Vincent S.
Ranger
RangerTurkey Bayou Campground
Free.Toilet. Gravel drive 4 miles but watch for potholes! beautiful scenery. Raccoons!!!
Camping near Jonesboro, IL
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Search destinations
Add dates
Campgrounds surrounding Jonesboro, Illinois are concentrated in the Shawnee National Forest region, offering diverse accommodation types across forested hills and lakeshores. Trail of Tears State Forest provides dispersed camping options within 5 miles of Jonesboro, while several developed campgrounds like Giant City State Park, Little Grassy Lake, and Ferne Clyffe State Park offer a mix of tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and even cabin rentals. The rolling terrain and sandstone formations create distinctive camping environments not typically associated with Illinois landscapes.
Access to camping areas varies seasonally, with many sites remaining open year-round but offering best conditions from spring through fall. The region experiences hot, humid summers and mild winters, with periodic heavy rainfall that can affect trail conditions and campsite accessibility. Primitive sites in dispersed areas like Turkey Bayou require self-sufficiency. "This simple, FREE campground is in a beautiful location by the Big Muddy River. It is volunteer run and relatively well-kept up, but there are not many amenities. It's like front country, back country camping," noted one visitor about Turkey Bayou. Reservations are recommended for developed campgrounds, especially during peak summer weekends and fall color season, while some areas operate on a first-come basis.
Waterfront camping opportunities rank highly among visitors to the region, with Little Grassy Lake Campground and Rend Lake receiving particular praise for lake access. The area's distinctive geological features set it apart from typical Midwestern camping experiences. One camper described the region as having "fantastic hiking trails and equestrian trails here and you would think you are in the mountains here. The geology is much like the Missouri area near the other bank of the Mississippi river." Mixed-use campgrounds cater to diverse activities including fishing, boating, horseback riding, and hiking. While some campgrounds feature modern amenities including showers and electric hookups, others maintain a more primitive character with vault toilets and no utilities, providing options for various camping preferences and equipment needs.
Best Campgrounds near Jonesboro (120)
1. Giant City State Park Campground
"There is currently walk in only unless you are reserving a horse camp. There are fantastic hiking trails and equestrian trails here and you would think you are in the mountains here."
"Each site has electricity and access to water. Some have more.
All the hiking in the park is some of the best in Illinois. The visitors center has a lot of great information."2. Trail of Tears State Park Campground
"PRO Senior discount saving $6
Able to reserve on-line 365 days prior to arriving
Very friendly and helpful camp host
Unobstructed view of the Mississippi River
Great dark sky viewing
No highway"
"As close to camping next to the Mississippi river as you can get"
3. Shawnee Forest Campground
"We followed our GPS to the clearly marked CG entrance but our GPS showed we still had about a half mile to go."
"Super friendly camp host, conveniently located off the interstate and feels pretty secure and tranquil. I will say some of the gravel was washed out which is surprising given how dry it’s been."
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
4. Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
"Had very nice trails, very clean. Forest is beautiful. We camped at the primitive area spot 11. Spots are pretty dam close to each other. There is camping you can walk off to."
"Great campground away from roads and noise. Goreville is small local town with grocery store and service station for supplies. South LOOP sites 1-23 are first come sites."
Check Availabilityfrom $18 / night
5. Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
"Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois."
"Dog friendly, pretty well spaced out campsites but some are used as paths with to get to farther back campsites. Good set up, not too close to neighbors and it’s heavily wooded in between."
6. Turkey Bayou Campground
"We took a chance camping here since we hang hammocks but we found a site that had some trees nearby. We were pleasantly surprised to see a port-a-pottie at the campground."
"Gravel drive 4 miles but watch for potholes! beautiful scenery. Raccoons!!!"
7. Pine Hills
"Overall good location and an occasional train but overall great spot."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
8. Trail of Tears State Forest
9. Little Grassy Lake Campground
"We've been wanting to explore southern Illinois for a long time, but it's a six hour (min) drive from our home."
"The lake is quiet and clean. A nice hidden gem located a short drive from beautiful hiking trails. We will definitely be back."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $35 / night
10. Hilltop Campground
"Small little campground off the highway. Inexpensive, quiet. Great spot if your in a need of electricity and a hot shower"
"Stopped here for the night driving through the area. Nice campground, clean, safe, and right off the interstate."
