26 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Shawnee Forest Campground and Bear Branch Campground house upscale glamping accommodations in the heart of southern Illinois, just minutes from Simpson. These glamping campgrounds feature luxury yurts and glamping tents equipped with comfortable beds, electricity, and climate control options. Shawnee Forest offers full hookups for its glamping structures, with nearby trails and fishing ponds providing immersive natural surroundings. Bear Branch Campground includes both yurts and cabin-style glamping units with modern amenities like showers, toilets, and picnic areas for an elevated outdoor experience. The sites provide a perfect base for exploring the surrounding Shawnee National Forest while enjoying creature comforts not found in traditional camping. One visitor noted, "The staff was unbelievably friendly. The sites are great. It's close to parks and food. We had cell phone service, which is a plus for us."
Garden of the Gods, a spectacular rock formation area, sits just a short drive from these glamping accommodations, making them ideal for adventure seekers wanting comfort after hiking. Oak Point Campground provides glamping options with water and electric hookups in a forested setting beside Lake Glendale, where guests can enjoy swimming, fishing, and kayaking right from their luxury accommodations. Giant City State Park and Cave-in-Rock State Park both feature glamping structures with modern bathrooms, firewood availability, and reservable sites. A recent visitor mentioned, "Tucked into the tall pines of the Shawnee national forest, this park offers a handful of gorgeous sites for campers to enjoy, many that back right up to Lake Glendale." Most glamping sites in the area remain open year-round, allowing guests to experience the changing seasons of southern Illinois while maintaining comfort in heated accommodations with proper bedding and amenities.
"Burn pit and cooking grill above the pit at every site I visited. Clean Air condition in the bathroom. Showers work great."
"There is no pool or activities for kids but we went out and explored the area Beautiful walking/bike paths around the property
Hosts were very kind and helpful, we felt very welcomed!"
from $40 / night
Check Availability"We stayed as a larger group on a non-electric site. The sites were sort of close together but the trees still helped provide a sense of privacy."
"Next depending on which site you pick it can be a short walk to the lake and direct put in of your water craft. A very cool feature is that several of the sites are double."
"High lines behind sites. Stalls can be reserved. some sites are full hookup. Primitive camping also available. CALL them for more info at 270-205-7138. Arena and huge event barn on site."
"The staff was amazing. She showed us around with her 4x4 the whole property, the horses, and the pony or a donkey. The showers were pretty decent and cleaned I would recommend this place for everyone"
from $30 / night
"The picnic tables are old and seem to be spread around as camper are moving them around. The main bathhouse is older, but nice and clean! There is a vault only bathroom at the back of the campground."
"The campsites, fire pits and pit toilets were well maintained. The shorter trails in the park were beautiful even in the winter. The Lodge also had excellent food and a very cozy feel."
"Under new ownership buy many cabins from 40 a night on up nice shower houses electric sewer and water at a lot of sites great trails well marked maps available stalls available store and restaurant to"
from $30 - $200 / night
Check Availability"This place is very close to where you need to be. Outpost in between sells food, firewood, ice etc. Very basic campsite for drive up. People were very respectful, very dog friendly."
"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. "
from $10 / night
Check Availability"We spent 5 nights on Site A5 at Crab Orchard Campground. All sites are FC/FS. Full hookups are in Loop B & it was full. Overall the campground was full but not very many people around."
"This is a quiet family campground, most spots are lake side. Very spacious and lots of trees. First come first serve, and the park was full most of the time we were here."
"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..."
"This is hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake."
"South Marcum Campground is a Corp of Engineers campground just of I-57 in southern Illinois with over 100 reservable campsites. Sites have 30 & 50 amp Electric hookups."
from $16 - $44 / night
Check Availability"Electric on most but not all have water. Campfire area and picnic table provided. Bathhouse is clean and park areas are all clean, dump station on site."
"Arrived just as the sun was setting which was beautiful over the lake. We were in Eagle 81. Large wooded site next to the lake."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability
ScoutGary and his family are very polite and very happy to be helpful. Great prices. Burn pit and cooking grill above the pit at every site I visited. Clean Air condition in the bathroom. Showers work great. I stayed here twice, my family and I had a great time and met some really nice people.
TravelerRelatively new. Has great potential. Located in Vienna, IL near Shawnee National Forest. It has 3 fish & release ponds. Sites were a bit hilly which stands to reason since it was converted from a golf course in 2016. Some sites are pretty long. It accommodated our 35ft. MH with attached car. Some sites are close together with very little shade. The campground had lots of open sites during our stay (3rd week in Aug), but during our stay 2 other short stay campers came in & they parked them right next to us. -Full hook ups available -Hosts were very friendly & provided insight to area. -Bath house - provided air conditioning. Although new & spacious there were only 4 in the entire campground & the toilet & shower were in same space. Upon arrival only 1 was open near us. Subsequently the 2nd was closed due to a water valve malfunction & wasn’t re-opened during our stay. My husband likes level sites & facilities he could use. He said he wouldn’t come back any time soon.
GuideLots of choice camping spots! Serene and private. Beautiful rolling farmland, just minutes from town. They also offer tiny home rentals, yurt-style glamping tents, RV spots with 30 amp, 50 amp and 110 outlets, and The Art Barn for larger groups, retreats or family reunions.
