## 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.
## Facilities

 Reservations are required for all campsites withing Gun Creek Campground. Gun Creek Campground offers 100 reservable campsites and one large group picnic shelter. All campsites have electric hookups, and the campground offers a dump station, hot showers, flush toilets, and drinking water in order to provide a comfortable camping experience for guests. A boat dock, boat ramp, and playground are also conveniently located within the campground. 
## 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.

Gun Creek

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.

Fish and camp on Rend Lake 

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

Super nice, campsites 

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. 

So beautiful

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.

Shaded sites right on Rend Lake

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!

Great campground!

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.

Great campground by lake

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.

Great Sunset view

We’ve Camped At Gun A Few Times Now And Have Had A Great Experience Every Time!!

A Great Place To Camp!

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.

Lake Views

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. 

Well maintained!

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. 

Lots of space by a Lake

Excellent park but many sights aren’t flat. Not all have water, septic. Clean facilities. Self checkin. Golf onsite, clubhouse with food. 