Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
04/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/20/2026 15:05
IDNR upgrading campsite reservation system to better serve the public
SPRINGFIELD - Reservations for campsites and shelters at Illinois state parks and historic sites will transition to an updated platform beginning May 1, offering park users a more user-friendly system for making reservations and securing permits.
Users will continue to use exploremoreil.com - the customer service platform of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources - to make campsite and shelter reservations, but they will notice an improved interface.
To accommodate the transition, electronic reservations will be unavailable April 27-30. Although the system will not be available to customers or staff during this timeframe, customers will be able to make walk-up reservations at campgrounds as availability allows.
Existing reservations for customers will automatically migrate to the new platform and will be required to use the same email to access their reservations. All customers will need to create a new account and password in the new system.
One improvement in the new system is that picnic shelters will be available on a 12-month rolling window; under the prior system, users had to wait until July 1 to make reservations for the upcoming year.
Existing customers should watch their inbox for an email from IDNR with further instructions.
About IDNR
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR's work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook , YouTube and LinkedIn .
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency published this content on April 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 20, 2026 at 21:05 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]