Vincent S.
Ranger
RangerTurkey Bayou Campground
Free.Toilet. Gravel drive 4 miles but watch for potholes! beautiful scenery. Raccoons!!!
Camping near Mason, IL
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Camping near Mason, Illinois encompasses a range of experiences within the distinctive landscape of southern Illinois, where sandstone formations and forested areas create a unique camping environment. The region includes established campgrounds like Giant City State Park, Ferne Clyffe State Park, and Little Grassy Lake Campground. These areas sit within the Shawnee National Forest region, offering a geological experience that differs from typical Illinois terrain. According to one visitor, the area features "fantastic hiking trails and equestrian trails where you would think you are in the mountains," with geology resembling the Missouri area near the Mississippi River.
Most campgrounds in the Mason area operate year-round, though some facilities like Little Grassy Lake Campground (open April 1 to October 31) have seasonal restrictions. Summer brings higher occupancy rates, particularly at popular sites like Garden of the Gods, where campers note it is "heavily used in summer and early fall." Spring and fall offer more moderate temperatures and fewer crowds. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with stronger signals near towns and limited to no coverage in more remote areas of Shawnee National Forest. Many campgrounds operate on reservation systems through Recreation.gov or Reserve America, though some smaller sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
The camping options range from developed sites with full hookups to primitive camping areas. RV campers will find accommodations at several state parks and private campgrounds with electric, water, and sometimes sewer connections. Many campgrounds are situated on or near lakes, providing opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming. Turkey Bayou offers free primitive camping with minimal amenities near the Big Muddy River, while sites like Deer Ridge Campground provide more developed facilities with electric hookups, showers, and drinking water. Equestrian camping is available at select locations, including dedicated sites at Giant City State Park, making the area popular with horse enthusiasts exploring the extensive trail systems.
Best Campgrounds near Mason (120)
1. 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."2. 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"
3. 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!!!"
4. Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $18 / night
5. Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
"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."
6. Shawnee Forest Campground
"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."
Check Availabilityfrom $40 / night
7. Little Grassy Lake Campground
"We've been wanting to explore southern Illinois for a long time, but it's a six hour (min) drive from our home."
"The lake is quiet and clean. A nice hidden gem located a short drive from beautiful hiking trails. We will definitely be back."
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $35 / 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. Hilltop Campground
"Small little campground off the highway. Inexpensive, quiet. Great spot if your in a need of electricity and a hot shower"
"Stopped here for the night driving through the area. Nice campground, clean, safe, and right off the interstate."
Drive Time
- 40 min from Cape Girardeau, MO
- 51 min from Paducah, KY
- 2 hrs from St. Louis, MO
- 2 hrs 3 min from Evansville, IN
Recent Camping Photos near Mason, IL
114 Photos of 120 Mason Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Trail of Tears State ForestB
Giant City State Park Campground
Touch of Nature Education Center
Little Grassy Lake - Crab Orchard NWRS
Little Grassy Lake Campground
Camp Manitowa at Cedar Point
Trail of Tears State Park Campground
Lake Boutin Campground — Trail of Tears State Park
Turkey Bayou Campground
Equestrian Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State ParkT
Recent Reviews near Mason, IL
697 Reviews of 120 Mason 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.
- MMark V.Traveler
Fern Lake Campground
I’m not sure where the good reviews come from. Ive tried to find another Fern Lake to make sure I was at the correct one. Bath facilities have half doors so you are shitting in public. Your kids get the nice look over by any of the weird full timers living junk squaller. The power poles are only standing by the shear strength of all the cobbled together wires and electric tape. It’s not safe. It’s fucking dangerous. Most the fire “pits” are shitty rings from 60 years ago at least. There is zero maintenance here. It’s very loud next to the freeway. Sites are small and on top of each other. Lots are small. Not level. And little gravel. The cinder blocks keep you from backing in too far. Most of the water posts are “shared” because others don’t work. Picnic tables are a fucking joke. Rotten. Lead paint and worthless. The water retaining POND has a grass path around it so you can admire what recycled concrete can create where there was once no POND. One star is extremely generous. Just like the generous $10 a bundle for wood. Keep on trucking. It’s not far to go to find something worthwhile. This is a 100% pass. Before you think I’m some kind of pre Madonna, I will say we are a minimalist family that camps in unimproved spots and boondocks all the time. This place is gross. And disturbing that anyone reviews it for more than a 1 star. Most of the reviews are flat out lies. One talks about the clean bathrooms, hot showers, and one mentions a fucking pool! Wtf? Shitting in your own fire ring is more private. Pictures sooooo under tell the story of what a shot hole this place is. It’s off the freeway very close. And there is a Mexican restaurant across the street and a Casey’s essentially attached. If that’s what you like. Have fun. But any great reviews are from either someone who came and went in the dark. Or are from the owners.
- LLiz R.Guide
Hinton RV Park
Clean, quiet, easy access to resturants
check-in was nice and smooth. Deep parking pad is very level. The RV park is extremely clean and really nice, we're just staying overnight but good price as well. Lots of places to eat nearby. Can hardly hear the highway noise, It's very quiet as well.
