Best Campgrounds near Grantsburg, IL

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Grantsburg, IL has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Grantsburg and user-submitted reviews.

Best Camping Sites Near Grantsburg, Illinois (136)

    1. Shawnee Forest Campground

    36 Reviews
    Vienna, IL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-0619

    $40 / night

    "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."

    2. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs

    32 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    10 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."

    3. Jackson Falls

    22 Reviews
    Shawnee National Forest, IL
    9 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."

    4. Oak Point - Lake Glendale

    15 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 638-3246

    $10 - $20 / night

    "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."

    5. Lake Glendale Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3807

    $12 - $44 / night

    "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."

    6. Oak Point Campground

    9 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3807

    "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."

    7. Dixon Springs State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3394

    "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."

    8. Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    54 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    25 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!"

    9. Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    16 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    $18 / night

    "Had very nice trails, very clean. Forest is beautiful. We camped at the primitive area spot 11. Spots are pretty dam close to each other. There is camping you can walk off to."

    "Great campground away from roads and noise. Goreville is small local town with grocery store and service station for supplies. South LOOP sites 1-23 are first come sites."

    10. Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    15 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    "Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois."

    "Dog friendly, pretty well spaced out campsites but some are used as paths with to get to farther back campsites. Good set up, not too close to neighbors and it’s heavily wooded in between."

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Recent Reviews near Grantsburg, IL

814 Reviews of 136 Grantsburg Campgrounds


  • Anna M.
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

    Cleanest Bathrooms

    There is nothing special about the location. There is a boat ramp nearby. There were only people set up in the park today. They do have a playground.

  • 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.

  • j
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE

    Nice COE campground

    Grand Rivers KY Canal Campground at Barkley Lake COE Site 111 This is a great COE campground located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with views of the Barkley Dam. The canal connects them and you can see boats and occasionally barges passing through. There are over 100 campsites are available, many with water views. We had a spacious site with a river view. Other loops are closer together and no view. Sites offer electric and/or water hookups, tables and fire ring. Other amenities include clean old style bathhouses, a dump station, laundry facilities, a playground, and picnic pavilions. We saw several deer roaming the grounds. There's a great pizza place in town Papa Z.

  • 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. 29, 2025

    Columbus-Belmont State Park

    Nice, clean campground, back sites have sewer, be prepared to level out.

    Stayed here for 2 nights at site 25 on the back side of the campground. The back sites have sewer. These sites were paved, but not level, so be prepared to level. TIP: If using those yellow camco "lego" block to level, be sure to put a canvas tarp or rubber mat between the blocks and the pavement, otherwise they will slide when you try to roll on top of them. My daughter used the bathhouse, and she said it was not good. Leaky, standing water. The park was awesome, which made the bathhouse an oddity. The little snack shack over by the chain was a nice evening diversion of ice cream and funnel fries. The camp host couple was wonderful. The park is clean and well maintained.

  • 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


Guide to Grantsburg

Camping near Grantsburg, Illinois, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking: Explore the 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: Enjoy fishing at Pine Ridge. A camper noted, "The lake area is beautiful with a swimming area, fishing pier, and pavilion to eat or sit under for shade."
  • Rock Climbing: Head to Jackson Falls for some rock climbing. A reviewer said, "There’s a lot of hiking and rock climbing to do at Jackson Falls."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs. One review stated, "The grounds and pit toilets were remarkably clean, and I saw no trash or broken glass anywhere."
  • Seclusion: Many enjoy the peacefulness at Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park. A visitor shared, "Great campground away from roads and noise."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of staff at Shawnee Forest Campground. One camper said, "The staff are very friendly and helpful and were more than happy to offer places to visit in the area."

What you should know

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Weekdays: To avoid crowds, visit campgrounds like Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs during the week. A camper said, "Too many people, mostly day hikers, mostly parents with loud children."
  • Bring Bug Spray: Campgrounds like Oak Point - Lake Glendale can have bugs. One camper advised, "Bring bug spray - horseflies and ticks."
  • Plan for Activities: Look for campgrounds with nearby activities, such as hiking and fishing. A visitor at Pine Ridge mentioned, "Great location for hiking trails."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Hookups: Make sure to check for electric and water hookups at places like Shawnee Forest Campground. A reviewer noted, "The sites are quite spaced out from each other and are probably the biggest I've seen in Illinois."
  • Be Prepared for Rough Roads: Some campgrounds, like Jackson Falls, have bumpy roads. A camper said, "The road to get into the primitive camp area is long, and just a little bumpy."
  • Reserve Early: If you're heading to popular spots like Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park, consider reserving your spot ahead of time. One camper mentioned, "The experience didn’t start out well because the coordinates and map directions from this website were absolutely wrong."

Camping near Grantsburg, Illinois, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just be sure to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Grantsburg, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Grantsburg, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 136 campgrounds and RV parks near Grantsburg, IL and 8 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Grantsburg, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Grantsburg, IL is Shawnee Forest Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 36 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Grantsburg, IL.

What parks are near Grantsburg, IL?

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