Camping areas near Carbondale, Illinois sit in the Illinois Ozarks region, where sandstone bluffs and rolling forested hills create distinct camping environments at elevations between 400-800 feet. The region's hot, humid summers contrast with mild winters, allowing for extended camping seasons at many sites. Several campgrounds offer water access with sites directly overlooking Rend Lake, a 19,000-acre reservoir with 162 miles of shoreline.
What to do
Fishing spots: Crab Orchard Lake offers excellent fishing, particularly for catfish and crappie. The lake provides both shore fishing and boat access points. "So much to do here I'll just have to keep coming back to get everything in," notes camper Jim L.
Rock climbing: Giant City State Park provides opportunities for both trad and sport climbing on sandstone formations. "For climbers, there is a ton of nearby trad and sport climbing. The main wall stays wet for a while so if it has recently rained you may need to find somewhere else," advises Josh M.
Water activities: Multiple lakeside campgrounds around Rend Lake offer direct water access. Launch points for boats, kayaks, and canoes are well-maintained. "The campground is on Rend Lake with swimming, fishing and boating," explains Joel R. about lakeside access at different sites.
Wildlife viewing: Bring binoculars for wildlife spotting, especially at lakeside sites. "Bring binoculars for egrets and herons on the lake," recommends Mandi G. about the lakeside views at North Sandusky Campground.
What campers like
Lake views: South Marcum Campground offers premium waterfront sites with standout views. "The view in the tent area of covey point is breathtaking. The campground is clean, quiet, and peaceful," says Hollie C. about the camping experience.
Spacious sites: Gun Creek provides well-spaced camping areas with full hookups available. "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.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. "Showers and bathrooms are really nice and clean. Overall we had a great time and will absolutely be back," notes Sunshine Z. about the facilities at Giant City State Park.
Walking trails: Several campgrounds feature dedicated walking paths for exploring. "There is a nice trail across from the primitive camping site which also has a pond for fishing as well," reports one camper about the convenient trail access at certain locations.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most lakeside campgrounds operate from March through early November with limited or no winter availability. "South Marcum Campground is a Corp of Engineers campground just of I-57 in southern Illinois with over 100 reservable campsites," notes Joel R.
Site reservations: South Sandusky Campground and similar locations require advance planning during peak season. "Sites can be reserved on the Internet at www.recreation.gov," advises Joel R. when describing reservation processes.
Site levelness: Be prepared for sloped sites at some campgrounds. "Very well maintained campgrounds. Most sites are pretty sloped but there are some level sites," reports Mandi G., highlighting terrain considerations for camping setups.
Highway noise: Campgrounds near interstates may experience traffic noise. "Sites are shaded and quiet," notes one reviewer about Giant City State Park, emphasizing the quieter options available away from major roads.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: North Sandusky Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "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," reports Jason A. about the family-friendly setup.
Swimming access: Several campgrounds feature designated swimming areas with beach access. "We love the large beach. The campsites have a nice set up and are a decent size. The kids loved the playground. There were kids everywhere and everyone was very friendly! Fun spot!" shares Missy D. about South Sandusky.
Glamping close to Carbondale, Illinois: For families seeking upscale outdoor accommodations near Carbondale, Shawnee Forest Campground offers yurt options with full amenities. "Gary and his family are very polite and very happy to be helpful. Great prices. Burn pit and cooking grill above the pit at every site I visited," notes David N. about the premium camping experience.
Kid-friendly fishing: Several locations offer fishing opportunities suitable for children. "We spent 5 nights on Site A5 at Crab Orchard Campground... Fishing was good (especially catfish and crappie)," mentions Tracie E. about the accessible fishing options for families.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete RV services including 50-amp connections. "Shawnee Forest Campground (CG) has the old golf cart paths as walking/biking paths! The sites are spacious and have picnic tables and fire rings. Full hookups is a plus," notes Greg S. about the luxury glamping and RV options.
Site leveling challenges: Some RV sites may require significant leveling work. "We came down for a spontaneous camping trip to explore SNF and found Giant City to be a great place to stay," explains Sunshine Z., providing context about site conditions.
Pull-through sites: Several campgrounds offer convenient pull-through options for larger rigs. "There are plenty of trees, paved sites, bathroom, showers, and well maintained. Offers full hookups, partial or none. Convenient to I64," explains Moe F. about the RV-friendly layouts.
Internet access: Cell reception varies by campground location. "The sites all seem to be fairly well maintained and roomy. Site 42 is very spacious. We had ATT and Tmobile service at our site. Signal was strong enough to stream video and work remotely," reports Jason A. about connectivity options.