Guide to Mason
Primitive camping options near Mason, Illinois provide alternatives to the established state parks in the region. The area sits at approximately 400-600 feet elevation with varied terrain including sandstone formations, forests, and multiple lakes and rivers. Seasonal conditions affect site availability with temperatures ranging from highs in the 90s during summer to below freezing in winter months.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Turkey Bayou Campground offers free primitive camping with waterfront sites for anglers. According to one camper, "We pulled in to see many of the large sites available and picked the one with a tree for shade looking over the river. We pitched our tents and then drove to the Little Grand Cayon for a quick hike before dusk."
Boating access: Little Grassy Lake Campground provides direct water access with rental options. A visitor notes, "The marina shop also provides kayak and canoe rentals. Little Grassy is a beautiful lake to explore!"
Rock climbing: At Giant City State Park Campground, experienced climbers find opportunities on nearby walls. As one camper explains, "For climbers, there is a ton of nearby trad and sport climbing. The main wall stays wet for a while so if it has recently rained you may need to find somewhere else."
Trail walking: Paved paths at Shawnee Forest Campground provide accessible walking options. A visitor mentioned, "The campground is really nice and had a great paved walking trail to stretch our legs and walk the dog."
What campers like
Quiet seclusion: Turkey Bayou Campground provides spacious, free camping with minimal crowds. One camper shared, "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."
Clean facilities: Deer Ridge Campground at Ferne Clyffe State Park maintains well-kept bathrooms and common areas. A camper notes, "Nice quiet campground with lots of trees and nicely separated camp spots. Water only available at few spots and you would need a really long hose to attach if open faucet available."
Wildlife viewing: The region offers opportunities to observe native animals. At Ferne Clyffe, campers report, "Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!"
Educational opportunities: Touch of Nature Education Center provides learning experiences on Little Grassy Lake. According to a visitor, "Camp Amenities include: lodges, cabins, shelters, parking, fire pits/fireplaces all with wood supplied, amphitheaters, fishing along Little Grassy Lake, trails, swing set."
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly across campgrounds. At Hilltop Campground, one camper noted, "Hosts were friendly, but didn't brief us on information such as where is the trash bin, what is the WiFi password."
Water availability: Crab Orchard Lake Campground offers varying hookup options based on location. A camper explains, "The interior sites had full hookups (but were still just a short walk to the water), while the exterior (lake-side) sites had water and 50A electric."
Reservation systems: Many campgrounds use different booking platforms. For Crab Orchard, "Campground is now under the egis of recreation.gov & reservations through them are a must. This is new & when planning the trip the website said 'first come first serve'."
Site spacing: Many campgrounds have varied site layouts. At Deer Ridge, a visitor reported, "Very RV heavy. I actually didn't end up camping here because it looked like a rock site. I maybe saw two tents, everyone else in big RV's."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming areas: Some campgrounds offer dedicated swim beaches. At Little Grassy Lake, a visitor shared, "We loved the clean beach area. Perfect spot for kayaking. Boats and kayaks were available to rent."
Nature programs: Trail of Tears State Park Campground sometimes offers educational presentations. As one camper noted, "Friendly staff sometimes host little educational presentations for kids."
Kid-friendly trails: Shorter, accessible paths work well for families. At Ferne Clyffe, a camper recommends, "Really, this state park is a must for anyone who lives nearby or is driving through. Our favorite is Hawk's Cave Trail. It's an easy hike and the kids explored the caves for hours!"
Wildlife awareness: Parents should monitor children around wildlife. One camper at Crab Orchard warns, "We saw a raccoon go right through our campsite so be careful what you leave out, also tons of geese and saw two baby copperheads."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many campgrounds have uneven sites requiring adjustment. At Crab Orchard, a camper noted, "Gravel lots were level and plenty big for our 38' Class A motorhome + Jeep."
Hookup placement: Some sites have inconveniently located utilities. One RVer at Trail of Tears reported, "Electrical utility connection is on passenger side of the campsite #6. Sewer connection was high above ground so drainage was up hill."
Weather preparation: Southern Illinois experiences temperature extremes. A visitor to Hilltop Campground explained, "I am a first time vanlifer and I wandered into IL without checking the weather.... it snowed and I was unprepared."
Off-season availability: Several campgrounds remain open year-round. According to a camper at Shawnee Forest, "Unique campground in that it is on a former golf course. Has the old golf cart paths as walking/biking paths! The sites are spacious and have picnic tables and fire rings."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mason, IL?
What camping is available near Mason, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mason, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 120 campgrounds and RV parks near Mason, IL and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mason, IL?
Which is the most popular campground near Mason, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mason, IL is Giant City State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mason, IL?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mason, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Mason, IL.
What parks are near Mason, IL?
What parks are near Mason, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Mason, IL that allow camping, notably Shawnee National Forest and Rend Lake.
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