Drive Time
- 31 min from Cape Girardeau, MO
- 52 min from Paducah, KY
- 2 hrs 2 min from St. Louis, MO
- 2 hrs 4 min from Evansville, IN
Recent Camping Photos near Jonesboro, IL
115 Photos of 120 Jonesboro Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Trail of Tears State ForestB
Willow Springs Campground
Giant City State Park Campground
Trail of Tears State Park Campground
Lake Boutin Campground — Trail of Tears State Park
Touch of Nature Education Center
Camp Manitowa at Cedar Point
Little Grassy Lake - Crab Orchard NWRS
Little Grassy Lake Campground
Equestrian Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State ParkT
Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
Recent Reviews near Jonesboro, IL
709 Reviews of 120 Jonesboro Campgrounds
- Vincent S.Ranger
Trail of Tears State Forest
Remove from free dispersed. $8 a night. Not free.
- WWendy
TravelerGun Creek
This is a 100 site campground on Rend Lake in Illinois. Lots of trees. Level paved sites unless you book right by the lake. Some are very steep. Bring lots to level with! We are in site 92. Away from the lake but beautiful sunshine.
- Ronald C.
GuideGun Creek
Great place easy on off the hyw sites are old so you may need to block up your RV to level it . Some sites only have electric so be careful when you book it. Heard some road noise from the HYW but the campsite had plenty of room
MickandKarla W.
LegendWhittington Woods Campground
Decent Campground
We had never stayed at Whittington Woods, but several of our camping friends have stayed here over the years while traveling through the area. At a recent RV open house, we talked with the campground (CG) owners and decided to switch our reservation from another private CG to Whittington Woods to check it out. The owners suggested sites 92 or 97, and we were able to reserve back-in site 92 with FHUs for our two-night stay. Site 92 is one of the better sites, with a large yard and good separation from neighboring sites. The CG was easy to find off I-57—follow your GPS or the signs. Check-in was quick, and we were escorted to our site. Unfortunately, one of the CG’s regular guests had set up in our reserved site 92 instead of site 93. After a brief discussion between our owner/escort and the guest, moving him was clearly not going to be a quick process. We were offered a couple of other available sites and decided to take site 93. Site 93 was a significant downgrade, with only a sliver of yard and very little separation from site 94. The sewer and electrical connections are near the center of the gravel pad, while the electrical breaker is on the opposite side of site 94. The water connection is at the very back, requiring more than 30 feet of hose for our rig. The owners were very nice, probably too nice when dealing with their“regulars,” and made the situation more tolerable by giving us a good discount for site 93. We received two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. We normally get good performance from our T-Mobile internet with two bars, but download speed was only 41.2 Mbps. The CG Wi-Fi was better at 69.3 Mbps download. There are a lot of mature trees, so satellite/Starlink reception could be iffy depending on the site. The CG is conveniently located near I-57 and right off IL-37, although there was quite a bit of highway noise that was manageable for us. The property provides plenty of room for walking, especially with a dog, and has a decent-sized dog park. There are quite a few full-timers and regulars, with some keeping their sites well maintained and others not so much. We also saw some of the same latitude given to“regulars” when it came to keeping dogs on a leash and picking up after them. They have 5 pull throughs that are mainly used for overnighters that are handy but close together. We understand why several of our friends regularly stay here for a night or two while traveling to and from Florida. Whittington Woods is conveniently located off I-57 and offers FHUs, making the CG a practical overnight stop. Our home base is only about an hour and a half away, however, and we have better options in the area when we need a final stop to flush tanks before heading home.
- MickandKarla W.Legend
Marion/Shawnee National Forest KOA Holiday
Different than Most KOA Holidays
We were heading back to our home base and decided to check out this new KOA Holiday and dump our tanks before heading home. The campground (CG) was approximately 10 miles and 20 minutes off I-57 on southern Illinois backcountry roads. Along the way, we encountered a suspiciously low power line that our 13.5'-high rig cleared. Small KOA signs guided us all the way in. We've stayed at many KOAs and particularly enjoyed KOA Holidays for their service and amenities, but this CG was not what we expected. We arrived at a large gravel parking area and found a check-in room at the end of a warehouse, with envelopes on a bulletin board and a phone number to request an escort. Since the RV sites were down a steep hill, we checked our assigned Creek Side site 26 before moving our rig. Sites 23–26 sat in a bowl at the bottom of the CG, with little room to maneuver our 41' fifth wheel and F450. The escort number went to voicemail, but we reached the manager using the CG brochure number. He agreed our rig wouldn't fit and moved us to back-in site 18 on the hill. All RV sites were back-ins. Creek Side sites appeared better suited for smaller RVs, although larger rigs might fit sites 23 and 24. We later discovered the main KOA office near the marina, which handled cabin check-ins, food, and boat rentals. Sites 1–19 were former pull-through motorcoach sites converted to back-ins, with utilities on the opposite side to accommodate other RVs. Our site 18 was exceptionally wide but close to neighboring sites. We positioned our rig toward the right side of the gravel pad (facing the site) to maintain reasonable access to hookups. The electrical pedestal was at the far back, requiring approximately 35' of power cord to accommodate our toy hauler's rear deck. The wide pad provided plenty of parking for a tow vehicle or boat. However, the CG brochure listed a $75 fee for parking boats or trailers at sites, and a marina sign listed a $50 launch fee. We couldn't determine how these fees applied. Water pressure was excellent, so use a regulator. CG Wi-Fi delivered 20.9 Mbps, Verizon had two bars, and T-Mobile had three. Our T-Mobile Home Internet delivered 358 Mbps, allowing us to stream golf and football. With no trees around the RV sites, satellite reception shouldn't be a problem. Some sites had limited lake views, but don't expect panoramic views or direct lake access. The CG had undergone considerable improvements, including attractive cabins, several right on the lake. KOA cabins were mixed with privately owned cabins, while lake access was concentrated near the small marina and swimming area. We expected more direct lake access and walking trails, but neither was available from the RV sites. A standard fenced KOA dog park was available, but longer walks with our pup were limited to a short path around the fishing pond, gravel areas, and CG roads. Considerable work and investment had gone into this CG, but our experience didn't entice us to return.
