2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area offers cabin accommodations that provide shelter while maintaining a rustic outdoor experience. Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground includes cabin options with electric hookups, making them suitable for year-round use. Cabins at both locations offer basic amenities including picnic tables and fire rings for outdoor cooking and gathering. Whittington Woods Campground features cabins with more extensive amenities including water and electric hookups, and access to showers and toilet facilities. Most cabin sites include access to sanitary dump stations and trash disposal. "We stayed in Shawnee Lodge in camp campus. Camp Amenities include: lodges, cabins, shelters, parking, fire pits/fireplaces all with wood supplied, amphitheaters, fishing along Little Grassy Lake, trails, swing set."
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Benton KOA offers cabin rentals as part of their year-round camping options, providing a more standardized accommodation experience with amenities like drinking water, electric hookups, and shower facilities. South Marcum Campground includes cabins among their accommodation types with access to boat-in sites for those looking to combine water recreation with cabin stays. According to one visitor, "Cabins are available but overpriced due to no running water or nearby toilet but more private and great lake views." Most cabin locations are pet-friendly, though specific rules regarding pets inside cabins vary by location.
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Basic cooking facilities typically include fire rings with grills, though some locations offer more extensive kitchen setups. Several campgrounds with cabins maintain on-site markets for basic provisions, including Gun Creek, South Marcum, Benton KOA, and Whittington Woods. Harmonie State Park Campground, located just across the state line in Indiana, offers cabin options with full amenities including showers and toilets, making it another viable option for those seeking cabin accommodations near McLeansboro. Reservations are recommended for all cabin rentals, particularly during summer months when occupancy rates increase.
"There are sites with electric, water, and sewer. Several sites are right on Rend Lake. Most sites have concrete picnic tables and fire rings."
"RV or tent, book online at Recreation.Gov not all spots are level. Electric on most but not all have water. Campfire area and picnic table provided."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $30 / night
"Great fishing, 15hp motors allowed on the lake. Lake side camping spots available. Cabins are nice, FYI No mattress, bring your own."
"Very nice campground with electric and water."
from $20 / night
"South Marcum Campground is a Corp of Engineers campground just of I-57 in southern Illinois with over 100 reservable campsites. Sites have 30 & 50 amp Electric hookups."
"Lovely 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."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $16 - $44 / night
"So I took a drive through the Class A campground just to see it. Here’s what I discovered: the primitive section is far removed from the Class A (by a mile or two). The Class A section is HUGE!"
"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."
"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."
"Beautiful campground with mature trees providing lots of shade on the 100F weekend we were there. Gravel sites, level. A lot of common ground, shaded, picnic shelters."
"The gravel patio featured a huge wheelchair-accessible picnic table, fire pit with cooking grate, stand-up charcoal grill, wooden swing, and bench."
"T-Mobile worked well- issues connecting to site Wi-Fi- staff pleasant- clean- didn’t use showers- small camp store available"
"I chose site 39 and it was close to level. Well spaced.Vault toilets and bathhouses. Only lower camp area bathhouse open before summer.Garbage bin overflowing. Fire pit, table, electric. Playgrounds."
"This is a huge state park! There are lots and lots of campsites in this state park bordering the Wabash River. Sites are divided into smallish areas some for tents, some for RVs and some mixed."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $33 / night
"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."
"We were going to overnight park at Loves but had problems with our generator. 93 degrees at 11 pm so we splurged for a site and paid $71 for full hookups."
from $60 - $75 / night
"Hundreds of campsites, marinas with boat rentals, beaches and stores nearby in case you need something. This area is truly a southern Illinois gem!"
"Large spacious sites, close to swimming beaches, although not walking distance. Tree covered and offer some privacy. Great place to meet with family and friends."
"Rend Lake is a large COE recreation area with 4 campgrounds, some with full hook ups for $28 a night, two dams, 2 beaches, several boat launches, a marina, golf course and a restaurant. "
"They keep up with the grounds and shower houses very well. Easy to navigate roads and many things to do. You also have easy access to stores in the surrounding towns."
from $9 - $28 / night
TravelerThis 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.
GuideGreat 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
LegendWe 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.
LegendWe 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.
GuideGreat campsite very large easy to get in and additional parking for your truck right next to your trailer
ScoutRend Lake, in Whittington, Il is just a great place to camp. From primitive to full hook ups they have what you need for a Corps of Engineers campground.
GuideI stayed at a walk-to tent site for which the price was $8 per night. Pretty solid Verizon cell signal. Clean showers and well kept. The place did sound pretty loud as far as older partiers, though around 9pm, it was near silent. I'd definitely stay here again.
GuideCampground was quiet and peaceful when I was there. Numerous trails within the park and I had them to myself while out hiking.
