The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Elizabethtown. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Discover great camping spots near Elizabethtown, reviewed by campers like you.
"General: I was a bit apprehensive about this state park because it did not take reservations, so we made sure to arrive by 11 am but we had no reason to worry – compared to other Illinois campgrounds"
"Cave in Rock State Park, Il is sorta out in the middle of nowhere. That being said it is an adventure worth the trip."
"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."
"Most are shaded with rings or fire pits. Great family friendly place. Trails and roads maintained well."
$45 - $65 / night
"This little gem is off the beaten path but well worth it! Super nice owner, very clean small park without a lot of extra frills. All open sites waterfront, 30 or 50 amp, sewer and water hookups."
"Sites alternated pull in and back in sharing water and electric pedestals. Lots of space on door side of TT. Trash picked up daily from end of the site."
$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."
$15 - $32 / night
"A luxurious crowded but nice campsites older stalls cabins available great trails and maps available store and cowboy church. Permanent sites available"
$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"
"There is a nice dog park with disposable bags. Our site overlooks a nice little pond. There is a clean laundry facility and heated restroom and showers."
"There is actually grass, not gravel, around the sites. There are trees and flowers and it is quite pleasant. With KOA you expect water, electric and sewer hookups."
$20 - $30 / night
"I chose site 39 and it was close to level. Well spaced.Vault toilets and bathhouses. Only lower camp area bathhouse open before summer.Garbage bin overflowing. Fire pit, table, electric. Playgrounds."
"This is a huge state park! There are lots and lots of campsites in this state park bordering the Wabash River. Sites are divided into smallish areas some for tents, some for RVs and some mixed."
GuideMost sites have great views of Lake Barkley! Large camp store with a restaurant that serves sandwiches, pizza, beer and sodas... Golf cart rentals and the marina has boat rentals. Full hookups on most sites including cable, and lakeside sites have the “honey wagon” that comes around to empty tanks. WiFi is pretty ok. Cell reception is good. Cabin rental and seasonal sites available.
RangerKind of a bare bones campground but this state park does offer rock climbing (if you have the expertise and your own gear). A few picnic shelters and an amazing CCC lodge that has a cabin rentals and a pretty good area restaurant. The park used to have an interp center but I believe the state closed it do to funding. The trails aren't always maintained it definitely depends on the season but the park itself is not to be missed.
GuideThis site is completely RV/mobile camping! It’s easy to access and well taken care of in means of landscaping, our site was also right next to the front and the store!
Our site included a picnic table, water access, electrical outlets and a fire pit. The lake is nearby and there is an access near the entrance of the campgrounds.
The grounds are well taken care of as I had previously said and honestly very inviting, the people are very nice and have an entire area for kids!
I’d recommend Tanglewood!
LegendLarge camping area w/several loops. One which will soon be all rental cabins. Each loop has its own restroom/shower house and all are near the lake( some closer then others) canoe rental or bring your own, basketball court and playground as well as swimming area. There is direct access to one of the many trails in LBL and several within easy biking or driving distance. The staff was very helpful.
ScoutI love this park! Camping, cabins, hiking, horseback, swimming, and even mini golf. There are numerous trails, and a plethora of wildlife. We even saw a bald eagle within 15 minutes drive from the park.
GuideA friend and I and our 4 kids stayed in a camper cabin here in September. We normally tent camp but it was a weekend with record heat. I love this campground as an alternative to Hillman Ferry, where we have often stayed. The cabins were clean and comfortable with cold AC, the hosts were friendly and the no-wake lake and canoe rentals were fun. I would advise checking with the hosts about canoe and kayak rentals upon check in, there is limited availability when camp is full and hot weather can also affect. This campground is also in a good location to explore all LBL has to offer when compared to Hillman, it's closer to the Elk and Bison Prairie and Wranglers Campground, as well as the Nature Station, which is great for us since we like to trail ride and hike. Downfall is the beach is muddy and rocky and the playground is old with just a metal slide and swings. We didn't want to swim here so maybe plan on doing that elsewhere at the lakes. Next time we will camp, likely on loop D, which had some nice lakeview sites. You can't see the water from the cabin loop. There is spotty cell service throughout the campground.
ScoutFirst of all, the drive to Dawson Springs is GORGEOUS. Rolling hills, farmland, trees, really gets you in the mood! Upon arrival, the camp store worker was very friendly, gave us a campground map and hiking map and answered all of our questions. We stayed in the regular campground but they also have a campground for people with horses/horse trailers, as the park has horse trails to go on as well! We didn’t swim in the lake, but it did look beautiful and looked to be a nice place to swim and kayak and paddle boat (which they have for rental as well). The hiking trails are gorgeous and vary in length and intensity. The spot that we were at had plenty of room to spread out and relax. One side had the picnic table and fire pit, and the other side was a grassy area with trees where we hung our hammock. It was stunning! We will definitely be back!
LegendGeneral: I was a bit apprehensive about this state park because it did not take reservations, so we made sure to arrive by 11 am but we had no reason to worry – compared to other Illinois campgrounds we visited on this trip, this one was almost empty on a Wednesday in mid-October. Steve, the host, was very friendly and checked us in. The rate of $20 for an electric site was reasonable; we put a tag on our site and set off to explore nearby Garden of the Gods for the rest of the day, secure that we had a place to rest our heads for the night!
Sites/Facilities: The sites are set a decent amount of space apart and have an additional parking space for a second vehicle. A large picnic table and fire ring (although the windy conditions were not favorable for a fire) completed the site. Some are not completely level, so it was good to be able to select the best site.
Bathhouse: The bath/shower house was clean, and the shower had nice hot water and good water pressure. The drainage wasn’t optimal, however, and much of the water ended up in the rest of the bathroom. The only other thing to note is that the generator for the bathhouse is VERY loud so if you are in a site close by (we were across the street and one up), you WILL hear it but thankfully, when not in use, it was quiet through most of the night.
Activities/Amenities: There is a playground and picnic shelter, and the (not very deep) cave is cool to explore (a short walk from the campground). There are a dump station and dumpster. I had good cell service (Verizon/three bars) in this campground.
Conclusion: Although this state park is right on the Ohio River, the campground is set apart from the river so you will not see the river from the campground but it is close enough to walk to the banks of the river when exploring the cave. Nice place to spend a night.
ScoutWe were very disappointed to find the bicycle trail in unusable condition. It should have been repaved many years ago. The restroom in the C loop had 2 unusable showers and a 3rd with a broken screen so it was filled with bugs. In the toilet side the windows were closed so it was hot and stinky. Campsites here are not cheap so I think hand soap should be included. There are a lot of semipermanent rigs set up; it's probably packed on weekends. We had a small water view site with a cement picnic table where we could watch a family of very bold squirrels. The store had ice cream, firewood and a few essentials. There was reasonable WiFi outside but the area was dirty and never cleaned. Perhaps if we had a boat or jet ski this place would be a better fit but as it was we left early and won't return,
Cabin camping near Elizabethtown, Illinois offers a serene escape into nature, with various options for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors while still having the comforts of home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Elizabethtown, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Elizabethtown, IL is Cave-in-Rock State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 14 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 32 cabin camping locations near Elizabethtown, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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