Tower Rock Campground

I have camped there 2-3 times.  It has been a while now, but I believe there are 4 sites with tables and fire pits.  There is a pit toilet, but no water.  But if you drive a few miles North East there is a Illinois State Park, Cave in the Rock I think, and you can refill your water jugs/bladders there by the showers/bathrooms, and there are garbage dumsters.  The Cave off the Ohio River is definitely worth seeing, and free, so why not.

A short walk from the campground is Tower Rock that was an old CCC path and over look of the Ohio River.  Last time I was there it is a bit of a pain to find the old path, but basically from the boat landing go UP... follow the terrain and you will find it.  It is a rock cliff that is, I don't know 100 feet above the river.  In my opinion it is worth a look.

There is a Ferry that goes between Illinois and Kentucky right by the park too.  Free.  I went over once, never been on a Ferry.. and the gas tax in Kentucky is cheaper...

Campground is smaller but the sites are spread out well, most have fire ring with grill stand and table, firewood available to gather onsite when I was there, vault toilets, right on the river so may be closed during flood seasons. Will be staying here again!

We drove down to camp here and found this campground closed. We walked in past the locked gate to scout it out and there was a line of debris left behind from when the river was higher. 

There is a vault toilet and a simple loop setup to the campground. The road continues past camp to a marina where you can launch your boat into the river. We found a family camping in that lot and enjoying the area on their four wheelers.

We drove in through Shawnee national forest. The road went through some small towns with gas and food but not much else. Farms surround the area. We enjoyed the creative decorations - especially the bikes people used as sculptures.

This looks like a simple, no-frills camp right along the water line. It is wonderful to know that this is here if other campgrounds fill up but it is a bit of a drive from the main part of Shawnee. We had time to continue on to another campground (Camp Cadiz) which was another simple, rustic campground.

Beautifu scene..the Tower Rock Camp ground is by the Ohio river..and is very open. Doesn't have many sites so you'd have to get there at an earlier time.. but it has a great view of the Ohio river and across you can see Kentucky

Very small, on the river, vault toilets, seems like people "live" there and run a generator all night long. Good if you like free, being close to the ferry, and or fish.