Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site Campground

The Great Outdoors

Petersburg campers can make the short drive south to the Starhill Forest Arboretum, which is a private arboretum that was established in 1976. Many of its oldest trees date to the mid-19th century, with a highlight being their collection of oaks that’s the most comprehensive of its kind in North America. Aside from its forested area, there are also a native prairie garden and conifer plantations, as well as several picturesque ponds and aquatic areas that transform beautifully with the seasons. Closer to Springfield is Carpenter Park, a 322-acre recreation area on the north bank of the Sangamon River and a designated Illinois Nature Preserve. After working as a timber forest and corn farm during the 19th century, the woodlands of Carpenter Park have slowly recovered, with impressive tracts of white oak, black walnut, and hickory trees to explore today. It’s a popular birdwatching destination, with more than 80 different species having been recorded within its bounds, and has been identified as an Important Bird Area of Illinois. Around an hour’s drive west of Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site Campground is the Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area in Chandlerville. It comprises almost 10,000 acres of bottomland environments, sloughs, and backwater lakes along the Illinois River, providing a refuge for migratory waterfowl. Before being acquired by the state, the Sanganois was operated by various private duck hunting clubs, and it remains a public duck and goose hunting area to this day. However, waterfowl hunting is restricted to marked blind sites and a designated walk-in area.

Exploring the City

When you camp at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site Campground, you can fill up your RV rental at one of the gas stations in Petersburg, which is just five minutes’ drive away. There are also supermarkets where you can stock up on groceries, as well as a handful of fast-food restaurants and eateries if you want to dine out. A highlight of camping at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site Campground is exploring the reconstructed village of New Salem and learning about its ties to Abraham Lincoln. After he left for Springfield in 1837, the village was largely abandoned, and it wasn’t until the 1930s that the Civilian Conservation Corps built a historic re-creation on its original foundations. It features 23 buildings where the shops and businesses that existed during Lincoln’s time have been replicated, with costumed interpreters helping to bring the history to life.Camp in an RV near Petersburg and make the 30-minute drive southeast to Springfield, which serves as the capital of Illinois. It’s home to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum where you can learn about his life and work, as well as the Lincoln Home National Historic Site where Abraham and Mary lived from 1844 until his election to the presidency in 1861. See where Lincoln delivered his famous "House Divided" speech at the domed Old State Capitol, then pay your respects at the Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Delve into the state’s cultural and natural history at the Illinois State Museum, then stretch your legs while strolling through the rockery and cactus gardens of the Washington Park Botanical Garden. This green oasis is also home to the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, a 12-story tower with observation decks that offer sweeping views across the city. Another landmark not to miss while visiting Springfield is the Dana-Thomas House, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1904. Whether you want to discover Lincoln’s connections to Springfield or go birdwatching in the surrounding nature preserves, book an RV in Menard County and start planning your next vacation.