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Water
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Facilities

Established Camping

Gun Creek

Gun Creek, near Whittington, Illinois, is a fantastic spot for campers looking to enjoy the great outdoors with some beautiful lake views. This campground offers a mix of tent, RV, and cabin accommodations, making it suitable for all kinds of camping experiences.

The facilities here are well-kept, with clean restrooms and a convenient dump station. Many visitors rave about the spacious sites, though it's wise to check the levelness before booking, as some spots can be a bit sloped. Campers appreciate the picnic tables and fire rings at each site, perfect for evening gatherings. One happy camper noted, “We loved staying here. Pet friendly and beautiful lake views from many of the camp sites.”

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, Gun Creek is surrounded by bike paths and offers excellent fishing opportunities. The lake is a highlight, with stunning sunsets that have left many campers in awe. As one reviewer put it, “The lake had the most amazing sunset!”

If you’re planning a visit, keep in mind that the campground is open from mid-March to the end of November. With its friendly atmosphere and scenic surroundings, Gun Creek is a great choice for families and friends looking to unwind and connect with nature.

Description

US Army Corps of Engineers

Rend Lake

Overview

Congratulations! You've just discovered Rend Lake, the perfect place to enjoy a wide variety of activities, events, and nature at its best. Even a short visit to Rend Lake will impress you with the versatility of this magnificent area. Rend Lake is made up of 20,633 acres of water and 19,523 acres of land. Wildlife in the area includes deer, turkey, fox, raccoon, opossum, waterfowl, and others as seasons change throughout the year. Whether you're looking for high adventure, a peaceful retreat, or something in between, you'll find it here in the heart of Southern Illinois.

Recreation

Take a leisurely morning stroll, ski or sail lake waters, spend the afternoon viewing inspiring art exhibits and end your day by the warm glow of a campfire under starry night skies. The fields, forests and waters of Rend Lake provide a natural haven for wildlife and an outdoor wonderland for you. Boat, hike, fish, hunt, swim, and explore at your leisure. If you prefer a little less nature, visit one of the resorts around the lake and delight in superb lodging and dining. Just minutes away you'll find golf, trap and skeet, arts, antiques, museums, wineries, and more.

Natural Features

Gun Creek sits along the Eastern banks of Rend Lake in the heart of Southern Illinois.

Nearby Attractions

Rend Lake Golf Complex, which includes a 27-hole golf course, restuarant, and lodge.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Gun Creek is located in Illinois

Detail location of campground

Directions

From I-57 take exit 77 and turn west on Route 154. Turn left onto Gun Creek Trail/Larry Foster Parkway, then right onto Golf Course Road. Continue 1/2 mile to park entrance.

Address

12165 Golf Course Drive
Whittington, IL 62897

Coordinates

38.0786111 N
88.9302778 W

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Access

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

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Available
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • 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

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

20 Reviews

Reviewed Apr. 30, 2024

Blue Jay #49 Water site

Love this state park! Clean, quiet, water views and lots of bike paths to ride.

Site49 Blue Jay
Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Sep. 23, 2023

Beautifull

Only reason for not 5 star was it is a little to close to the interstate.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Apr. 5, 2023

Lots of space by a Lake

RV or tent, book online at Recreation.Gov not all spots are level. Electric on most but not all have water. Campfire area and picnic table provided. Bathhouse is clean and park areas are all clean, dump station on site. We will be back and book closer to the lake in a level site.

Site001
Month of VisitApril
  • Lake video
    Play button icon
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Barb N., April 5, 2023
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Barb N., April 5, 2023
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Apr. 27, 2022

Well maintained!

Very well kept, friendly staff, very convenient from interstate. Limited interstate noise, not all sites have water/sewer, but many water points available throughout camp. They’re indicated on website, we just overlooked the detail.

Site10
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Cooper F., April 27, 2022
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Cooper F., April 27, 2022
Reviewed Apr. 22, 2022

Lake Views

We loved staying here. Pet friendly and beautiful lake views from many of the camp sites. I recommend checking the grade of the camp site because some of the ones next to the lake were at a pretty big angle. Our site was nice and flat so no issues there. We loved it and would definitely stay again.

SiteFull Hookup
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Erin S., April 22, 2022
Reviewed Jun. 30, 2021

Gorgeous lake side views

Amazing campground with amazing views! The lake had the most amazing sunset! Everyone is super friendly and we recommend the blue jay loop for best views and swimming access to the lake. Shower house is also within a short walk to the blue jay trail. Lots of room for kids to play and bike. Level sites with no issues with parking. Highly recommend if you are in the area. If we lived closer we’d be there every weekend!

Site46
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed May. 17, 2021

Large campground

Overall a great stay, very busy as it was full the entire time we were there while the state park down the road was empty. Nice place for families, most campers seemed to be fishing. Absolutely must check how level the spots are before you book, as lots of sites are over 4 inch incline, which seems ok for Smaller rigs. Good wifi, phone and cable signals. We would stay here again, but lots of places to check out around the lake.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Nov. 11, 2020

Pretty but not very level

This is a nice campground on Rend Lake. The sites themselves are nice and the lake is beautiful! Our only issue is that the sites on not very level. Ours had a significant slope when we backed up the electric hookups. But it was a concrete pad with a concrete picnic table, firepit, and a tall hook for a light or garbage out of bear's reach. We saw a nice playground for kids. We would stay here again, just scout for a more level site.

Reviewed Oct. 18, 2020

This Is A Great Spot To Camp

Gun Creek has many sites for all campers. For cheap you get a simple site with electric or for not too much more there are sites with water and sewage dump.

