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, opossu, 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
South Marcum Campground offers more than 100 reservable campsites. Electric hookups are provided at all Recreational Vehicle sites. The campground offers a dump station, hot showers, flush toilets, and drinking water in order to provide a comfortable camping experience for guests. A playground is also conveniently located within the Whispering Pines camping loop near the shower house.
Natural Features
South Marcum Campground sits along the banks of Rend Lake in the heart of Southern Illinois. With plenty of unobstructed views of the water, campers are able to take in scenic sunsets as well as enjoy activities such as bank fishing, right from the campground.
Nearby Attractions
Rend Lake Dam
ADA Access: N
I really enjoyed the drive in for this one- crossed the dam, saw tons of deer, fairly large so lots of sites but descent space between them. The view off the lake at sunset was beautiful! However, our site didn’t have water hook up which I though let it should (some did, some didn’t so maybe just missed on my end). Our site was pretty trashed from the people prior and the fire was actually still burning. And heard the highway sounds all. night. long. I thought we were far enough away but not the case. Also had a train, some planes, and neighbors were up very early. It was a pretty campground for sure but overall not an enjoyable experience.
Great camp ground.. 50 amp service, some with water and some with Full hookup… Dump stations are EZ access on the way out….. Bathrooms were clean, loved Rend Lake.
This is a very nice Corps of Engineers campground. The RV sites are paved and pretty level. Tent sites look nice too. Bathrooms are nice and clean. Didn’t use the shower facilities. The lake has a lot of boats flying around, but it’s placid after dark. Bugs weren’t bad at all.
No water or sewer hookups on Site 86.
Have fun!
We only spent one night on our way back home, but can’t wait to go back. The campground gives campers plenty of room to spread out, lots of open space for the kids to play, and not crowded when we stopped by late July. We are looking forward to a return trip to do some more exploring around the lake.
I really enjoyed staying there. It was a lot of fun. I went there for the Fourth of July for many years in a row. I loved the experience!
This is hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake. With hundreds of sites to choose from with some being tucked into the woods and others sitting right on the lake including some walking intense fights this campground is one of the nicest that you’ll find in Illinois. Plenty of bathrooms and bath houses as well as playgrounds and spacious campsites for larger RVs and plenty of access to the lake.
Great camping, usual campground with clean facility's. My family & i enjoy the lake for fishing , boating,swimming & beach time! Close to town for the forgotten marshmallows! Amazing sunsets over beautiful Rend lake!