3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Several RV parks provide camping options near Buncombe, Illinois. Marion Campground & RV Park offers full hookup sites with 50-amp service and operates year-round, though sites are positioned close together with limited privacy. Cypress Lakes RV Park in Calvert City features 105 sites with water, electric, and sewer connections. "Pull thru, 50 amp, full hookup. Sites are close together. Very loud from constant campers in and out, I57, and a train," notes one visitor about Marion Campground. Crab Orchard Lake Campground provides lakefront RV sites with hookups, though the waterfront locations offer more privacy than interior spots. Most parks can accommodate big rigs, with Duck Creek RV Park in Paducah specifically advertising big-rig friendly access.
Throughout the region, seasonal considerations affect RV camping availability. Birdsville Riverside RV Park operates from March through November, while others remain open year-round. Dump stations are available at most developed RV campgrounds, though not all parks offer on-site sanitary disposal. Cell service varies by location, with stronger signals available near interstate-adjacent sites. Many parks require advance reservations, especially during peak travel seasons. Pet policies generally allow dogs with standard leash restrictions. Proximity to highways provides convenient access but creates noise issues at some locations. According to a recent review, Marion Campground is "right off the freeway with very tight spots, even for the pull-through sites. Loud freeway noise," though the convenience for overnight stays is appreciated by many travelers.
"We hooked into their cable and received 24 popular channels and the WiFi was way above normal. We got 3 bars each on Verizon and AT&T."
"Birdsville Riverside RV Park has a great setup for RVers looking to enjoy the area without being on top of their neighbors. Check them out and share some pics of your stay on the Dyrt!"
from $45 - $65 / night
"Mostly seasonal and permanent with a few spots for weekly and overnight. All sites are level, gravel with concrete patios and fire rings. The staff makes you feel like a friend immediately."
"Most sites here are occupied by full time residents with very impressive setups."
from $49 / night
"This actually feels like a campground and not a parking lot even though it’s super convenient to the interstate."
"Nice place clean and quiet Water pressure is only about 30 to 35 psi that is a little week. People were very nice and helpful ."
from $40 / night
"The campground operates first come, first served, so campers choose a site in either the 50/30-amp or 30-amp pull-through sections, all with full hookups, with power options clearly marked on numbered"
"Easy to access off the highway, easy gas station nearby, cheap, AND fhu. Office looks like it hasnt seen a soul in 20 years but this place is the perfect stop."
"We are traveling in a 45 ft fifth wheel. This campground was easy to access, we did not hear any traffic noise, and the campground is in a valley, making it pretty quiet."
"There are many pull through spots all concrete. Just off the freeway so no time lost for an overnight stay. Very clean and very friendly camp hosts."
from $42 - $45 / night
"Convenient to I -24"
"Like the lake and outdoor commons area"
"Duck Creek is adorable, easy to find and every site is pull-through. The staff is great, campground is very clean. Sites next to the Hwy are a little loud but all in all, we definitely recommend!!"
"This little gem is off the beaten path but well worth it! Super nice owner, very clean small park without a lot of extra frills. All open sites waterfront, 30 or 50 amp, sewer and water hookups."
"Sites alternated pull in and back in sharing water and electric pedestals. Lots of space on door side of TT. Trash picked up daily from end of the site."
from $45 - $65 / night
"Traveling in my 22' Class B, and there are Class A and fifth wheels here, too. Concrete pad, full or partial hook-ups, laundry (reasonable price!)."
"Shade was adequate lot of permeant and monthly spots. Water park close by (5 minute drive) that was great for the kids on a hot day. Camping spots was all nice and level."
TravelerThis is a 100 site campground on Rend Lake in Illinois. Lots of trees. Level paved sites unless you book right by the lake. Some are very steep. Bring lots to level with! We are in site 92. Away from the lake but beautiful sunshine.
GuideGreat place easy on off the hyw sites are old so you may need to block up your RV to level it . Some sites only have electric so be careful when you book it. Heard some road noise from the HYW but the campsite had plenty of room
LegendWe 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.
