Southern Illinois cabin rentals near Pomona provide access to the Shawnee National Forest's diverse landscape. The region contains numerous sandstone bluffs, natural springs, and hardwood forests at elevations ranging from 375 to 1,064 feet. Winter temperatures average 25-40°F while summer months typically reach 85-95°F with moderate humidity.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Rend Lake at South Marcum Campground offers excellent fishing for crappie and catfish. "Great campground in the lake. Clean bathhouses," notes a visitor who also mentioned seeing "lots of deer and turkey!"
Rock climbing: Giant City State Park provides both sport and traditional climbing options for experienced climbers. "For climbers, there is a ton of nearby trad and sport climbing. The main wall stays wet for a while so if it has recently rained you may need to find somewhere else," explains a winter visitor.
Water activities: Little Grassy Lake at Touch of Nature Education Center provides opportunities for fishing along the shoreline. "Camp Amenities include: lodges, cabins, shelters, parking, fire pits/fireplaces all with wood supplied, amphitheaters, fishing along Little Grassy Lake, trails, swing set," reports one visitor.
What campers like
Diverse lodging options: Cabin accommodations at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge range from basic to fully-equipped units. A camper reports, "Nice campground, right on Crab Orchard Lake. Large sites, lots of room. We camped with several other families and everyone enjoyed this park."
Year-round accessibility: Winter cabin stays at Giant City State Park Campground provide a different experience than summer visits. "We stayed here during the winter while visiting my brother who was in college nearby. He and his friends seem to camp here quite often and it was a great choice. Even in the winter the sites were quite clear and clean," mentions one off-season visitor.
Proximity to trails: Several cabin rental locations connect directly to hiking paths. At Lake Murphysboro, "There were pit toilets, but had to drive elsewhere for showers. I would come back again," noting the peaceful surroundings despite basic amenities.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many cabins at Perryville RV Resort By Rjourney require advance booking, especially during peak summer months. "Booking was easy and price was average. The property itself is beautiful. Spots are intermingled in the trees and it is spectacular in the morning," shares one visitor.
Amenity variations: Cabin facilities differ significantly between locations. Some provide basic shelter while others include full kitchens and bathrooms. "The regular campground is ok. Regular state park stuff. The group camping area was very nice," mentions one Lake Murphysboro visitor.
Seasonal considerations: Winter cabin rentals may have reduced services. A Giant City visitor noted, "Due to the somewhat rural location you could not beat the view of the stars at night," highlighting benefits of off-season stays despite potential limitations.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Arrowhead Lake Campground offers family-friendly facilities including a large playground. "Very clean, level sites, large lake with a well maintained walking trail. Lake side sites, wooded sites and regular sites in the middle. Water, 30 and 50 amp, shower house, small laundry facility," reports one visitor.
Group camping options: Several locations accommodate larger family gatherings with communal spaces. Camp Manitowa provides specialized group facilities where "the owners spent time with us and even donated the money from our reservation to our fundraising causes. They made sure we had everything we needed."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many cabins provide wildlife observation possibilities. South Marcum Campground visitors often report seeing deer and wild turkeys near their sites, with one visitor noting, "The campground gives campers plenty of room to spread out, lots of open space for the kids to play."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary significantly between cabins and RV sites. At South Marcum, visitors note "50 amp service, some with water and some with Full hookup... Dump stations are EZ access on the way out."
Site spacing: Cabins typically offer more privacy than standard RV sites. Crab Orchard receives praise for its "very spacious and lots of trees" layout with one visitor noting it was "not crowded when we stopped by late July."
Accessibility considerations: Some cabins may present challenges for larger vehicles. While Giant City accommodates various vehicle sizes, one visitor described it as "your run of the mill campground. Lots of RVs, close sites, not much privacy," suggesting those seeking seclusion should research specific site locations.
