96 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Junction, Illinois provide access to the natural beauty of the Shawnee National Forest. Pine Ridge Campground at Pounds Hollow Recreation Area serves as a central camping destination with both primitive tent sites and electric hookups for RVs. Several developed campgrounds like Pharaoh Campground at Garden of the Gods and Saline County State Conservation Area provide varied accommodation options including tent camping, RV sites, and in some cases, cabins or glamping opportunities. Most facilities are operated by the U.S. Forest Service or Illinois Department of Natural Resources, offering visitors scenic natural settings within a 20-mile radius of Junction.
Road conditions and campground access vary seasonally throughout the region, with many sites open from spring through fall but limited winter options. Several campgrounds close between December and March due to weather conditions. "This campground area is beautiful! We stayed here 3 nights. We arrived on a Thursday and there were plenty of open spots. Friday they open some of the other loops up for more people to stay and it did fill up for the weekend," reported one visitor about Pine Ridge Campground. Cell service can be spotty, with better reception typically found at higher elevations rather than at lakeside campsites. Most developed campgrounds provide vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, while shower facilities are limited to select locations like Cave-in-Rock State Park.
Campers frequently mention the proximity to Garden of the Gods and Pounds Hollow Lake as key attractions when staying at area campgrounds. The camping areas provide excellent access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and swimming areas during warmer months. Water access represents a significant draw, with sites near Pounds Hollow Lake being particularly popular. According to one visitor, "The lake area is beautiful with a swimming area, fishing pier, and pavilion to eat or sit under for shade." Public lands throughout the region support varying levels of privacy between campsites, with Pine Ridge receiving positive reviews for its well-spaced, shaded sites. Weekdays typically offer more solitude and site availability compared to busy summer weekends when many campgrounds reach capacity, especially those with electrical hookups or water access.
"This is a stunning but small campground on top of a crazy high ridge surrounded by cliffs. I had no idea landscapes like this existed in Illinois and was pleasantly surprised."
"Two of the reviews are not the Illinois subject area but of somewhere in the western US."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $10 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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..."
"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."
from $8 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
from $15 / night
Check Availability
GuidePristine campsites with steamy hot showers! What more could you want?! One bar with mint mobile but starlink works no problem! No sewer hook up at all sites but no matter! There’s a dump site! The lake is beautiful and quiet with a swimming area! Definitely a must stay!
GuideFull hook up. Level. Parked in large trees. Concerned we might not be able to get our slide out, but it was okay. Shaded. Great water views. Lots of boat activity. Gave we “party cove” vibes. But family friend party cove.
GuideThe views!!! Loved it. Lots to do in the area. Recommend Giant City! Grounds were well maintained. There was a giant snake behind our site. And goose poop everywhere. But we are camping in THEIR homes.
GuideLovely lake. If you have an E-bike, you can ride MILES around the lower portion of the lake.
We were in spot 57. Spectacular views of the lake. Lots of trees. Large spaces. Nice concrete picnic table. But boy oh boy was this space unlevel. We were down 13 inches low in the back. The best we could get it was 6 inches off. A camper may not be as much an issue… but a class A, it’s rough.
GuideWe were on our hike in Shawnee National Forest, and we found this campground. And it was an amazing experience. It has a beautiful view of the sunset, and there are ponds. There are horses on the property, and it’s very cheap for tent camping. The staff was amazing. She showed us around with her 4x4 the whole property, the horses, and the pony or a donkey. The showers were pretty decent and cleaned
I would recommend this place for everyone
LegendBenton KOA Journey is an easy overnight stop just off I-57. Since we were already familiar with the campground layout, we called ahead to ask if we could go directly to our site on the opposite side of the road from the office and check in afterward. The staff gladly accommodated our request. We stayed in Deluxe Full-Hookup Pull-Through Patio Site 65, which made it easy to center our 40-foot fifth wheel on the utilities. The site was slightly off level, but we did not need to use blocks. The gravel patio featured a huge wheelchair-accessible picnic table, fire pit with cooking grate, stand-up charcoal grill, wooden swing, and bench. We received one bar on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. There are mature trees around the seven pull-through sites across the road from the main campground, but Starlink should work in most of them if you're able to position the dish around the trees. For this overnight stay, we used our T-Mobile Home Internet, which averaged 358 Mbps download and 2.7 Mbps upload. The campground Wi-Fi was adequate for light browsing. A fenced dog park was conveniently located near our site, and being across the road from the main campground helped reduce interstate noise. Overall, this is a clean, well-run KOA with exceptionally friendly and helpful staff, and a good overnight stop returning to our home base in southern Illinois to rest and dump tanks.
