Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois
Opossum Creek
Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois, United States
- Sites
- 70
- Hookups
- 64 electric, 20 with water
- Season
- May 20 to September 5
- Max RV length
- 100 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 656 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Lake Shelbyville
- Nearest town
- SHELBYVILLE
- Address
- 1989 State Hwy 16, SHELBYVILLE, IL, 62565
- Phone
- 217-774-3951
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Ranger Station, Wildlife Viewing
68 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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. Army Corps of Engineers for News Releases, Event Information, & Emergency Updates. https://www.facebook.com/LakeShelbyvilleUSACE
Visit it our USACE Lake Shelbyville Website for more information on Lake Shelbyville. https://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lake-Shelbyville/
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.
Facilities
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.
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.
Nearby Attractions
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34° | 22° | -3° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 42° | 25° | -6° | 70° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 55° | 36° | 13° | 78° | 9 of 11 |
| April | 66° | 46° | 27° | 83° | 3 of 11 |
| May | 77° | 58° | 42° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 84° | 66° | 50° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 85° | 70° | 61° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 68° | 57° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 64° | 50° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 47° | 31° | 83° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 53° | 36° | 13° | 73° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 43° | 28° | -7° | 65° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Coon Creek (Il) · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 185 sites
- Lithia Springs · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 109 sites
- Lone Point · Army Corps of Engineers · 2 mi · 80 sites
- Eagle Creek State Recreation Area · Illinois State Parks · 5 mi
- Wolf Creek State Park · Illinois State Parks · 5 mi
All public campgrounds in Illinois · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-15. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.