Best Campgrounds near Granite City, IL
Granite City, Illinois provides camping access through a mix of state parks and private campgrounds within a 30-minute drive of downtown. The St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA offers tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations from March through November, while Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground provides more primitive tent and RV camping from May through September. MGM Campground and Cahokia RV Parque round out the developed options, with the latter offering cabin stays. Most sites are accessible via paved roads and established campground entrances.
Camping in the Granite City area follows seasonal patterns with most facilities operating from spring through fall. Horseshoe Lake State Park charges only $8 per night for its basic sites but provides limited amenities with no electric hookups or showers. In contrast, private campgrounds like the KOA and Cahokia RV Parque offer full hookups, showers, and reservable sites at higher rates. Weather considerations include hot, humid summers and occasional spring flooding that can impact lakeside areas. The industrial surroundings of some campgrounds may surprise first-time visitors. A camper noted, "When you first pull down the road you'll be worried you're going to end up in the train yard, but the campground is hidden and actually really quiet and secluded."
Several campgrounds provide easy access to St. Louis attractions while maintaining relatively affordable rates. Horseshoe Lake State Park receives praise for its primitive camping experience and natural setting. A review described it as having "very primitive camping, toilets only, but the campsites are spaced comfortably apart." The KOA location proves convenient for St. Louis visitors seeking hookups, with one camper describing it as "conveniently located just outside of St. Louis. We camped here for a trip to the city for St. Louis Cardinals game and zoo." Noise from nearby transportation infrastructure affects some properties, with train sounds and a racetrack mentioned in multiple reviews. Wildlife viewing opportunities are notable at Horseshoe Lake, particularly during migration seasons.
