Best Glamping near Cypress, IL

Shawnee Forest Campground and Giant City State Park offer upscale glamping accommodations throughout the Shawnee National Forest region, with comfortable options for visitors seeking nature with modern amenities. Located on a former golf course, Shawnee Forest provides full-hookup glamping sites with well-maintained grounds and scenic ponds. "The sites are nice and level. Quiet in the area. Picnic table and fire ring at every site," notes one visitor about the peaceful setting. Giant City State Park complements these offerings with their own glamping accommodations, featuring clean facilities and strategic placement near hiking trails and outdoor activities. Both locations maintain year-round availability, making them suitable for all-season glamping experiences.

Little Lusk Trail Lodge and The Art Farm Women's Retreat expand the region's glamping options with distinctive accommodations including yurts, safari-style tents, and luxury outdoor shelters. These locations combine rustic charm with essential comforts like electricity, heating, and dedicated bathroom facilities. Visitors can enjoy fishing in the catch-and-release ponds, explore extensive walking trails converted from former golf cart paths, or venture to nearby attractions including Garden of the Gods and Little Grand Canyon. A recent guest commented, "It was a great spot to pull into for the night, pretty sunset over the little lake on site." Most glamping locations in the area provide picnic tables, fire rings with cooking grills, and clean shower facilities. The proximity to Shawnee National Forest creates convenient access to numerous hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and outdoor recreation opportunities while maintaining the comfort of upscale accommodations.

Best Glamping Sites Near Cypress, Illinois (24)

    1. Shawnee Forest Campground

    36 Reviews
    Vienna, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-0619

    $40 / night

    "Burn pit and cooking grill above the pit at every site I visited. Clean Air condition in the bathroom. Showers work great."

    "There is no pool or activities for kids but we went out and explored the area Beautiful walking/bike paths around the property

    Hosts were very kind and helpful, we felt very welcomed!"

    2. Giant City State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Makanda, IL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 457-4836

    "The picnic tables are old and seem to be spread around as camper are moving them around. The main bathhouse is older, but nice and clean! There is a vault only bathroom at the back of the campground."

    "The campsites, fire pits and pit toilets were well maintained. The shorter trails in the park were beautiful even in the winter. The Lodge also had excellent food and a very cozy feel."

    3. Oak Point Campground

    9 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3807

    "We stayed as a larger group on a non-electric site. The sites were sort of close together but the trees still helped provide a sense of privacy."

    "Next depending on which site you pick it can be a short walk to the lake and direct put in of your water craft. A very cool feature is that several of the sites are double."

    4. Crab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR

    6 Reviews
    Bargerville, IL
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 985-4983

    "We spent 5 nights on Site A5 at Crab Orchard Campground. All sites are FC/FS. Full hookups are in Loop B & it was full. Overall the campground was full but not very many people around."

    "This is a quiet family campground, most spots are lake side. Very spacious and lots of trees. First come first serve, and the park was full most of the time we were here."

    6. The Art Farm Women’s Retreat

    3 Reviews
    Paducah, KY
    27 miles
    +1 (270) 217-2170

    $30 - $90 / night

    "They also offer tiny home rentals, yurt-style glamping tents, RV spots with 30 amp, 50 amp and 110 outlets, and The Art Barn for larger groups, retreats or family reunions."

    "Laura was quick to reply to questions and was waiting for us when we arrived. Spot was easy to get into. Quiet and peaceful. Hot tub was great! We didn't use the showers but they looked nice."

    7. Bear Branch Campground

    2 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 672-4249

    $30 - $200 / night

    "Under new ownership buy many cabins from 40 a night on up nice shower houses electric sewer and water at a lot of sites great trails well marked maps available stalls available store and restaurant to"

    8. Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground

    3 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    28 miles

    $30 / night

    "High lines behind sites.  Stalls can be reserved. some sites are full hookup. Primitive camping also available.  CALL them for more info at 270-205-7138.  Arena and huge event barn on site."

    "I will be back next time I'm near shawnee."

    9. South Sandusky Campground

    19 Reviews
    Sesser, IL
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 724-2493

    $16 - $26 / night

    "South Sandusky is a very nice campground with lots of trees, concrete pad, fire pit, playground, and bathroom facilities."

    "many of the site are right on the lake and the sunrise and sunsets are always gorgeous."

