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Fulton County Camping & Rec Area

"Welcome to Your Favorite Place Outdoors"

About Us

Welcome to the Fulton County Camping & Recreation Area, a place where nature, community, and outdoor adventure come together across 440 sprawling acres of peaceful woodlands and shimmering waters. With nearly 150 acres of pristine lakes—many formed from historic strip mining—the area offers a rich and diverse outdoor environment unlike anywhere else in the region. Among these waters, the crown jewel is Little Sister Lake, naturally fed by a winding creek that keeps its ecosystem vibrant.

Our lakes are managed in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, ensuring healthy, thriving fish populations year after year. The major lakes are stocked annually with channel catfish and largemouth bass, while bluegill, redear, and crappie can be found throughout the campground waterways. Lakes 3 and 4 offer the exciting possibility of muskie, and Red Barn Lake is home to beautiful yellow perch. For the convenience of every angler, fishing limit signs are posted at each boat ramp to help guide responsible fishing practices.

From the moment you enter the grounds, an information pavilion welcomes you with maps and helpful details to start your stay off smoothly. Our facilities are designed to support a comfortable visit, including a seasonal shower house open from May 1st through November 1st, a sanitary dump station, conveniently placed dumpsters and trash cans, and a freshwater pump available for all campers. As you travel through the area, we ask everyone to follow posted speed limits and stay attentive to children, geese, wildlife, and golf carts that share the paths. Guests are welcome to fish from any bank or boat, and while docks belong to our seasonal campers, we simply ask that visitors respect their space, request permission when needed, and always leave the area clean and cared for.

As we continue to grow and improve, we are thrilled to be guided by the leadership of our new Campground Superintendent, Cindy Gallegos, and her husband, Timothy Hause. With many years of management experience, Cindy brings a passion for creating a safe, welcoming environment for every camper who visits. Tim adds extensive skill in facility maintenance, electrical systems, and HVAC work. Together, they previously oversaw operations in California and Las Vegas, where they focused on enhancing amenities, managing landscaping, improving communication, and resolving concerns quickly and effectively.
Their vision for Fulton County Camping & Rec is rooted in exceptional maintenance, strong relationships with campers, and the highest standards of safety and hospitality. Cindy and Tim are eager to meet each visitor, listen to your ideas, and continue building a campground that feels like home to long-time campers and newcomers alike.

Whether you're here to fish the early-morning waters, hike through peaceful trails, gather around a campfire with family, or simply enjoy the stillness of nature, we’re honored to welcome you. If you see Cindy or Tim around the grounds, be sure to stop and say hello—they look forward to making this season the best one yet.

Superintendent Contacts:
Cindy & Tim
309-219-2041 (Cell)
309-229-4701 (Office)

Areas Served

Fulton County, IL | Canton, IL

Our Professional Associations

Fulton County Outdoor Recreation Committee
Illinois Campground Association
The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds

What We Offer

Our Specialties include:

Fulton County Camping & Recreation Area specializes in creating a welcoming, accessible, and adventure-filled outdoor experience for every visitor. The campground’s tent campsites are designed with thoughtful accessibility in mind, offering convenient parking, smooth paths of travel, raised fire pits, and accessible picnic tables. RV guests enjoy reliable electric hookups and an accessible bathhouse complete with a roll-in shower and dedicated changing area. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore miles of scenic trails perfect for peaceful walks, invigorating runs, or challenging hikes, while anglers appreciate lakes that are replenished annually with channel catfish and largemouth bass. All of this is set across 440 acres of natural beauty, including 150 acres of pristine waters that make the recreation area a standout destination for camping, fishing, paddling, and exploring the outdoors.

