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You are here: Home / Things To Do in CU / What To Do At Moraine View State Recreation Area With Your Family

What To Do At Moraine View State Recreation Area With Your Family

August 12, 2019 By From The Editors

What to Do at Moraine View State Recreation Area: A Short Drive from Champaign-Urbana

We’re on a mission to find any space nearby where we can get some sort of a water fix… which leads us to Moraine View State Recreation Area in LeRoy, Illinois, just 35-40 minutes away from Champaign-Urbana.

If we had to rate Dawson Lake (the body of water at Moraine View) in size, it would certainly rank larger than Lake of the Woods or Homer Lake, but smaller than Clinton Lake, one of the more well known lakes near Champaign-Urbana; or Lake Shelbyville, which is a bit further away.

The big draw here is the water, but we’ll be sure to cover everything you want to know before you drive out to LeRoy. And we’ll cover what sets this water spot apart from the other ones mentioned above.

Boating

Must Know Info: Dawson Lake at Moraine View State Recreation Area is a draw for sailboats and motorcraft of 10HP or less. There is a two-lane launching ramp and docking facility and boats are available for rental here.

The first thing we think stands out about Moraine View State Park is the prevalence of more casual, small watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, paddle boats and paddle boards. This is a popular place to take on such activities, and their concession area is well stocked with boats available for rental if you don’t have your own. Also, spread the word that there is an accessible kayak launch here!

Fishing Fun

Must Know Info: Illinois state fishing rules apply (so have your fishing license). Dawson Lake is regularly stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, bullhead, crappie, channel catfish, walleye, yellow perch and northern pike.

Fishing is one of our favorite activities outdoors in Central Illinois. (Get our whole guide to fishing right here.) Fishing at Moraine View State Recreation Area was easy enough for our family, as the docks were recommended to us by concession area staff. Of course, if you’re out on a boat, you can drop your line in the water. We didn’t see any of the large fish that were reputed to be swimming in the lake but did catch a few small ones.

The Beach

Must Know Info: Open during the season from Memorial Day through Labor Day: Fri-Sun and holidays only. $3 per person. We recommend you bring cash.

It’s important to note that this beach has no lifeguards and it is a very small beach, often populated with geese. Don’t think of expansive sandy beaches here — it’s a place for a good ol’ fashioned dip in lake water if you’re wanting to do that in a safe area.

It’s also worth mentioning that during our visit the beach was closed, so you may want to call ahead to confirm it’s open if you’re heading out here for a visit to the “beach” mainly. (Pictured below, the sandy area of the “beach” that you can enter the water from. You can also see the buoys that bound the swimming area.)

Camping

Must Know Info: There are 137 Class A trailer campsites at Moraine View State Recreation Area. There is also the Gander Bay Campground area, which can be rented out and has 102 sites and a boat launch area of its own, too.

The campground was nice and quiet while we were out there on a summer day. There were many campers in the area we toured. Book a campsite at Moraine View right here.

Take a Hike or Go for a Swing

Must Know Info: Moraine View was made for exploration! We love the trails there, and how they weave around with the lake in close proximity much of the time. It provides a great backdrop to your swinging/picnicking/hiking visit. There’s no admission fee just to come out and play at Moraine View so you can drive out to explore what is available for YOUR family there and enjoy the scenery in the process.

There are many hiking paths that are very kid friendly and playgrounds just along the lake. We really liked how some of the trails were marked as handicapped accessible, as we know that strollers would navigate those paths along with anyone who has mobility special needs or challenges.

Grab a Bite, Rent a Boat or Cool Off at Moraine View Restaurant & Kayak Rental

Must Know Info: The concession area is open daily. If you’re visiting outside of Memorial Day to Labor Day, we recommend calling them at 866-724-6398 to confirm they are open first. Hours vary daily and seasonally, so check out their website here. The restaurant was really nice and they took good care of us. Everything is in the same building, whether you’re renting a boat, ordering food or grabbing bait to go fishing with.

