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Camping near Bonnie, IL

3 campgrounds with availability next weekend

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    Campgrounds near Bonnie, Illinois cluster around several major recreational areas including Rend Lake, with options ranging from full-service RV sites to rustic cabins. South Marcum Campground and South Sandusky Campground provide developed camping with electric hookups, while Whittington Woods and Benton KOA offer cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping spaces. The landscape features a mix of wooded areas and lakefront properties, with many sites positioned directly on the water for convenient fishing and boating access.

    Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the region, with most campgrounds operating from March through November. Water-based activities dominate the recreation scene, with boating, fishing, and swimming available at multiple locations. Several campgrounds provide full hookups for RVs including 50-amp service, while primitive tent sites can be found scattered throughout the various recreation areas. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend stays during summer months when lakeside sites fill quickly. A visitor described South Marcum as "hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake" with "plenty of bathrooms and bath houses as well as playgrounds and spacious campsites for larger RVs."

    The camping experience near Bonnie centers primarily around water recreation at Rend Lake, one of southern Illinois' largest bodies of water. Many campgrounds feature direct lake access, allowing visitors to park boats near their campsites or enjoy fishing from shore. Shaded sites provide relief during hot summer months, while open areas accommodate larger recreational vehicles. Bathroom and shower facilities vary in quality and availability between locations, with Corps of Engineers campgrounds generally receiving positive reviews for cleanliness and maintenance. Several reviewers noted the area's family-friendly atmosphere and abundance of outdoor activities. As one camper observed about nearby facilities, "The bathrooms were cleaned every morning before 7 am. Water had great pressure and was always nice and hot."

    Best Campgrounds near Bonnie (89)

      1. Gun Creek

      4.7(25)9mi from Bonnie100 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "One of the first campgrounds that you come to at Rend Lake when you get off the highway, this campground has lots of positives and few negatives."

      "The lake had the most amazing sunset! Everyone is super friendly and we recommend the blue jay loop for best views and swimming access to the lake."

      Available next weekend

      from $20 - $30 / night

      2 Sites Available

      2. Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground

      4.4(15)6mi from BonnieRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Wayne Fitzgerald State Park is on Rend Lake, just off I-57 in Southern Illinois. It’s a great place for camping, fishing and bikes."

      "Many of the sites are walk up only.  The sites have a lot of room to enjoy a relaxing weekend or set up yard games.  Rend lake is a good size lake with numerous areas to explore the water."

      3. South Marcum Campground

      4.6(21)12mi from Bonnie160 sitesRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This is hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake."

      "They're very close to the Illinois state fair grounds. There are tent sites as well as RV sites that are very close to the lake."

      Available next weekend

      from $16 - $44 / night

      5 Sites Available

      4. Archway RV Park

      3.9(17)8mi from BonnieRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Long first day drive, but so handy and staff couldn’t be more accommodating to our late arrivals. Just far enough from Interstate so noise isn’t an issue. Lots of services at the same exit."

      "This is primarily a RV park near I-64 and on a highway. Noisy!! Bad noisy. Camp site was nice. Grassy, level, near a picnic shelter with tables. Shade trees. But only about 2-3 such sites."

      from $60 - $75 / night

      Check Availability

      5. South Sandusky Campground

      4.7(19)13mi from Bonnie128 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "North and South Sandusky campground is located in southern Illinois on Rend Lake. It is a large state park with tons to do. From boating and swimming to hiking and relaxing."

      "Well maintained on beautiful Rend Lake in southern Illinois. Reservations accepted on reservation.gov. Walk ins also welcome."

      Campground full next weekend

      Get a text when available

      from $16 - $28 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Whittington Woods Campground

      4.3(13)9mi from BonnieRVs, Cabins

      "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."

      "Short drive to Rend Lake, bike trails, kayaks, fishing. Also, a fun winery about 1 mile north! I do recommend this campground!"

      7. Benton KOA

      3.8(13)13mi from BonnieRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      "Not a bad place for a stop between destinations or a couple days at the lake would be fine. Roads and sites were well maintained. The dog park gets muddy quick, it’s mostly moss and dirt."