- MickandKarla W.Legend
Columbus-Belmont State Park
Nice Surprise
Columbus-Belmont State Park is a bit of a drive on country roads, but well worth the effort. We originally reserved site 28, but a large tree and its low-hanging branches presented clearance problems for our 40' fifth wheel. We spoke with the very friendly camp host, who moved us to back-in site 25 with full hookups (50/30/20 AMP). The sites are positioned at 90 degrees to the CG road, but there was enough room to maneuver our big rig into the site with a few adjustments. Our site and several others had some slope and pitch to the pads, so additional leveling blocks may be necessary. The extra effort was well worth the trouble. Water pressure was okay. We had one bar on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. The CG did not provide Wi-Fi, but our T-Mobile Home Internet worked exceptionally well, with download speeds of 345 Mbps. There were numerous large, mature trees throughout the CG, so satellite reception, including Starlink, could be challenging depending on the site and whether you can reposition the dish to find a clear view of the sky. We've stayed at hundreds of campgrounds over the years, but until Columbus-Belmont, we'd never used the word"immaculate" to describe one. The CG sits on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, and our site 25 had a beautiful river view from our toy hauler's deck. The park also has plenty of interesting Civil War history to explore. Barge operations along the river below the CG generated some daytime noise, but nothing we found particularly bothersome. Between the immaculate grounds, beautiful setting, and historical significance, Columbus-Belmont was well worth the drive and a place we'd gladly return to.
- DDavid B.Traveler
General Watkins Conservation Area
Nice quiet little spot. 4 spots. Have fire rings and picnic tables.
- MMark V.Traveler
Fern Lake Campground
I’m not sure where the good reviews come from. Ive tried to find another Fern Lake to make sure I was at the correct one. Bath facilities have half doors so you are shitting in public. Your kids get the nice look over by any of the weird full timers living junk squaller. The power poles are only standing by the shear strength of all the cobbled together wires and electric tape. It’s not safe. It’s fucking dangerous. Most the fire “pits” are shitty rings from 60 years ago at least. There is zero maintenance here. It’s very loud next to the freeway. Sites are small and on top of each other. Lots are small. Not level. And little gravel. The cinder blocks keep you from backing in too far. Most of the water posts are “shared” because others don’t work. Picnic tables are a fucking joke. Rotten. Lead paint and worthless. The water retaining POND has a grass path around it so you can admire what recycled concrete can create where there was once no POND. One star is extremely generous. Just like the generous $10 a bundle for wood. Keep on trucking. It’s not far to go to find something worthwhile. This is a 100% pass. Before you think I’m some kind of pre Madonna, I will say we are a minimalist family that camps in unimproved spots and boondocks all the time. This place is gross. And disturbing that anyone reviews it for more than a 1 star. Most of the reviews are flat out lies. One talks about the clean bathrooms, hot showers, and one mentions a fucking pool! Wtf? Shitting in your own fire ring is more private. Pictures sooooo under tell the story of what a shot hole this place is. It’s off the freeway very close. And there is a Mexican restaurant across the street and a Casey’s essentially attached. If that’s what you like. Have fun. But any great reviews are from either someone who came and went in the dark. Or are from the owners.
