126 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds in the Belknap, Illinois area range from full-hookup RV sites to primitive tent camping within the surrounding Shawnee National Forest region. Shawnee Forest Campground, located just off Interstate 24, provides full hookups on a converted golf course with fishing ponds and walking trails. The region also includes dispersed options like Jackson Falls and Dutchman Lake Camp for more primitive experiences. Lake Glendale Recreation Area offers both tent and RV accommodations with waterfront access. Several campgrounds feature electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings, while others maintain a more rustic setting with minimal amenities.
Most developed campgrounds in the area remain open year-round, though seasonal considerations affect water availability and facility operations from late fall through early spring. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs operates seasonally from March 15 to December 15. Several campgrounds provide drinking water, flush toilets and showers during the main camping season, while dispersed sites typically offer vault toilets only. Road access varies throughout the region with most established campgrounds accessible via paved or well-maintained gravel roads. Dixon Springs State Park Campground and Oak Point Campground provide accessibility for larger vehicles including big rigs. As one visitor noted, "This campground is very nice. It's only 1/4 mile from the highway but still quiet. They have a couple of ponds to fish in and the restrooms are clean."
Campers consistently mention the peaceful setting and fishing opportunities as highlights of the area. The ponds at Shawnee Forest Campground offer catch-and-release fishing that visitors appreciate. Several reviews indicate the region provides good access to hiking trails, including connections to the Shawnee National Forest's extensive trail system. As one camper explained, "It was an old golf course which made great walking and bike trails." Proximity to natural attractions like Garden of the Gods and Little Grand Canyon receives mention in reviews as notable day trip destinations from local campgrounds. While most sites offer basic amenities, visitors should note that some dispersed camping areas provide minimal facilities and may require more self-sufficiency for comfortable stays.
"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."
from $40 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $18 / night
Check Availability"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. "
"This campground is super remote and is near a couple trails with waterfalls."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
from $12 - $44 / night
Check Availability"We pulled in around midnight and left at 8 am."
"It’s off the highway down Amish/Dutch country. It has a maintained gravel road beautiful lake and in June it’s covered with lightening bugs. Lots of wild flowers and the sunset- WOW!"
"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."
"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."
GuidePristine campsites with steamy hot showers! What more could you want?! One bar with mint mobile but starlink works no problem! No sewer hook up at all sites but no matter! There’s a dump site! The lake is beautiful and quiet with a swimming area! Definitely a must stay!
GuideFull hook up. Level. Parked in large trees. Concerned we might not be able to get our slide out, but it was okay. Shaded. Great water views. Lots of boat activity. Gave we “party cove” vibes. But family friend party cove.
GuideThe views!!! Loved it. Lots to do in the area. Recommend Giant City! Grounds were well maintained. There was a giant snake behind our site. And goose poop everywhere. But we are camping in THEIR homes.
GuideLovely lake. If you have an E-bike, you can ride MILES around the lower portion of the lake.
We were in spot 57. Spectacular views of the lake. Lots of trees. Large spaces. Nice concrete picnic table. But boy oh boy was this space unlevel. We were down 13 inches low in the back. The best we could get it was 6 inches off. A camper may not be as much an issue… but a class A, it’s rough.
GuideWe were on our hike in Shawnee National Forest, and we found this campground. And it was an amazing experience. It has a beautiful view of the sunset, and there are ponds. There are horses on the property, and it’s very cheap for tent camping. The staff was amazing. She showed us around with her 4x4 the whole property, the horses, and the pony or a donkey. The showers were pretty decent and cleaned
I would recommend this place for everyone
LegendBenton KOA Journey is an easy overnight stop just off I-57. Since we were already familiar with the campground layout, we called ahead to ask if we could go directly to our site on the opposite side of the road from the office and check in afterward. The staff gladly accommodated our request. We stayed in Deluxe Full-Hookup Pull-Through Patio Site 65, which made it easy to center our 40-foot fifth wheel on the utilities. The site was slightly off level, but we did not need to use blocks. The gravel patio featured a huge wheelchair-accessible picnic table, fire pit with cooking grate, stand-up charcoal grill, wooden swing, and bench. We received one bar on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. There are mature trees around the seven pull-through sites across the road from the main campground, but Starlink should work in most of them if you're able to position the dish around the trees. For this overnight stay, we used our T-Mobile Home Internet, which averaged 358 Mbps download and 2.7 Mbps upload. The campground Wi-Fi was adequate for light browsing. A fenced dog park was conveniently located near our site, and being across the road from the main campground helped reduce interstate noise. Overall, this is a clean, well-run KOA with exceptionally friendly and helpful staff, and a good overnight stop returning to our home base in southern Illinois to rest and dump tanks.