    10. Pine Ridge

    17 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    $10 / night

    "This place is very close to where you need to be. Outpost in between sells food, firewood, ice etc. Very basic campsite for drive up. People were very respectful, very dog friendly."

    "We arrived on a Thursday and there were plenty of open spots. Friday they open some of the other loops up for more people to stay and it did fill up for the weekend. "

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Recent Glamping Photos near Cypress, IL

3 Photos of 24 Cypress Campgrounds


Glamping Reviews near Cypress, IL

219 Reviews of 24 Cypress Campgrounds


  • D
    Sep. 9, 2019

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Great place

    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. Clean Air condition in the bathroom. Showers work great. I stayed here twice, my family and I had a great time and met some really nice people.

  • Priscilla B.
    Sep. 7, 2019

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Converted Golf Course w/fishing ponds

    Relatively new. Has great potential. Located in Vienna, IL near Shawnee National Forest. It has 3 fish & release ponds. Sites were a bit hilly which stands to reason since it was converted from a golf course in 2016. Some sites are pretty long. It accommodated our 35ft. MH with attached car. Some sites are close together with very little shade. The campground had lots of open sites during our stay (3rd week in Aug), but during our stay 2 other short stay campers came in & they parked them right next to us. -Full hook ups available -Hosts were very friendly & provided insight to area. -Bath house - provided air conditioning. Although new & spacious there were only 4 in the entire campground & the toilet & shower were in same space. Upon arrival only 1 was open near us. Subsequently the 2nd was closed due to a water valve malfunction & wasn’t re-opened during our stay. My husband likes level sites & facilities he could use. He said he wouldn’t come back any time soon.

  • L
    Dec. 7, 2022

    The Art Farm Women’s Retreat

    Serene and private. Beautiful rolling farmland.

     Lots of choice camping spots! Serene and private. Beautiful rolling farmland, just minutes from town. They also offer tiny home rentals, yurt-style glamping tents, RV spots with 30 amp, 50 amp and 110 outlets, and The Art Barn for larger groups, retreats or family reunions.

  • Barb N.
    Apr. 5, 2023

    Gun Creek

    Lots of space by a Lake

    RV or tent, book online at Recreation.Gov not all spots are level. Electric on most but not all have water. Campfire area and picnic table provided. Bathhouse is clean and park areas are all clean, dump station on site. We will be back and book closer to the lake in a level site.

  • Chrissy W.
    May. 4, 2018

    South Sandusky Campground

    Rend lake south sandusky

    South Sandusky is a very nice campground with lots of trees, concrete pad, fire pit, playground, and bathroom facilities. It is wheelchair accessible and walking distance from the lake where you can swim, fish, boat, go tubing or just walk the trails.

  • Madison K.
    Jun. 21, 2021

    Oak Point Campground

    Peaceful and beautiful

    We stayed as a larger group on a non-electric site. The sites were sort of close together but the trees still helped provide a sense of privacy. There were clean bathrooms with running water a short walk away, didn’t attempt to use the showers. We could easily walk to the trails and we went fishing in the lake. It was mild and quiet the days we went in Mid-May 2020. 🙂 Beautiful scenery.

  • Shana D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2019

    Giant City State Park Campground

    Nice Campground & Beautiful Park!

    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. Not sure if they are upgrading a little at a time?? There are plenty of trees for shade. Some sites are close together and some have more room in between them. The picnic tables are old and seem to be spread around as camper are moving them around. The main bathhouse is older, but nice and clean! There is a vault only bathroom at the back of the campground. No water hook up at each site, only electricity. . While you are here, check out the Lodge for dinner one night and climb to the top of the water tower observation deck for some amazing views! Make the quick drive to Makanda and explore the little hippy town. Don’t forget to take a stroll through the secret garden! . 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.

  • Gina J.
    Jul. 15, 2018

    South Sandusky Campground

    Amazing View

    We love tent camping at South Sandusky. many of the site are right on the lake and the sunrise and sunsets are always gorgeous. they have quiet hours from 10-6 and the bathrooms and showers are always really clean (but there are still usually lots of small insects). It’s also just a short drive from the South Sandusky swimming beach. It’s sometimes pretty rocky in the water so we usually wear water shoes. If you camp for the hiking though this isn’t my favorite site. There are lots of bike trails but for just hiking there are much better places.

  • Cassondra P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2023

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Very clean and well kept - new campground

    This campground is very clean! Large open sites- shade is minimal for most sites but we had a beautiful large site with some shade (site 51). They have new trees planted.

