Vincent S.
Ranger
RangerTrail of Tears State Forest
Remove from free dispersed. $8 a night. Not free.
Camping near Eddyville, IL
2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Camping destinations in the Shawnee National Forest surround Eddyville, Illinois, providing varied experiences from primitive tent sites to full-service RV campgrounds. Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area offers a rustic camping experience with 21 primitive sites ideal for tent camping, while the Lake Glendale Recreation Area provides more developed options with electric hookups and shower facilities. Many campgrounds in this region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with some locations like Shawnee Forest Campground offering glamping options including yurts. Jackson Falls offers free dispersed camping in a more remote setting for those seeking solitude.
Access to campgrounds varies seasonally, with several facilities operating from March through December and closing during winter months. Most developed campgrounds provide drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables, though amenities differ considerably between locations. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs charges $10 per night for sites with access to vault toilets and a hand pump for drinking water. The surrounding hiking trails lead to natural swimming holes that become popular during summer months. Roads to more remote sites may require careful navigation, especially for larger vehicles. One camper noted: "Redbud Campground can accommodate up to a 24ft RV Pull Behind RV and small motorhomes. Be careful if you are going to try this campground in a motorhome as it can be tight to turn into some spots."
Natural features draw visitors to Eddyville area campgrounds, with swimming holes and hiking trails being particularly popular attractions. The Bell Smith Springs area combines camping with access to unique rock formations, cliffs, and swimming spots. Cell service remains limited or nonexistent at many sites, creating opportunities for disconnection from technology. According to a visitor: "This campground was perfect! Surrounded by nature and hiking trails. I had 1 bar of LTE through AT&T at the front of the camp but lost service back in the loop." Garden of the Gods Recreation Area's Pharaoh Campground receives consistently positive reviews for its electric hookups and proximity to scenic overlooks. Campers should note that wildlife encounters, including snakes, are possible throughout the region, and poison ivy is prevalent along many trails and around campsite perimeters.
Best Campgrounds near Eddyville (143)
1. Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground
"This is a stunning but small campground on top of a crazy high ridge surrounded by cliffs. I had no idea landscapes like this existed in Illinois and was pleasantly surprised."
"Two of the reviews are not the Illinois subject area but of somewhere in the western US."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
2. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs
"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. "
"Loved all the hikes within walking distance, a bit of a drive in but fun to explore"
Check Availabilityfrom $15 / night
3. Jackson Falls
"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."
4. Oak Point - Lake Glendale
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $20 / night
5. Shawnee Forest Campground
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
6. Lake Glendale Recreation Area
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $12 - $44 / night
7. Oak Point Campground
"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."
"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."
8. Dixon Springs State Park Campground
"We were a bit nervous about this campground when reading reviews and seeing the location (there is an Impact Incarceration Program that shares the border), but I'm glad we found it."
"There was a couple nice playgrounds for the kids to play on and plenty to walk around and see."
9. Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground
"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."
from $30 / night
10. Pine Ridge
"The main draw for us was the hiking trails. If you go over to the Pounds Hollow Rec Area you can find picnic areas and a pond to explore by boat."
"A great, centralized location for quite a few natural wonders and a hop, skip, and a jump away from quite a few more!"
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
Drive Time
- 34 min from Paducah, KY
- 1 hr 18 min from Cape Girardeau, MO
- 1 hr 30 min from Evansville, IN
- 1 hr 49 min from Owensboro, KY
Recent Camping Photos near Eddyville, IL
169 Photos of 143 Eddyville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs
Jackson Falls
Lake Glendale Recreation Area
Oak Point Campground
Oak Point - Lake Glendale
Dixon Springs State Park Campground
Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground
Timber Ridge Outpost & Cabins
Pine Ridge
Camp Cadiz Campground
Tower Rock Campground
Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
Recent Reviews near Eddyville, IL
893 Reviews of 143 Eddyville Campgrounds
- WWendy
TravelerGun Creek
This is a 100 site campground on Rend Lake in Illinois. Lots of trees. Level paved sites unless you book right by the lake. Some are very steep. Bring lots to level with! We are in site 92. Away from the lake but beautiful sunshine.
- Ronald C.
GuideGun Creek
Great place easy on off the hyw sites are old so you may need to block up your RV to level it . Some sites only have electric so be careful when you book it. Heard some road noise from the HYW but the campsite had plenty of room
Loren B.TravelerNickell Branch Campground
Awesome
MickandKarla W.