Reviewed Aug. 16, 2020

Perfectly maintained

Loved this serene, lakeside campground. Campsites are perfectly maintained and the natural setting of the lake is preserved well. Lovely families and boaters camping and fishing. Poured and level concrete pads to put your trailer on, plenty of trees and shade.

Reviewed Jul. 26, 2020

Great Sunset view

It was a good view, also pretty RV heavy, but tent friendly. Grassy area, fire pit, stone table. The facilities are outdated and don't feel super clean. Easy to reserve and convenient. Because of the lake there are tons of mosquitos, plan accordingly! There was also a little skunk walking around this morning.

SiteCard 54
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Brennan M., July 26, 2020
  • Play button icon
Reviewed Jun. 25, 2020

Great campground by lake

We camped only one night on our way out west. Arrived just as the sun was setting which was beautiful over the lake. We were in Eagle 81. Large wooded site next to the lake. A short hike to the bathroom (we were in tents) and not much grassy area, but plenty of space to pitch 2 small tents. People were quiet and so friendly. Very nice.

  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Elizabeth  M., June 25, 2020
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Elizabeth  M., June 25, 2020
Reviewed Apr. 29, 2020

Great campground!

Gun Creek is a great campground with many waterfront sites! It is nicely wooded, with a great boat ramp and boat parking area and close to a nice bike trail! In addition, it is conveniently located to provisions and some restaurants!

  • Review photo of Gun Creek by b K., April 29, 2020
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by b K., April 29, 2020
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by b K., April 29, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Nov. 1, 2019

Shaded sites right on Rend Lake

This COE campground is conveniently located and just a quick off ramp from the Interstate. I stayed here one night as I headed south from Chicago. The one night only ultimately turned out to be a blessing. It seemed that I inadvertently booked a site in the middle of a family reunion. I don’t mind a good party, but when you leave your dog tethered to visit at other campsites and your dog is barking for hours, well, that’s not okay. 

I was in site 30, located directly on the water in the Nighthawk campground. Site 29 is very close and the picnic bench is literally 8 feet away from the back of the pad of site 30.  The class A rig in the video belonged to my neighbor, so you can see how close the sites were. Don’t expect much in the way of privacy. Otherwise, the site is shaded and fairly level with a nice lake view and direct access. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t awake to sounds of nature. Early in the morning the sawing and woodchipping began. To make matters worse it was windy. All the woodchopping and sawdust was flying in the air which required us to close windows and hunker down inside until the park crew finished their work. I understand that maintaining the park is important, but why on a busy camping weekend? 

The restrooms were a short walk across the road and up the slope from site 30. I didn’t use the facilities, so can’t speak to their functionality or cleanliness. I like to camp at lakes because I enjoy kayaking and this lake would allow for all kinds of water activities which is a plus. 

Also, if you haven’t made a reservation and decide to do a walk up make sure you have cash. A couple was turned away and told to get cash because they don’t take credit cards or checks. 

I might stay here again as a layover spot because of its convenient location to the interstate, but it wouldn’t be a destination for me.

Site30
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Susan L., November 1, 2019
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Susan L., November 1, 2019
  • unfortunate noisy camping experience
    Play button icon
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Oct. 6, 2019

So beautiful

There’s not a bad campsite here. There are sites with electric, water, and sewer. Several sites are right on Rend Lake. Most sites have concrete picnic tables and fire rings. The bath houses are really nice, they are individual shower houses that are clean and well lit. The grounds are very well maintained. The park was full while we stayed there, but was really quiet. You can tent camp or use a camper.

  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Crystal H., October 6, 2019
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Crystal H., October 6, 2019
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Crystal H., October 6, 2019
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Apr. 30, 2019

Fish and camp on Rend Lake

One of the first campgrounds that you come to at Rend Lake when you get off the highway, this campground has lots of positives and few negatives. Among the positives is that this is a large campground with two loops and two spurs for camping. It didn’t seem to matter where your site was, each was fairly small, on top of each other, and lacking the privacy I like when tent camping. That being said, every site has electric (a plus), and every site looked well maintained. There are quite a few sites on the lake or with lake views, and these seemed to be the most coveted sites. My site was on the lake with a down slope reaching down to the tent/picnic pad (a concern if it was going to rain hard), and littered with sweet gum balls that had not been swept up yet. However, I had plenty of space at my site (#79) to spread out and relax. It was pretty neat to look at the exposed roots of trees along the shore, erosion at work. Not far from the campground is a picnic area and the boat launch. One of the down sides is that you can clearly hear the highway from the campground, and of course if you have a lake site, you will have plenty of boat noise. Speaking of boats, most people seemed to be fishing. The campground does not have a fish cleaning station in it but up near the golf course (you drive past it to get to the campground) there is an almost new looking fish cleaning station.

Site79
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Annie C., April 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Annie C., April 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Annie C., April 30, 2019
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Aug. 24, 2018

Super nice, campsites

Great rates and even better campsites. We got there late and had no problems finding a great campsite right next to the lake.

SiteSite 55
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Jonathan W., August 24, 2018
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Jonathan W., August 24, 2018
  • Review photo of Gun Creek by Jonathan W., August 24, 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Gun Creek have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Gun Creek has 30 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Gun Creek?

    Gun Creek allows vehicles up to 99 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Gun Creek?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Gun Creek, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Gun Creek have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Gun Creek does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Gun Creek?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is available, and T-Mobile is unknown.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Gun Creek?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Gun Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Gun Creek, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Gun Creek?

    There are 101 campsites at Gun Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts