Johnston City is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Johnston City is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Johnston City, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
$16 - $26 / night
"North and South Sandusky campground is located in southern Illinois on Rend Lake. It is a large state park with tons to do. From boating and swimming to hiking and relaxing."
"Well maintained on beautiful Rend Lake in southern Illinois. Reservations accepted on reservation.gov. Walk ins also welcome."
$10 - $25 / night
"Wthat a nice find in southern Illinois just outside of Marion. Very big roomy and grassy sites. Some right on the lake shore."
"Getting there: Easy access off Illinois 13 East of Carbondale
Check in and staff: Campground is now under the egis of recreation.gov& reservations through them are a must."
$16 - $44 / night
"This is hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake."
"They're very close to the Illinois state fair grounds. There are tent sites as well as RV sites that are very close to the lake."
$18 - $30 / night
"Pet friendly and beautiful lake views from many of the camp sites. I recommend checking the grade of the camp site because some of the ones next to the lake were at a pretty big angle."
"One of the first campgrounds that you come to at Rend Lake when you get off the highway, this campground has lots of positives and few negatives."
"Very clean, level sites, large lake with a well maintained walking trail. Lake side sites, wooded sites and regular sites in the middle. Water, 30 and 50 amp, shower house, small laundry facility."
"The grounds were nice, we walked a nature trail and down by the lake. There were ducks and geese, and it was a lovely reprieve from our travels to walk along the edges of the lake."
"Not a bad place for a stop between destinations or a couple days at the lake would be fine. Roads and sites were well maintained. The dog park gets muddy quick, it’s mostly moss and dirt."
"We did come in around 8:30pm and it was a little difficult to see site markers but the hosts left us an envelope with a map along with their notes and drawings to get to the site so it was fine."
$40 / night
"Little swings for the littles and lots of room to walk your dog.."
"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."
"Overall the campground was full but not very many people around. Appears many locals take spots on the weekends & then hold onto them during the week."
"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."
"This campground is beautiful with lots of gardens and potted plants at a lot of the campsites The host is very friendly, the pool is well maintained, they have a dog park The Host even led us to our"
"Short drive to Rend Lake, bike trails, kayaks, fishing. Also, a fun winery about 1 mile north! I do recommend this campground!"
GuideThis is a stop-over type of campground. The sites are very close together with no privacy. There are some pull-thru sites, which is convenient. It is right next to interstate 57, so unless you're inside your camper, you'll definitely be listening to the highway. This is a pet-friendly campground, and they have a little dog park. They have a shower/laundry facility which is also convenient, especially if you're out on a big trip. Overall, it's certainly not a bad campground, but the highway noise really bothered us.
ScoutNot a bad place for a stop between destinations or a couple days at the lake would be fine. Roads and sites were well maintained. The dog park gets muddy quick, it’s mostly moss and dirt. It’s close to the Interstate; we’d stay there again.
RangerThis campground is beautiful with lots of gardens and potted plants at a lot of the campsites The host is very friendly, the pool is well maintained, they have a dog park The Host even led us to our spot..
RangerReal nice RV park orientated toward rigs of all sizes. Easy to navigate the roads, with every site level concrete. ATT & Verizon both worked fine. Wifi & cable included in the price. 10% discount for Good Sam, military & seniors. Right off a hiway (W) and a bit noisey, but all in all a nice park, especially for a night over. Sites are reasonably spaced, many with large trees. Not real far off 55. Would stay here again for a nioght ofer and even an extra night. They also have a dog park area.
ScoutWthat a nice find in southern Illinois just outside of Marion. Very big roomy and grassy sites. Some right on the lake shore. This is a national conservation area so our national park passes are accepted meaning only $10 a night for electric and water. Full hookups $12.50. (Double the fee if you do not have a pass.) Boat ramps available. Very friendly and accomodating management. You will like it. Pets allowed. Internet accessible with my smartphone.
TravelerWe loved staying here. Pet friendly and beautiful lake views from many of the camp sites. I recommend checking the grade of the camp site because some of the ones next to the lake were at a pretty big angle. Our site was nice and flat so no issues there. We loved it and would definitely stay again.
LegendThis is hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake. With hundreds of sites to choose from with some being tucked into the woods and others sitting right on the lake including some walking intense fights this campground is one of the nicest that you’ll find in Illinois. Plenty of bathrooms and bath houses as well as playgrounds and spacious campsites for larger RVs and plenty of access to the lake.
LegendThis small, rustic camp is at the edge of Shawnee and only had a few campers staying multiple nights with us. Then the turkey hunting season came upon us and the sites filled.
We had site choices that ended up being along the gravel forest road that goes by camp. This put us away from other dogs but caused other issues. Every vehicle that went by generated dust which then coated everything in our camp. If you come here, we suggest taking the site that is furthest from the road (it's right next to the small forest road that heads off to the hiking trails. They had shade as well as sun and no dust.
The sites are large but there isn't any foliage between them. Luckily the dogs were in camps further away from our dog so she was able to relax. The water pump got frequent use and the twin vault toilets were plenty for the campground.
The hiking trails that headed out from the camp were wonderful. We even hiked down the forest road and found a hidden cemetery tucked away. The river to river trail heads out from camp too - we saw a group of backpackers leave their cars and head off for the night. Garden of the Gods area is a short drive away for more hiking options.
Choose your time wisely. Camp filled up with hunters who started generators at 3 in the morning to get ready to head out for turkey. Once we realized what was going on, we put our dog's bright shirt on. Everyone was wonderful and we had some interesting conversations. It was also morel mushroom time so some people were hunting for them.
GuideMaybe it's because I am from WI and we tend to rip on IL a lot, but I really found this park sub-par. I am also spoiled from getting to see some of the larger parks in the country. Would probably be nice for a long weekend with the kids. But I don't have kids. It's more of a touristy place than a real campground in my opinion. If you are in the area check out the view of Tower Rock. There are a lot of campsites available for both tent and RV, and they do offer grills, tables, camp fire pits, toilets, and a playground. Pets are welcome. Part of a foundation of an old house built on a rock is still around and is a neat part of history.
For pet owners looking to enjoy the great outdoors near Johnston City, Illinois, there are several welcoming campgrounds that allow pets, ensuring a fun and memorable experience for both you and your furry friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Johnston City, IL is South Sandusky Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 19 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 92 dog-friendly camping locations near Johnston City, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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