Carlyle Lake and Rend Lake form the centerpieces of camping opportunities near Mount Vernon, Illinois, an area marked by gentle hills and hardwood forests with elevations ranging from 400-500 feet above sea level. The region typically sees warm summers with temperatures in the 80s and moderate rainfall that keeps campgrounds lush and green. Winter camping is available at select locations including Archway RV Park, though temperatures regularly drop below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Fishing from shore sites: At Gun Creek Campground on Rend Lake, numerous waterfront sites provide immediate lake access. "Great place to camp, clean and really nice place," notes one camper at Gun Creek, where bass and crappie fishing are particularly popular activities.
Biking on paved trails: South Marcum Campground connects to extensive paved bike paths that circle portions of Rend Lake. A visitor to South Marcum Campground reported: "We only spent one night on our way back home, but can't wait to go back. The campground gives campers plenty of room to spread out, lots of open space for the kids to play."
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer the best opportunities to spot deer and wild turkey throughout the area. "Great place, clean. Lots of deer and turkey!" explains a camper who stayed at South Marcum in September.
What campers like
Spacious lakefront sites: North Sandusky Campground offers generous spacing between campsites with excellent views. A camper at North Sandusky Campground shared: "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. Site 42 is very spacious."
Convenient interstate access: Archway RV Park provides quick on/off access from major highways without sacrificing comfort. "We travel between Charleston, SC and Omaha, NE several times a year and always stay here on return trip. Long first day drive, but so handy and staff couldn't be more accommodating to our late arrivals," wrote a reviewer at Archway RV Park.
Well-maintained facilities: The Corps of Engineers campgrounds around Rend Lake receive consistent praise for cleanliness. "Just beautiful, the Corp of Engineering's really take care of these camp grounds, very clean, most have new showers," noted a visitor to North Marcum Day Use Area.
What you should know
Variable site levels: Many campsites throughout the area require leveling equipment. At South Marcum, a camper observed: "What a beautiful campground, it's our second time here. Some spots do have a fairly good slope to them."
Highway noise considerations: When staying at Benton KOA, request sites away from I-57 for quieter conditions. A visitor to Benton KOA explained: "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."
Seasonal water quality issues: Early spring camping may come with water quality challenges at some locations. One camper noted: "Only complaint that I have was the potable water supply... It was extremely dirty with a lot of copper colored solids. Not sure if this was related to it being early in the season but was not impressed at all."
Tips for camping with families
Halloween events: Illini Campground at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area hosts elaborate Halloween activities. A regular visitor to Illini Campground shared: "They have a huge Halloween event every year where people decorate their sites (pretty extensively) and there's a haunted house, then kids trick or treat from site to site. The campground also provides pumpkin painting contests and other fun activities."
Multiple playgrounds: Several campgrounds feature multiple play areas for different age groups. "There are three playground areas, a basketball court, sand volleyball and a pool during summer months. Lots of families with kids, bike rides and plenty of other lake and outdoor activities in the area," noted a family who stayed at Illini Campground.
Zero-entry pools: Eldon Hazlet offers a large, accessible swimming pool. "There is a nice large zero entry pool for a $5 fee on weekends," mentioned a repeat visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site setup specifications: Gun Creek Campground offers varied hookup options at different price points. "Gun Creek has many sites for all campers. For cheap you get a simple site with electric or for not too much more there are sites with water and sewage dump," explains a frequent visitor.
Adapter requirements: Come prepared with proper electrical adapters for different systems. An RVer at Archway RV Park noted: "Full-hookups with only a 50amp connection so if you are using 30 make sure you have a 50/30 adapter. Overall very nice campground, well maintained."
Internet considerations: Cell service varies significantly across the region. As one camper at North Sandusky mentioned: "We had ATT and Tmobile service at our site. Signal was strong enough to stream video and work remotely."
