Vincent S.
Ranger
RangerTurkey Bayou Campground
Free.Toilet. Gravel drive 4 miles but watch for potholes! beautiful scenery. Raccoons!!!
Camping near Gorham, IL
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Gorham, Illinois and the surrounding area feature multiple campground options situated in the scenic Shawnee National Forest region of southern Illinois. Turkey Bayou Campground provides free primitive camping near the Big Muddy River, while Giant City State Park Campground offers more developed facilities with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. The region includes several Corps of Engineers campgrounds along Rend Lake, plus dispersed camping areas that provide alternatives to established campgrounds.
Road access varies significantly throughout the region, with some campgrounds requiring navigation on rural routes. "This is a nice little park in southern Illinois. It is surrounded by cornfields, however the park is wooded," notes one camper about Washington County State Recreation Area. Most campgrounds in the area remain open year-round, though spring brings higher water levels and potential flooding along riverside camping areas. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F with high humidity, while fall offers more comfortable camping conditions with colorful foliage. Cell service can be spotty throughout the region, particularly in the more remote areas of Shawnee National Forest. Water and electric hookups are available at most established campgrounds, though primitive sites often require campers to bring their own drinking water.
Waterfront campsites represent a major draw for the area, with several campgrounds situated on lakes or rivers. Campers frequently mention the fishing opportunities at Johnson Creek and Turkey Bayou campgrounds. A visitor described Turkey Bayou as "a beautiful location by the Big Muddy River" where "while cooking dinner over the campfire, the sun was setting over the lake and caused us to stop what we were doing just to enjoy the show that Mother Nature was providing." The region's campgrounds typically feature spacious, shaded sites with fire rings and picnic tables. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with many campers reporting sightings of deer, wild turkeys, and various bird species. The relative isolation of campgrounds like Pine Hills and Turkey Bayou appeals to those seeking quiet natural settings, while campgrounds near Lake Murphysboro and Rend Lake offer more amenities and recreational activities.
Best Campgrounds near Gorham (109)
1. Turkey Bayou Campground
"We took a chance camping here since we hang hammocks but we found a site that had some trees nearby. We were pleasantly surprised to see a port-a-pottie at the campground."
"Gravel drive 4 miles but watch for potholes! beautiful scenery. Raccoons!!!"
2. Giant City State Park Campground
"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."3. Lake Murphysboro State Park Campground
"We had pit toilets, but had to drive elsewhere for showers. I would come back again."
4. Trail of Tears State Park Campground
"PRO Senior discount saving $6
Able to reserve on-line 365 days prior to arriving
Very friendly and helpful camp host
Unobstructed view of the Mississippi River
Great dark sky viewing
No highway"
"As close to camping next to the Mississippi river as you can get"
5. Johnson Creek
"single, double, and triple camping spots set up on three loops in this small campground nestled in the corner of shawnee national forest. there's a central bath house located near check in. only amenities"
"The site was fairly secluded, and right on Kincade lake."
6. turkey bayou campground Illinois
"Often empty, free, great hiking near by. Known to flood but it’s volunteer run and you will have to check local weather reports to know."
7. Wine Trail Wilderness
"Surrounded by wineries, hiking places, historic sites, close to town for dining out, visiting for special events. Whatever you may schedule."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $50 / night
8. Crab Orchard Lake Campground
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $25 / night
9. Pine Hills
"Overall good location and an occasional train but overall great spot."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
10. Devils Backbone Park
"There are 21 miles of trails throughout the park and a large lake. The attractions are all relatively close to the road (cave, "hidden" spring, and trout streams)."
Drive Time
- 41 min from Cape Girardeau, MO
- 1 hr 20 min from Paducah, KY
- 1 hr 39 min from St. Louis, MO
- 2 hrs 13 min from Evansville, IN
Recent Camping Photos near Gorham, IL
99 Photos of 109 Gorham Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Turkey Bayou Campground
Lake Murphysboro State Park Campground
Goatey Goat Ranch RV Park & Campground
Trail of Tears State ForestB
Giant City State Park Campground
Lake Boutin Campground — Trail of Tears State Park
Little Grassy Lake - Crab Orchard NWRS
Little Grassy Lake Campground
Trail of Tears State Park Campground
Touch of Nature Education Center
Crab Orchard Lake Campground
Camp Manitowa at Cedar Point
Recent Reviews near Gorham, IL
638 Reviews of 109 Gorham Campgrounds
- Vincent S.Ranger
Trail of Tears State Forest
Remove from free dispersed. $8 a night. Not free.
- 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
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.
- DDavid B.Traveler
General Watkins Conservation Area
Nice quiet little spot. 4 spots. Have fire rings and picnic tables.
- Ronald C.Guide
South Marcum Campground
Large site
Great campsite very large easy to get in and additional parking for your truck right next to your trailer
Scott M.GuideCOE Rend Lake North Sandusky Recreation Area
Excellent campground
What started as a one-night camping trip quickly turned into a three-night stay—I just didn't want to leave! Most of the campsites feature beautiful lake views and are well-shaded by tall trees. Each spot is equipped with an electric hookup, a fire pit, and a picnic table, plus having access to hot showers made the stay super comfortable. To top it off, our cats loved taking walks with us around the campground!
