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Crab Orchard Lake Campground

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CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Crab Orchard Lake Campground, near Carbondale, Illinois, is a solid choice for those looking to enjoy a mix of nature and convenience. With spacious sites, many right on the water, it’s a great spot for fishing, swimming, or just soaking in the views.

The campground offers essential amenities like clean bathrooms and showers, which visitors appreciate after a day outdoors. Campers have noted the friendly staff, who are always ready to help you find a good spot, even if you arrive without a reservation. As one happy camper put it, “The hosts were extremely helpful and accommodating.”

For those who enjoy wildlife, you’ll find plenty of it here, from geese to the occasional raccoon. The peaceful atmosphere makes it easy to unwind, especially during quiet hours when the sounds of nature take over. Plus, the sunsets over the lake are a sight you won’t want to miss.

If you’re up for some adventure, there are hiking trails nearby, and the lake is perfect for fishing or just enjoying a leisurely day by the water. Whether you’re in a tent or an RV, Crab Orchard Lake Campground has the essentials for a memorable camping experience.

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Location

Crab Orchard Lake Campground is located in Illinois

Detail location of campground

Directions

From jct US 51 & Hwy 13: Go 4 mi E on Hwy 13 (over bridge), then 1/2 mi S on Campground Rd (at large marina).

Coordinates

37.7397849 N
89.11837518 W

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Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Last on 5/21/24
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Drive Time

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Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Last on 5/21/24
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Reviewed May. 9, 2024

Probably nice in a big rig, sucks otherwise

This campground was essentially an RV park. Only big rigs, some sites well spaced physically but no privacy in between so feels like everyone staring at each other. Some of the waterfront sites okay privacy-wise, but not most. Hookups work well, but bathrooms in terrible condition - especially showers.

The whole place also smells like dead fish. We saw a raccoon go right through our campsite so be careful what you leave out, also tons of geese and saw two baby copperheads.

The lake is at least really pretty and there’s a small beach area.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Lucy P., May 9, 2024
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Lucy P., May 9, 2024
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Lucy P., May 9, 2024
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Apr. 24, 2024

Excellent Lakeside Campgrouind

Getting there: Easy access off Illinois 13 East of Carbondale 

Check in and staff: Campground is now under the egis of recreation.gov& reservations through them are a must. This is new& when planning the trip the website said“first come first serve” so we arrived on a Friday evening(4pm) with no reservation. The sign said RV sites all taken. The host was wonderful! He has been here 9 years and steered us to a nice site for the one night we will be here. The online experience with recreation.gov was not pleasant, impossible in fact. So I had to call. This took quite awhile. Once I got a real live person it was great, and we got our site with no problems. 

Amenities: Bathrooms: clean, paper towels& air dryers. 

Site: A-35. In the middle of the A loop and therefore not on the water. Still, very nice. After all, beggars can’t be choosers! Sites are somewhat spacious, but not terribly private.

SiteA-35
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Steve G., April 24, 2024
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Steve G., April 24, 2024
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Steve G., April 24, 2024
  • (19) View All
Reviewed Sep. 17, 2023

LOVED!

Visited crab orchard campground for the first time ever for labor day weekend. We had a pretty good size spot with a few trees where we hung our hammocks! We did a tent site right on the water. It was absolutely gorgeous. Very quiet area too. Quiet time starts at 10 or 11pm but actually you don't hear anything after 830pm. Very friendly. Bathrooms and shower were decent for what it was. It was nice to have it then not. Only 1 spider in the shower otherwise clean and good water. If you hate bugs I reccomend bringing an electric bug zapper as there is ALOT. Esp being by the water. Also keep in mind there's many spiders if you pick a spot with trees. But they're only out from 2am-5am.

SiteE
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by S F., September 17, 2023
Reviewed Apr. 9, 2023

Gorgeous, inexpensive, right on the water!

This campground has it all - spacious sites with many right on the water. Gravel lots were level and plenty big for our 38' Class A motorhome + Jeep. We stayed at site B8, which had a massive yard right and on the lake. The interior sites had full hookups (but were still just a short walk to the water), while the exterior (lake-side) sites had water and 50A electric. It is a FCFS place. We were there the first week of April and arrived by 10am and had no problems securing a spot. There is a swimming beach (though it was closed till Memorial Day - and too cold anyway!), some older but functional and clean shower houses. There was a pile of firewood waiting for us and they allow for picking up downed branches for fires. It was a quiet, lovely place with great sunsets over the water, as well as herons, geese, turtles, and deer. The hosts were extremely helpful and accommodating. We have AT&T and had full bars (we also have a booster, which may have contributed to a strong signal). Also, we were amazed by the inexpensive pricing - I believe the prices are going up a little later this season, but at the time we were there (Apr 2023) prices were $25/FHU and $20 W/E. And of course even less for tent camping.

