Best Campgrounds near Bargerville, IL
Southern Illinois offers a range of campground options near Bargerville, with several established facilities situated around lakes and within forested areas. Giant City State Park Campground and Crab Orchard Lake Campground provide developed sites for tent camping, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. The Shawnee National Forest region contains multiple mixed-use campgrounds with varying levels of amenities, from primitive sites to those with electric hookups, showers, and sanitary facilities. Most campgrounds in the area maintain proximity to water features, including Rend Lake, Little Grassy Lake, and Crab Orchard Lake.
Seasonal considerations affect campground availability throughout the region, with many facilities operating from April through October. "This is a great little campground with a fishing lake. Sites are gravel but well maintained. Sites are fairly close with most shaded," noted one visitor about Randolph County State Recreation Area. Road access varies across the region, with some campgrounds requiring navigation on gravel roads or through rural areas with limited services. Water levels at lake-based campgrounds fluctuate seasonally, potentially affecting shoreline sites and boat launch accessibility. Cell service can be spotty in more remote areas, particularly in the deeper sections of Shawnee National Forest, where terrain creates coverage gaps.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with lakeside sites at South Sandusky Campground and Little Grassy Lake Campground highlighted for their scenic views and direct water access. A camper described Little Grassy Lake Campground as "a great base camp for the area" with "big and shady" sites and good amenities. The region's developed campgrounds typically feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to bathrooms, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the area's mixed-use campgrounds, with hiking trails connecting many sites to natural features like rock formations, waterfalls, and forest stands. Several reviewers mentioned the area's unique geology, noting that parts of southern Illinois feature terrain more reminiscent of mountainous regions than typical Midwestern landscapes.