    There is no pool or activities for kids but we went out and explored the area

    Beautiful walking/bike paths around the property

    Hosts were very kind and helpful, we felt very welcomed!

    There is some freeway noise but didn’t bother us at all

    Laundry and bathroom facilities were very clean - was great to do a laundry mid trip!


Guide to Cypress

Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois encompasses over 280,000 acres of oak and hickory forests, with Cypress sitting at around 400 feet above sea level. The region experiences mild winters and hot, humid summers with average rainfall of 45 inches annually. Campers can find yurt accommodations across several sites, offering a balance between rustic camping and modern shelter during all four seasons.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Shawnee Forest Campground offers multiple water features for anglers. "We'd seen signs for Shawnee Forest Campground many times as we headed out and back from our St. Louis home base and wanted to check this CG out... They have a small lake and two ponds for fishing," explains MickandKarla W. The campground was built on a former golf course, creating unique water features.

Hiking trails: The region offers numerous well-maintained hiking paths with varying difficulty levels. At Pine Ridge, campers can access multiple trails within the Shawnee National Forest. "A great, centralized location for quite a few natural wonders and a hop, skip, and a jump away from quite a few more!" notes Brian E. The area connects to Garden of the Gods and other notable geological formations.

Lake activities: Several campgrounds provide direct lake access. At Oak Point Campground, "There is a boat ramp area with parking, electric motors only. Makes for a quiet lake experience," according to Shelly S. The lake trail connects multiple campgrounds, allowing campers to walk the entire perimeter without needing to drive.

What campers like

Reasonable costs: Many Shawnee area campgrounds maintain affordable rates. The Pine Ridge campground costs only "$10 a night" as Rick C. notes, adding "The left loop has power 50/30/20 amp hook ups but no water or sewer on the campsite." This makes it an economical base for exploring the surrounding attractions.

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained amenities across the region's campgrounds. At Crab Orchard Lake, "Showers and restrooms are nice. Ones in Loop A are not new (Loop Bs are new) but still nice. Lots of hot water," says Tracie E. Many sites maintain this level of cleanliness year-round.

Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer good spacing between campsites. At Pine Ridge, Charles A. observed, "The rustic sites are well spread out so they feel very private." Similarly, at Crab Orchard, campers find "Large sites, lots of room. We camped with several other families and everyone enjoyed this park," according to Joel R.

What you should know

Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance planning while others operate first-come-first-served. South Sandusky Campground offers both options as MickandKarla W. explains: "We arrived around 2:00 PM and found the check-in gate closed, but since we had a reservation, we proceeded directly to our back-in site 123 with full hookups." Sites can be reserved through recreation.gov.

Yurt availability: For those interested in yurt camping near Cypress, Illinois, options exist but are limited. The Art Farm Women's Retreat provides "yurt-style glamping tents" according to Laura P., who notes the location offers "Lots of choice camping spots! Serene and private. Beautiful rolling farmland, just minutes from town."

Wildlife considerations: The forest environment means encounters with wildlife and plants. At Oak Point, Rachel C. warns, "Unfortunately, there was SO MUCH poison ivy that we couldn't play in the woods." Similarly, some lakeside areas may have snakes, particularly during warmer months.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Giant City State Park Campground has family-friendly amenities according to Shana D., who shares, "While you are here, check out the Lodge for dinner one night and climb to the top of the water tower observation deck for some amazing views!" The Giant City Nature Trail provides an easy hiking option for children.

Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas with varying facilities. Oak Point Campground connects to a beach area, and Madison K. reports, "We could easily walk to the trails and we went fishing in the lake. It was mild and quiet the days we went in Mid-May."

Family-friendly trails: Choose hiking paths suitable for different ages. At Giant City, "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," notes Shana D.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling requirements: Be prepared with leveling blocks at most campgrounds. At Shawnee Forest Campground, Greg S. reports, "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."

Hookup variations: Understand what utilities are available at each campground. South Sandusky offers diverse options as MickandKarla W. explains, "Most sites here offer water and electric (50/30/20 AMP), while the Dogwood loop features several full hookup sites in its upper section."

Navigating campground roads: Some campgrounds have challenges for larger rigs. At Shawnee Forest Campground, MickandKarla W. notes, "The gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21. The water and electric(50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Cypress, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Cypress, IL is Shawnee Forest Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 36 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Cypress, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 24 glamping camping locations near Cypress, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.