Map showing campground location near Bargerville, Illinois

Camper submitted image from Crab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR

Crab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR

The campground sits within the 43,890-acre Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, where campers operate on a first-come, first-serve basis across two loops. Loop A offers sites without full hookups, while Loop B provides complete electric, water, and sewer connections for RVs. Sites are mostly level and spacious, with many positioned to overlook Crab Orchard Lake.

Campers consistently note the quiet atmosphere, though the campground fills regularly with locals who secure weekend spots and maintain them throughout the week. The facility includes clean restrooms and shower houses with reliable hot water, plus a dump station for those not staying in full-hookup sites. Fishing proves productive from the shoreline, particularly for catfish and crappie according to multiple visitors.

Access to hiking trails requires a 10-30 minute drive from the campground, while the nearby town of Carbondale provides dining and supply options. TJ G. found it a "cheap campground that is clean and quiet" with lakefront views from back-in sites. The 14-day maximum stay limit keeps sites rotating, though availability can be unpredictable during peak periods.

Campers should arrive early in the day for the best site selection, especially if seeking lake views or full hookups in Loop B.

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Map & DirectionsCrab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR is located in Illinois near Bargerville

Public Campground

Coordinates

37.73983847 N
89.11845882 W

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T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Verizon5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 4 users
Last on 6/17/26
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Excellent Coverage
Verified by 8 users
Last on 6/17/26

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Cabins
Tent Cabin
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Market
ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
WiFi
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
30 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

54 min from Paducah, KY
1 hr 4 min from Cape Girardeau, MO
1 hr 44 min from Evansville, IN
1 hr 50 min from St. Louis, MO

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Reviews7 Camper Reviews - Crab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.5

out of 5

7 Reviews

Campers regularly cited large lakeside sites, clean facilities, and a quiet family atmosphere. The campground operates first-come first-serve and fills quickly. Some confusion noted about weekend pricing policies.

Sarah

Scout

Reviewed Nov. 16, 2025

Beautiful spot but ...$$

Don't get fooled! We have the America the beautiful pass and she charged us $35 because she said it was up to her discretion to charge full price on the weekends. What a joke!

SiteA3

Month of VisitNovember

Tracie E.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 18, 2023

Early April Nice Weather

We spent 5 nights on Site A5 at Crab Orchard Campground. All sites are FC/FS. Full hookups are in Loop B & it was full. Overall the campground was full but not very many people around. Appears many locals take spots on the weekends & then hold onto them during the week. The 2 nearest to us we saw on Sunday (Easter) and the only 1 more time during the 5 days. Someone in one of the sites by the late (A9, A11 or A13 I think) said they saw snakes but we never saw any and our dogs would have noticed.

Showers and restrooms are nice. Ones in Loop A are no new (Loop Bs are new) but still nice. Lots of hot water.

Lots of trails (within 10-30 minute drive). Fishing was good (especially catfish and crappie). Went into Carbondale a few times. Also went South to Alto Pass but wineries all closed on Tuesday; locals told us they are open more hours during summer.

SiteA5

Month of VisitApril

(4) View All

TJ G.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 24, 2022

Cheap beautiful campground

Cheap campground that is clean and quiet. The back in site we had overlooked the lake. For the price, you can’t beat the view. If I return to the area, I would stay here again

Month of VisitOctober

Never Sitting S.

Ranger

Reviewed May. 17, 2021

Nice campground

The biggest thing about this campground is first come first serve..and one loop is closed for renovations (as of 2021 camping season, May). Most you can spend here is 14 days, which lots of locals do. Very quiet family friendly with large mostly level spots. Our go to when visiting the local college.

SiteA16

Month of VisitMay

Never Sitting S.

Ranger

Reviewed Sep. 29, 2020

Great place

This is a quiet family campground, most spots are lake side. Very spacious and lots of trees. First come first serve, and the park was full most of the time we were here.

Jim L.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 15, 2020

National Refuge

So much to do here I’ll just have to keep coming back to get everything in.

Joel R.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 17, 2018

Great family campground

Nice campground, right on Crab Orchard Lake. Large sites, lots of room. We camped with several other families and everyone enjoyed this park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find a map of Crab Orchard Campground?

Maps of Crab Orchard Campground are available from the campground office or visitor center when you arrive. For advance planning, you can find official maps on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website for Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. The campground has multiple loops, including Loop A and Loop B, with maps showing the layout of sites around the lake. Consider contacting the refuge headquarters directly for the most current maps, especially if planning during renovation periods.

Is Crab Orchard Campground located within the National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois?

Yes, Crab Orchard Campground is located within the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois. The campground is situated directly on Crab Orchard Lake, offering waterfront access within the protected refuge area. This location provides a unique camping experience where visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation while surrounded by the natural habitats and wildlife conservation areas of the refuge.

What camping options are available at Crab Orchard Lake?

Crab Orchard Lake offers spacious campsites with most being lakeside locations. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with a maximum stay of 14 days. There are multiple loops, including Loop A and Loop B, with Loop B providing full hookup sites for RVs. Sites are generally large, level, and shaded by trees. The campground caters to family camping with quiet, spacious spots offering lake views. Some campers report the campground fills quickly, especially on weekends, so arriving early is recommended.

Are there cabins available at Crab Orchard Lake Campground?

No, Crab Orchard Lake Campground does not offer cabin accommodations. The camping options are limited to traditional campsites for tents and RVs, with full hookup sites available in Loop B. The campground focuses on providing spacious, lakeside sites for visitors bringing their own camping equipment. For those seeking cabin accommodations, you'll need to look at alternative lodging options in the surrounding area outside the wildlife refuge.

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