Cabin camping opportunities exist within 30 miles of New Athens, Illinois, spanning state parks and private campgrounds in the rolling hills of southern Illinois. The area sits at elevations between 400-600 feet above sea level with humid continental climate patterns. Seasonal variations significantly impact cabin availability, with summer months requiring advance planning while shoulder seasons offer more flexibility.
What to do
Fishing access: Water bodies close to cabins at Washington County State Recreation Area provide year-round fishing opportunities. A visitor mentioned, "Awesome fishing here and boat rentals" while another noted the recreation area "surrounds a very pretty lake."
Swimming options: Facilities range from lake beaches to maintained pools. Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area offers "a nice large zero entry pool for a $5 fee on weekends" and includes "a playground, sand volleyball and a pool during summer months."
Hiking trails: Multiple difficulty levels available for day hikes. At Washington State Park Campground, visitors appreciate the "famous petroglyphs and other history" with "three hiking trails of varying difficulty, so most people can do whatever."
Wildlife viewing: Early morning and evening opportunities. Randolph County State Recreation Area offers "gorgeous views" where campers mention seeing "cute little forest bunnies running around." At Dam West Campground, one visitor reported seeing "lots of migrant waterfowl. Pelicans, egrets, blue herons" during their stay.
What campers like
Lakeside cabins: Premium views but limited quantity. At Randolph County State Recreation Area, visitors appreciate that it's "quiet chill and peaceful" with an "easy walk to the lake with a gorgeous view."
Budget options: Various price points for different comfort levels. The St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA provides cabin camping for those seeking more amenities, with one camper noting, "Laundry, showers and bathrooms available as well." Another visitor stated it was a "great overnight stop close to St Louis attractions."
Shade coverage: Important consideration during summer months. Perryville RV Resort receives praise for being "such a clean campground!! There are a ton of big trees and it is really shady." Another reviewer confirmed they have "nice large shaded sites" that provide relief during hot weather.
Camp store access: Essential supplies without leaving the park. Cahokia RV Parque offers convenience with "a small site for primitive camping by the pond with a gazebo to fish off of" and includes an on-site restaurant where campers mention "fantastic food and a 10% discount for park customers."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: Vary significantly between locations. At Perryville RV Resort, visitors appreciate that "the park is clean and well maintained" with "a new swimming pool" installed recently, though noise can be an issue as "the highway is also extremely close and can be heard at all times."
Seasonal closures: Several parks operate limited schedules. Dam West Campground operates "March 30 to October 30" while the St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA functions seasonally from "Mar 25 to Nov 1."
Reservation timelines: Busy periods require months of advance planning. At Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area, a visitor warns, "Better get there at least a week in advance for the halloween festivities- it fills up!"
Site proximity: Privacy levels vary by campground. The World Shooting and Recreational Complex offers cabin accommodations where "finding a spot should not be an issue" with one visitor noting that during their weekend stay, "only one other camper within sight of our spot Friday night and they were gone Saturday morning."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple recreation areas for children. Dam West Campground receives consistent praise with one visitor noting it's a "clean well kept grounds" with good amenities for families, while another mentioned Dam West beach is "great for the kids! We spent an afternoon there and enjoyed a picnic and swimming."
Swimming options: Both natural and constructed facilities available. Cahokia RV Parque offers a "pool, playground and pond area to walk around" while Washington State Park includes "an outdoor pool, hikes close by" making it family-friendly.
Halloween events: Special programming during fall months. Eldon Hazlet hosts elaborate Halloween activities where "people decorate their sites (pretty extensively) and there's a haunted house, then kids trick or treat from site to site."
Reservable vs. first-come sites: Plan accordingly for family needs. Randolph County State Recreation Area has a system where the "best sites are first come first serve other half are reservable," requiring families to plan appropriately especially for weekend stays.
Tips from RVers
Site access considerations: Some areas have tight turning radiuses. At Randolph County State Recreation Area, visitors note "getting around is a little right for bigger rigs but still doable as long as you're careful" and advise to "make sure you fill up at the dump station before you get to the campground because there's no easy way to turn around if you miss it."
Distance to amenities: Plan for access to groceries and supplies. Near Cahokia RV Parque, one RVer warned, "I was planning on grabbing a gallon of milk when we got there...there really is nothing around the rv park! Maybe a couple gas stations at best, but if you need groceries or anything, stop and get them before you get close."
Seasonal maintenance: Water systems can have issues. One visitor to Eldon Hazlet reported problems with "extremely dirty [water] with a lot of copper colored solids" early in the season, suggesting RVers might want to bring additional water supplies during certain times of year.
Electrical capacity: Varies between cabin camping locations. Randolph County State Recreation Area provides "50amp water fill available with frost free. And dump station at front," though some visitors note there are "tight spots and harsh back up angles."
