Best Campgrounds near Equality, IL

Looking for the best campgrounds near Equality, IL? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Best Camping Sites Near Equality, Illinois (94)

    1. Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    54 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 253-7114

    $10 / night

    "Two of the reviews are not the Illinois subject area but of somewhere in the western US."

    "We did a lot of hiking all around Shawnee but this is by far favorite spot in Illinois!"

    2. Pine Ridge

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

    $10 / night

    "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!"

    3. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs

    32 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    $15 / night

    "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."

    4. Camp Cadiz Campground

    6 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    12 miles
    Website

    "On a gravel road, in the back country like most everything else on this side of Illinois , fill your gas tank up and your food locker or you will be driving back out a ways to refill. "

    "It's super quiet despite the gravel road nearby. The vault restroom is kept very clean. It has easy access to the River to River trail, and I love the CCC stonework."

    5. Saline County State Conservation Area

    2 Reviews
    Equality, IL
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 276-4405

    $8 / night

    "This was a great campground with fantastic views of the lake.

    We also hiked Garden of the Gods and Burden Falls in the Shawnee National Forest. The hikes were great."

    "There is a dump station and potable water at the entrance to the campground. There are also some water spigots sprinkled throughout the campground."

    6. High Knob Campgrounds

    4 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 275-4494

    "High Knob is a Horse campground in Shawnee National Forest near Garden of the Gods off Il1. The entire area has extensive trails through some awesome, hilly, rocky, cliffy areas."

    "The trails are great maps available some trails need marked a bit better."

    7. Pine Ridge Campground

    2 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    $10 / night

    "The USDA Forest recreational area includes Pounds Hollow Lake that is nestled into a beautiful ridge. "

    "It’s a great area with the small beach nearby and garden of the gods so close, the only problem is the drinking water pump is broke so you must bring your own water."

    8. Cave-in-Rock State Park

    14 Reviews
    Cave-In-Rock, IL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 289-4325

    "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"

    "Signage will greet you as soon as you exit the ferry and Cave in Rock city has several small businesses you might want to visit. Plus a bunch of painted bikes..."

    9. Jackson Falls

    22 Reviews
    Shawnee National Forest, IL
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    "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."

    10. Fiedlerland RV Park and Campgrounds

    1 Review
    Junction, IL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 980-2757
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Recent Reviews near Equality, IL

627 Reviews of 94 Equality Campgrounds


  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    A good spot to have a work week

    Functional clean porta potties. Fire pits, tables and water( not at the campsite but available at the entrance). Not a ton of privacy but very friendly people. Not great for starlink but very moderate t mobile a slightly better Verizon. Lots of tents and vans. Not many spots. Beautiful.

  • Jessica T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Great spot for location

    Overall we’ve really enjoyed our stay. Came over the Labor Day weekend and staying a week. 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. A little noisy at night with the interstate in the distance but we’d expected that. Only thing we wish we would’ve known about was the paving of the road happening directly outside of the park. They obviously can’t control that but a heads up would’ve been helpful. One day we couldn’t get out for a bit and thankfully we had flexible plans. Overall- it’s a great park with decent proximity to a lot of nature. Anna, Marion and Harrisburg are your best bets for restaurants and grocery etc. Vienna only has a dollar general and a few restaurants- a diner, longhorn cafe, Mexican restaurant and Family Pizza- we tried the last one and it was good! Prepare for a 40 min wait time if picking up and it gets packed if you want to dine in. Would def stay here again to visit Shawnee.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Gun Creek

    Nice!

    Nice, large, well thought out campground. Lots of trees, paved sites, bathrooms, showers, and well maintained. Offers full hookups, partial or none. Convenient to I64. Only stayed 1 nite, but would definitely come back.

  • L
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Cave-in-Rock State Park

    Beautiful, empty, cheap state park

    We are the only campers here in a very well kept campground. The bathrooms are clean and the only sound is from the birds. $20 for a state park site with electricity is incredible. It is out of the way (we took the ferry from Kentucky).

