Glamping experiences near Johnston City, Illinois provide both comfort and access to nature, with most sites operating seasonally from March through November. The region sits on the northern edge of the Shawnee Hills, with elevations ranging from 400-600 feet, creating varied landscapes perfect for camping. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F during the day, while spring and fall offer milder conditions in the 60-75°F range.
What to do
Fishing opportunities abound: South Sandusky Campground on Rend Lake offers excellent fishing spots directly from the shoreline. "South Sandusky is a very nice campground with lots of trees, concrete pad, fire pit, playground, and bathroom facilities. It is wheelchair accessible and walking distance from the lake where you can swim, fish, boat, go tubing or just walk the trails," notes Chrissy W.
Hiking trails for all abilities: Giant City State Park Campground features unique geological formations with several trail options. "Lots of amazing, beautiful hikes in this park, especially if you're into bluffs and large boulders. Easy drive to many other picturesque and unique parks (i.e. Garden of the Gods, Ferne Clyffe), and easy drive into town if you want something more civilized," shares Kyle K.
Wildlife viewing: Gun Creek Campground provides excellent opportunities to observe local wildlife. "Great campground with many waterfront sites! It is nicely wooded, with a great boat ramp and boat parking area and close to a nice bike trail!" explains b K.
What campers like
Lake views and access: North Sandusky Campground features waterfront sites with direct lake access. "North Sandusky Campground is a gem in Southern Illinois. Many of the sites are backed up to Rend lake and the others back up to the woods. The sites all seem to be fairly well maintained and roomy," says Jason A.
Spacious, private sites: South Marcum Campground offers sites with good separation and lake views. "The view in the tent area of covey point is breathtaking. The campground is clean, quiet, and peaceful," shares Hollie C.
Clean facilities: Crab Orchard Lake maintains well-kept shower and restroom facilities. "Showers and restrooms are nice. Ones in Loop A are no new (Loop Bs are new) but still nice. Lots of hot water," notes Tracie E.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the Johnston City area operate from late March through early November. According to Joel R., "South Sandusky Campground is a Corps of Engineers campground on Rend Lake, just off I-57 in Southern Illinois. There are 8 tent sites & 119 sites with electric and full hook-ups."
Reservation systems vary: Shawnee Forest Campground allows advance booking, while others operate first-come, first-served. "The sites are spacious and have picnic tables and fire rings. Full hookups is a plus. Super convenient to 24 but not too close that it is loud," reports Greg S.
Topography challenges: Many sites require leveling equipment. As Jeff F. notes about Gun Creek, "What a beautiful campground, it's our second time here. Some spots do have a fairly good slope to them."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and swimming: Giant City State Park Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "We stayed Easter Weekend here in the campground and had a great time. The campground is clean and maintained. Some sites are gravel and some are asphalt. There are plenty of trees for shade," shares Shana D.
Beach access: South Sandusky provides designated swimming areas. "We love the large beach. The campsites have a nice set up and are a decent size. The kids loved the playground. There were kids everywhere and everyone was very friendly! Fun spot!" says Missy D.
Educational opportunities: Wildlife viewing can be combined with learning. "Great place, clean. Lots of deer and turkey!" reports Garrett F. about South Marcum Campground.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: South Sandusky Campground offers various utility options. "Using your GPS of choice, you can reach this campground off I-57 via Benton or the IL-154/Sesser exit. Most sites here offer water and electric (50/30/20 AMP), while the Dogwood loop features several full hookup sites in its upper section," explains MickandKarla W.
Road conditions: Access roads are generally well-maintained but some campgrounds have narrow interior roads. "The gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21. The water and electric(50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad," notes MickandKarla W. about Shawnee Forest Campground.
Site selection for larger rigs: North Sandusky accommodates big rigs on certain sites. "Site 42 is very spacious. We had ATT and Tmobile service at our site. Signal was strong enough to stream video and work remotely," shares Jason A.