Guide to Gorham
The diverse campgrounds near Gorham, Illinois offer varied terrain from low-lying river bottomlands to the elevated ridges of Shawnee National Forest. Elevations in this region range from approximately 350 feet near the Mississippi River to over 700 feet in the higher forested areas. Weather conditions can shift rapidly, with spring thunderstorms often developing quickly across southern Illinois.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Turkey Bayou Campground provides access to both the Big Muddy River and a small lake where anglers report regular success. "We could hear the fish jumping all night," notes camper Sheryl P., describing the peaceful atmosphere at this free campsite.
Hiking trails: Giant City State Park Campground connects to multiple trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "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," explains reviewer Shana D.
Water activities: Crab Orchard Lake Campground offers swimming at a small beach area and boat access to the lake. "We stayed at site B8, which had a massive yard right and on the lake," shares camper Melissa H., noting the campground's accessibility for water recreation.
Wildlife viewing: Pine Hills Campground provides quiet observation opportunities in a secluded setting. "Very quiet and secluded. Campsites are roomy and some firewood is supplied," reports Cecilia, who appreciated the natural surroundings.
What campers like
Solitude: Johnson Creek offers a less crowded camping experience with sites scattered throughout wooded areas. "Located on Kincaid Lake in the northwestern edge of the Shawnee National forest. The campground has three small loops," explains Stacia R., who enjoyed listening to owls at night.
River views: Trail of Tears State Park Campground provides direct Mississippi River access with unobstructed views. "Unobstructed view of the Mississippi River. Great dark sky viewing," notes camper Napunani, though they mention train noise as a downside.
Free camping: Many campers value Turkey Bayou's cost-free status. "Perfect campground. Clean, right next on the water, only 2 other groups (~20 sites total), and FREE. Though no trash or showers--only porta-potty," reports Kevin, highlighting the value despite limited amenities.
Spacious sites: Pine Hills provides roomier camping areas than many nearby options. "Tent sites with no electricity or water. Clean toilets and a covered pavilion for getting out of the rain when needed," explains Bob P., highlighting the basic but functional amenities.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F with high humidity across all campgrounds in the region. Spring brings potential flooding at river sites, particularly at Turkey Bayou Campground, where one camper notes "we took a chance camping here since we hang hammocks but we found a site that had some trees nearby."
Insect preparation: Heavily wooded and riverside camping areas require adequate protection. "Bring the bug spray when camping near the water," advises Tricia L. about her stay at Turkey Bayou during the eclipse crowds.
Primitive facilities: Many campgrounds offer only basic amenities. "This simple, campground is in a beautiful location by the Big Muddy River... there are not many amenities. It's like front country, back country camping," explains a camper, noting the need to bring water and sanitation supplies.
Train noise: Sites near the Mississippi River often experience railway disturbances. "Lots of trains, day and night with train horn blaring due to road crossing at campground," warns a Trail of Tears camper.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Lake Murphysboro State Park Campground provides swimming areas suitable for children. "Not a large state park, but the campgrounds, small lake with swimming area, and the views of the Mississippi River valley are good," notes Ralph S.
Playground proximity: Lake Murphysboro offers play areas, though one camper cautions, "People kept cutting through our campsite on their way to the playground, which is whatever, but some people are bothered by that kind of thing."
Educational opportunities: Giant City State Park includes interpretive trails for children. "Giant City is a great place to go with your family! The trails are fun and interesting while the lodge is fantastic!" shares Livia W., recommending the lookout tower views for families.
Wildlife viewing: Children often enjoy spotting animals at Johnson Creek. "We took a short ride to nearby Ava and checked out Scratch Brewery," mentions Stacia R., suggesting nearby attractions to combine with camping.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Giant City State Park Campground offers electric sites but limited water connections. "Not water hook up at each site, only electricity," notes Shana D., who stayed at the campground during Easter weekend.
Site spacing: Crab Orchard provides larger sites for bigger rigs. "Gravel lots were level and plenty big for our 38' Class A motorhome + Jeep," shares Melissa H., noting the site accommodated their large setup comfortably.
Leveling requirements: Trail of Tears campground requires attention to site selection. "Site 6 not level side-to-side," warns a camper, suggesting RVers check site conditions carefully.
Dump station access: Several campgrounds offer dump stations but not full hookups. "Sewer connection was high above ground so drainage was up hill. Camp host warned us upon arrival we may need to use dump station to get tanks totally drained," explains a Trail of Tears visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Gorham, IL?
What camping is available near Gorham, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Gorham, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 109 campgrounds and RV parks near Gorham, IL and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Gorham, IL?
Which is the most popular campground near Gorham, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gorham, IL is Turkey Bayou Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gorham, IL?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Gorham, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Gorham, IL.
What parks are near Gorham, IL?
What parks are near Gorham, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 parks near Gorham, IL that allow camping, notably Rend Lake and Shawnee National Forest.
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