LegendWe 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.
LegendColumbus-Belmont State Park is a bit of a drive on country roads, but well worth the effort. We originally reserved site 28, but a large tree and its low-hanging branches presented clearance problems for our 40' fifth wheel. We spoke with the very friendly camp host, who moved us to back-in site 25 with full hookups (50/30/20 AMP). The sites are positioned at 90 degrees to the CG road, but there was enough room to maneuver our big rig into the site with a few adjustments. Our site and several others had some slope and pitch to the pads, so additional leveling blocks may be necessary. The extra effort was well worth the trouble. Water pressure was okay. We had one bar on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. The CG did not provide Wi-Fi, but our T-Mobile Home Internet worked exceptionally well, with download speeds of 345 Mbps. There were numerous large, mature trees throughout the CG, so satellite reception, including Starlink, could be challenging depending on the site and whether you can reposition the dish to find a clear view of the sky. We've stayed at hundreds of campgrounds over the years, but until Columbus-Belmont, we'd never used the word"immaculate" to describe one. The CG sits on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, and our site 25 had a beautiful river view from our toy hauler's deck. The park also has plenty of interesting Civil War history to explore. Barge operations along the river below the CG generated some daytime noise, but nothing we found particularly bothersome. Between the immaculate grounds, beautiful setting, and historical significance, Columbus-Belmont was well worth the drive and a place we'd gladly return to.
TravelerNice quiet little spot. 4 spots. Have fire rings and picnic tables.
GuideQuiet clean campground, 8 sites, one water spigot, pit toilets, hiking and biking, 9 miles to Garden of the Gods. Campground is right next to road. Local traffic is minimal, most sites will accommodate 30ft trailer or motor home.
TravelerI’m not sure where the good reviews come from. Ive tried to find another Fern Lake to make sure I was at the correct one. Bath facilities have half doors so you are shitting in public. Your kids get the nice look over by any of the weird full timers living junk squaller. The power poles are only standing by the shear strength of all the cobbled together wires and electric tape. It’s not safe. It’s fucking dangerous. Most the fire “pits” are shitty rings from 60 years ago at least. There is zero maintenance here. It’s very loud next to the freeway. Sites are small and on top of each other. Lots are small. Not level. And little gravel. The cinder blocks keep you from backing in too far. Most of the water posts are “shared” because others don’t work. Picnic tables are a fucking joke. Rotten. Lead paint and worthless. The water retaining POND has a grass path around it so you can admire what recycled concrete can create where there was once no POND. One star is extremely generous. Just like the generous $10 a bundle for wood. Keep on trucking. It’s not far to go to find something worthwhile. This is a 100% pass. Before you think I’m some kind of pre Madonna, I will say we are a minimalist family that camps in unimproved spots and boondocks all the time. This place is gross. And disturbing that anyone reviews it for more than a 1 star. Most of the reviews are flat out lies. One talks about the clean bathrooms, hot showers, and one mentions a fucking pool! Wtf? Shitting in your own fire ring is more private. Pictures sooooo under tell the story of what a shot hole this place is. It’s off the freeway very close. And there is a Mexican restaurant across the street and a Casey’s essentially attached. If that’s what you like. Have fun. But any great reviews are from either someone who came and went in the dark. Or are from the owners.
GuideGreat campsite very large easy to get in and additional parking for your truck right next to your trailer
RV campgrounds near Buncombe, Illinois sit within the Shawnee National Forest area at elevations between 400 and 600 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, while winters can drop below freezing with occasional snowfall. Most camping facilities in this area of southern Illinois remain open from March through November, with limited year-round options for travelers.
Hiking trails from campsite: Ferne Clyffe State Park's Deer Ridge Campground offers direct trail access from the campground. "Great covered spots, trails to and from the campground all across the park, great personnel, accessibility throughout the park, scenic locations within a mile walk from the campground (Ferne Clyffe Waterfall)," notes one camper. Several hiking paths connect to the limestone cliffs within a short distance.
