Cabin camping options near Nashville, Illinois provide access to several water bodies including Rend Lake and Carlyle Lake. The area sits in the Southern Till Plain region with an average elevation of 450-500 feet and experiences hot, humid summers with mild winters. Average summer highs reach 88°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms during peak camping months.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Washington County State Recreation Area offers quality fishing with bass being the primary catch. "Really great campground. Good mix of tents and RVs. Bath house was very well kept and clean... Caught a few bass and and good amount of hiking," notes one Washington County State Recreation Area visitor.
Lake activities: Dam West Campground provides beach access for families wanting swimming options. A camper reports, "We spent an afternoon there and enjoyed a picnic and swimming. Our advice would be reserve a spot ahead of time and do some months in advance is possible. After talking to the campground host, it sounds like they go fast."
Wildlife viewing: Fitzgerrell State Park offers excellent wildlife observation opportunities year-round. "Never been to a CG with such abundant wildlife! Can sit at your spot and watch deer throughout the day," reports one Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area visitor. Deer, wild turkey, and waterfowl are commonly spotted during early morning and evening hours.
What campers like
Peaceful waterfront sites: South Marcum Campground features premium waterfront cabin sites with privacy. A visitor 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!"
Dark skies: Washington County Lake provides excellent stargazing conditions away from urban light pollution. "This is a small lake management by the state of Illinois. The campground is usually not crowded, but some weekends do get busy... The campground is pretty far from any big metro area, so the sky was real dark, great for picking out constellations."
Swimming options: Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area features a swimming pool apart from lake access. "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."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: While some campgrounds have reservable sites, many operate on first-come, first-served basis with specific payment deadlines. "The stay was pleasant and the lake was very nice but the reservation system and finding a spot was overly complicated for a first timer. 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."
Facility conditions: Bathroom and shower facilities vary widely between properties. "The bathhouses are clean and air conditioned, there's a nice camp store that serves breakfast and basic lunches," notes one camper at Eldon Hazlet, while others report less maintained facilities elsewhere.
Water quality: Some campgrounds report issues with water supplies. "Only complaint that I have was the potable water supply. I filled by trailer's tank at the drinking water supply when you enter the campground. It was extremely dirty with a lot of copper colored solids," reports a visitor at Dam West Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area offers multiple playgrounds for different age groups. "This campground filled up by 11am on Friday, which was a surprise to us... There are three playground areas, a basketball court, sand volleyball and a pool during summer months."
Holiday events: Look for special holiday programming at various parks. "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."
Site spacing: Whittington Woods Campground offers spacious sites with shade trees. "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. Short drive to Rend Lake, bike trails, kayaks, fishing."
Tips from RVers
Level site selection: Gun Creek Campground sites vary in levelness, so research before booking. "Overall a great stay, very busy as it was full the entire time we were there while the state park down the road was empty. Absolutely must check how level the spots are before you book, as lots of sites are over 4 inch incline."
Hookup positions: Check utility locations when reserving. "Full hookups but not on the correct side of RV. All gravel sites. Low dust," warns a camper at South Marcum Campground.
Access routes: Most cabin camping facilities near Nashville offer good access for larger rigs. "Great camp ground.. 50 amp service, some with water and some with Full hookup... Dump stations are EZ access on the way out..... Bathrooms were clean, loved Rend Lake."
