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Camping Rules & Regulation
Fair Entry and Parking
- Campground fees do not include admission to the Fair or parking for multiple vehicles.
- Campers arriving on or after August 7, 2025, will be required to pay Fair admission upon arrival.
- Starting August 7, 2025, campers leaving the Fairgrounds and planning to return that same day must have their hand stamped upon exit, or they will be required to pay Fair admission fee upon returning.
- One vehicle parking placard will be provided with each campsite.
- Parking placards must be purchased for each additional vehicle at the Campground Office. Vehicles must park in the area designated on the placard.
- All parking placards must be displayed prominently on the dash. Failure to properly display the placard may result in vehicle removal at owners’ expense, even if the vehicle has a valid placard.
- Lost or stolen parking placards will not be replaced.
Payments, Reservations, and Waitlist
- Reservations are only accepted on-line unless approved by State Fair Office
- One (1) campsite per exhibitor and/or family
- Priority will be given to Vendors / Concessionaires and Livestock Superintendents. Registered livestock entrants requesting to stay 6 nights or longer will then be given priority. Priority is based on the initial request. If you are an entrant assigned a campsite, a request to reduce your stay later will not be honored and you will be charged for all of the days in the initial request.
- Livestock entries will be checked to verify registration and participation. If you applied for camping as livestock entrant and appropriate entries have not been made, your camping permit may be revoked.
- It is prohibited to transfer a campsite to a third party. Using a reservation made by someone else will result in both parties being prohibited from booking future camping reservations.
- All camp sites have 30 amp hook ups. Assignment of a 50amp camping site is not guaranteed. It is the camper’s responsibility to look at the campground map and be prepared accordingly.
- Payment for camping is required after your reservation is confirmed and campsite is assigned. Fees may be paid with cash, a cashier’s check or money order made out to the Illinois State Fair, or major credit card (includes processing fee). No personal checks will be accepted.
- July 1st is the last day to cancel a reservation and receive a full refund. NO REFUNDS will be issued after July 1. No refunds will be issued at any time for camping reservations assignments revoked for a violation of these rules.
- Those who were not assigned a campsite will be put on a waitlist and e-mailed indicating such.
- Waitlist: as/if additional spots become available, people on the waitlist will be contacted in the order they were placed on the waitlist, between July 1 & August 1. If placed, you will have 3 days to respond and make payment.
Check In and Arrival
- All campers must check in with the Campground Office upon arrival, BEFORE parking at your camping spot.
- Check in is at 3:00 pm. Campsites are not guaranteed to be available before 3pm. Campers who set up their campsite before 3pm may be charged for an additional day of camping.
- Check out is 12:00 pm – any camper not checked out by noon on the last day on their permit will be charged for another night or towed at owners’ expense for incoming reservations.
- If you arrive prior to or depart after your scheduled reservation date, you will be charged for each additional night(s).
- Camping is only permitted in the spot designated on the permit. Campers utilizing a different location or site risk being towed at their expense.
- PERMIT MUST BE DISPLAYED: Campers not displaying their permit will be issued a 24-hour warning. After the 24-hour warning, those still not displaying the permit placard will be subject to tow at the owner’s expense, even if the camper has a valid permit.
Campground Rules:
- Campsites are to be used for camping only; not storage or overflow parking. Supply and storage vehicles are not permitted in the campgrounds.
- No awnings allowed on asphalt campsites.
- Campers with golf cars must adhere to the rules and regulations of the Illinois State Fair including permits, which are issued by the Credentials Office. You must be a licensed and insured driver to operate any motorized vehicle including golf cars, cars & trucks. Campers are expected to comply with directives from the Campground Manager, Fair Security, and the State Police. Violators may be prohibited from booking future camping reservations or renting golf cars.
- All campsites must be kept clean and free of trash. Trash receptacles are provided throughout the campground.
- The use of Segways, hoverboards, skateboards, bicycles, scooters that are not needed mobility aids, and similar are strictly prohibited on the State Fairgrounds during the operation of the Illinois State Fair
- Fires and grills: Open fires are prohibited. Charcoal, gas, and electric grills are permitted. Covered fire pits, one foot above the ground, will be allowed unless there is a burn ban in effect.
- Generator use is not permitted.
- Please report any unlawful activity to the Illinois State Police
- Pets are permitted at the campgrounds but must be always leashed and are not permitted outside the campgrounds. Owners are responsible for pets’ actions and cleanup / disposal of waste. Unruly or aggressive pets will not be tolerated and may be required to leave the Fairgrounds.
- Campers violating any of these policies or posted rules in the Campground are subject to removal without refund. If a camper’s permit is revoked or terminated prior to the end of their intended stay, the camper must vacate the site immediately, or be subject to towing at their expense.
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