Best Campgrounds near Norris City, IL

Southern Illinois near Norris City features a diverse range of camping environments within the Shawnee National Forest and surrounding public lands. Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, approximately 20 miles southeast of Norris City, offers primitive camping with vault toilets and picnic tables at Pharaoh Campground. Camp Cadiz provides basic facilities at the eastern trailhead of the River to River Trail. Nearby lakes including Rend Lake host multiple Corps of Engineers campgrounds with both tent and RV accommodations. Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area and Saline County State Conservation Area provide year-round camping options within 30 minutes of Norris City.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many forest service roads requiring careful navigation, especially after rain. Cell service becomes limited in more remote areas of Shawnee National Forest, particularly around Garden of the Gods and Bell Smith Springs. According to one camper at Camp Cadiz, "Fill your gas tank up and your food locker or you will be driving back out a ways to refill. Not much phone signal in these parts so bring the old fashion paper map." Most campgrounds operate year-round, though facilities like water may be winterized. Spring brings morel mushroom hunters, while fall attracts turkey hunters who may arrive early with generators.

Lakeside camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, particularly at Corps of Engineers sites. A reviewer noted that at South Marcum Campground, "This is hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake with hundreds of sites to choose from, some being tucked into the woods and others sitting right on the lake." Many campgrounds feature spacious sites with electric hookups, though primitive options are available for those seeking solitude. Weekday camping typically offers more privacy and site selection. The unique geological features of the region, including sandstone formations at Garden of the Gods, limestone bluffs at Ferne Clyffe, and the Ohio River overlooks, provide distinctive backdrops for camping experiences not typical of Illinois landscapes.

Best Camping Sites Near Norris City, Illinois (86)

    1. Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    54 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 253-7114

    $10 / night

    "Two of the reviews are not the Illinois subject area but of somewhere in the western US."

    "We did a lot of hiking all around Shawnee but this is by far favorite spot in Illinois!"

    2. Harmonie State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    New Harmony, IN
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (812) 682-4821

    $20 - $23 / night

    "Multiple walking trails and bike trails. Nice shelter houses and picnic areas. Multiple playgrounds. Nature center in the campground. Many events scheduled for summer."

    "It was at the back of the campground, but close to the bathrooms/showers and just across from the playground. It was close enough to walk to the Nature Center and grab ice cream."

    3. Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area

    3 Reviews
    Enfield, IL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 773-4340

    $20 / night

    "Great fishing, 15hp motors allowed on the lake. Lake side camping spots available. Cabins are nice, FYI No mattress, bring your own."

    "Beautiful lake."

    4. Burrell Park & Campground

    2 Reviews
    Enfield, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 382-2693

    "The campground round was paved so nice for walking, hilly but nice. I didn’t have kids but I didn’t see activities available."

    5. Pine Ridge

    17 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    $10 / night

    "The main draw for us was the hiking trails. If you go over to the Pounds Hollow Rec Area you can find picnic areas and a pond to explore by boat."

    "A great, centralized location for quite a few natural wonders and a hop, skip, and a jump away from quite a few more!"

    6. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs

    32 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    $15 / night

    "However, by Saturday morning (Easter weekend) all but 5 sites had cleared out and we had the place nearly to ourselves for the rest of the stay. "

    "This campground is super remote and is near a couple trails with waterfalls."

    7. Saline County State Conservation Area

    2 Reviews
    Equality, IL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 276-4405

    $8 / night

    "This was a great campground with fantastic views of the lake. We also hiked Garden of the Gods and Burden Falls in the Shawnee National Forest. The hikes were great."

    "There is a dump station and potable water at the entrance to the campground. There are also some water spigots sprinkled throughout the campground."

    8. Gun Creek

    21 Reviews
    Whittington, IL
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 724-2493

    $18 - $30 / night

    "One of the first campgrounds that you come to at Rend Lake when you get off the highway, this campground has lots of positives and few negatives."

    "The lake had the most amazing sunset! Everyone is super friendly and we recommend the blue jay loop for best views and swimming access to the lake."

    9. South Marcum Campground

    17 Reviews
    Benton, IL
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 724-2493

    $16 - $44 / night

    "This is hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake."

    "They're very close to the Illinois state fair grounds. There are tent sites as well as RV sites that are very close to the lake."

