Forrest W. Bo Wood
Forrest W. ''Bo'' Wood Recreation Area has a large campground on the northern shore of Lake Shelbyville in the heart of central Illinois. The lake and surrounding land offer outdoor activities for people of all ages, including fishing, swimming, picnicking and simply relaxing. Visit the Lake Shelbyville, U.S.
More like this: electric hookups in Illinois · full hookups in Illinois · reservable in Illinois · big rigs in Illinois · pets allowed in Illinois
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 131 |
| tent only electric | 4 |
| Host/management | 6 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 120 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
135 sites in 7 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Area 1 | Electric | Back-in | 90 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |||
| 002 | Area 1 | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |||
| 003 | Area 1 | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |||
| 004 | Area 1 | Electric | Back-in | 80 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |||
| 005 | Area 1 | Electric | Back-in | 90 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 006 | Area 1 | Electric | Back-in | 85 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | ||
| 007 | Area 1 | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | No / – | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 008 | Area 1 | Electric | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | No / Yes | Lakefront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 009 | Area 1 | Electric | Back-in | 57 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |||
| 011 | Area 2 | Electric | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | 50 amp | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 150 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 012, 013 are listed accessible |
Forrest W. Bo Wood Campground is 100% reservable. It is a large facility with more than 140 campsites that all provide electric hookups. For those without RVs, there are several tent-only sites. The campground has flush toilets, showers, a playground, dog park, fish cleaning station, dump station and a high-water boat ramp.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Sullivan, Illinois, take State Route 32 south for two miles to the Forrest W. ''Bo'' Wood sign, then turn right and drive a half-mile to the campground.
| Nearest town | Shelbyville, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 39.5514° N, 88.6222° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedShelbyville State & Wildlife Rx
7 mi from the campground · 30 acres
- PrescribedBrrus Rx
31 mi from the campground · 50 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 6.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 16.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | J and K Mitchell RV Outlet ↗ | 37.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Lake Shelbyville Forrest "Bo" Wood Campground
Worth a stop
Wolf Creek State Park, Woods Lake Waterfowl Refuge and Okaw Bluff Wetlands Complex are popular locations for wildlife watching, birding and hunting near Lake Shelbyville.
- 0.5 miForrest W. Bo Wood Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 0.7 miWhitley Creek Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 1.6 miSullivan Beach ↗Swimming
- 4.7 miWilborn Creek Beach ↗Swimming
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Moultrie County CourthouseBuilding · Sullivan · 3.4 mi
- Richard Roytek HouseBuilding · Mattoon · 12.6 mi
- Chautauqua AuditoriumBuilding · Shelbyville · 12.8 mi
Natural features
This facility lies on the shoreline with a steep descent down to the water. Oak and hickory forests offer plenty of shade. Foliage turns a variety of red, orange, purple and yellow each fall, while prairie flowers dot the landscape in spring and summer. Numerous species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors inhabit the lake area, as do mammals such as cottontail rabbit, white-tail deer, gray and fox squirrel, muskrat and mink, raccoons, & opossums.
Recreation
Lake Shelbyville offers a multitude of fishing opportunities for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass and bluegill. The campground has a boat ramp for easy access to the water, and for those without a boat, several ponds with farmed fish are available around the lake. Hunting areas located within a short drive offer numerous game species, including quail, rabbit, pheasant, deer, dove, turkey, waterfowl and woodcock.
Guidebooks for Illinois
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Forrest W. Bo Wood?
Sites at Forrest W. Bo Wood are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Forrest W. Bo Wood?
Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Forrest W. Bo Wood have?
141 sites, including 131 standard sites with power and 4 tent only electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Forrest W. Bo Wood?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Forrest W. Bo Wood have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Forrest W. Bo Wood?
The campground has flush toilets, showers, a playground, dog park, fish cleaning station, dump station and a high-water boat ramp.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Forrest W. Bo Wood?
Yes, pets are allowed at Forrest W. Bo Wood. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Forrest W. Bo Wood?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Forrest W. Bo Wood?
Sites 012 and 013 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Forrest W. Bo Wood?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Forrest W. Bo Wood?
Lake Shelbyville offers a multitude of fishing opportunities for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass and bluegill. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Forrest W. Bo Wood?
Shelbyville, Illinois. Wolf Creek State Park, Woods Lake Waterfowl Refuge and Okaw Bluff Wetlands Complex are popular locations for wildlife watching, birding and hunting near Lake Shelbyville.
Source: Getting there