Opossum Creek
Opossum Creek Recreation Area has a quiet campground that sits on the western 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 | 47 |
| tent only electric | 17 |
| Host/management | 6 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 100 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
64 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Electric | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 03 | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 04 | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 05 | Electric | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 06 | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 07 | Electric | Back-in | 75 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 08 | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 09 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 10 | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 11 | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Full | 30 amp | Lakefront | 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 | 100 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
Opossum Creek Campground is 100% reservable. Most of the campsites have electricity and accommodate both RVs and tents, though there are several tent-only non-electric sites as well. Flush toilets, showers, a playground and dump station help create a comfortable camping environment.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Shelbyville, Illinois, take State Route 128 north for 3.5 miles. Turn right onto County Road 1650 N. Continue nearly a mile to County Road 1880 E. Turn right and travel 0.5 mile to County Road 1600 N. Turn right again and drive one mile into the Opossum Creek facility.
| Nearest town | Shelbyville, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 39.4456° N, 88.7725° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedShelbyville State & Wildlife Rx
11 mi from the campground · 30 acres
- PrescribedBrrus Rx
37 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 ↗ | 5.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 24 mi |
| RV sales & service | Fourwinds RV ↗ | 42.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Opossum Creek, IL from Michael M.
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.
- 0.1 miOpossum Creek Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 1 miCoon Creek Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 9.6 miWilborn Creek Beach ↗Swimming
- 10.6 miSullivan Beach ↗Swimming
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Chautauqua AuditoriumBuilding · Shelbyville · 2.1 mi
- Horace M. Tallman HouseBuilding · Shelbyville · 3.2 mi
- Westervelt Christian ChurchBuilding · Westervelt · 5.3 mi
Natural features
Opossum Creek overlooks the lake shore and provides plenty of shade. Oak and hickory are the lake region's dominant tree species. 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.
Recreation
Lake Shelbyville offers a multitude of fishing opportunities for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass and bluegill. Opossum Creek provides a fishing pond for children age 12 and under with an accessible fishing dock. There are also several other ponds with farmed fish 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 Opossum Creek?
Sites at Opossum Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Opossum Creek?
Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Opossum Creek have?
70 sites, including 47 standard sites with power and 17 tent only electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Opossum Creek?
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 Opossum Creek have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Opossum Creek?
Flush toilets, showers, a playground and dump station help create a comfortable camping environment.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Opossum Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Opossum Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Opossum Creek?
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
Is there cell service at Opossum Creek?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Opossum Creek?
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 Opossum Creek?
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
What if Opossum Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Coon Creek (0.7 mi), Lithia Springs (1 mi), and Lone Point (1.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby