124 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping in the Shawnee National Forest region surrounds the small town of Cypress, Illinois, with a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed sites. The area includes several developed facilities like Shawnee Forest Campground and Lake Glendale Recreation Area, offering full hookup options for RVs alongside tent sites. Campgrounds range from the more primitive Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area with basic amenities to fully equipped sites at Hilltop Campground with electric, water, and sewer connections. Jackson Falls and Dutchman Lake provide dispersed camping options for those seeking a more rustic experience within the forested landscape.
Road access varies across camping areas with some requiring high-clearance vehicles, particularly around more remote dispersed sites. Full hook-up campgrounds like Shawnee Forest tend to have better accessibility for larger vehicles. "Easy access from interstate, full hook-ups, clean bathhouse and friendly camp hosts," noted one camper about Shawnee Forest Campground. Seasonal considerations impact camping conditions, with many campgrounds like Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs operating from mid-March through mid-December. Summer brings higher temperatures and humidity, while spring often features wildflowers but potentially muddy conditions. Cell service remains spotty throughout more remote areas of the Shawnee National Forest.
Many campers highlight the fishing opportunities available at several campgrounds in the area. Shawnee Forest Campground, built on a former golf course, features catch-and-release fishing ponds that receive consistent praise in visitor reviews. The extensive trail system throughout the region provides additional recreational opportunities, with the Tunnel Hill bike trails accessible from several camping areas. Bathroom facilities vary considerably between campgrounds, with some offering only basic vault toilets while others provide shower houses. As one visitor noted, "The bathrooms were very clean and grounds generally well kept." Highway noise can be noticeable at campgrounds near Interstate 24, though most visitors find it tolerable given the convenience of location for exploring the Shawnee National Forest's attractions like Garden of the Gods and Little Grand Canyon.
"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."
"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."
"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!"
"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"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."
"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"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."
"Lake Glendale is a true southern Illinois gem. They have recently improved the shower houses, the kids love the playground, and there is SO much shade!"
"Ill Iron Forge, Garden of the Gods and Trail of Tears segments on ATT cell service was spotty but I drove to Dixon Springs SP where there was a cell tower."
from $12 - $44 / night
Check Availability
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 sites near Cypress, Illinois range from rugged dispersed areas to Class A facilities with full services. The Shawnee National Forest region rises 400-800 feet above the surrounding plains, creating diverse microclimates for camping. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing from December through March, so campers should pack accordingly when visiting during colder months.
Fishing spots: Lake Glendale provides excellent fishing opportunities with multiple access points around the 80-acre lake. "There is a nice paved walking trail around the lake that gives you a good look at the park. On the hike you pass two large shelters built by the CCC as well as the boat ramp, dam, and swimming beach," notes Annie C. Electric motors are allowed, but gas motors are prohibited.
Rock climbing: Jackson Falls offers technical climbing routes for experienced climbers. "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," reports Shelby B. The sandstone formations provide various difficulty levels for climbing enthusiasts.
Hiking trails: Giant City State Park Campground features unique geological formations along its trails. "The Giant City Nature Trail and Devils Standtable were really pretty, easy strolls. The Trillium Trail is a little more rugged for those who prefer less crowded, slightly tougher trails," explains Shana D. The park's signature feature is massive sandstone bluffs forming "streets" between rock walls.
Wildlife viewing: Ferne Clyffe State Park attracts diverse birdlife throughout the seasons. "Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!" shares Stephanie S. Spring brings wildflower displays throughout the forest floor, particularly along the Rebman and Happy Hollow trails.
Privacy and space: Deer Ridge Campground at Ferne Clyffe offers well-separated sites. "Good size campground with both electric and non electric loops. Good number of sites," notes Jacob T. The campground includes 16 Class A sites with electricity and 22 Class B/S sites for more primitive camping experiences.