      8. Rend Lake

      4.7(6)7mi from BonnieRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Hundreds of campsites, marinas with boat rentals, beaches and stores nearby in case you need something. This area is truly a southern Illinois gem!"

      "Large spacious sites, close to swimming beaches, although not walking distance. Tree covered and offer some privacy. Great place to meet with family and friends."

      9. North Sandusky Campground

      4.8(6)10mi from Bonnie118 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "North Sandusky Campground is a gem in Southern Illinois. Many of the sites are backed up to Rend lake and the others back up to the woods. The sites all seem to be fairly well maintained and roomy."

      "has a great view of the lake from almost every camp site. close to southern IL. great leasure campsite to take the kids"

      Campground full next weekend

      Get a text when available

      from $20 - $28 / night

      Check Availability

      10. COE Rend Lake North Sandusky Recreation Area

      4.3(6)11mi from BonnieRVs, Tents

      "Most of the campsites feature beautiful lake views and are well-shaded by tall trees."

      "We have had deer playing on an adjacent site to us. Fun place to camp with family and friends. Never want to leave."

      from $30 / night

      Check Availability

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    Recent Reviews near Bonnie, IL

    544 Reviews of 89 Bonnie Campgrounds

    • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 30, 2026

      Whittington 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.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 29, 2026

      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.

    • Ronald C.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 14, 2026

      South Marcum Campground

      Large site

      Great campsite very large easy to get in and additional parking for your truck right next to your trailer

    • Scott M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 13, 2026

      COE Rend Lake North Sandusky Recreation Area

      Excellent campground

      What started as a one-night camping trip quickly turned into a three-night stay—I just didn't want to leave! Most of the campsites feature beautiful lake views and are well-shaded by tall trees. Each spot is equipped with an electric hookup, a fire pit, and a picnic table, plus having access to hot showers made the stay super comfortable. To top it off, our cats loved taking walks with us around the campground!

    • Randy H.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 27, 2026

      Gun Creek

      Great Digs

      Rend Lake, in Whittington, Il is just a great place to camp. From primitive to full hook ups they have what you need for a Corps of Engineers campground.

    • DThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 25, 2026

      Giant City State Park Campground

      Good staff & clean facility.

      I stayed at a walk-to tent site for which the price was $8 per night. Pretty solid Verizon cell signal. Clean showers and well kept. The place did sound pretty loud as far as older partiers, though around 9pm, it was near silent. I'd definitely stay here again.

    • Rodney W.
      Sep. 14, 2026

      Old Bates Campground Llc

      Amazingly quiet and peaceful

      I believe this is one of the best campgrounds I've been to. It is safe friendly, theres laundry, lp fill, close to rend lake, 20 mins from walmart, a great place to relax and visit, vacation, whatever you like.

    • DThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 13, 2026

      Giant City State Park Campground

      Quiet Retreat

      Campground was quiet and peaceful when I was there. Numerous trails within the park and I had them to myself while out hiking.

    • JThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 10, 2026

      Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground

      Great campground!

      We arrived at 7 picked a spot in the fcfs area and were surprised that it was almost empty. We got a premium site on the water, with no other campers in sight. The website says the reservation areas were full but that was not true, you have to book 4 days in advance. The camp host was great! It will be on my list of places to overnight in the future. But the lake is beautiful and you could spend multiple days there if you wanted!

    Guide to Bonnie

    Campgrounds in the Bonnie, Illinois area offer access to multiple Corps of Engineers facilities surrounding Rend Lake, a major recreation destination in southern Illinois. Seasonal operation typically runs from March through November with most sites closing during winter months. The region's terrain consists of gently rolling woodlands interspersed with lake access points where camping facilities have been developed.

    What to do

    Fishing opportunities: Fish directly from waterfront sites at Gun Creek, where many campsites have direct lake access. "Great rates and even better campsites. We got there late and had no problems finding a great campsite right next to the lake," notes Jonathan W.

    Boating access: Use the boat launch near Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground for water activities. "Rend lake is a good size lake with numerous areas to explore the water," reports Cody S., who visited during a holiday weekend.

