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RV Camping near Ozark, IL

3 campgrounds with availability this weekend

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    Marion Campground & RV Park provides full hookup RV sites with 50-amp service near Interstate 57, making it convenient for overnight travelers. The campground features pull-through rv pads on gravel surfaces that accommodate big rigs, though the sites are positioned close together with limited privacy. ["The sites are very close together with no privacy. There are some pull-thru sites, which is convenient," noted one camper.] Duck Creek RV Park in Paducah, Kentucky offers water and electric hookups with 50-amp service, approximately 40 miles from Ozark. Several miles east, Cypress Lakes RV Park in Calvert City maintains 105 RV sites with full hookups open year-round, featuring picnic tables and trash service on each site.

    Seasonal considerations affect availability throughout the region, with some parks like Birdsville Riverside RV Park operating only from March through November. RV dump stations are inconsistently available - Marion Campground provides sewer hookups at sites but some nearby parks only offer a central dump station. Cell service varies significantly across the Shawnee National Forest area surrounding Ozark. One visitor mentioned, "We have AT&T and had full bars, though we have a booster which may have contributed to strong signal." Most parks welcome pets with designated walking areas, though rules regarding campfires differ between facilities. Highway noise can be problematic at parks situated near interstates, particularly for those positioned close to I-57.

    Best RV Campgrounds near Ozark (104)

      1. Birdsville Riverside RV Park

      5.0(1)28mi from Ozark2 sitesRVs

      "Birdsville Riverside RV Park has a great setup for RVers looking to enjoy the area without being on top of their neighbors.  Check them out and share some pics of your stay on the Dyrt!"

      from $45 - $65 / night

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      2. Cypress Lakes RV Park

      4.2(6)44mi from OzarkRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Mostly seasonal and permanent with a few spots for weekly and overnight. All sites are level, gravel with concrete patios and fire rings. The staff makes you feel like a friend immediately."

      "Most sites here are occupied by full time residents with very impressive setups."

      from $49 / night

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      3. Marion Campground & RV Park

      3.7(7)17mi from OzarkRVs

      "This actually feels like a campground and not a parking lot even though it’s super convenient to the interstate."

      "Nice place clean and quiet Water pressure is only about 30 to 35 psi that is a little week. People were very nice and helpful ."

      from $40 / night

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      4. Tween the Lakes RV Park & Campground

      3.4(5)44mi from OzarkRVs

      "We are traveling in a 45 ft fifth wheel. This campground was easy to access, we did not hear any traffic noise, and the campground is in a valley, making it pretty quiet."

      "There are many pull through spots all concrete. Just off the freeway so no time lost for an overnight stay. Very clean and very friendly camp hosts."

      from $42 - $45 / night

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      5. Paducah RV Park & Campground

      4.7(3)41mi from OzarkRVs

      "Convenient to I -24"

      "Like the lake and outdoor commons area"

      6. Venture River RV park

      4.0(2)48mi from OzarkRVs, Tents

      "T-Mobile Home Internet."

      "The facilities are great, but you can tell it is a very new campground by the lack of mature trees for shade.  Fortunately, we were not at camp during the heat of the day."

      from $25 - $45 / night

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      7. Duck Creek RV Park

      2.3(3)37mi from OzarkRVs, Tents

      "Duck Creek is adorable, easy to find and every site is pull-through. The staff is great, campground is very clean. Sites next to the Hwy are a little loud but all in all, we definitely recommend!!"

      8. Cape Camping & RV Park

      3.0(3)47mi from OzarkRVs, Tents

      "We hooked into their cable and received 24 popular channels and the WiFi was way above normal. We got 3 bars each on Verizon and AT&T."

      9. Birdsville Riverside RV Park

      5.0(5)28mi from OzarkRVs, Cabins

      "This little gem is off the beaten path but well worth it! Super nice owner, very clean small park without a lot of extra frills. All open sites waterfront, 30 or 50 amp, sewer and water hookups."