LegendWhittington Woods Campground
Decent Campground
We had never stayed at Whittington Woods, but several of our camping friends have stayed here over the years while traveling through the area. At a recent RV open house, we talked with the campground (CG) owners and decided to switch our reservation from another private CG to Whittington Woods to check it out. The owners suggested sites 92 or 97, and we were able to reserve back-in site 92 with FHUs for our two-night stay. Site 92 is one of the better sites, with a large yard and good separation from neighboring sites. The CG was easy to find off I-57—follow your GPS or the signs. Check-in was quick, and we were escorted to our site. Unfortunately, one of the CG’s regular guests had set up in our reserved site 92 instead of site 93. After a brief discussion between our owner/escort and the guest, moving him was clearly not going to be a quick process. We were offered a couple of other available sites and decided to take site 93. Site 93 was a significant downgrade, with only a sliver of yard and very little separation from site 94. The sewer and electrical connections are near the center of the gravel pad, while the electrical breaker is on the opposite side of site 94. The water connection is at the very back, requiring more than 30 feet of hose for our rig. The owners were very nice, probably too nice when dealing with their“regulars,” and made the situation more tolerable by giving us a good discount for site 93. We received two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. We normally get good performance from our T-Mobile internet with two bars, but download speed was only 41.2 Mbps. The CG Wi-Fi was better at 69.3 Mbps download. There are a lot of mature trees, so satellite/Starlink reception could be iffy depending on the site. The CG is conveniently located near I-57 and right off IL-37, although there was quite a bit of highway noise that was manageable for us. The property provides plenty of room for walking, especially with a dog, and has a decent-sized dog park. There are quite a few full-timers and regulars, with some keeping their sites well maintained and others not so much. We also saw some of the same latitude given to“regulars” when it came to keeping dogs on a leash and picking up after them. They have 5 pull throughs that are mainly used for overnighters that are handy but close together. We understand why several of our friends regularly stay here for a night or two while traveling to and from Florida. Whittington Woods is conveniently located off I-57 and offers FHUs, making the CG a practical overnight stop. Our home base is only about an hour and a half away, however, and we have better options in the area when we need a final stop to flush tanks before heading home.
- MickandKarla W.Legend
Marion/Shawnee National Forest KOA Holiday
Different than Most KOA Holidays
We were heading back to our home base and decided to check out this new KOA Holiday and dump our tanks before heading home. The campground (CG) was approximately 10 miles and 20 minutes off I-57 on southern Illinois backcountry roads. Along the way, we encountered a suspiciously low power line that our 13.5'-high rig cleared. Small KOA signs guided us all the way in. We've stayed at many KOAs and particularly enjoyed KOA Holidays for their service and amenities, but this CG was not what we expected. We arrived at a large gravel parking area and found a check-in room at the end of a warehouse, with envelopes on a bulletin board and a phone number to request an escort. Since the RV sites were down a steep hill, we checked our assigned Creek Side site 26 before moving our rig. Sites 23–26 sat in a bowl at the bottom of the CG, with little room to maneuver our 41' fifth wheel and F450. The escort number went to voicemail, but we reached the manager using the CG brochure number. He agreed our rig wouldn't fit and moved us to back-in site 18 on the hill. All RV sites were back-ins. Creek Side sites appeared better suited for smaller RVs, although larger rigs might fit sites 23 and 24. We later discovered the main KOA office near the marina, which handled cabin check-ins, food, and boat rentals. Sites 1–19 were former pull-through motorcoach sites converted to back-ins, with utilities on the opposite side to accommodate other RVs. Our site 18 was exceptionally wide but close to neighboring sites. We positioned our rig toward the right side of the gravel pad (facing the site) to maintain reasonable access to hookups. The electrical pedestal was at the far back, requiring approximately 35' of power cord to accommodate our toy hauler's rear deck. The wide pad provided plenty of parking for a tow vehicle or boat. However, the CG brochure listed a $75 fee for parking boats or trailers at sites, and a marina sign listed a $50 launch fee. We couldn't determine how these fees applied. Water pressure was excellent, so use a regulator. CG Wi-Fi delivered 20.9 Mbps, Verizon had two bars, and T-Mobile had three. Our T-Mobile Home Internet delivered 358 Mbps, allowing us to stream golf and football. With no trees around the RV sites, satellite reception shouldn't be a problem. Some sites had limited lake views, but don't expect panoramic views or direct lake access. The CG had undergone considerable improvements, including attractive cabins, several right on the lake. KOA cabins were mixed with privately owned cabins, while lake access was concentrated near the small marina and swimming area. We expected more direct lake access and walking trails, but neither was available from the RV sites. A standard fenced KOA dog park was available, but longer walks with our pup were limited to a short path around the fishing pond, gravel areas, and CG roads. Considerable work and investment had gone into this CG, but our experience didn't entice us to return.
- SSamuel B.
ScoutTwin Lakes Campground
Excellent primitive sites with fire ring and picnic table right on the water.
