The Top 20 Campgrounds in the U.S. must be a decimal error; it may be in the top 20,000? Paved interior roads, gravel sites, fairly level. Sites are fairly far apart, but not well separated. Table and nice, round concrete fire rings at each site. Most sites have 30 amp power, the few 50 amp sites are well marked in large numbers. Most sites first come, first served. Reservable sites are well marked. Inexpensive lakeside restaurant w/ good food 1/4 mile by easy trail from campground. Campground host friendly and helpful. Could be unpleasant if crowded; there are 5 rigs here the first Monday in June. We would come here again. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.

We had heard this was supposed to be one of the top 20 campgrounds in the US by Family Circle magazine. I have to disagree. I agree with a previous review that I wouldn't even rate it in the top 20 for Illinois! This campground was very crowded. The sites were extremely close together, and many of the electric sites did not work. The hostess on duty wasn't very friendly and didn't seem to know which site anyone was on. I tried to tell her which number we were in, and she just kept saying someone else had the site. She did this to several other members of our camping party - we took up 5 sites in all. After 10 minutes of arguing, she finally believed us and let us sign in. Our kids enjoyed the campground and playground. They also liked hiking on the trail around the little lake. The only other complaint we had was the site next to ours had a small dog that barked ALL day and night. The owners also informed us that it bites. Who takes mean, barking dogs to a crowded family campground? Even though their site was across the road from the hostess, she never once came over to tell them to shut the dog up. We probably will not camp here again. We camped here in a Motorhome.

Quoting the IDNR brochure "Named by Family Circle magazine to be one of the 'Top Twenty Campgrounds in American'..." NOT EVEN CLOSE! Family Circle should stick to printing recipes and home decorations. Clearly, Family Circle knows nothing about campgrounds. The state of IL should be embarrassed not only for using that quote but also by the condition of this campground. Weldon Springs definitely is not one of the top 20 campgrounds in America but what we would rate as one of the 20 worst state owned campgrounds in IL. We've stayed at quite a few of IL's state parks. Weldon Springs is definitely the worst we've stayed at. The sites are very close together. Getting into and out of the sites was a chore unless a person had a small trailer like a pop up. Longer trailers, 5ers, Class A or C could manage but one needed to watch closely when driving or backing for trees, signs, and other close by campers. Our fire ring, which are not moveable, was so close to our camper and the neighbor's camper that to have a fire would have risked scorching both our campers. Had we located further away from our fire ring we would have been so close on the other side to the other neighbor's fire ring that we would have risked scorching on that side. Very few sites are level enough to avoid blocking up one side of the camper. In fact, we didn't see any campers that weren't required to be blocked on one side or the other. We were on one of the more level sites and still had to block one side 4+" just to get level side to side. There are 75 campsites. 1/3 of the sites electrical connections did not work. Although they were suppose to be all electric sites the host admitted due to lack of repairs 25 of the sites electrical connections did not work. We found 2 other sites not listed by the host which also did not work. Even if it were well maintained and cleaned there is no way this campground could or should ever be considered for such ratings by Family Circle or anyone else associated with camping. We drove thru the COE parks a few miles northeast of Weldon Springs on Clinton Lake. The COE sites were well maintained, all were level, some had full hookups, W/S/E, widely spaced, more rural, and overall nice appearance. We will never stay at Weldon Springs again. When in the area we will be staying at one of the COE parks at Clinton Lake. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.