Best Campgrounds near McLeansboro, IL

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, McLeansboro, IL is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—McLeansboro is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Get the dirt on all the best camping near McLeansboro. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Best Camping Sites Near McLeansboro, Illinois (92)

    1. Gun Creek

    21 Reviews
    Whittington, IL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 724-2493

    $18 - $30 / night

    "One of the first campgrounds that you come to at Rend Lake when you get off the highway, this campground has lots of positives and few negatives."

    "The lake had the most amazing sunset! Everyone is super friendly and we recommend the blue jay loop for best views and swimming access to the lake."

    2. Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area

    3 Reviews
    Enfield, IL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 773-4340

    $20 / night

    "Great fishing, 15hp motors allowed on the lake. Lake side camping spots available. Cabins are nice, FYI No mattress, bring your own."

    "Beautiful lake."

    3. South Marcum Campground

    16 Reviews
    Benton, IL
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 724-2493

    $16 - $44 / night

    "This is hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake."

    "They're very close to the Illinois state fair grounds. There are tent sites as well as RV sites that are very close to the lake."

    4. Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Whittington, IL
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 629-2320

    "Wayne Fitzgerald State Park is on Rend Lake, just off I-57 in Southern Illinois. It’s a great place for camping, fishing and bikes."

    "Many of the sites are walk up only.  The sites have a lot of room to enjoy a relaxing weekend or set up yard games.  Rend lake is a good size lake with numerous areas to explore the water."

    5. Whittington Woods Campground

    12 Reviews
    Whittington, IL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 435-3401

    "Short drive to Rend Lake, bike trails, kayaks, fishing. Also, a fun winery about 1 mile north! I do recommend this campground!"

    "Close to the interstate, but not too close. A good mix of sites, the back in sites are open enough that it’s not too challenging getting in. Nice services and management."

    6. Benton KOA

    13 Reviews
    Benton, IL
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 439-4860

    "Not a bad place for a stop between destinations or a couple days at the lake would be fine. Roads and sites were well maintained. The dog park gets muddy quick, it’s mostly moss and dirt."

    "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"

    7. South Sandusky Campground

    19 Reviews
    Sesser, IL
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 724-2493

    $16 - $26 / night

    "North and South Sandusky campground is located in southern Illinois on Rend Lake. It is a large state park with tons to do. From boating and swimming to hiking and relaxing."

    "Well maintained on beautiful Rend Lake in southern Illinois. Reservations accepted on reservation.gov. Walk ins also welcome."

    8. Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    54 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    35 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. Harmonie State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    New Harmony, IN
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 682-4821

    $20 - $23 / night

    "Multiple walking trails and bike trails. Nice shelter houses and picnic areas. Multiple playgrounds. Nature center in the campground. Many events scheduled for summer."

    "It was at the back of the campground, but close to the bathrooms/showers and just across from the playground. It was close enough to walk to the Nature Center and grab ice cream."

    10. Archway RV Park

    16 Reviews
    Mount Vernon, IL
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 244-0399

    $60 / night

    "Long first day drive, but so handy and staff couldn’t be more accommodating to our late arrivals. Just far enough from Interstate so noise isn’t an issue. Lots of services at the same exit."

    "This is primarily a RV park near I-64 and on a highway. Noisy!! Bad noisy. Camp site was nice. Grassy, level, near a picnic shelter with tables. Shade trees. But only about 2-3 such sites."

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Recent Reviews near McLeansboro, IL

628 Reviews of 92 McLeansboro Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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. 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

  • Scott B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Great stop for the night.

    We were driving south on I24 towards Nashville and needed a spot to stop for the night. We booked online and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived. The campground is really nice and had a great paved walking trail to stretch our legs and walk the dog. Would definitely recommend if in the area.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Rend Lake Gun Creek Campground

    Pretty Lakeside Campground

    Nice little campground on Rend Lake. Sites are spread out with long concrete pads. Thera is a bit of a slope to the pads so you will need to level: Lake is very pretty - you could anchor your boat off your campsite. We did not use the bath house so can’t comment on that. Campsites are electric only, so you need to fill you water tank before parking.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Lake Glendale Recreation Area

    Camping in July 2025

    Campground was not crowded during the weekdays. Nice shaded sites w electric and water hookups. Campground hosts were very engaged. $19 a night electric w Sr Pass.

