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Multiple camping facilities are available near the Decatur, Ill., Farm Progress Show grounds.

Holly Spangler, Senior Editor, Prairie Farmer

July 27, 2021

2 Min Read
RV campers
OPTIONS: There are campgrounds for Farm Progress Show visitors north of Richland Community College. There are also private camping sites in the area.

RV and camper parking is available at the Farm Progress Show west of the Decatur, Ill., show grounds and north of Richland Community College. Parking is free, but no facilities are provided. The grounds open to camper and RV parking at noon Aug. 30. Follow signs and parking attendants to be directed to the appropriate area. The Farm Progress Show runs Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.

Decatur area

Other sites offer camping and RV parking. For more information, contact these campgrounds or businesses directly:

Decatur-Macon County Fairgrounds. About 10 minutes from the show; 25 RV sites with water and electricity for $25 per night. Call 217-875-0135.

Wilder Haven East. About four minutes from the show; RV sites for $25 per night offer water, sewer, trash, Direct TV, electricity and a pool. Call Christy or Jami at 217-877-9010 for a reservation.

Friends Creek Campground. About 20 minutes from show at Cisco, Ill.; offers tent camping and RV sites — 26 with electricity and nine without — along with a dump station and shower house. Water is available. Electric sites are $20 per night; non-electric are $12 per night. Reserve your site by calling 217-423-7708. More information is at maconcountyconservation.org.

Clinton Lake. About 30 minutes from Decatur in DeWitt, Ill.; call Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Mascoutin, at 217-935-8722 or see reserveamerica.com.

Weldon Springs. About 30 minutes from Decatur in Clinton, Ill. Contact 217-935-2644 or visit reserveamerica.com.

Arrowhead Acres. Located in Clinton, Ill., about 30 minutes from show site; call 217-935-8442.

Lake Shelbyville area

About 45 minutes south of Decatur. Call 217-774-2244 or visit lakeshelbyville.com (click on “Recreation”). Options are:

Robin Hood Woods. Call  217-774-4222.

Whitetail Crossing. Call 217-774-3000.

State parks of Eagle Creek and Wolf Creek. Reserve sites at reserveamerica.com.

Federal parks of Bo Wood, Coon Creek, Lithia Springs, Lone Point and Opossum Creek. Call 877-444-6777 or visit recreation.gov.

Springfield area

About 50 minutes from the show. Go online to visitspringfieldillinois.com. The area offers camping at these facilities:

Double J Campground & RV Park. Call 217-483-9998.

Illinois State Fair Campgrounds. Call 217-524-9894.

Lincoln’s New Salem Campground. Call 217-632-4003.

Riverside Park Campground. 217-753-0630.

Sangchris Lake State Park. Call 217-498-9208.

Springfield KOA. Call 217-498-7002.

About the Author(s)

Holly Spangler

Senior Editor, Prairie Farmer, Farm Progress

Holly Spangler has covered Illinois agriculture for more than two decades, bringing meaningful production agriculture experience to the magazine’s coverage. She currently serves as editor of Prairie Farmer magazine and Executive Editor for Farm Progress, managing editorial staff at six magazines throughout the eastern Corn Belt. She began her career with Prairie Farmer just before graduating from the University of Illinois in agricultural communications.

An award-winning writer and photographer, Holly is past president of the American Agricultural Editors Association. In 2015, she became only the 10th U.S. agricultural journalist to earn the Writer of Merit designation and is a five-time winner of the top writing award for editorial opinion in U.S. agriculture. She was named an AAEA Master Writer in 2005. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award. She currently serves on the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation, the U of I Agricultural Communications Advisory committee, and is an advisory board member for the U of I College of ACES Research Station at Monmouth. Her work in agricultural media has been recognized by the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn, Illinois Council on Agricultural Education and MidAmerica Croplife Association.

Holly and her husband, John, farm in western Illinois where they raise corn, soybeans and beef cattle on 2,500 acres. Their operation includes 125 head of commercial cows in a cow/calf operation. The family farm includes John’s parents and their three children.

Holly frequently speaks to a variety of groups and organizations, sharing the heart, soul and science of agriculture. She and her husband are active in state and local farm organizations. They serve with their local 4-H and FFA programs, their school district, and are active in their church's youth and music ministries.

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