      "Sites alternated pull in and back in sharing water and electric pedestals. Lots of space on door side of TT. Trash picked up daily from end of the site."

      from $45 - $65 / night

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      10. Willow Bend Retreat - Temporarily Closed

      5.0(1)21mi from Ozark3 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "I was more than satisfied with the facilities and service.  I would highly recommend to others."

      from $40 - $200 / night

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    RV Park Reviews near Ozark, IL

    694 Reviews of 104 Ozark Campgrounds

    • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 30, 2026

      Whittington Woods Campground

      Decent Campground

      We had never stayed at Whittington Woods, but several of our camping friends have stayed here over the years while traveling through the area. At a recent RV open house, we talked with the campground (CG) owners and decided to switch our reservation from another private CG to Whittington Woods to check it out. The owners suggested sites 92 or 97, and we were able to reserve back-in site 92 with FHUs for our two-night stay. Site 92 is one of the better sites, with a large yard and good separation from neighboring sites. The CG was easy to find off I-57—follow your GPS or the signs. Check-in was quick, and we were escorted to our site. Unfortunately, one of the CG’s regular guests had set up in our reserved site 92 instead of site 93. After a brief discussion between our owner/escort and the guest, moving him was clearly not going to be a quick process. We were offered a couple of other available sites and decided to take site 93. Site 93 was a significant downgrade, with only a sliver of yard and very little separation from site 94. The sewer and electrical connections are near the center of the gravel pad, while the electrical breaker is on the opposite side of site 94. The water connection is at the very back, requiring more than 30 feet of hose for our rig. The owners were very nice, probably too nice when dealing with their“regulars,” and made the situation more tolerable by giving us a good discount for site 93. We received two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. We normally get good performance from our T-Mobile internet with two bars, but download speed was only 41.2 Mbps. The CG Wi-Fi was better at 69.3 Mbps download. There are a lot of mature trees, so satellite/Starlink reception could be iffy depending on the site. The CG is conveniently located near I-57 and right off IL-37, although there was quite a bit of highway noise that was manageable for us. The property provides plenty of room for walking, especially with a dog, and has a decent-sized dog park. There are quite a few full-timers and regulars, with some keeping their sites well maintained and others not so much. We also saw some of the same latitude given to“regulars” when it came to keeping dogs on a leash and picking up after them. They have 5 pull throughs that are mainly used for overnighters that are handy but close together. We understand why several of our friends regularly stay here for a night or two while traveling to and from Florida. Whittington Woods is conveniently located off I-57 and offers FHUs, making the CG a practical overnight stop. Our home base is only about an hour and a half away, however, and we have better options in the area when we need a final stop to flush tanks before heading home.

    • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 29, 2026

      Marion/Shawnee National Forest KOA Holiday

      Different than Most KOA Holidays

      We were heading back to our home base and decided to check out this new KOA Holiday and dump our tanks before heading home. The campground (CG) was approximately 10 miles and 20 minutes off I-57 on southern Illinois backcountry roads. Along the way, we encountered a suspiciously low power line that our 13.5'-high rig cleared. Small KOA signs guided us all the way in. We've stayed at many KOAs and particularly enjoyed KOA Holidays for their service and amenities, but this CG was not what we expected. We arrived at a large gravel parking area and found a check-in room at the end of a warehouse, with envelopes on a bulletin board and a phone number to request an escort. Since the RV sites were down a steep hill, we checked our assigned Creek Side site 26 before moving our rig. Sites 23–26 sat in a bowl at the bottom of the CG, with little room to maneuver our 41' fifth wheel and F450. The escort number went to voicemail, but we reached the manager using the CG brochure number. He agreed our rig wouldn't fit and moved us to back-in site 18 on the hill. All RV sites were back-ins. Creek Side sites appeared better suited for smaller RVs, although larger rigs might fit sites 23 and 24. We later discovered the main KOA office near the marina, which handled cabin check-ins, food, and boat rentals. Sites 1–19 were former pull-through motorcoach sites converted to back-ins, with utilities on the opposite side to accommodate other RVs. Our site 18 was exceptionally wide but close to neighboring sites. We positioned our rig toward the right side of the gravel pad (facing the site) to maintain reasonable access to hookups. The electrical pedestal was at the far back, requiring approximately 35' of power cord to accommodate our toy hauler's rear deck. The wide pad provided plenty of parking for a tow vehicle or boat. However, the CG brochure listed a $75 fee for parking boats or trailers at sites, and a marina sign listed a $50 launch fee. We couldn't determine how these fees applied. Water pressure was excellent, so use a regulator. CG Wi-Fi delivered 20.9 Mbps, Verizon had two bars, and T-Mobile had three. Our T-Mobile Home Internet delivered 358 Mbps, allowing us to stream golf and football. With no trees around the RV sites, satellite reception shouldn't be a problem. Some sites had limited lake views, but don't expect panoramic views or direct lake access. The CG had undergone considerable improvements, including attractive cabins, several right on the lake. KOA cabins were mixed with privately owned cabins, while lake access was concentrated near the small marina and swimming area. We expected more direct lake access and walking trails, but neither was available from the RV sites. A standard fenced KOA dog park was available, but longer walks with our pup were limited to a short path around the fishing pond, gravel areas, and CG roads. Considerable work and investment had gone into this CG, but our experience didn't entice us to return.

    • tThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 24, 2026

      Camp Cadiz Campground

      Quiet clean campground, 8 sites, one water spigot, pit toilets, hiking and biking, 9 miles to Garden of the Gods. Campground is right next to road. Local traffic is minimal, most sites will accommodate 30ft trailer or motor home.

    • M
      Oct. 24, 2026

      Fern Lake Campground

      I’m not sure where the good reviews come from. Ive tried to find another Fern Lake to make sure I was at the correct one. Bath facilities have half doors so you are shitting in public. Your kids get the nice look over by any of the weird full timers living junk squaller. The power poles are only standing by the shear strength of all the cobbled together wires and electric tape. It’s not safe. It’s fucking dangerous. Most the fire “pits” are shitty rings from 60 years ago at least. There is zero maintenance here. It’s very loud next to the freeway. Sites are small and on top of each other. Lots are small. Not level. And little gravel. The cinder blocks keep you from backing in too far. Most of the water posts are “shared” because others don’t work. Picnic tables are a fucking joke. Rotten. Lead paint and worthless. The water retaining POND has a grass path around it so you can admire what recycled concrete can create where there was once no POND. One star is extremely generous. Just like the generous $10 a bundle for wood. Keep on trucking. It’s not far to go to find something worthwhile. This is a 100% pass. Before you think I’m some kind of pre Madonna, I will say we are a minimalist family that camps in unimproved spots and boondocks all the time. This place is gross. And disturbing that anyone reviews it for more than a 1 star. Most of the reviews are flat out lies. One talks about the clean bathrooms, hot showers, and one mentions a fucking pool! Wtf? Shitting in your own fire ring is more private. Pictures sooooo under tell the story of what a shot hole this place is. It’s off the freeway very close. And there is a Mexican restaurant across the street and a Casey’s essentially attached. If that’s what you like. Have fun. But any great reviews are from either someone who came and went in the dark. Or are from the owners.

    • Ronald C.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 14, 2026

      South Marcum Campground

      Large site

      Great campsite very large easy to get in and additional parking for your truck right next to your trailer

    • Scott M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 13, 2026

      COE Rend Lake North Sandusky Recreation Area

      Excellent campground

      What started as a one-night camping trip quickly turned into a three-night stay—I just didn't want to leave! Most of the campsites feature beautiful lake views and are well-shaded by tall trees. Each spot is equipped with an electric hookup, a fire pit, and a picnic table, plus having access to hot showers made the stay super comfortable. To top it off, our cats loved taking walks with us around the campground!

    • Randy H.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 27, 2026

      Gun Creek

      Great Digs

      Rend Lake, in Whittington, Il is just a great place to camp. From primitive to full hook ups they have what you need for a Corps of Engineers campground.

    • DThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 26, 2026

      Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

      Nice & quiet primitive site. Great views.

      Very small, maybe 10-12 sites that are first come first serve. $10 per night as of September 2026. Solid Verizon cell coverage. Very quiet.

    • DThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 25, 2026

      Giant City State Park Campground

      Good staff & clean facility.

      I stayed at a walk-to tent site for which the price was $8 per night. Pretty solid Verizon cell signal. Clean showers and well kept. The place did sound pretty loud as far as older partiers, though around 9pm, it was near silent. I'd definitely stay here again.