  • Tom B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Benton KOA

    Good KOA

    Yes, there is highway noise. It's a KOA. Convenience of being easy off an interstate has its tradeoffs. That said, excellent staff, clean, professional KOA

  • Scott B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Great stop for the night.

    We were driving south on I24 towards Nashville and needed a spot to stop for the night. We booked online and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived. The campground is really nice and had a great paved walking trail to stretch our legs and walk the dog. Would definitely recommend if in the area.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Lake Glendale Recreation Area

    Camping in July 2025

    Campground was not crowded during the weekdays. Nice shaded sites w electric and water hookups. Campground hosts were very engaged. $19 a night electric w Sr Pass.

    There are several historical sites to visit. 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. An easy 3 mile hike around the lake

    There are several historical sites in area. Illinois Iron Forge, Garden of the Gods , and segments of the Trail of Tears

  • eThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2025

    Blue Heron Campground & Marina

    50% off with america the beautiful pass

    Nice spot on the lake. Nice staff. Lots of Geese. 1 washer washer and dryer, need $4 dollar in quarters to do full cycle.

  • Daniel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2025

    Jackson Falls

    Quiet

    Be sure to make sure you set the correct location into GPS. We ended up at the wrong location at first try.


Guide to Equality

Camping near Equality, Illinois, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Easy walking distance to the observation trail that is the highlight of this park."
  • Fishing: Head to Gun Creek for some fishing. A camper shared, "Clean facilities. Self check-in. Golf onsite, clubhouse with food."
  • Biking: Enjoy the paved bike paths at South Sandusky Campground. One reviewer noted, "There are miles of paved bicycle trails, a marina, fishing, and a 27-hole golf course a couple of miles away."

What campers like

  • Cleanliness: Campers appreciate the well-maintained facilities. A visitor at Hillman Ferry Campground said, "The bathrooms were very clean. The showers were OK."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many enjoy the peaceful surroundings. One camper at Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs mentioned, "It was a great spot. Very quiet and peaceful."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. A reviewer at Shawnee Forest Campground stated, "The staff are very friendly and helpful."

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Jackson Falls, do not have drinking water or electric hookups. A camper noted, "No cell service. I was too busy enjoying being there."
  • Busy Weekends: Popular spots can get crowded, especially on weekends. A visitor at Harmonie State Park Campground advised, "Recommend only visiting Monday thru Thursday."
  • Road Conditions: Some campgrounds have rough access roads. A camper at Jackson Falls mentioned, "The road to get into the primitive camp area is long, and just a little bumpy."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with playgrounds and activities. One family at Harmonie State Park Campground enjoyed, "In addition to the campground with at least 2 playgrounds, there are trails, picnic areas and a boat ramp."
  • Plan for Bugs: Be prepared for insects, especially in warmer months. A camper at Hurricane Creek noted, "Did find a few ticks, but mosquitos were surprisingly scarce."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make family outings easier. A visitor at Gun Creek mentioned, "Clean facilities. Self check-in. Golf onsite, clubhouse with food."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Levels: Some sites may not be level, so it's good to check ahead. A reviewer at South Sandusky Campground said, "Not all sites are very level."
  • Book in Advance: Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak seasons. A camper at Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground noted, "The $10 per night fee is done via honor system dropbox at entrance to campground."
  • Bring Extra Water: Some campgrounds, like Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs, do not have potable water. A camper mentioned, "There is some a few miles away, but other than that, there is not a single thing I would change about this campground."

Camping near Equality, Illinois, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Equality, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Equality, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 94 campgrounds and RV parks near Equality, IL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Equality, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Equality, IL is Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 54 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Equality, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Equality, IL.

What parks are near Equality, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Equality, IL that allow camping, notably Shawnee National Forest and Rend Lake.