Best Campgrounds near Junction, IL

Campgrounds near Junction, Illinois provide access to the natural beauty of the Shawnee National Forest. Pine Ridge Campground at Pounds Hollow Recreation Area serves as a central camping destination with both primitive tent sites and electric hookups for RVs. Several developed campgrounds like Pharaoh Campground at Garden of the Gods and Saline County State Conservation Area provide varied accommodation options including tent camping, RV sites, and in some cases, cabins or glamping opportunities. Most facilities are operated by the U.S. Forest Service or Illinois Department of Natural Resources, offering visitors scenic natural settings within a 20-mile radius of Junction.

Road conditions and campground access vary seasonally throughout the region, with many sites open from spring through fall but limited winter options. Several campgrounds close between December and March due to weather conditions. "This campground area is beautiful! We stayed here 3 nights. We arrived on a Thursday and there were plenty of open spots. Friday they open some of the other loops up for more people to stay and it did fill up for the weekend," reported one visitor about Pine Ridge Campground. Cell service can be spotty, with better reception typically found at higher elevations rather than at lakeside campsites. Most developed campgrounds provide vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, while shower facilities are limited to select locations like Cave-in-Rock State Park.

Campers frequently mention the proximity to Garden of the Gods and Pounds Hollow Lake as key attractions when staying at area campgrounds. The camping areas provide excellent access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and swimming areas during warmer months. Water access represents a significant draw, with sites near Pounds Hollow Lake being particularly popular. According to one visitor, "The lake area is beautiful with a swimming area, fishing pier, and pavilion to eat or sit under for shade." Public lands throughout the region support varying levels of privacy between campsites, with Pine Ridge receiving positive reviews for its well-spaced, shaded sites. Weekdays typically offer more solitude and site availability compared to busy summer weekends when many campgrounds reach capacity, especially those with electrical hookups or water access.

Best Camping Sites Near Junction, Illinois (93)

    1. Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    54 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    11 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. Pine Ridge

    17 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    8 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!"

    3. Camp Cadiz Campground

    6 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    10 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."

    4. Cave-in-Rock State Park

    14 Reviews
    Cave-In-Rock, IL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 289-4325

    "General: I was a bit apprehensive about this state park because it did not take reservations, so we made sure to arrive by 11 am but we had no reason to worry – compared to other Illinois campgrounds"

    "Signage will greet you as soon as you exit the ferry and Cave in Rock city has several small businesses you might want to visit. Plus a bunch of painted bikes..."

    5. Pine Ridge Campground

    2 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    $10 / night

    "The USDA Forest recreational area includes Pounds Hollow Lake that is nestled into a beautiful ridge. "

    "It’s a great area with the small beach nearby and garden of the gods so close, the only problem is the drinking water pump is broke so you must bring your own water."

    6. Saline County State Conservation Area

    2 Reviews
    Equality, IL
    8 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."

    7. High Knob Campgrounds

    4 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 275-4494

    "High Knob is a Horse campground in Shawnee National Forest near Garden of the Gods off Il1. The entire area has extensive trails through some awesome, hilly, rocky, cliffy areas."

    "The trails are great maps available some trails need marked a bit better."

    8. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs

    32 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    27 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."

    9. Fiedlerland RV Park and Campgrounds

    1 Review
    Junction, IL
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 980-2757

    10. Harmonie State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    New Harmony, IN
    29 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."

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Recent Reviews near Junction, IL

621 Reviews of 93 Junction 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!!

  • Anna M.
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park

    Cleanest Bathrooms

    There is nothing special about the location. There is a boat ramp nearby. There were only people set up in the park today. They do have a playground.

  • 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.


Guide to Junction

Camping near Junction, Illinois provides access to diverse terrain within the Shawnee National Forest region. Elevations range from 400 to 900 feet throughout the area, creating varied landscapes from river bottoms to sandstone bluffs. Summer temperatures typically reach the upper 80s with high humidity while spring and fall offer milder conditions between 60-70°F. Winter camping options are limited as many facilities close during December through February when temperatures can drop below freezing.

What to Do

Hiking to geological formations: The area around Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground offers exceptional trail access. "The formations are amazing!! We love to hike here in the fall when it's cooler outside and when the leaves are changing it's absolutely beautiful. The views are some of the best around," notes Robin M. The observation trail provides scenic overlooks of unique rock formations.

Fishing opportunities: Waters near Saline County State Conservation Area provide productive fishing spots. Campsites near the water offer convenient access to the lake for anglers. According to Don N., "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."

Swimming and cooling off: During hot summer months, natural swimming areas provide relief from heat. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs features natural pools perfect for summer dips. "Great hiking and great camp site. No shower but the springs offer a refreshing soak after a long day of hiking. Water is easily accessible and clean," reports Layton F.

What Campers Like

Spacious, shaded sites: Campers consistently mention the comfortable spacing between sites at Pine Ridge Campground. "The campground is very rustic with a LOT of shade which made our stay there perfect," says Jason F. The primitive camping loops offer more privacy than electric hookup areas.

Budget-friendly options: Most campgrounds in the Junction area maintain affordable rates compared to other recreational destinations. Brian E. notes about Pine Ridge: "Spent a week here and had a blast! Camp sites are fairly well spaced, though not private. Area is split with power and no power. Vault style restrooms are very clean and regularly maintained."

Proximity to multiple attractions: The central location allows visitors to explore multiple points of interest without long drives. "A great, centralized location for quite a few natural wonders and a hop, skip, and a jump away from quite a few more!" explains a Pine Ridge camper. Most major attractions lie within a 25-mile radius of Junction.

What You Should Know

Limited cell service: Connectivity is inconsistent throughout the region. "We were able to get cell signal on the campsites up the hill but not in any down by the water, which is why we stayed up the hill," notes a visitor to Saline County State Conservation Area. Higher elevation sites typically offer better reception.

Water availability varies: Potable water access differs between campgrounds. At Camp Cadiz Campground, "The water pump got frequent use and the twin vault toilets were plenty for the campground." Some locations have hand pumps while others offer spigots throughout the campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Junction, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, Junction, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 93 campgrounds and RV parks near Junction, IL and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Junction, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Junction, 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 Junction, IL?

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

What parks are near Junction, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Junction, IL that allow camping, notably Shawnee National Forest and Rend Lake.