    Guide to Ozark

    RV camping near Ozark, Illinois offers several options within driving distance of Shawnee National Forest. The region sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, creating a unique landscape that transitions between the Ozark Plateau and the Illinois basin. Seasonal weather varies dramatically, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and high humidity levels making proper campsite selection important for comfort.

    What to do

    Fishing opportunities: Birdsville Riverside RV Park provides direct access to the Ohio River for fishing enthusiasts. "We enjoyed watching the barges go up and down the river along with an occasional recreational boat or 2. There is a small dock on the property if you are interested in boating or fishing," notes camper Eileen T.

    Water activities: The Venture River RV Park connects to a water park for summer cooling options. "The facilities are great, but you can tell it is a very new campground by the lack of mature trees for shade. We would stay here again and bring the cousins to play at the water park," writes Brandon T.

    Horseback riding: Equestrian campers can access trails at Hayes Canyon Campground, which includes horse corrals for overnight stays. "A luxurious crowded but nice campsites older stalls cabins available great trails and maps available store and cowboy church. Permanent sites available," reports Alicia B.

    What campers like

    Riverfront views: Cypress Lakes RV Park offers scenic water views and fishing opportunities. "Has a little Lake in it to fish. Not far off the interstate makes it handy. Very popular spot," mentions Karen S.

    Spacious sites: Some campgrounds prioritize site spacing over amenities. "Birdsville Riverside RV Park has a great setup for RVers looking to enjoy the area without being on top of their neighbors," explains Jake C., highlighting a contrast to the tighter spacing common at other parks.

    Family activities: Campgrounds with recreational options receive positive feedback. "Lots of fun activities on Holiday weekends throughout the summer season," notes Cherri M. about Cypress Lakes RV Park, while another visitor mentions, "Great if you have kids. People were nice and the park was clean."

    What you should know

    Seasonal operations: Many campgrounds in the region operate on limited schedules. Birdsville Resort and Campground runs from "March 1 to November 30," requiring winter travelers to verify availability at year-round facilities.

    Site arrangements: Site layouts vary significantly between parks. "The electric poles and water are shared between each site which means the odd number sites are back in, even numbers are pull in," explains Beth H. about waterfront sites at Birdsville Resort.

    Highway noise: Traffic noise affects several campgrounds. "There was quite a bit of road noise to include the carwash adjacent to the CG during the day and early evening, but not bad later at night," reports one Cape Camping visitor.

    Tips for camping with families

    Water park access: Venture River RV Park provides a convenient base for water park visits. "We would stay here again and bring the cousins to play at the water park," notes a camper, making it suitable for summer family trips despite limited shade.

    Playground options: Several parks feature kid-friendly amenities. "Kids enjoyed the playground and the reservoir is really beautiful. We wish the pool had been open…it's still in the process of a renovation. Shaved ice was a nice consolation prize," reports Delci L.

    Activity scheduling: Holiday weekends feature special programming at some parks. "Very nice campground. There is a small lake to fish in. Nice playground for the kids. Also has many activities for the kids," mentions Bonnie F. about scheduled recreational options.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection strategy: At Cape Camping & RV Park, flexibility helps with site conditions. "We had chose site A-1 when we made our reservations. However, after we got there we found site A-1 was very muddy from the recent rain. We were offered several sites in the A row and chose site A-2," advises MickandKarla W.

    Connectivity considerations: Cellular coverage varies but some parks offer reliable alternatives. "We hooked into their cable and received 24 popular channels and the WiFi was way above normal. We got 3 bars each on Verizon and AT&T," reports a Cape Camping visitor, noting better connectivity than typical for the region.

    Parking configurations: Some parks feature alternating site orientations. "Sites alternated pull in and back in sharing water and electric pedestals. Lots of space on door side of TT," explains Charles W. about the riverside camping arrangement at Birdsville, providing important setup information for larger rigs.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular RV campsite near Ozark, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Ozark, IL is Birdsville Riverside RV Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

    What is the best site to find RV camping near Ozark, IL?

    TheDyrt.com has all 104 RV camping locations near Ozark, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.