Fishing opportunities: Cypress Lakes RV Park provides fishing access at their small on-site lake. According to one visitor, "Has a little Lake in it to fish. Not far off the interstate makes it handy. Very popular spot." The campground maintains this fishing area specifically for registered guests, requiring no additional permits beyond the standard Illinois fishing license.
River watching: Birdsville Riverside RV Park offers prime Ohio River viewing. "Our campsite was right on the river bank. We enjoyed a quiet and relaxing stay at this wonderful park. Watching the barges go up and down the river along with an occasional recreational boat or 2," shares one reviewer. Many sites are positioned directly on the riverbank for optimal viewing of commercial and recreational river traffic.
Spacing between sites: Birdsville Riverside RV Park features well-spaced waterfront sites. "All the spots are spaced out too," notes a reviewer. This contrasts with more crowded parks in the region and allows for greater privacy between camping units.
Clean facilities: The Landing Point RV Park maintains well-kept shower facilities. "Some of the nicest shower houses I have seen in my travels so far," reports one camper. The park regularly cleans these facilities throughout the day during peak season months.
Night sky viewing: Cape Camping & RV Park offers unobstructed views for stargazing despite being near highways. While primarily a transit stop, its location away from major light pollution provides unexpected opportunities for astronomy enthusiasts. The open layout with minimal tree cover creates clear sightlines to observe constellations.
Seasonal operation: Birdsville Riverside RV Park operates on a limited schedule. "Our season runs from March 1 to November 30," the park confirms. Campers should book well in advance for the opening and closing months as these transition periods fill quickly with seasonal travelers.
Highway noise levels: Duck Creek RV Park sits alongside busy roads with noticeable traffic noise. "It sits along a very busy road," mentions one reviewer. The highway-adjacent sites experience continuous traffic sounds throughout the day and night, while interior spots may offer slightly reduced noise levels.
Varying site conditions: Ferne Clyffe State Park offers different camping experiences based on site selection. "There's one campground for RVs with electric hookups and another campground for more primitive camping. $8/night for primitive. The primitive sites require that you park your vehicle and carry in your equipment (less than 100 feet)." Specific sites offer direct vehicle access while others require short walks.
Playgrounds and activities: The Landing Point RV Park provides basic play facilities. "Has a out dated swing set not in great shape that's the only reason for not 5 stars," notes one camper. However, "Water park close by (5 minute drive) that was great for the kids on a hot day" offers an alternative recreation option during summer months.
Dog-friendly areas: Marion Campground includes dedicated pet spaces. "Small playground and an unfenced dog area," mentions one reviewer. Several campgrounds in the region provide designated pet relief areas, though most require leashes throughout the property.
Wildlife viewing for kids: Ferne Clyffe State Park offers exceptional firefly displays in summer months. "Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!" reports a camper. The peak viewing season runs from late May through June, with activity beginning approximately 30 minutes after sunset.
Budget-friendly options: Boomland RV Park & Campground offers economical full hookup sites. "This place is nice for $15 easy pull in, full hook ups, nice gift shop and gas really close as right off the freeway," states a reviewer. The no-frills campground provides basic necessities at lower rates than neighboring facilities.
Site accessibility: Cape Camping & RV Park provides easy-access concrete sites. "Nice place to pull off I-55 and rest, or stay if you are in the area for sports or other events," notes one RVer. The level concrete pads accommodate larger rigs without requiring extensive stabilization or leveling.
Water drainage issues: Some campgrounds in the region experience flooding during heavy rains. At Duck Creek RV Park, campers report that "The last night of our stay there was a rainstorm and we woke up to ankle-deep water pooled around our trailer." Low-lying areas throughout the region may experience similar issues, particularly during spring and fall rainy seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Buncombe, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Buncombe, IL is Cape Camping & RV Park with a 3-star rating from 3 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 104 RV camping locations near Buncombe, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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