Best Campgrounds near Belknap, IL

Looking for the best campgrounds near Belknap, IL? Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Belknap. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Belknap, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Best Camping Sites Near Belknap, Illinois (122)

    1. Shawnee Forest Campground

    36 Reviews
    Vienna, IL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-0619

    $40 / night

    "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."

    2. Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    16 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    $18 / night

    "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."

    3. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs

    32 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    $15 / night

    "However, by Saturday morning (Easter weekend) all but 5 sites had cleared out and we had the place nearly to ourselves for the rest of the stay. "

    "Loved all the hikes within walking distance, a bit of a drive in but fun to explore"

    4. Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    15 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    "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."

    5. Oak Point - Lake Glendale

    15 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 638-3246

    $10 - $20 / night

    "Our favorite in all of Illinois!!"

    "Tucked into the tall pines of the Shawnee national forest, this park offers a handful of gorgeous sites for campers to enjoy, many that back right up to Lake Glendale."

    6. Jackson Falls

    22 Reviews
    Shawnee National Forest, IL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    "Jackson offers some of the best rock climbing in southern Illinois. There are about 60 climbing areas along the sandstone bluffs and freestanding boulders, with multiple routes."

    "We are a Jeep family so I may have more experience than others in off-roading.

    We opted to turn around and stay at the main parking lot which is VERY accessible."

    7. Lake Glendale Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3807

    $12 - $44 / night

    "Lake Glendale is a true southern Illinois gem. They have recently improved the shower houses, the kids love the playground, and there is SO much shade!"

    "Ill Iron Forge, Garden of the Gods and Trail of Tears segments on

    ATT cell service was spotty but I drove to Dixon Springs SP where there was a cell tower."

    8. Dixon Springs State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3394

    "We were a bit nervous about this campground when reading reviews and seeing the location (there is an Impact Incarceration Program that shares the border), but I'm glad we found it."

    "There was a couple nice playgrounds for the kids to play on and plenty to walk around and see."

    9. Oak Point Campground

    9 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3807

    "Tucked into the tall pines of the Shawnee national forest, this park offers a handful of gorgeous sites for campers to enjoy, many that back right up to Lake Glendale."

    "Next depending on which site you pick it can be a short walk to the lake and direct put in of your water craft. A very cool feature is that several of the sites are double."

    10. Fern Lake Campground

    15 Reviews
    Paducah, KY
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 444-7939

    $45 - $65 / night

    "Located on the edge of Paducah, Kentucky this is the perfect place to stay if you are going to the quilt shows or visiting the National Quilt Museum."

    "This is a convenient and pleasant campground, just off exit 3 on I24 in Paducah. The staff was friendly and walked us to our site and showed us the hookups."

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Recent Reviews near Belknap, IL

746 Reviews of 122 Belknap Campgrounds


  • Anna M.
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

    Cleanest Bathrooms

    There is nothing special about the location. There is a boat ramp nearby. There were only people set up in the park today. They do have a playground.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    A good spot to have a work week

    Functional clean porta potties. Fire pits, tables and water( not at the campsite but available at the entrance). Not a ton of privacy but very friendly people. Not great for starlink but very moderate t mobile a slightly better Verizon. Lots of tents and vans. Not many spots. Beautiful.

  • j
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE

    Nice COE campground

    Grand Rivers KY Canal Campground at Barkley Lake COE Site 111 This is a great COE campground located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with views of the Barkley Dam. The canal connects them and you can see boats and occasionally barges passing through. There are over 100 campsites are available, many with water views. We had a spacious site with a river view. Other loops are closer together and no view. Sites offer electric and/or water hookups, tables and fire ring. Other amenities include clean old style bathhouses, a dump station, laundry facilities, a playground, and picnic pavilions. We saw several deer roaming the grounds. There's a great pizza place in town Papa Z.