ScoutTook a road trip in are RV over the summer last year and stumbled across this place they had it all water hookup waste hook up and were very reasonable on price definitely recommend
GuideThis hidden gem is worth the visit. It’s off the highway down Amish/Dutch country. It has a maintained gravel road beautiful lake and in June it’s covered with lightening bugs. Lots of wild flowers and the sunset- WOW! On the trail there is a sign to set up for selfies. With a dog it wasn’t as easy as I’d hope to capture the moment. Ha
GuideI started coming to this campground once a year as a child with my family 50 years ago. This place will always have a special place in my heart. Lots of memories and lots left to be made. I am thankful that the hosts have done their best with the up keep. The last visit we rented the Goose Bay Picnic area for a group of 8 of us. Beautiful place. Typically quiet during the week. Best sites IMO are 51, 52, 54, 13
Camping near Junction, Illinois provides access to diverse terrain within the Shawnee National Forest region. Elevations range from 400 to 900 feet throughout the area, creating varied landscapes from river bottoms to sandstone bluffs. Summer temperatures typically reach the upper 80s with high humidity while spring and fall offer milder conditions between 60-70°F. Winter camping options are limited as many facilities close during December through February when temperatures can drop below freezing.
Hiking to geological formations: The area around Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground offers exceptional trail access. "The formations are amazing!! We love to hike here in the fall when it's cooler outside and when the leaves are changing it's absolutely beautiful. The views are some of the best around," notes Robin M. The observation trail provides scenic overlooks of unique rock formations.
Fishing opportunities: Waters near Saline County State Conservation Area provide productive fishing spots. Campsites near the water offer convenient access to the lake for anglers. According to Don N., "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."
Swimming and cooling off: During hot summer months, natural swimming areas provide relief from heat. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs features natural pools perfect for summer dips. "Great hiking and great camp site. No shower but the springs offer a refreshing soak after a long day of hiking. Water is easily accessible and clean," reports Layton F.
Spacious, shaded sites: Campers consistently mention the comfortable spacing between sites at Pine Ridge Campground. "The campground is very rustic with a LOT of shade which made our stay there perfect," says Jason F. The primitive camping loops offer more privacy than electric hookup areas.
Budget-friendly options: Most campgrounds in the Junction area maintain affordable rates compared to other recreational destinations. Brian E. notes about Pine Ridge: "Spent a week here and had a blast! Camp sites are fairly well spaced, though not private. Area is split with power and no power. Vault style restrooms are very clean and regularly maintained."
Proximity to multiple attractions: The central location allows visitors to explore multiple points of interest without long drives. "A great, centralized location for quite a few natural wonders and a hop, skip, and a jump away from quite a few more!" explains a Pine Ridge camper. Most major attractions lie within a 25-mile radius of Junction.
Limited cell service: Connectivity is inconsistent throughout the region. "We were able to get cell signal on the campsites up the hill but not in any down by the water, which is why we stayed up the hill," notes a visitor to Saline County State Conservation Area. Higher elevation sites typically offer better reception.
Water availability varies: Potable water access differs between campgrounds. At Camp Cadiz Campground, "The water pump got frequent use and the twin vault toilets were plenty for the campground." Some locations have hand pumps while others offer spigots throughout the campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Junction, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Junction, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 96 campgrounds and RV parks near Junction, IL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Junction, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Junction, IL is Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 57 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Junction, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Junction, IL.
What parks are near Junction, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Junction, IL that allow camping, notably Shawnee National Forest and Rend Lake.
Keep Exploring
