Camping

Reserve Your Campsite

Fifty-one Class BE campsites, 95 Class C campsites, an equestrian site with eight stalls for horses, and four Class D (primitive) campsites are available throughout the area. A group camp area has its own shelter, stone fireplace, electricity, and tables. Some campsites at Randolph County SRA can be reserved online through the ExploreMoreIL™ website.

From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.

Things to do

Trails

Trails

Randolph County SRA is renowned for its wooded areas and abundance of songbirds and wildlife. Hikers on the trail may see woodpeckers, hawks, turkeys, deer, squirrels, and waterfowl as they wind through woods and open fields and around the lakeshore. An additional 11.6 miles of horse trails provide riders with the same panorama of sights and sounds.

Fishing

Fishing

Randolph County Lake is a clear-water lake stocked with channel catfish, redear and bluegill sunfish, walleye, saugeye, and rainbow trout. Other game fish such as largemouth bass, green sunfish, bullhead, and crappie also can be found, so no angler should be disappointed. Boat motors are limited to 10 HP.

A state fishing license is usually required.

Amenities

Facilities

  • Picnic areas

✓ 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

​Physical Accessibility at Randolph County

  • The parking lots are concrete with one accessible parking space in each. There is approximately a 6' distance to the concrete sidewalk.
  • There is a wheelchair ramp to the park office.
  • There is one accessible fishing pier. The surface is wood and is approximately 30' from the parking area.
  • There are accessible restrooms located in the campgrounds and at each shelter. There are accessible vault toilets throughout the park.
  • The campground has one accessible electric campsite and two primitive accessible campsites.
  • Service animals are allowed in the park. There is water available throughout the park.

Official accessibility information

Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.

Getting there

Address
4301 S. Lake Drive
Chester, IL 62233
Nearest town
Chester — about 3 mi northeast (straight line)
Coordinates
37.9680, -89.8020
Phone
(618) 826-2706

Google Maps directionsApple Maps

Nearby state parks

Sources and freshness

“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

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