  • Jessica T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Great spot for location

    Overall we’ve really enjoyed our stay. Came over the Labor Day weekend and staying a week. 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. A little noisy at night with the interstate in the distance but we’d expected that. Only thing we wish we would’ve known about was the paving of the road happening directly outside of the park. They obviously can’t control that but a heads up would’ve been helpful. One day we couldn’t get out for a bit and thankfully we had flexible plans. Overall- it’s a great park with decent proximity to a lot of nature. Anna, Marion and Harrisburg are your best bets for restaurants and grocery etc. Vienna only has a dollar general and a few restaurants- a diner, longhorn cafe, Mexican restaurant and Family Pizza- we tried the last one and it was good! Prepare for a 40 min wait time if picking up and it gets packed if you want to dine in. Would def stay here again to visit Shawnee.

  • L
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Cave-in-Rock State Park

    Beautiful, empty, cheap state park

    We are the only campers here in a very well kept campground. The bathrooms are clean and the only sound is from the birds. $20 for a state park site with electricity is incredible. It is out of the way (we took the ferry from Kentucky).

  • Tom B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Columbus-Belmont State Park

    Nice, clean campground, back sites have sewer, be prepared to level out.

    Stayed here for 2 nights at site 25 on the back side of the campground. The back sites have sewer. These sites were paved, but not level, so be prepared to level. TIP: If using those yellow camco "lego" block to level, be sure to put a canvas tarp or rubber mat between the blocks and the pavement, otherwise they will slide when you try to roll on top of them. My daughter used the bathhouse, and she said it was not good. Leaky, standing water. The park was awesome, which made the bathhouse an oddity. The little snack shack over by the chain was a nice evening diversion of ice cream and funnel fries. The camp host couple was wonderful. The park is clean and well maintained.

  • Tom B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Benton KOA

    Good KOA

    Yes, there is highway noise. It's a KOA. Convenience of being easy off an interstate has its tradeoffs. That said, excellent staff, clean, professional KOA

  • Scott B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Great stop for the night.

    We were driving south on I24 towards Nashville and needed a spot to stop for the night. We booked online and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived. The campground is really nice and had a great paved walking trail to stretch our legs and walk the dog. Would definitely recommend if in the area.


Guide to Belknap

Camping near Belknap, Illinois, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Easy walking distance to the observation trail that is the highlight of this park."
  • Fishing: Enjoy fishing at Oak Point - Lake Glendale. A camper shared, "Good hiking, kayaking, and fishing."
  • Rock Climbing: Check out the climbing spots at Jackson Falls. A reviewer noted, "A lot of hiking and rock climbing to do at Jackson Falls."

What campers like:

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Jackson Falls, have minimal facilities. A visitor pointed out, "The bathroom was stocked with TP but you will want to bring hand sanitizer or water."
  • Busy on Weekends: Expect crowds at popular spots like Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground. One camper advised, "Recommend only visiting Monday thru Thursday."
  • Road Conditions: Some campgrounds, such as Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs, have rough access roads. A visitor mentioned, "The road getting there does vary in surfaces but our van made it fine."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park. A camper noted, "The trails include everything — bluffs from above and below, a huge cave, and several falls."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have hiking and fishing gear ready. One family shared, "We really enjoyed the hikes, seeing the sandstone 'walls' that make the area famous."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. A reviewer from Shawnee Forest Campground mentioned, "The staff are very friendly and helpful and was more than happy to offer places to visit in the area."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A visitor at Giant City State Park Campground said, "Nice big spaces for RV or tents."
  • Be Prepared for Limited Hookups: Some campgrounds, like Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs, don’t have electric hookups. One camper noted, "There was barely anyone here when we visited in April, new pit toilets, water was not available and no power."
  • Plan for Waste Disposal: Make sure to know where the nearest dump station is. A reviewer at Shawnee Forest Campground mentioned, "The bathrooms are very clean and well lit."

Camping near Belknap, Illinois, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Belknap, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Belknap, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 122 campgrounds and RV parks near Belknap, IL and 8 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Belknap, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Belknap, IL is Shawnee Forest Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 36 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Belknap, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Belknap, IL.