Deer Ridge Campground, near Goreville, Illinois, is a cozy spot that offers a blend of comfort and nature for campers looking to unwind. With gravel pads, electric hookups, and picnic tables, it’s set up nicely for both tent and RV camping.

The campground is surrounded by a lush forest, providing plenty of shade and a serene atmosphere. Visitors have noted the well-spaced campsites, which help maintain a sense of privacy while still being close to nature. One camper mentioned, “Lots of trees and trails. Quiet, scenic spot for a one-night stay.” 

You’ll find clean facilities here, including showers and flush toilets, which make it easier to enjoy your outdoor adventure without sacrificing too much comfort. The area is also known for its hiking trails and wildlife, making it a great base for exploring the nearby Shawnee National Forest. As one reviewer put it, “Beautiful area. Facilities nice. Hiking. Birding. Nature!!”

If you’re planning a visit, keep in mind that the campground can get busy, especially during peak seasons. But with its friendly atmosphere and great amenities, Deer Ridge Campground is a solid choice for a weekend getaway or a longer stay in the heart of nature.

Deer Ridge campground is a well-shaded Class A facility offering gravel pads with electricity, picnic tables and cooking grills. Drinking water, showers, flush toilets and a sanitary dump station complete the setting for campers who prefer to include a few comforts of home with their outdoor adventure.

Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

Are you in need of a campground near Goreville, IL? Goreville is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Goreville

The Best Camping Near Goreville, Illinois

Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois. It is not among the best known parks, and its distance from bigger cities makes it more obscure and less frequented than other places I have visited. The campground is small, situated on a limestone bluff which is cut by a small rivulet and some seasonal small waterfalls. The area is really a hidden gem - one has to hike down to discover the natural canyon with the awesome sites. The campground is clean and well maintained. A site of interest nearby is the Garden of the Gods wilderness, which 300 million years ago was the bottom of a sea. The whole area was spared by the glacier activity, yet the weathering of the rocks has given us a sandstone plateau with numerous hoodoos. Close nearby are also Cave in Rock and Land Between the Lakes, both worth seeing. 

Ferne Cliffe State Park

Stayed here for 2 nights. The sites are big and there are hiking trails right from the campground. Sites have electric.

Nice Campground

great spot. lots of spots but unfortunately pretty close to each other. 

so cute 

Great covered spots, trails to and from the campground all across the park, great personnel, accessibility throughout the park, scenic locations within a mile walk from the campground (Ferne Clyffe Waterfall)

Great spot close to lots of interesting hikes and parts of Shawnee National Forest 

I actually didn't end up camping here because it looked like a rock site. I maybe saw two tents, everyone else in big RV's. If you are doing tent camping I would look elsewhere. I might've missed an area that was more tent friendly but I didn't see it. I would do primitive with a tent probably.

Very RV heavy

I stayed at Ferne Clyffe on a weekend in July 2020. I used this park as a base camp for exploring Shawnee National Forest and the Cache River Preserve. There’s a lot of outdoor things to do in this area. Ferne Clyffe is small. There’s one campground for RVs with electric hookups and another campground for more primitive camping. $8/night for primitive. The primitive sites require that you park your vehicle and carry in your equipment (less than 100 feet).   You can pull your vehicle right up to sites 11 and 19. There were very few campers there when I visited. There is cellphone signal. Small fishing lake and a few hiking trails. Shower has at the electric campground. Pit toilets. 

Quiet

Clean open campground with little privacy. Well kept bathrooms and water pumps throughout. Short trail leads from campground to the limestone cliffs. Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent! 

Firefly show! 

The campsite was big and the sites were spaced apart nicely. The bathrooms and showers were clean. Fern Clyffe has great hiking trails. 

Great camping 

Campground was great, hosts was exceptionally nice. Bathrooms a little outdated but loved how spacious they were. 

Very clean and friendly!

Easy to find! Great trails and fishing. The geography was amazing! Limestone cliffs and lots of shady forest. The facilities were great too!

Great park

Located near Shawnee National Forest. Beautiful area. Facilities nice. Hiking. Birding. Nature!!

SO IL state park camping 

Nice quiet campground with lots of trees and nicely separated camp spots. Water only available at few spots and you would need a really long hose to attach if open faucet available. No answer to phone calls and reservation webpage dropped us twice. You take an open spot and pay the park ranger or host when they come around. There are some really nice hiking trails there.

Quiet campground with lots of hiking trails and wildlife. Clean bathrooms

Spent two night at Ferne Clyffe. Camped at spot 13. Dog friendly, pretty well spaced out campsites but some are used as paths with to get to farther back campsites. Good set up, not too close to neighbors and it’s heavily wooded in between. Nice large clearing with picnic tables and outhouses. Camped in mid August and it was in the 80s during the day and 65 at night. 

Two Nights at Ferne Clyffe

Lots of trees and trails. Quiet, scenic spot for a one night stay. No water pressure in the showers so don’t plan on washing your hair!

Gorgeous spot

Convenient, clean, trails from Campground.

Photos of Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

Real photos from real campers