SiteB8
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Melissa H., April 9, 2023
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Melissa H., April 9, 2023
Reviewed Nov. 11, 2021

Simple and nice

First come first serve campground. Big rig friendly, great hosts and lots of wildlife. My go to when in the area.

Month of VisitNovember
Reviewed Oct. 26, 2021

crab orchard

very peaceful, cheap! full hookups $25

Sitea1
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by T H., October 26, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 21, 2021

Amazing!

Years ago this was my families favorite place to camp. After. Many years things just weren’t what they used to be. THINGS HAVE CHANGED! I LOVED IT! It’s perfect again. So clean, great people. It’s not your typical (packed in like sardines) rv park by any means. It’s far from that. It’s peaceful and the views are amazing. 10/10 recommend AGAIN. TENT, rv, pop up it’s great for any kind of camping.

Siteloop A, A31
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Melanie F., July 21, 2021
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Melanie F., July 21, 2021
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Melanie F., July 21, 2021
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Sep. 27, 2020

Good times

Lots to see and do. we love to fish and camp on Crab. Great Lake. We camp at Blue Heron Campground in Carterville, right on Crab Orchard Lake. Places to eat and shop close by. Pizza can be delivered to campground. We camp there 6-8 times a year, several days at a time. It is my husbands favorite place to Bass Fish.

  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Joel H., September 27, 2020
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Joel H., September 27, 2020
  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Joel H., September 27, 2020
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 15, 2020

Crab Orchard

Really like this place for camping and hiking, lots of trails really like the area.

  • Review photo of Crab Orchard Lake Campground by Jim L., August 15, 2020
Reviewed Jul. 19, 2020

Great site!

We really loved this site! There was a lot of goose poop but other than that it was great! Cool breeze off the lake!

Reviewed Apr. 24, 2020

A little close to Rt 13, but the lakeside sites are so nice!

While you can hear the highway, it's not super noticeable and easy to tune out. This campground has some beautiful sites right next to the lake. There is also a little beach for campers to enjoy. Friendly staff sometimes host little educational presentations for kids. They are currently working on some improvements on the campground, so you may see or hear some construction going on.

Reviewed Jul. 14, 2018

Excellent lakeside sites

Wthat a nice find in southern Illinois just outside of Marion. Very big roomy and grassy sites. Some right on the lake shore. This is a national conservation area so our national park passes are accepted meaning only $10 a night for electric and water. Full hookups $12.50. (Double the fee if you do not have a pass.) Boat ramps available. Very friendly and accomodating management. You will like it. Pets allowed. Internet accessible with my smartphone.

Site23
Month of VisitJune

Frequently Asked Questions

What do visitor reviews say about Crab Orchard Campground?

Visitors consistently praise Crab Orchard Campground for its spacious, grassy sites and beautiful lakefront locations. Many highlight the peaceful atmosphere, reasonable pricing ($25 for full hookups, less with national park passes), and abundant wildlife. Campers appreciate the campground's cleanliness, friendly hosts, and ample room for big rigs. While some mention occasional goose droppings near the lake and highway noise, most find it easy to tune out. The campground is described as significantly improved in recent years, with many repeat visitors returning multiple times per year.

Where can I find a map of Crab Orchard Campground?

Official maps of Crab Orchard Campground are available on Recreation.gov, the platform that now handles all campground reservations. The map shows the layout of campsites, including the desirable waterfront spots and full-hookup areas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website for Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge also provides maps of the area. For on-site navigation, maps are typically available at the campground entrance or from campground hosts who can help orient new visitors.

What amenities and facilities are available at Crab Orchard Campground?

Crab Orchard Campground offers a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. The campground features sites with electric and water hookups for $10-12.50 with a national park pass (double without), as well as full hookup sites for $25. Many sites are spacious, grassy, and some are positioned right on the lakeshore. The grounds include a small beach area exclusively for campers, restroom facilities, and gravel lots that can accommodate large RVs up to 38 feet. Educational presentations for children are sometimes available, and the surrounding area offers hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and wildlife viewing. Nearby towns provide shopping, dining options, and even pizza delivery to the campground.

Are there photos available of Crab Orchard Campground?

Yes, photos of Crab Orchard Campground are available through Recreation.gov's official website, which manages the campground reservations. These photos showcase the spacious campsites, lakefront views, and surrounding natural areas. The Dyrt mobile app and website also feature camper-submitted photos showing the campground's waterfront sites, RV pads, tent areas, and lake views. The images help potential visitors visualize the grassy sites, lake access points, and the overall layout of this southern Illinois camping destination.

How do I make reservations at Crab Orchard Campground?

Reservations for Crab Orchard Campground must be made through Recreation.gov. This is a recent change, as the campground previously operated on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure your preferred site, especially the popular waterfront locations, advance reservations are strongly recommended. The campground is managed as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system, and America the Beautiful passes are accepted for discounted rates. For the most current reservation policies and availability, check the Recreation.gov website or contact the campground directly.