ScoutTook a road trip in are RV over the summer last year and stumbled across this place they had it all water hookup waste hook up and were very reasonable on price definitely recommend
ScoutAwesome campsite rented a cabin we brought are dogs so we had to find a location that excepted pets and they were the ones who were friendly and awsome definitely recommend if u want a place to go this is the place
LegendBefore arrival, we received a helpful confirmation email with clear directions for entering the campground, although the turn was easy with our 40-foot fifth wheel. Check-in was exceptionally friendly—we were even welcomed by a fellow Brinkley owner—and escorted to pull-through Site A6 with full hookups. The utilities were easy to reach, and water pressure was good. We were pleasantly surprised to learn we could park our truck anywhere, even on the grass. Starlink would be questionable because of the mature trees, but the campground's Wi-Fi was better than most we have experienced at around 50 Mbps download and 24 Mbps upload. We had two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, while our T-Mobile Home Internet work well. The upper A-loop pull-through sites are fairly level but somewhat close together. The terraced B, C, and D loops could be more challenging for larger rigs to maneuver, level, and exit. The campground also offers a fishing pond, cabins, tent sites, and a fenced dog park. Overall, this is a clean, well-maintained KOA Journey with friendly staff that worked very well for our overnight stay, and we would stay here again.
Dispersed camping spots near Belknap, Illinois offer access to both backcountry experiences and developed sites within the 280,000-acre Shawnee National Forest. The region sits at elevations ranging from 350 to 700 feet, with rolling hills and limestone bluffs characterizing the terrain. Fall temperatures typically range from 45-75°F, creating ideal camping conditions from September through early November when humidity levels drop.
Hiking trails at Bell Smith Springs: Access a network of trails featuring sandstone formations, natural bridges, and small waterfalls. "The hiking and swimming area is very interesting. There's hiking trails, but they can potentially be confusing, so take a picture of the map and make a plan if you can. There's a natural rock arch formation, and lots of dramatic cliffs," notes a visitor to Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs.
Swimming in natural pools: Cool off in the various swimming areas throughout the region. A camper at Jackson Falls shares, "We found small pools perfect for a summer dip. Half the hikers were carrying towels so it must be a common plan."
Rock climbing opportunities: Jackson Falls offers popular climbing routes for various skill levels. "The place is beautiful; forests and great big, moss covered boulders. It was fun climbing down to the bottom of the falls, even with small kids," reports one visitor.
Fishing access: Several locations provide shore fishing with various catch possibilities. At Shawnee Forest Campground, "They have a small lake and two ponds for fishing. There's no formal dog area, but there are paved trails around the large CG area, which made it nice to walk our dogs."
Quiet camping locations: Many sites offer peaceful settings away from urban noise. A visitor to Lake Glendale Recreation Area notes, "This campground is an absolute gem. 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."
Wildlife viewing: Campgrounds provide opportunities to observe local fauna. One visitor at Turkey Ridge Campground shares, "There was a ton of wildlife though and it was really neat to listen to all the different species throughout the night."
Seasonal considerations: Water services may be limited during colder months. At Deer Ridge Campground, "Water only available at few spots and you would need a really long hose to attach if open faucet available. No answer to phone calls and reservation webpage dropped us twice. You take an open spot and pay the park ranger or host when they come around."
Access challenges: Some dispersed sites require careful navigation. According to a Jackson Falls camper, "Beautiful location. Definitely off the beaten path. There was another group of campers but they camped on the trail. Grave Road getting there was a bit rough for my Ram Promaster. Hill down to trail head could get slick if wet weather."
Bug preparedness: Ticks and mosquitoes can be problematic, particularly in warmer months. "LOTS of poison ivy and ticks. Luckily, we expected this and came prepared with tweezers, tick remover, insect repellant, and poison ivy wipes," warns a visitor to Dixon Springs State Park.
Playground facilities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. At Oak Point Campground, "A playground located in the electric area for the kiddos to play in and around. A short jont down the road you have a boat loading area to go out on the lake, a public picnic area, and a beach where you can swim (for a small fee) or rent paddle boats."
Family-friendly hiking options: Several trails accommodate younger hikers. A visitor to Redbud Campground notes, "We found plenty of empty sites but people were starting to fill them in. I imagine it might get full for the weekend. Just around the corner is a network of hiking trails. They scurry around cliffs, falls and ravines."
Natural attractions for children: Unique geological features appeal to young explorers. "Really, this state park is a must for anyone who lives nearby or is driving through. It's just that gorgeous! There are lots of well maintained trails to hike... hikes that include bluffs, caves, creeks, etc. Our favorite is Hawk's Cave Trail. It's an easy hike and the kids explored the caves for hours!" shares a Turkey Ridge visitor.
Site leveling requirements: Many sites require adjustment for comfortable setup. At Shawnee Forest Campground, "The gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21. The water and electric(50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad. There are two sewer hookups, which was nice. Our site was not level and with all the rain we had, there were water puddles at the steps."
Power availability: Electric hookups vary by campground and site location. A Dixon Springs camper notes, "We have a 29 foot camper: the sites and roads are snug for it. At site 6 it goes downhill so it is difficult to get your camper level. Water available at dump station but not consumable. The area is very beautiful and quiet. Perfect for those with smaller campers."
Road conditions: Access routes may present challenges for larger units. "Located in the Shawnee National Forest, this sweet little campground has it all. Wooded, semi private sites (at least for tents), full hook ups for RV's, great campground hosts, CCC buildings, new shower house," shares an Oak Point camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Belknap, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Belknap, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 126 campgrounds and RV parks near Belknap, IL and 9 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 4.5-star rating from 37 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Belknap, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Belknap, IL.
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