Camping around Murphysboro, Illinois offers diverse options within the Shawnee National Forest region, where sandstone formations and wooded areas characterize the landscape at elevations ranging from 400-800 feet. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F, while spring and fall provide milder conditions with daytime averages in the 60-70°F range. Most campgrounds remain open from March through November, with limited winter availability at select locations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Rend Lake provides excellent fishing options with multiple campgrounds offering waterfront access. At Crab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR, "most spots are lake side" and "fishing was good (especially catfish and crappie)," according to campers who have stayed there.
Rock climbing: For those seeking more adventure, several parks feature climbing areas. At Giant City State Park Campground, visitors note "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."
Seasonal exploration: Fall brings vibrant colors to the region's forests. One camper at Giant City State Park Campground mentioned it's "a great place with the fall colors to go and explore, but plan your hike with enough time to not get caught in the lower amount of daylight."
Biking trails: The region features extensive paved biking paths connecting various recreation areas. A visitor to South Marcum Campground highlighted that the campground "gives campers plenty of room to spread out, lots of open space for the kids to play," making it ideal for family bike outings.
What campers like
Privacy levels: Campgrounds offer varying degrees of seclusion. One camper at South Sandusky Campground enjoyed how "many of the site are right on the lake and the sunrise and sunsets are always gorgeous. They have quiet hours from 10-6 and the bathrooms and showers are always really clean."
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse wildlife populations. Visitors to South Marcum Campground reported the area has "lots of deer and turkey" while others noted excellent birdwatching opportunities, particularly for waterfowl.
Swimming areas: Several campgrounds provide designated swimming areas. A visitor to South Sandusky Campground mentioned "it's also just a short drive from the South Sandusky swimming beach. It's sometimes pretty rocky in the water so we usually wear water shoes."
Stargazing conditions: Rural locations offer minimal light pollution. One camper staying at Giant City State Park Campground during winter noted, "due to the somewhat rural location you could not beat the view of the stars at night."
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites in the region require leveling equipment. A reviewer at Gun Creek warned, "absolutely must check how level the spots are before you book, as lots of sites are over 4 inch incline, which seems ok for smaller rigs."
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds use reservation systems while others operate first-come, first-served. At Crab Orchard Lake, "all sites are FC/FS. Full hookups are in Loop B & it was full. Overall the campground was full but not very many people around. Appears many locals take spots on the weekends & then hold onto them during the week."
Highway noise considerations: Several campgrounds are located near major highways. Visitors should be aware that at certain locations, "you can clearly hear the highway from the campground, and of course if you have a lake site, you will have plenty of boat noise."
Shower facilities: Bathhouse quality varies between parks. One camper noted that while facilities were clean, "there is no formal dog area, but there are paved trails around the large CG area, which made it nice to walk our dogs."
Tips for camping with families
Beach accessibility: Several campgrounds feature swimming beaches ideal for children. At Perryville RV Resort By Rjourney, "the property itself is beautiful. Spots are intermingled in the trees and it is spectacular in the morning. The pool is better than most hotels and the giant trampoline looked like it would be my daughter's favorite thing."
Playground quality: Multiple campgrounds feature playgrounds for younger campers. One visitor mentioned that Perryville RV Resort has a "nice park for kids, hiking trail and jump pad (trampoline)," making it suitable for families with children of various ages.
Safety considerations: Some waterfront sites may require extra vigilance with children. A reviewer noted that at certain campgrounds, "someone in one of the sites by the lake said they saw snakes but we never saw any and our dogs would have noticed."
Kid-friendly activities: Many parks offer programming specifically for younger visitors. During fall, some campgrounds are "decorated for Halloween and very kid friendly," creating seasonal experiences for families.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: Larger rigs require careful site selection throughout the area. At Shawnee Forest Campground, "the gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21. The water and electric(50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad."
Hookup variations: Full-hookup availability varies significantly between campgrounds. An experienced RVer noted, "there are two sewer hookups, which was nice. The water pressure was good around 50 psi. Their WiFi was very good."
Pull-through availability: Several campgrounds offer pull-through sites for easier access. At Shawnee Forest Campground, "they have great pull through sites," though one visitor noted that "sites are not level front to back, so you need to unhook."
Weather considerations: The region experiences significant seasonal variation affecting site conditions. During rainy periods, some campers reported that "there was water puddles at the steps" and advised selecting sites on higher ground during wet seasons.