- ttim O.Guide
Camp Cadiz Campground
Quiet clean campground, 8 sites, one water spigot, pit toilets, hiking and biking, 9 miles to Garden of the Gods. Campground is right next to road. Local traffic is minimal, most sites will accommodate 30ft trailer or motor home.
- MMark V.Traveler
Fern Lake Campground
I’m not sure where the good reviews come from. Ive tried to find another Fern Lake to make sure I was at the correct one. Bath facilities have half doors so you are shitting in public. Your kids get the nice look over by any of the weird full timers living junk squaller. The power poles are only standing by the shear strength of all the cobbled together wires and electric tape. It’s not safe. It’s fucking dangerous. Most the fire “pits” are shitty rings from 60 years ago at least. There is zero maintenance here. It’s very loud next to the freeway. Sites are small and on top of each other. Lots are small. Not level. And little gravel. The cinder blocks keep you from backing in too far. Most of the water posts are “shared” because others don’t work. Picnic tables are a fucking joke. Rotten. Lead paint and worthless. The water retaining POND has a grass path around it so you can admire what recycled concrete can create where there was once no POND. One star is extremely generous. Just like the generous $10 a bundle for wood. Keep on trucking. It’s not far to go to find something worthwhile. This is a 100% pass. Before you think I’m some kind of pre Madonna, I will say we are a minimalist family that camps in unimproved spots and boondocks all the time. This place is gross. And disturbing that anyone reviews it for more than a 1 star. Most of the reviews are flat out lies. One talks about the clean bathrooms, hot showers, and one mentions a fucking pool! Wtf? Shitting in your own fire ring is more private. Pictures sooooo under tell the story of what a shot hole this place is. It’s off the freeway very close. And there is a Mexican restaurant across the street and a Casey’s essentially attached. If that’s what you like. Have fun. But any great reviews are from either someone who came and went in the dark. Or are from the owners.
Guide to Eddyville
Camping spots near Eddyville, Illinois provide access to the rugged terrain of the Shawnee National Forest at elevations ranging from 320 to 1,064 feet. The region receives approximately 47 inches of annual rainfall, creating seasonal waterfalls and swimming holes that fluctuate dramatically between spring flooding and late summer dry periods. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F with high humidity, making waterside campsites particularly valuable during peak season.
What to do
Swimming in natural rock formations: At Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area, visitors can access unique swimming holes via short hikes from the campground. "The only amenities are a vault toilet and water. Plenty of hiking right from your site. 10 minute wAlk or 2 minute drive to the river where you can hike, swim or wade. Even if it seems crowded, just walk down the river a ways for some privacy," notes Kate B.
Hiking the lake loop trail: The 3-mile trail around Lake Glendale Recreation Area offers accessible terrain for most fitness levels. "The trail around the lake is about 3 miles; a nice hike that really 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, damn, and swimming beach," shares Annie C.
Rock climbing and bouldering: Jackson Falls attracts climbers from across the region to its free dispersed camping area. "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, and the trailheads are confusing as well," reports Shelby B.
What campers like
Privacy in primitive settings: The spacious layout at Pine Ridge campground offers more seclusion than many area campgrounds. "The rustic sites are well spread out so they feel very private. The hookup sites were closer together and did not look as well spaced. There is a 2 mile loop road that goers around the whole campground and down to a beach access point for a gorgeous lake," notes Charles A.
Budget-friendly camping: Campsites in the Shawnee National Forest area offer exceptional value. "The sites are nice and level. Quiet in the area. Picnic table and fire ring at every site. Park offers firewood. Pond for fishing so bring your poles. It's catch and release. Manager is very friendly and accommodates you as possible," says Jessica R. about Shawnee Forest Campground.
Scenic variety in compact areas: The geological formations create dramatic landscapes within short hiking distances. "This place really is 'Of the Gods'. The Geological formations are very majestic. It is so different from the rest of the state of IL. AMAZING place to visit," writes Jade G. about Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground.
What you should know
Primitive facilities at most sites: Most campgrounds offer basic amenities with limited hookups. "Pit toilets were dirty even for pit toilets. Decent primitive sites, not very level though. Good for tent camping or small camper," reports Dusti M. about Redbud Campground.
Wildlife concerns: Prepare for encounters with native wildlife including venomous snakes and insects. "Lots of ticks (pulled some off every day) and fireflies," reports one camper at Dixon Springs State Park Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Eddyville, IL?
What camping is available near Eddyville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Eddyville, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 143 campgrounds and RV parks near Eddyville, IL and 10 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Eddyville, IL?
Which is the most popular campground near Eddyville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Eddyville, IL is Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 59 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Eddyville, IL?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Eddyville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 free dispersed camping spots near Eddyville, IL.
What parks are near Eddyville, IL?
What parks are near Eddyville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Eddyville, IL that allow camping, notably Shawnee National Forest and Rend Lake.
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