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Dog-Friendly Camping near Bonnie, IL

3 campgrounds with availability this weekend

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    Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground's pet-friendly sites accommodate both tent and RV campers seeking lakeside recreation. Pets are allowed throughout the campground's numerous spacious sites, many of which offer electrical hookups and convenient access to Rend Lake. The campground features well-maintained grounds with sites adequately spaced apart, providing room for pets to relax with their owners. South Sandusky and North Sandusky campgrounds at Rend Lake also welcome pets, offering similar amenities with waterfront camping options. Bathhouses and toilet facilities are available, though cleanliness varies according to visitor experiences. Campsites include the standard picnic tables and fire rings, making them suitable for overnight stays with pets.

    Rend Lake recreational areas provide excellent opportunities for dogs to enjoy waterfront activities. The numerous hiking and biking trails throughout Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park allow for pet exercise, though some trails may be in poor condition. Wildlife is abundant throughout the camping areas, with deer frequently visible from campsites. Pet owners should maintain awareness of wildlife when walking dogs, especially during early morning and evening hours. The campgrounds' proximity to Interstate 57 makes them convenient stopping points for travelers with pets, though some areas may experience highway noise. Archway RV Park in Mount Vernon offers an alternative pet-friendly campsite with a small pond perfect for walking dogs and the chance to spot cardinal birds. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to be leashed at all times when outside vehicles or camping units.

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Bonnie (75)

      1. Gun Creek

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

      "Pet friendly and beautiful lake views from many of the camp sites. I recommend checking the grade of the camp site because some of the ones next to the lake were at a pretty big angle."

      "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."

      Available this weekend

      from $20 - $30 / night

      3 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 this weekend

      from $16 - $44 / night

      4 Sites Available

      4. Archway RV Park

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

      "There is a nice playground and dog park as well as a pond at the location. Great place to stop traveling through or for a weekend."

      "They also have a fenced in dog park. No shade in that area, but nice touch!"

      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 this weekend

      Get a text when available

      from $16 - $28 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Whittington Woods Campground

      4.3(13)9mi from BonnieRVs, Cabins

      "This campground is beautiful with lots of gardens and potted plants at a lot of the campsites The host is very friendly, the pool is well maintained, they have a dog park The Host even led us to our"

      "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."

      7. Benton KOA

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

      "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."

      "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."

      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 this 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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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Bonnie, IL

    544 Reviews of 75 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

    Rend Lake, a 19,000-acre reservoir in southern Illinois, serves as the centerpiece for camping near Bonnie, Illinois. Located at approximately 405 feet above sea level, the area experiences hot summers with temperatures frequently reaching 90°F and mild winters. Most campgrounds in the region operate from March through November, with a few sites offering year-round access for pet owners seeking camping opportunities during off-peak seasons.

    What to do

    **Fishing access: The numerous campgrounds surrounding Rend Lake provide direct water access for fishing enthusiasts. At Gun Creek Campground, sites are positioned for easy lake entry. "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.

    **Biking trails: Several paved trails connect the campgrounds around Rend Lake. "South Marcum Campground is a Corp of Engineers campground just of I-57 in southern Illinois... close to a nice bike trail," reports b K. The trails run throughout the recreation areas, allowing pets to accompany their owners on exercise outings.

    **Swimming beaches: Dedicated swimming areas are available near most campgrounds, though not all are within walking distance. Debra G. explains about Rend Lake: "Large spacious sites, close to swimming beaches, although not walking distance. Tree covered and offer some privacy."

    What campers like

    **Wildlife viewing: Early mornings and evenings provide excellent wildlife spotting opportunities from campsites. "Never been to a CG with such abundant wildlife! Can sit at your spot and watch deer throughout the day," writes Lucas T. about Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park. This makes for enjoyable viewing for both campers and their leashed pets.

    **Spacious sites: Unlike many crowded campgrounds, most Rend Lake camping areas offer room to spread out. At North Sandusky Campground, "The sites all seem to be fairly well maintained and roomy. Site 42 is very spacious," according to Jason A. This extra space proves valuable for campers with pets.

    **Lake views: Many campsites provide direct sightlines to Rend Lake. "What a beautiful campground, it's our second time here. Some spots do have a fairly good slope to them," reports Jeff F. about Gun Creek Campground. Sites with lake views tend to fill quickly, especially during summer weekends.

    What you should know

    **Reservation systems: The booking processes vary between campgrounds. At Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground, "The stay was pleasant and the lake was very nice but the reservation system and finding a spot was overly complicated for a first timer," explains Blake M. "Basically people show up and throw a cooler or tent onto a site to claim it and then leave."

    **Site leveling: Many sites throughout the region require leveling equipment. "Overall a great stay, very busy as it was full the entire time we were there... Absolutely must check how level the spots are before you book, as lots of sites are over 4 inch incline," advises Never Sitting S. about Gun Creek.

    **Bathroom facilities: Cleanliness and maintenance of restrooms varies widely. Phil W. notes about North Sandusky: "The shower house and rest rooms were clean and well-kept." However, at Wayne Fitzgerrell, Matthew B. reports: "Bathrooms are pretty disgusting buggy and dirty."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bonnie, IL?

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

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bonnie, IL?

    TheDyrt.com has all 75 dog-friendly camping locations near Bonnie, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.