    10. Camp Cadiz Campground

    6 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    28 miles
    Website

    "On a gravel road, in the back country like most everything else on this side of Illinois , fill your gas tank up and your food locker or you will be driving back out a ways to refill. "

    "It's super quiet despite the gravel road nearby. The vault restroom is kept very clean. It has easy access to the River to River trail, and I love the CCC stonework."

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Recent Reviews near Norris City, IL

581 Reviews of 86 Norris City Campgrounds


  • John D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    John James Audubon State Park Campground

    Last Time

    This is the 3rd or 4th time. Usually last stop before home. 3pm on Saturday and not one staff on site when we arrived. Car on loop area making it hard to get trailer into site, just missing the car with my truck. No picnic table at site so unable to get grill out. 15-20 trailers resting on blocks and above ground dump at each site. Large propane tanks. Looks like permanent sites and most didn't have anyone there. A bit disappointed

  • H
    Oct. 11, 2025

    South Marcum Campground

    Quiet and peaceful

    The view in the tent area of covey point is breathtaking. The campground is clean, quiet, and peaceful

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Vanderburgh 4H Campground

    Convenient to Evansville

    This is our Favorite campground in Evansville we have stayed here multiple times when in town to visit our son. Level pull through FHU clean nice afternoon shade. The sites are nearby but feels more roomy than it is. We stay here everytime we can.

  • Mandi G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    North Sandusky Campground

    Gorgeous views

    Very well maintained campgrounds. Most sites are pretty sloped but there are some level sites. Flush toilets. Bring binoculars for egrets and herons on the lake.

  • Katie B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Dutchman Lake Camp

    Great stop for the night

    We pulled in around midnight and left at 8 am. There’s a large turnaround that could fit many vehicles, but someone was already parked there and we didn’t want to disturb them and also wanted our privacy. There a space for a vehicle to pull off and walk around some boulders to set up a camp, complete with a fire ring. Some bike-packers were already set up there. Close to the lake there is another spot for one or two vehicles. The lake surface had a lot of bug activity - no thanks! We ended up choosing a grassy space next to the curve in the road in between our neighbors. Very peaceful! No bugs.

  • Krystal E.
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Burdette Park

    Not for recreational camping

    This was the weirdest place I've ever camped. The sites are in these very tight spaces with narrow roads. There are no campfires allowed, and your camper door opens right to the road. Check in is 2 pm SHARP (if you are arriving any later than that, the office is closed and it is a big inconvenience to the campground warden to assist you). And let me tell you, check out is SHARPLY 1:00pm. If you are not off their property at 1:01pm you WILL be charged another night. Strangest and least welcoming camping trip of my life!!

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    A good spot to have a work week

    Functional clean porta potties. Fire pits, tables and water( not at the campsite but available at the entrance). Not a ton of privacy but very friendly people. Not great for starlink but very moderate t mobile a slightly better Verizon. Lots of tents and vans. Not many spots. Beautiful.

  • Jessica T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Great spot for location

    Overall we’ve really enjoyed our stay. Came over the Labor Day weekend and staying a week. Super friendly camp host, conveniently located off the interstate and feels pretty secure and tranquil. I will say some of the gravel was washed out which is surprising given how dry it’s been. A little noisy at night with the interstate in the distance but we’d expected that. Only thing we wish we would’ve known about was the paving of the road happening directly outside of the park. They obviously can’t control that but a heads up would’ve been helpful. One day we couldn’t get out for a bit and thankfully we had flexible plans. Overall- it’s a great park with decent proximity to a lot of nature. Anna, Marion and Harrisburg are your best bets for restaurants and grocery etc. Vienna only has a dollar general and a few restaurants- a diner, longhorn cafe, Mexican restaurant and Family Pizza- we tried the last one and it was good! Prepare for a 40 min wait time if picking up and it gets packed if you want to dine in. Would def stay here again to visit Shawnee.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Gun Creek

    Nice!

    Nice, large, well thought out campground. Lots of trees, paved sites, bathrooms, showers, and well maintained. Offers full hookups, partial or none. Convenient to I64. Only stayed 1 nite, but would definitely come back.


Guide to Norris City

Camping options near Norris City, Illinois center around the Shawnee National Forest region, an area characterized by unique sandstone formations, hardwood forests, and limestone bluffs. The region's terrain varies from 400 to 1,000 feet in elevation, creating diverse microclimates throughout the camping areas. Summer nights can remain humid with temperatures rarely dropping below 65°F, while spring brings frequent rainfall that can make forest service roads challenging to navigate.