    Biking trails: Access paved bike paths connecting campgrounds around Rend Lake. A camper at North Sandusky Campground observed, "There's a biking trail that we also used as a walking trail. Beautiful scenery along the way."

    Wildlife observation: Bring binoculars to spot water birds and deer at several lakeside campsites near Bonnie. At North Sandusky, Carol B. shares, "We have had deer playing on an adjacent site to us. Fun place to camp with family and friends."

    What campers like

    Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer generous spacing between sites, particularly at South Marcum Campground. "Great campground.. 50 amp service, some with water and some with Full hookup... Dump stations are EZ access on the way out," notes Kent F.

    Lake views: Sites along the water provide scenic views and direct access for water activities. A camper at South Marcum reports, "If I was in any other spot this would probably be a 4/5, but spot 56 has a crazy lake view and is on the tip of an outlook with pretty nice privacy!"

    Clean facilities: Bathrooms and shower houses receive regular maintenance across multiple campgrounds. "The bathhouses were clean, loved Rend Lake," reported one visitor to South Marcum, while another noted "Bathrooms are centrally located, so they are a bit of a hike. They are clean and not too busy."

    Mature trees: Find shade at Whittington Woods Campground, which features established woodland. "Beautiful campground with mature trees providing lots of shade on the 100F weekend we were there. Gravel sites, level. A lot of common ground, shaded, picnic shelters," writes Jan S.

    What you should know

    Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others allow first-come occupancy. At Wayne Fitzgerrell, Blake M. advises, "People show up and throw a cooler or tent onto a site to claim it and then leave. They have to pay for the spot by 8pm."

    Site levelness: Check site grade when booking. At South Sandusky Campground, visitors note "Some spots do have a fairly good slope to them," while others caution, "Absolutely must check how level the spots are before you book, as lots of sites are over 4 inch incline."

    Traffic noise: Campgrounds near interstate highways experience road noise. At Benton KOA, a reviewer warns, "1 side is directly on the freeway VERY loud, the other is in between the sewer treatment plant and municipal airport. If you're a light sleeper might want to stay away."

    Seasonal crowds: Summer weekends and holidays fill waterfront sites quickly. Lucas T. advises about Wayne Fitzgerrell, "Get there on Wednesday to get a spot on the water!"

    Tips for camping with families

    Playgrounds access: Multiple recreation areas feature playgrounds for children. South Sandusky includes "playgrounds, picnic tables, fire pits. Quiet, shady, paved roads," according to Ed H.

    Beach proximity: Plan for swimming at dedicated beach areas that may require a short drive from campsites. "Large spacious sites, close to swimming beaches, although not walking distance," notes Debra G. about Rend Lake facilities.

    Fishing with kids: Many sites allow fishing directly from shore. "Gun Creek has many sites for all campers. For cheap you get a simple site with electric or for not too much more there are sites with water and sewage dump," explains Dave S.

    Insect preparation: Pack insect repellent for lakeside camping. "Because of the lake there are tons of mosquitos, plan accordingly!" warns Brennan M. about Gun Creek.

    Tips from RVers

    Full hookup options: Select sites with complete utility connections for extended stays. "Sites have water and sewer, and a picnic table. Sites are close to the water so you can fish or boat right from your campsite," notes Joel R. about North Sandusky.

    Dump station access: Locate dump stations at main campground exits for convenient departure service. At South Marcum, Kent F. notes that "Dump stations are EZ access on the way out."

    Power requirements: Verify correct amperage availability when booking. "Full hookups with only a 50amp connection so if you are using 30 make sure you have a 50/30 adapter," advises James N. about Archway RV Park.

    Arrival timing: Plan weekday arrivals for better site selection. At Wayne Fitzgerrell, a camper recommends, "Spots were level. Some are pull-through. The sites are set up to provide some privacy, and are not right on top of each other."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What camping is available near Bonnie, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Bonnie, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 89 campgrounds and RV parks near Bonnie, IL and 4 free dispersed camping spots.

    Which is the most popular campground near Bonnie, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bonnie, IL is Gun Creek with a 4.7-star rating from 25 reviews.

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Bonnie, IL.

    What parks are near Bonnie, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Bonnie, IL that allow camping, notably Rend Lake and Carlyle Lake.