Natural swimming holes: Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs features popular swimming areas. "There is a spring/large swimming hole, with a few places to jump off of, but check with the locals to make sure the water is deep enough. Water levels were low when we were there, so you couldn't jump from the highest ledge," reports Tommy S. The natural rock formations create several pools of varying depths.
Shade coverage: Oak Point - Lake Glendale provides well-shaded sites under mature trees. "Nice shaded sites with electric and water hookups. Campground hosts were very engaged. $19 a night electric with Senior Pass," shares Donald S. The pine forest canopy keeps sites cooler during summer months.
Clean facilities: Hilltop Campground maintains well-kept restrooms and shower houses. "This is a very clean, quiet, shady campground. It is off interstate 57 if you are passing through or a great place to park and see the sites of Shawnee National Forest," according to Joel H. The campground operates year-round with full hookups available.
Road conditions: Access to Jackson Falls requires caution in wet weather. "Definitely off the beaten path. The 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," warns Jeremy R. Four-wheel drive is recommended after heavy rainfall.
Cell service variability: Most forest campgrounds have limited connectivity. "I lost cellphone service immediately upon entering reserve, FYI," notes Casie A. about Jackson Falls. Stronger signals can be found at Hilltop Campground and Shawnee Forest Campground.
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Bell Smith Springs' Redbud Campground typically closes from mid-December through mid-March. "We stayed at this campground on a weekend in July 2020. I used this park as a base camp for exploring Shawnee National Forest and the Cache River Preserve," shares Marc H.
Site selection: Some campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. "You have the option of two different camping areas in Oak Point Campground, with several double sites that are ideal for family and group camping," explains Shelly S. Weekends from April through October typically see higher occupancy rates.
Playground access: Lake Glendale Recreation Area features dedicated play equipment. "We love going to Lake Glendale and go several times per year. It is quiet, the campsites are pretty (especially group), there are great hikes nearby, and a beach to swim on," says Maggie P. The playground area is centrally located near the shower houses.
Beginner-friendly trails: Ferne Clyffe State Park offers shorter hiking options. "Really, this state park is a must for anyone who lives nearby or is driving through. It's just that gorgeous! There are lots of well maintained trails to hike... hikes that include bluffs, caves, creeks, etc. Our favorite is Hawk's Cave Trail. It's an easy hike and the kids explored the caves for hours!" shares Dani B.
Swimming options: Multiple locations offer water activities for various ages. "The walk from the picnic area to the beach is not far either by road or lake trail," notes Shelly S. about Lake Glendale. The designated swimming beach includes a sand area and roped-off sections for different water depths.
Educational opportunities: Turkey Ridge Campground provides nature learning experiences. "The tent camping accommodations were less than stellar, simply because of the 'outhouses'. There was a ton of wildlife though and it was really neat to listen to all the different species throughout the night," explains Gina J. The campground connects to several interpretive trails.
Site leveling needs: Many campgrounds require additional equipment. "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 planning: Limited water hookups at some campgrounds require preparation. "Nice quiet campground with lots of trees and nicely separated camp spots. Water only available at few spots and you would need a really long hose to attach if open faucet available," reports Glenda at Deer Ridge Campground.
Winter camping options: Shawnee Forest Campground offers year-round access. "We followed our GPS to the clearly marked CG entrance but our GPS showed we still had about a half mile to go. The water and electric (50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad. There are two sewer hookups, which was nice. The water pressure was good around 50 psi," shares MickandKarla W.
Big rig considerations: Certain campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. "The gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21," notes MickandKarla W. about Shawnee Forest Campground. Giant City State Park also offers several pull-through sites suitable for larger RVs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Cypress, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Cypress, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 124 campgrounds and RV parks near Cypress, IL and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Cypress, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cypress, IL is Shawnee Forest Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 37 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cypress, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Cypress, IL.
What parks are near Cypress, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Cypress, IL that allow camping, notably Shawnee National Forest and Rend Lake.
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