Best Campgrounds near New Athens, IL
Campgrounds near New Athens, Illinois range from state-managed recreation areas to private RV parks, offering various accommodation options within a short drive of St. Louis. Notable locations include Randolph County State Recreation Area with tent, RV, and cabin sites, and Washington County State Recreation Area which provides electric hookups and waterfront access. Cahokia RV Parque, approximately 30 miles north of New Athens, serves as a convenient base for exploring the greater St. Louis metropolitan region, while World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta accommodates both tent campers and those seeking cabin lodging.
Many campgrounds in the region remain open year-round, though some amenities like showers may be seasonal. Randolph County and Washington County State Recreation Areas both offer water access for boating and fishing, with most sites featuring electric hookups. Several campgrounds provide sanitary dump stations and shower facilities, particularly at the more developed sites. Cell service varies throughout the area, with better coverage near larger towns. Full hookup RV sites are available at multiple locations, while tent camping options are more limited at some of the RV-focused properties. One visitor noted, "Sites have water only and 30&50amp plug in at pedestal. You are on the entire opposite side of the base, away from everything, absolutely everything."
Campgrounds with water access generate particularly positive feedback, with fishing opportunities mentioned frequently in reviews. Kaskaskia Lock and Dam Recreation Area receives praise for its riverside location and accessibility. A camper wrote, "This is a very clean campground with electric only hook-up. It had nice big concrete pads, a large picnic table and large fire pit/grill at each site." Sites closer to St. Louis tend to feature more amenities but experience more noise from nearby highways and air traffic. The region's mixed-use campgrounds often accommodate both tent and RV camping, though spacing between sites varies considerably between properties. While some locations feature shaded sites, others offer little protection from summer heat, particularly at the World Shooting Complex where one reviewer mentioned "not many trees" and potentially hot, dry conditions in summer.