What to do

Hiking ancient landscapes: At Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground, campers can access geological formations dating back 320 million years. "The rock formations are surreal and shoulder season is so quiet! We will be back as the hiking is awesome," notes Ellen, who visited during off-peak times when trails are less crowded.

Swimming in natural pools: The Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs offers natural swimming areas within walking distance of campsites. "Just around the corner (or down the trail at the start of camp) is a network of hiking trails. They scurry around cliffs, falls and ravines. We found small pools perfect for a summer dip," explains a camper who found secluded swimming spots.

Fishing at multiple locations: Multiple fishing opportunities exist within 30 minutes of Norris City. At Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area, visitors can use boats with motors up to 15hp on the lake. One visitor noted, "Great fishing, 15hp motors allowed on the lake. Lake side camping spots available."

What campers like

Secluded camping options: When Garden of the Gods gets crowded, alternatives like Camp Cadiz Campground provide more seclusion. "Motorcycle camping across America and I wanted to see grades of the gods. What I didn't want was to camp on top of someone else... Cadiz was spacious, quiet, and the other campers wanted to camp not party," shared a motorcycle camper who appreciated the relative solitude.

Budget-friendly sites: Pine Ridge at Pounds Hollow Recreation Area offers affordable camping near notable hiking areas. "Great 10$ campsite. Headed here after garden of the gods was full. This place is very close to where you need to be. Outpost in between sells food, firewood, ice etc," reports a camper who found it to be an excellent alternative to more crowded sites.

Dark skies for stargazing: The remote location of many campsites near Norris City means minimal light pollution. "Very dark at night, bring your headlamp," mentions a Camp Cadiz visitor, highlighting the need for proper lighting but also suggesting excellent stargazing conditions when skies are clear.

What you should know

Seasonal hunting impact: Turkey hunting season can significantly change the camping experience. "Camp filled up with hunters who started generators at 3 in the morning to get ready to head out for turkey. Once we realized what was going on, we put our dog's bright shirt on," shares a camper at Camp Cadiz, noting the importance of visibility during hunting seasons.

Wildlife encounters: The area has diverse wildlife that sometimes ventures into campgrounds. "While we were there, a small pack of 3 local dogs wandered through the campground which was a bit concerning at first, but they were all friendly, so no issues there," mentions a Camp Cadiz visitor. Other campers report encounters with skunks, raccoons, and warnings about snakes.

Poison ivy prevalence: Many trails and camping areas have significant poison ivy growth, particularly in summer months. "We camped in the backcountry along the River to River trail adjacent to Garden of the Gods. The camping area we found was great, about 7 miles down the River to River trail, but there was poison ivy everywhere along the trail which made for a stressful hike," warns a backpacker.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming alternatives: South Marcum Campground provides family-friendly alternatives to creek swimming. "The campground gives campers plenty of room to spread out, lots of open space for the kids to play, and not crowded when we stopped by late July," notes a visitor who appreciated the space for children to play safely.

Holiday activities: Some campgrounds organize special events during holidays. "We stayed the weekend before Halloween. We missed reserving the weekend they have the campground trick or treating, which was the weekend before, but this was just as fun... They had a trunk or treat in the pool parking lot and although there weren't a ton of vehicles, it was definitely enough for the kids to have fun trick or treating," reports a family who enjoyed the seasonal activities.

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. A camper notes that South Marcum has "a playground in the Whispering Pines loop," making it appropriate for families with younger children who need structured play areas.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Many campsites in the region have significant slopes. At Gun Creek, a camper noted, "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." This is particularly important for larger RVs.

Dump station locations: While not all campgrounds offer full hookups, several provide dump stations. At Gun Creek, "Dump stations are EZ access on the way out," making departure more convenient for RVers with holding tanks.

Cell service considerations: Service varies dramatically throughout the region. One RVer at Saline County State Conservation Area reported, "We had no cell service, although a quick trip to the ridge behind the campsite (1-2 minute drive)" restored connectivity, suggesting that RVers who need to stay connected should research signal availability or know where to find service when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Norris City, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Norris City, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 86 campgrounds and RV parks near Norris City, IL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Norris City, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Norris City, IL is Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 54 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Norris City, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Norris City, IL.

What parks are near Norris City, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Norris City, IL that allow camping, notably Rend Lake and Shawnee National Forest.