Section 130.70  Fees and Charges

a)         The full amount of the camping fee and, if applicable, the utility fee shall be collected at the time the permit is issued.  If checks are taken, they shall be made payable to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the site identified.  Camping fees vary according to the type of campground and are as follows:

1)         Spring-Summer Camping (rates apply May 1 through September 30, except at the WSRC during sanctioned shooting events when camping is reserved for event participants via a licensing agreement between the event sponsor and the Department)

A)        Class AA Sites:  Camping fee of $15 per night per site, $10 utility fee.  Sites having availability to showers, electricity, water hookups, sewer hookups, and vehicular access.  The camping fee shall be $25 per night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights of the Independence Day weekend if July 4 falls on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

B)        Class A Sites:  Camping fee of $10 per night per site, $10 utility fee.  Sites having availability to showers, electricity and vehicular access.  The camping fee shall be $20 per night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights of the Independence Day weekend if July 4 falls on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

C)        Class A Premium Sites:  Camping fee of $15 per night per site, $10 utility fee.  Sites having availability to showers, electricity and vehicular access.  The camping fee shall be $25 per night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights of the Independence Day weekend if July 4 falls on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

D)        Class B-E Sites:  Camping fee of $8 per night per site, $10 utility fee.  Sites having availability to electricity and vehicular access.

E)        Class B-E Premium Sites:  Camping fee of $10 per night per site, $10 utility fee.  Sites having availability to electricity and vehicular access.

F)         Class B-S Sites:  Camping fee of $10 per night per site.  Sites having availability to showers and vehicular access.

G)        Class B-S Premium Sites:  Camping fee of $12 per night per site. Sites having availability to showers and vehicular access.

H)        Class C Sites:  Camping fee of $8 per night per site.  Sites having vehicular access or tent camp/primitive sites (walk-in or backpack) having availability to showers.

I)         Class D Sites:  Camping fee of $6 per night per site.  Tent camping or primitive sites with no vehicular access.

J)         Youth Group Camping:  $2 per person, minimum daily camping fee of $20.

K)        Adult Group Camping:  $4 per person, minimum daily camping fee of $40.

L)        Each member of an organized group utilizing facilities furnished at Dixon Springs State Park, Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County) and Pere Marquette State Park shall pay a fee of $4 per night.  At Dixon Springs and Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County), a deposit of $40 will be required before confirmation of a reservation.  The deposits will be credited to the total camping fee.  At Pere Marquette, a deposit of $100 will be required before confirmation of a reservation.  The deposits will be credited to the total camping fee.  At Pere Marquette and Dixon Springs, deposit balances will not be refunded until inspection is made of the facilities after the group departs.  If damages warrant, Pere Marquette and Dixon Springs will have authority to retain this deposit.  Fees for day use of the group camps at Dixon Springs, Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County) and Pere Marquette shall be $75 per day.

M)       Rent-A-Camp Tents at Primitive Sites

If resources and funding allow, the Department, or the Department's concessionaire (see 17 Ill. Adm. Code 150), will make available Rent-A-Camp Tents for use at primitive sites at designated State parks and recreational areas throughout the Department's statewide system. A Rent-A-Camp Tent will provide, at a minimum:  an already erected tent on a platform, one sleeping mattress, one charcoal grill, one picnic table, and one trash barrel.  The overnight fee for a Rent-A-Camp Tent will be based on the basic fee of $6 per night for a primitive (Class D) camping site (see subsection (a)(1)(I)) and the per-night fee charged by the Rent-A-Camp Tent concessionaire for access to the camping amenities listed in this subsection (a)(1)(M) and set-up costs.  Depending on availability, and at the concessionaire's discretion, a camper may obtain additional amenities, including additional sleeping mattresses, from the concessionaire for an additional fee for each amenity.

