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Southern Illinois near Buncombe features a diverse camping landscape within the Shawnee National Forest region, where unique geological formations create distinctive camping experiences. Established campgrounds like Shawnee Forest Campground in Vienna and Ferne Clyffe State Park's multiple camping areas in Goreville provide year-round options with varying amenity levels. The area's camping options range from full-hookup RV sites with 50-amp service to primitive tent sites at locations like Jackson Falls, where free dispersed camping attracts rock climbers and hikers. Giant City State Park Campground and Oak Point at Lake Glendale offer water-based recreation with lakeside sites that consistently receive high ratings from visitors.
Many campgrounds in this region require advance planning due to seasonal popularity, particularly during spring and fall when temperatures are most comfortable. Cell service remains spotty throughout much of the area, especially at more remote sites like Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs. As one camper noted, "Lake Glendale is a true southern Illinois gem with recently improved shower houses and plenty of shade." Gravel forest roads access many of the campgrounds, occasionally requiring higher clearance vehicles during wet conditions. The camping season generally runs March through December, though several campgrounds remain open year-round. Visitors should prepare for limited services in the off-season, with water systems sometimes shut down during winter months.
The geological features of the region create distinctive camping environments unlike typical Midwestern settings. According to one reviewer, "Ferne Clyffe State Park is situated on a limestone bluff cut by a small rivulet and seasonal waterfalls. The area is a hidden gem - one has to hike down to discover the natural canyon." Garden of the Gods Recreation Area receives consistently high ratings for its unique sandstone formations and cliff-top camping opportunities. Water-based camping is particularly popular, with sites at Rend Lake described as "a water lover's paradise with hundreds of sites, marinas, boat rentals, and beaches." Weekday visits typically offer more solitude, while summer weekends and holidays can fill campgrounds to capacity, especially at the more developed sites with electrical hookups and shower facilities.
"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"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."
"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"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."
"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."
"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!"
"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."
"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"The boulders all around are weather beaten, moss covered, and a nice change from rural Illinois. Each group of campsites has a water source and outhouse nearby."
"Camp in this corner site close to parking and one of the main trails. Site 12 is close to this one sitting back off the path and probably would be my second choice. "
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.
GuideThis hidden gem is worth the visit. 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! On the trail there is a sign to set up for selfies. With a dog it wasn’t as easy as I’d hope to capture the moment. Ha
Camping spots near Buncombe, Illinois offer year-round opportunities within the Shawnee National Forest at elevations ranging from 400 to 700 feet. The region's sandstone formations create distinct microclimates that influence camping conditions throughout the seasons. Summer temperatures typically range from 85-95°F during the day, with cooler nights making tent camping comfortable at higher elevations.
Fishing at Lake Glendale: Oak Point campground provides direct access to Lake Glendale for fishing enthusiasts. "Firepits w/ grates are spacious and nice, fees are online. 1 bar verizon at camp, can get up to 3 bars within the area," notes Twan M., who visited in July 2024.
Rock climbing opportunities: Jackson Falls attracts climbers with its unique sandstone formations. "This place is popular with climbers, but I'm not one and had a rough time locating this place. The roads weren't marked the same way they are on the website's map, and the trailheads are confusing as well," shares Shelby B.
Seasonal hiking: Turkey Ridge Campground at Ferne Clyffe offers hiking through diverse terrain. "Really, this state park is a must for anyone who lives nearby or is driving through. It's just that gorgeous! The campground is wonderful! There are lots of well maintained trails to hike... hikes that include bluffs, caves, creeks, etc. Our favorite is Hawk's Cave Trail," writes Dani B.
Privacy levels vary: At Deer Ridge Campground, the sites offer different levels of seclusion. "The 'RV' sites, however, were pretty level and well spaced out. We'd recommend sites 20-24 for their lake views," shares Michael B., who camped during Spring Break.
Night sky viewing: The rural location of Giant City State Park provides excellent stargazing opportunities. "Due to the somewhat rural location you could not beat the view of the stars at night," notes Josh M., who visited during winter.
Water recreation: Dutchman Lake Camp offers accessible lakeside camping with decent cellular connectivity. "Beautiful little spots as you come in. Quiet and easy to get too," reports J A., adding that "Verizon works well" for those needing to stay connected.
Weather impacts: Access to Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs can be challenging during wet conditions. "Just around the corner (or down the trail at the start of camp) is a network of hiking trails. They scurry around cliffs, falls and ravines. We found small pools perfect for a summer dip," explains Art S.
Variable cell service: Connectivity varies significantly across campgrounds. While some areas have decent coverage, many are in cellular dead zones. "I am a first time vanlifer and I wandered into IL without checking the weather.... it snowed and I was unprepared. The Campground is run by some very friendly and kindhearted people they were happy to assist me," shares Jessica A. about Hilltop Campground.
Bathroom facilities: Campground restroom quality varies widely across the region. "The showers are very very clean. The woman who was our camp host was truly amazing and helpful. She works so hard making sure the campground facility is clean and stocked well ready for the guests' needs," notes Joel H. about Oak Point at Lake Glendale.
Playground options: Giant City State Park offers family-friendly amenities. "We stayed Easter Weekend here in the campground and had a great time. The campground is clean and maintained. Some sites are gravel and some are asphalt," reports Shana D., who recommends checking out the Lodge for dinner.
Kid-friendly trails: Look for shorter, accessible paths for younger hikers. "The Trillium Trail is a little more rugged for those who prefer less crowded, slightly tougher trails," continues Shana D., offering options for families with children of different hiking abilities.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer chances to observe local fauna. "There was a ton of wildlife though and it was really neat to listen to all the different species throughout the night. Overall the grounds are quite nice," shares Gina J. about her experience at Turkey Ridge.
Site leveling challenges: Many Shawnee Forest campgrounds have uneven terrain. "The sites are spacious and have picnic tables and fire rings. Full hookups is a plus. Super convenient to 24 but not too close that it is loud. The sites are loose gravel and not level front to back, so you need to unhook," advises Greg S. about Shawnee Forest Campground.
Water access points: Most campgrounds don't offer water at each site. "Water available to fill your holding tank and in. Couple of locations in campground. #35 is a nice location. Large yard and not super close to other campers. #53 is smaller but very private," notes David H. about Oak Point at Lake Glendale.
Road conditions: Access roads vary in quality throughout the region. "Gravel Road getting there was a bit rough for my Ram Promaster. Hill down to trail head could get slick if wet weather. Was a little nervous getting out after it had rained," shares Jeremy R. about Jackson Falls' challenging access roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Buncombe, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Buncombe, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 126 campgrounds and RV parks near Buncombe, IL and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Buncombe, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Buncombe, IL is Shawnee Forest Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 37 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Buncombe, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Buncombe, IL.
What parks are near Buncombe, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Buncombe, IL that allow camping, notably Shawnee National Forest and Rend Lake.
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