GuideNice quiet wooded campground. We were only here 1 night, but it was very enjoyable. Very large campground with shaded & sunny spots, mostly level, showers & bathrooms were clean, but no locks on the doors in women's & no doors in the men's, only curtains. Double lane dump station well laid out & good water pressure. We were here 2nd week in September on a Friday so it was not crowded, but I suspect during the summer it would be. The mosquitoes were bad so be prepared. All in all we would stay again.
Cabin camping near McLeansboro, Illinois offers a practical alternative to tent camping in an area with variable weather. Located in Hamilton County with elevations between 380-450 feet, this region experiences humid summers and mild winters. Late spring through early fall brings average temperatures between 70-85°F, making these seasons ideal for outdoor recreation near Rend Lake and surrounding conservation areas.
Fishing opportunities: At Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area, cabin guests can fish directly from lakeside sites. According to Rc C., "Great fishing, 15hp motors allowed on the lake. Lake side camping spots available." Some cabins provide direct water access for convenient fishing.
Boating access: South Marcum Campground offers boat-in cabin sites for water enthusiasts. Eli R. notes, "If I was in any other spot this would probably be a 4/5, but spot 56 has a crazy lake view and is on the tip of an outlook with pretty nice privacy!" The location allows for combining cabin comfort with water activities.
Wildlife viewing: Several cabin sites around Rend Lake provide wildlife observation opportunities. At Gun Creek, one camper mentions, "There was also a little skunk walking around this morning," while at Harmonie State Park, campers regularly spot raccoons and deer near cabins.
Well-maintained grounds: Whittington Woods Campground receives high marks for its landscaping and cleanliness. Jan S. shares, "Beautiful campground with mature trees providing lots of shade on the 100F weekend we were there. Gravel sites, level. A lot of common ground, shaded, picnic shelters."
Lakeside views: Many campers appreciate the waterfront cabin options at Gun Creek. Jeff F. comments, "What a beautiful campground, it's our second time here. Some spots do have a fairly good slope to them." These lakeside cabins provide some of the most scenic settings in the area.
Peaceful environment: Despite being relatively close to highways, several cabin locations offer quiet settings. At Rend Lake, one reviewer notes it's "One of our favorite lakes at which to camp. All of the COE engineer campgrounds are well maintained and have waterfront sites!"
Cabin amenities vary widely: Some cabins lack basic facilities. As noted at Hamilton County, "Cabins are nice, FYI No mattress, bring your own." Most cabins require guests to bring their own bedding regardless of location.
Reservation requirements: Peak season demands advance planning. At Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground, Blake M. warns about the complex reservation system: "Basically people show up and throw a cooler or tent onto a site to claim it and then leave. They have to pay for the spot by 8pm."
Seasonal considerations: Many cabin facilities operate seasonally. For Gun Creek, the operational period runs "March 14 to November 30," while others like South Marcum are available "March 28 to November 2," requiring off-season alternatives.
Bathroom access: Bathroom facilities near cabins vary by location. At some sites, cabins share centralized facilities. Tina J. notes at Wayne Fitzgerrell that "Bathhouses were a little bit of a walk," which can be important for family planning.
Playground access: Harmonie State Park Campground offers structured recreation for children. According to Olivia S., "There are 3 playgrounds through out the campground. They have various events through the summer season with a big Halloween event in the fall."
Swimming options: Several cabin locations provide swimming access during summer months. At Harmonie State Park, families appreciate that there's an "Olympic size pool open during summer-has water slide, diving boards, separate baby pool with shade awning, and concessions."
Halloween festivities: For fall cabin stays with children, multiple campgrounds host special events. Nichole M. shares, "They had a trunk or treat in the pool parking lot and although there weren't a ton of vehicles, it was definitely enough for the kids to have fun trick or treating."
Site leveling: Many cabin campers also bring RVs, and site grading can be inconsistent. At Benton KOA, Tom B. advises, "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."
Utility connections: For those using RVs alongside cabin guests, hookup locations can be problematic. At Whittington Woods, James N. cautions, "Sites are nice, although all sites face each other meaning you will be 5-10 feet from your neighbors if you are sitting out front. Full-hookups with only a 50amp connection so if you are using 30 make sure you have a 50/30 adapter."
Road noise considerations: When selecting a cabin or RV site, proximity to highways affects experience. At Benton KOA, one camper warns about cabin selection: "1 side is directly on the freeway VERY loud, the other is in between the sewer treatment plant and municipal airport. If you're a light sleeper might want to stay away."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near McLeansboro, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near McLeansboro, IL is Gun Creek with a 4.7-star rating from 27 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 30 cabin camping locations near McLeansboro, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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