Guide to Jonesboro
Camping near Jonesboro, Illinois centers around the forested landscapes of Shawnee National Forest where limestone formations create unique ecosystems. Within a 5-mile radius of Jonesboro, primitive camping options at Trail of Tears State Forest provide solitude with portable toilets and fire rings at $8 per night. The region's campgrounds typically sit at elevations between 400-600 feet, creating microclimates that support both northern and southern plant species within camping areas.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Little Grassy Lake Campground offers boat rentals and a dedicated marina for anglers seeking largemouth bass and crappie. "Little Grassy is a beautiful lake to explore! The marina shop also provides kayak and canoe rentals," mentions one visitor to Little Grassy Lake Campground.
Hiking varied terrain: Giant City State Park provides trails ranging from easy family walks to more challenging routes through unique rock formations. "The Giant City Nature Trail and Devils Standtable were really pretty, easy strolls. The Trillium Trail is a little more rugged for those who prefer less crowded, slightly tougher trails," notes a camper at Giant City State Park Campground.
Rock climbing access: Several sites provide access to both sport and traditional climbing routes on sandstone formations. "For climbers, there is a ton of nearby trad and sport climbing. The main wall stays wet for a while so if it has recently rained you may need to find somewhere else," advises a winter visitor.
What campers like
River views: Trail of Tears State Park in Missouri offers Mississippi River overlooks within 30 minutes of Jonesboro. "One of the best camping views of the mississippi river! The campsite overlooks the mighty mississippi river and oh what a view it is, watching tugboats move barges up and down," reports a camper at Trail of Tears State Park Campground.
Budget-friendly options: Turkey Bayou Campground provides free camping with basic amenities near water access. "This simple campground is in a beautiful location by the Big Muddy River. It is volunteer run and relatively well-kept up. There is no toilet and or water spigots, so bring your back country shovel and fresh water," explains a visitor to Turkey Bayou Campground.
Firefly displays: Summer campers note impressive natural light shows at several campgrounds in the region. "Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!" shares a camper at Ferne Clyffe State Park, highlighting a seasonal attraction from late May through July.
What you should know
Train noise: Several campgrounds near river corridors experience regular train traffic. "There will be a train that comes through in the middle of the night, but other people have never been an issue for us," notes a camper about Trail of Tears State Park, while another mentions, "loud trains rolling thru every few hours."
Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly throughout the region. "Spectrum Mobile works out here and the lake is beautiful," reports a solo camper at Turkey Bayou, though service tends to diminish in areas with deeper ravines and dense forest cover.
Site selection challenges: At Shawnee Forest Campground, visitors note varying site quality. "Our site was not level and with all the rain we had, there were water puddles at the steps. There are some nice sites in this CG but we were not offered one of the better ones even though there were plenty of sites open," explains one RVer, suggesting campers should request specific sites when possible.
Tips for camping with families
Shower facilities: Deer Ridge Campground at Ferne Clyffe State Park maintains clean bathing facilities. "Bathrooms and shower house were all clean!" reports a camper who stayed at the primitive sites, which provides important comfort for families with children.
Beach access: Touch of Nature Education Center offers shoreline swimming opportunities along Little Grassy Lake. "Camp Amenities include: lodges, cabins, shelters, parking, fire pits/fireplaces all with wood supplied, amphitheaters, fishing along Little Grassy Lake, trails, swing set," notes a visitor, highlighting the kid-friendly facilities.
Geological exploration: Ferne Clyffe State Park's formations fascinate children with accessible cave features. "It's an easy hike and the kids explored the caves for hours!" shares a camper about the Hawk's Cave Trail at the park, indicating a natural playground effect that keeps younger visitors engaged.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Be prepared for unconventional utility placement at some sites. "Electrical utility connection is on passenger side of the campsite #6. Sewer connection was high above ground so drainage was up hill," notes an RVer about Trail of Tears State Park, suggesting campers bring extension hoses and adapters.
Leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven terrain requiring additional equipment. "Site 6 not level side-to-side," mentions a visitor to Trail of Tears State Park, while Shawnee Forest Campground reviews note similar issues requiring blocks and levelers.
Limited big rig access: Several campgrounds have narrow roads or low-hanging branches. "The gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21," explains a camper with a larger RV at Shawnee Forest Campground, suggesting careful navigation is necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Jonesboro, IL?
What camping is available near Jonesboro, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Jonesboro, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 120 campgrounds and RV parks near Jonesboro, IL and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Jonesboro, IL?
Which is the most popular campground near Jonesboro, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jonesboro, IL is Giant City State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jonesboro, IL?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jonesboro, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Jonesboro, IL.
What parks are near Jonesboro, IL?
What parks are near Jonesboro, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 parks near Jonesboro, IL that allow camping, notably Shawnee National Forest and Rend Lake.
Keep Exploring