The food got two thumbs up from our kids. The grown-ups loved their huge spring rolls and the kids thought the milkshakes were amazing (their words). We could have just eaten tons of fries and been happy, too! Eat inside in the air conditioning or relax outside on their porch overlooking the beautiful lake and boat docks. They also serve beer and wine.

 

More on all your favorite outdoor activities:

  • Top Family-Friendly Bike Trails in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Where to Go Boating with Your Family Near Champaign-Urbana
  • Creek Stomping Your Way Around Champaign-Urbana
  • Visiting Champaign-Urbana Area Parks and Playgrounds with Your Family
  • Walking Paths in Champaign-Urbana
  • Camping with Your Family Near Champaign-Urbana
  • Best Nature Spots to Explore with Kids Near Champaign-Urbana
  • The Best Hikes for Families Around Champaign-Urbana
  • Fishing Fun for Families in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Find the Ultimate Outdoor Adventures with Kids in the Champaign-Urbana Area
  • Avoid the Mud and Muck with Mulch-Free Playgrounds in Champaign-Urbana
  • Gardens and Flower Farms in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond

Top spots for outdoor recreation near Champaign-Urbana:

  • Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Homer Lake Forest Preserve
  • Family Fun at Allerton Park: 9 Reasons You’ll Want to Visit
  • Visit Friendship Grove in Urbana
  • Dark Sky and More: Visiting the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve with Your Family
  • Everything You Need to Know About Visiting River Bend Forest Preserve in Mahomet
  • Cool Off at the Homer Lake Natural Playscape
  • Visiting Clinton Lake With Your Family
  • Visiting Imagination Grove Near Bloomington-Normal
  • Meet Me Halfway: Kankakee River State Park
  • Hidden Treasure in Central Illinois: Weldon Springs State Park
  • The Perfect Family Hike: Explore the Sangamon River Forest Preserve near Fisher
  • Best Kept Secret: Buffalo Trace Prairie in Mahomet
  • Getaway for a Day: Matthiessen State Park
  • Best Kept Secret: Forest Glen Preserve
  • Hiking the Sangamon River Corridor Reserve in Monticello with your Family
  • What to Do at Kickapoo State Recreation Area
  • What To Do At Turkey Run State Park With Your Family
  • What To Do At Moraine View State Recreation Area With Your Family
  • Visiting Lake of the Woods in Mahomet with Children
  • Parent’s Guide to Busey Woods in Urbana

Some ideas on trips you can take with your family:

  • Best Midwest Summer Road Trips for Champaign-Urbana Families
  • 31+ Unique Summer Day Trips from Champaign-Urbana
  • Midwest Indoor Waterparks Within a Few Hours of Champaign-Urbana
  • Head North for Family Fun: What To Do On Your Chicago Trip
  • Visit Springfield with your Family
  • Top 10 Things to Know: Children’s Museum of Illinois in Decatur
  • Road Trip: Visiting Winter Realms at Lake Geneva, Wis.
  • Road Trip: Visiting Indianapolis as a Family
  • Visiting the Arthur Amish Area with Kids
  • Spend a Saturday in Tuscola
  • Peaches Aplenty at Okaw Valley Orchard
  • Visiting the Indoor Waterpark at Grand Bear Resort Near Starved Rock
  • How to Rent a Boat on Lake Shelbyville with your Family
  • Road Trip: Visit St. Louis as a Family
  • Visiting Imagination Grove Near Bloomington-Normal
  • Road Trip: Visiting Wisconsin Dells
  • Day Trip from Champaign-Urbana: Living Large in Casey
  • Effingham, a Trip to the Crossroads
  • Winter Break Day Trip: Family Fun in Peoria
  • Travel Back in Time at Lincoln Log Cabin

Filed Under: Outdoor Fun, Summer Activities, Things To Do in CU, Travel Tagged With: camping, camping in central illinois, camping with kids, Canoe, clinton lake, dawson lake, Day trip, day trip from champaign urbana, day trips, family camping, fishing, fishing in illinois, Kayak, lake, Lake Shelbyville, LeRoy, moraine view, Outdoor Recreation, swimming

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