Our Services include:

Camping Grounds: Welcome to the Fulton County Camping & Recreation Area, a sprawling outdoor escape offering 440 acres of natural beauty, including nearly 150 acres of clear, peaceful lake waters. The grounds provide an inviting blend of open space, shaded woodland, and quiet shoreline, creating the perfect setting for campers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts to relax, explore, and reconnect with nature.
Tent Camping: Tent campers will find comfortable, thoughtfully designed sites that blend rustic charm with practical accessibility. Each tent campsite provides accessible parking, smooth paths of travel, and space to move easily around the site. Campers can enjoy the convenience of a raised fire pit, an accessible picnic table, and close proximity to restrooms, showers, and water sources, all while surrounded by shade trees and the natural quiet of the park.
RV Camping with Electric Hookups: Travelers arriving with RVs can take advantage of 30-amp electric hookups, nearby water hydrants, and the convenience of an on-site dump station. The campground also features an accessible bathroom and shower building with a roll-in shower, a built-in bench, and an accessible changing area, creating a comfortable and accommodating stay for all visitors.
Campground Comforts & Amenities: A stay at the campground includes a variety of comforts designed to make your visit easy and enjoyable. Guests can relax at shaded picnic areas, gather around campfires with firewood available on-site, and make use of clean restrooms, showers, and well-placed trash bins. Pets are welcome throughout the park, and a dedicated dog run area provides space for them to stretch their legs. Campers can also pick up bagged ice and exchange propane for added convenience during their stay.
Fishing & Water Recreation: The recreation area offers rewarding fishing and a wide range of on-the-water activities. The lakes are replenished each year with channel catfish and largemouth bass, creating excellent conditions for anglers of all skill levels. Visitors can cast a line from fishing docks, enjoy peaceful bank fishing, or head out onto the water by kayak, canoe, or boat using the available launches. Whether you prefer still mornings on the shoreline or leisurely paddles across calm water, the lakes invite hours of relaxation and enjoyment.
Hiking, Walking & Running: Fulton County Camping & Rec offers a trail experience suited to every type of outdoor enthusiast. Those seeking a slow, relaxing walk will find gentle routes surrounded by natural scenery, while hikers and runners looking for more challenge can explore paths with varied terrain and interesting, scenic touches along the way. The trails create a welcoming space for casual strolls, adventurous treks, and energizing exercise alike.

Our Products include:

Accessible Tent Camping
RV Electric Hookups with Accessible Facilities
Scenic Hiking, Walking & Running Trails
Exceptional Fishing Opportunities
Water Recreation for All
440 Acres of Natural Beauty

Testimonials

On 11/29/2025 mark schulze had this to say:
Nice place but you have to have a boat to fish here. Shores are overgrown and had to get to. Bring your own water, the baths are back open, nice quiet place, nice place to get away for the weekend

On 8/17/2025 Luigi Impinto had this to say:
Good place to go and enjoy fishing

On 5/26/2025 Ryan Hougland had this to say:
A very nice, clean, quiet place to camp.

On 3/31/2025 Steve Ing had this to say:
Great camping area

On 2/3/2025 Sue Tisdale had this to say:
Beautiful, peaceful recreational area. Wildlife, lakes and great people. Been coming here for 30 years

Contact Us

Fulton County Camping & Rec Area
18773 N Conservation Rd Canton, IL 61520
Phone: (309) 229-4701

Where To Find Us

Our Hours

Monday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

FAQ

How big is Fulton County Camping & Recreation Area?

Our campground spans 440 acres, including 150 acres of pristine waters and several strip-mined lakes. Little Sister Lake, fed by a creek, is our natural gem.

What amenities are available at the campground?

Guests have access to shelters, picnic tables, seasonal restrooms, a shower house (open May 1–November 1), trash bins, a dump station, a freshwater pump, and electric hookups for RVs. Firewood, bagged ice, and propane exchange are also available.

Overnight Camping Rules

FULTON COUNTY CAMPING & RECREATION AREA
CHECK-IN TIME 1:00 PM CHECK-OUT TIME NOON
QUIET TIME 10:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M.

1. The following are prohibited and will result in immediate dismissal from FCCRA.

A. No firearms or fireworks allowed.
B. No swimming or wading in any of the lakes or water area.
C. No disorderly conduct or property damage will be tolerated.
D. No hunting allowed.
E. No running outboard motors on the lakes.
F. No mini bikes, ATV’s, or side-by sides allowed.
G. No littering (There are dumpsters near the shower house and trash cans around the grounds.)
H. No unleashed pets.