    There are several historical sites to visit. 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. An easy 3 mile hike around the lake

    There are several historical sites in area. Illinois Iron Forge, Garden of the Gods , and segments of the Trail of Tears

  • eThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2025

    Blue Heron Campground & Marina

    50% off with america the beautiful pass

    Nice spot on the lake. Nice staff. Lots of Geese. 1 washer washer and dryer, need $4 dollar in quarters to do full cycle.


Guide to McLeansboro

Camping near McLeansboro, Illinois, offers a variety of beautiful spots for outdoor enthusiasts. From serene lakes to scenic trails, there’s something for everyone in this area.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Giant City State Park Campground. One visitor said, “The shorter trails in the park were beautiful even in the winter.” Another camper noted, “We found several short but gorgeous hiking trails, which was perfect for our young children.”
  • Fishing: Head to Gun Creek for some fishing. A reviewer mentioned, “Clean facilities. Self check-in. Golf onsite, clubhouse with food.” This makes it a great spot to relax by the water.
  • Picnicking: Enjoy a picnic at Harmonie State Park Campground. One camper shared, “In addition to the campground with at least 2 playgrounds, there are trails, picnic areas and a boat ramp.”

What campers like:

  • Cleanliness: Campers appreciate the well-maintained facilities. A visitor at Shawnee Forest Campground said, “The camp was clean and well maintained.” Another camper echoed this sentiment, stating, “The bathrooms are very clean and well lit.”
  • Friendly staff: Many campers mention the helpfulness of the staff. At Harmonie State Park Campground, a reviewer noted, “The staff was extremely friendly. They had ice and firewood to purchase.”
  • Scenic views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. One camper at Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs said, “It was a great spot. Very quiet and peaceful.”

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs, do not have drinking water or electric hookups. A visitor mentioned, “There is no potable water on site. That would be my only complaint.”
  • Busy weekends: Popular spots can get crowded on weekends. A camper at Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground advised, “Recommend only visiting Monday thru Thursday.”
  • Road conditions: Some campgrounds have rough access roads. A visitor to Jackson Falls noted, “The road to get into the primitive camp area is long, and just a little bumpy but we had no problem in a 4x4.”

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly sites: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities. At Harmonie State Park Campground, a reviewer said, “In addition to the campground with at least 2 playgrounds, there are trails, picnic areas and a boat ramp.”
  • Plan for busy times: If you want a quieter experience, avoid weekends. A camper at Shawnee Forest Campground mentioned, “Very busy on Fridays and weekends.”
  • Pack snacks and drinks: Since some campgrounds lack amenities, it’s good to bring your own food and drinks. A visitor at Pine Ridge noted, “The toilets were very clean for vault toilets.”

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site levels: Not all sites are level, so it’s wise to ask about the best spots. A camper at Harmonie State Park Campground advised, “Suggest calling before making reservations because many of electric sites are not level.”
  • Bring extra water: Some campgrounds, like Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs, do not have water hookups. A visitor mentioned, “We had to hop back in the car and drive 14 miles each way to stock up.”
  • Use online reservations: Many campgrounds allow you to book online, which can save time. A camper at Gun Creek said, “Book online at Recreation.Gov.”

Camping near McLeansboro, Illinois, has its perks and quirks. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a fantastic outdoor experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near McLeansboro, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, McLeansboro, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 92 campgrounds and RV parks near McLeansboro, IL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near McLeansboro, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near McLeansboro, IL is Gun Creek with a 4.7-star rating from 21 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near McLeansboro, IL.

What parks are near McLeansboro, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near McLeansboro, IL that allow camping, notably Rend Lake and Shawnee National Forest.