N)        Rent-A-Camp Cabin areas will provide, at a basic cabin rental fee of $25 per night, one 2-bedroom cabin with 2 bunk beds, one full-sized bed, ceiling fans, electric heaters, table with chairs, one charcoal grill, one picnic table, and one trash barrel.  The total overnight fee for a Rent-A-Camp Cabin will be based on the basic fee plus Class specific utility and camping fees, as follows:

i)          Rent-A-Camp Cabins at Class A Sites:

$25 cabin rental plus $10 utility fee and $10 camping fee per night, per site at all sites having availability to showers and vehicular access.

ii)         Rent-A-Camp Cabins at Class A Premium Sites:

$25 cabin rental plus $10 utility fee and $15 camping fee per night, per site at all sites having availability to showers and vehicular access.

iii)        Individual Rent-A-Cabins at Dixon Springs State Park:

rented individually – not by organized groups pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(L); $60 cabin rental, $45 barrack fee per unit.

iv)        Individual Rent-A-Cabin (boathouse) at Siloam Springs State Park:  $80.00 cabin rental.

O)        A $5 per campsite non-refundable reservation fee must be remitted at those facilities offering reservation services.  This fee applies to reservations for group campsites as well as individual site reservations and individual Rent-A-Camp Cabin and individual Rent-A-Camp Tent reservations.  In addition to the $5 non-refundable fee, the full amount of the camping and utility fee (if applicable) is required at the time reservations are made.

P)         Dumping of wastewater from recreational vehicles and camping trailers by persons who are not registered campers will cost $5 per vehicle.

2)         Fall-Winter Camping (rates apply October 1 through April 30, except at the WSRC during sanctioned shooting events when camping is reserved for event participants via a licensing agreement between the event sponsor and the Department)

A)        As long as buildings, water and electrical service are available, regardless of the date, the regular camping fee will apply.

B)        When cold weather requires closing down buildings and shutting off water in any Class A or B campgrounds, the fee shall be reduced commensurate with the services and facilities available for use.

C)        The fee for primitive campsites shall be $6 per site.  When a change in facilities is made and a campsite is reclassified, the fee for a site will change automatically.

b)         Exceptions:  Employees, Concessionaires, and Special Legislation

1)         Persons who qualify and are placed in the campground host program at approved camping sites will not be required to pay the established camping fee.

2)         The concessionaire, manager, or a responsible employee designated by the concessionaire will not be charged the regular camping fee.  Rent will be paid at the rate established by the Department or pursuant to the concession lease.

3)         An Illinois resident age 62 or older, or a person who has a Class 2 disability as defined in Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act [15 ILCS 335] or a disabled veteran, or a former prisoner of war as defined in Section 5 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Act [20 ILCS 2805], is entitled to the following camping fee provisions, upon qualifying, which will allow the spouse or minor (under 18) children, or minor grandchildren to be included in the camping party.  All other members must be registered and pay the regular camping fee for the facilities provided.

A)        Illinois residents age 62 or older will be charged one-half the established camping fee on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, at Class AA, A Premium, A, B-E Premium, B-E, B-S Premium, and B-S sites but must pay the entire established camping fee on all sites on any Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and, if at a site with utilities, must pay the entire utility fee for each day of camping.  Verification of age may be made by any document required by law to establish proof of age and date of birth and issued by a federal or state governmental agency.  No fee on Class C and D sites Monday through Thursday.

B)        Illinois residents who have a Class 2 disability and present a current Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card issued by the Secretary of State will be charged one-half the established camping fee for Class AA, A Premium, A, B-E Premium, B-E, B-S Premium and B-S sites  on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, but must pay the entire established camping fee for any Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and, if at a site with utilities, must pay the entire utility fee for each day of camping.  No fee on Class C and D sites.  Parents or legal guardians, aged 18 or over, of minors who have a current Class 2 Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card may register the campsite at the reduced rate specified in this subsection (b)(3)(B) for disabled persons, provided the disabled minor is present and camping at the same site as the parent or legal guardian.

C)        An Illinois resident who is a disabled veteran or former prisoner of war may camp without being charged a camping fee, but if at a site with utilities, must pay the entire utility fee for each day of camping.  An individual wishing to qualify for free camping under the provisions stated above must be able to submit the appropriate document issued by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (see 20 ILCS 2805/5).

c)         World Shooting and Recreational Complex

The Department may establish the fees for use of all or parts of the campground at the WSRC through the negotiation of contracts for events to be held at the WSRC.  The Department shall consider the numbers of camping spaces reserved and the services provided at each campsite when establishing fees by contract.  All other fees set forth in this Section shall apply to public camping at the WSRC.

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 11067, effective August 27, 2021)