2. One RV/Camper per site. Back into the site and try and get as close to the electrical source as possible. Do not pull is sideways and block your neighbor or potential neighbor.
3. Two tents per site on non-electric or electric sites. One RV/camper plus one tent per electric site.
4. Golf carts are permitted at a $15.00/day fee and proof of insurance.
5. You are required to follow the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources boating and fishing regulations.
6. DO NOT MOVE PICNIC TABLES OR FIRE RINGS. One picnic table and one fire ring per site.
7. Campfires in the fire ring only. Burn wood, paper and biodegradable materials only. Upon departure, please extinguish your fire completely.
8. Campers are required to maintain a clean campsite. Trash cans are provided throughout the campground and dumpsters near the shower house. If your site is left a mess, a fee will be assessed to the person registered to that site and asked to not return to the campground.
9. No dumping grey or black water onto the ground, doing so will result in immediate dismissal. Empty all tanks at the dump station.
10. No illegal dumping of trash. Our dumpsters are for bagged trash only. No tires or personal belongings such as: furniture, mattresses, electronics, construction materials, or other items from your camper or home.
11. The shower house is for your convenience. Please help to maintain it by picking up after yourself and reporting any problems to the campground superintendent. No cleaning fish in the shower house.
12. Children and minors must be supervised by adults at all times.
13. No alcohol, cannabis or illegal drugs allowed.
14. Fishing poles only. No trotlines, jugs, bank poles, or other means of catching fish is permitted. Fish remains shall only be disposed at designated fish remains freezer located at the shower house. Please bag all remains in a manner that will prevent leakage and place in the freezer.
15. Camping is permitted in designated areas only.
16. No cutting of trees for firewood. You may gather fallen limbs. The campground office sells firewood.
17. All areas roped or cabled off are restricted.
18. Pets are welcome, but must be kept on a leash. Please clean up after your pet. No pets in shower house except service dogs. Excessive barking will not be tolerated. Do not leave your pets behind when you are away from your campsite.
19. Smoking is prohibited within 15 feet of all points of access.
20. 14-day limit for overnight camping.

IN CASE OF SEVERE WEATHER, SEEK SHELTER IN THE SHOWER HOUSE!

If you see anyone violate the rules above, please contact the campground office immediately. The campground superintendent has the right to dismiss any camper or guest for improper behavior or failure to obey the rules.

Fishing/Day Pass Rules

Fishing limit signs are posted at each boat ramp. Please follow these guidelines to help maintain healthy fish populations.
You’re welcome to fish from any bank or your boat. Just be respectful of docks owned by seasonal campers.

Daily Fishing Limits:
Bluegill & Redear- 25 fish
Channel Catfish - 6 fish
Muskie Fish over 42 in - 1 fish
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass - 3
•two bass less than 12in OR
• one bass greater than 15in
operating outboard motors is prohibited
two pole & line fishing only

What kind of fish can I catch here?

fishing is one of the area’s most popular activities. The lakes are stocked annually with channel catfish and largemouth bass, and you’ll also find bluegill, redear, crappie, muskie (in Lakes 3 and 4), and yellow perch (in Red Barn Lake).

When is the campground open?

The campground is open for camping from April 1 through October 31 each year. Fishing is available year‑round, even when the campground is closed for overnight stays.

Are pets allowed?

Yes! The Fulton County Camping & Recreation Area is dog‑friendly. All dogs must remain leashed while in the campground and recreation areas. A designated dog run is also available for off‑leash exercise.

Is the campground accessible?

Yes. Tent campsites include accessible parking, smooth paths of travel, raised fire pits, and accessible picnic tables. RV guests have access to an ADA‑accessible bathroom and shower building, featuring a roll-in shower and accessible changing area.

Are campfires allowed?

Yes, campfires are allowed in provided raised fire pits. Firewood can be purchased on-site. Please never leave fires unattended and fully extinguish them before leaving your campsite.