Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area.
Shelbyville, Illinois · on Lake Shelbyville
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area.
Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation Area is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed campground on the eastern shore of Lake Shelbyville, a Kaskaskia River reservoir in central Illinois. The site has a designated swimming beach that serves as the campground's swimming hole, alongside camping, boating, and fishing facilities, making Lake Shelbyville a convenient lake to swim in.
The recreation area sits on the eastern shore of Lake Shelbyville, a large Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in central Illinois, with an adjacent full-service marina and boat ramp. Sources describe steep banks around much of the shoreline, meaning direct water access varies by location within the campground.
Swimming at Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area.
Swimming takes place at a designated lake beach within the recreation area, suited to family/campground-style lake swimming rather than a secluded natural hole; no alcohol is permitted in the beach area. Because the surrounding banks are steep, official guidance notes it can be difficult to reach the water from many individual campsites, so the designated beach is the practical access point.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Shelbyville, Illinois: travel 3 miles east on State Route 16 to County Road 2200E, turn left and go 2 miles to County Road 1500N, then turn left and continue 1.4 miles to the campground (1989 State Hwy 16 / 2042 1500 North area, Shelbyville, IL 62565).
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up campground/day-use beach, not a hike-in swimming hole; visitors drive directly to the recreation area and walk from the parking/campsite area to the designated beach. No official source gives a specific walk distance or time from parking to the beach itself.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
There is a designated swimming beach (not a natural undeveloped bank), which is the intended family access point, but Recreation.gov's official listing warns that banks around much of the shoreline are steep and hard to reach from many campsites, so families should stick to the marked beach rather than improvising access elsewhere. No lifeguard presence, water depth signage, or drowning-hazard details were found in any source, so supervision is still needed.
Parking
Available
The recreation area is a drive-in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground with vehicle access to the site; some lakeside campsites are within walking distance of the water per StateParks.com. No source specifies a dedicated beach parking lot, its surface type, or whether day-use/beach parking carries a fee separate from camping reservations.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets and showers are provided at the Lithia Springs campground (confirmed by Recreation.gov and corroborated by Camptale and StateParks.com aggregator pages). None of the sources specify whether a restroom building sits directly at the beach versus elsewhere in the campground loops.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
Camptale.com's campground description characterizes the lake water at the beach as 'clear and inviting,' but this is marketing/aggregator copy rather than a first-hand trip report or measured water-quality data, so treat as a soft signal only. No USGS, Illinois EPA, or visitor trip-report water clarity data was located for this specific beach.
On the water
Recreation.gov's official facility listing includes canoeing and kayaking among on-site activities and lists a boat ramp, and a full-service marina sits adjacent to the recreation area, implying motorized boats are also permitted on this stretch of Lake Shelbyville. No source specifies no-wake zones, horsepower limits, or electric-only restrictions specific to the swim beach area itself.
Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area.: FAQ
Does Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area. charge a fee?
Camping is by paid reservation through Recreation.gov with check-in required at an on-site fee booth; a specific separate day-use or beach admission fee amount was not found in sources.
Is Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area. kid friendly?
There is a designated swimming beach (not a natural undeveloped bank), which is the intended family access point, but Recreation.gov's official listing warns that banks around much of the shoreline are steep and hard to reach from many campsites, so families should stick to the marked beach rather than improvising access elsewhere. No lifeguard presence, water depth signage, or drowning-hazard details were found in any source, so supervision is still needed.
Do I need to hike to reach Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area.?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area.?
The recreation area is a drive-in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground with vehicle access to the site; some lakeside campsites are within walking distance of the water per StateParks.com. No source specifies a dedicated beach parking lot, its surface type, or whether day-use/beach parking carries a fee separate from camping reservations.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area.?
Recreation.gov's official facility listing includes canoeing and kayaking among on-site activities and lists a boat ramp, and a full-service marina sits adjacent to the recreation area, implying motorized boats are also permitted on this stretch of Lake Shelbyville. No source specifies no-wake zones, horsepower limits, or electric-only restrictions specific to the swim beach area itself.
When is the best time to visit Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area.?
Stateparks.com (aggregator) notes fall foliage in red, orange, purple and yellow hues, and prairie wildflowers in spring and summer; not confirmed by an official source.
What are the rules at Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area.?
No alcohol permitted in the beach area. Campsite reservations are mandatory before setup; failure to arrive by 4 p.m. the day after scheduled arrival cancels the reservation. Site occupancy limited to one RV and three tents, or four tents per site. Outside firewood is not allowed.
What water body is Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area. on?
Lithia Springs Campground and Recreation area. is on Lake Shelbyville, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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