LegendBenton KOA Journey is an easy overnight stop just off I-57. Since we were already familiar with the campground layout, we called ahead to ask if we could go directly to our site on the opposite side of the road from the office and check in afterward. The staff gladly accommodated our request. We stayed in Deluxe Full-Hookup Pull-Through Patio Site 65, which made it easy to center our 40-foot fifth wheel on the utilities. The site was slightly off level, but we did not need to use blocks. The gravel patio featured a huge wheelchair-accessible picnic table, fire pit with cooking grate, stand-up charcoal grill, wooden swing, and bench. We received one bar on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. There are mature trees around the seven pull-through sites across the road from the main campground, but Starlink should work in most of them if you're able to position the dish around the trees. For this overnight stay, we used our T-Mobile Home Internet, which averaged 358 Mbps download and 2.7 Mbps upload. The campground Wi-Fi was adequate for light browsing. A fenced dog park was conveniently located near our site, and being across the road from the main campground helped reduce interstate noise. Overall, this is a clean, well-run KOA with exceptionally friendly and helpful staff, and a good overnight stop returning to our home base in southern Illinois to rest and dump tanks.
RangerRV or tent, book online at Recreation.Gov not all spots are level. Electric on most but not all have water. Campfire area and picnic table provided. Bathhouse is clean and park areas are all clean, dump station on site. We will be back and book closer to the lake in a level site.
GuideSouth Sandusky is a very nice campground with lots of trees, concrete pad, fire pit, playground, and bathroom facilities. It is wheelchair accessible and walking distance from the lake where you can swim, fish, boat, go tubing or just walk the trails.
TravelerWe stayed as a larger group on a non-electric site. The sites were sort of close together but the trees still helped provide a sense of privacy. There were clean bathrooms with running water a short walk away, didn’t attempt to use the showers. We could easily walk to the trails and we went fishing in the lake. It was mild and quiet the days we went in Mid-May 2020. 🙂 Beautiful scenery.
LegendWe stayed Easter Weekend here in the campground and had a great time. The campground is clean and maintained. Some sites are gravel and some are asphalt. Not sure if they are upgrading a little at a time?? There are plenty of trees for shade. Some sites are close together and some have more room in between them. The picnic tables are old and seem to be spread around as camper are moving them around. The main bathhouse is older, but nice and clean! There is a vault only bathroom at the back of the campground. No water hook up at each site, only electricity. . While you are here, check out the Lodge for dinner one night and climb to the top of the water tower observation deck for some amazing views! Make the quick drive to Makanda and explore the little hippy town. Don’t forget to take a stroll through the secret garden! . The Giant City Nature Trail and Devils Standtable were really pretty, easy strolls. The Trillium Trail is a little more rugged for those who prefer less crowded, slightly tougher trails.
TravelerWe love tent camping at South Sandusky. many of the site are right on the lake and the sunrise and sunsets are always gorgeous. they have quiet hours from 10-6 and the bathrooms and showers are always really clean (but there are still usually lots of small insects). It’s also just a short drive from the South Sandusky swimming beach. It’s sometimes pretty rocky in the water so we usually wear water shoes. If you camp for the hiking though this isn’t my favorite site. There are lots of bike trails but for just hiking there are much better places.
Pine Ridge Campground in Shawnee National Forest provides primitive and electric campsites along the shores of Lake Glendale. Sites are well-spaced within wooded areas and cost $10-$22 per night depending on hookups. The campground connects to several hiking paths and offers a convenient base for exploring nearby attractions like Garden of the Gods. Cell service is limited, with Verizon typically showing about two bars in most areas.
Explore hiking networks: Pine Ridge Campground offers access to trails circling Lake Glendale. "There is a 2 mile loop road that goers around the whole campground and down to a beach access point for a gorgeous lake. That was a perfect little g walk with the dog. Spectacular," shares one Pine Ridge visitor. Trail connections link to several camping areas while providing lake views.
Visit water recreation areas: Oak Point Campground features both swimming and boating opportunities. "A nearby beach is available to enjoy during the summer as well as hiking trails," mentions a camper. The lake allows for kayaking, fishing, and paddleboat rentals, creating multiple water-based activity options within walking distance of campsites.
Tour historical caves: Drive 30 minutes to Cave-in-Rock State Park to explore the large riverside cavern. "We took a 2 mile loop hike across to the lodge, along the cliff face and down to the cave. A lot of history here and some nice views," reports one camper. The cave once served as a hideout for river pirates and features interpretive signs explaining its history.
Affordable camping options: Prices for campgrounds in the Shawnee National Forest area remain relatively low compared to many other recreation areas. "It was only $10 a night!!! We will definitely stay here again," notes a Pine Ridge camper. Primitive sites typically cost $10-12 while electric sites range from $20-25 per night.
Waterfront sites: Gun Creek campground on Rend Lake offers numerous sites with direct water access. "I was in site 30, located directly on the water in the Nighthawk campground. The site is shaded and fairly level with a nice lake view and direct access," explains a visitor. These lakefront locations allow campers to easily launch small watercraft directly from their sites.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds throughout the region maintain well-kept restrooms and shower buildings. "The bathrooms and showerhouses were clean. Our kids enjoyed the playground and walking down to the lake," reports a camper at Oak Point. Most established campgrounds feature regularly maintained facilities with running water during the main camping season.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the Shawnee National Forest region. "Write your directions down for this whole area, the cell phone coverage is spotty and it will keep frustration down," advises a camper at Cave-in-Rock State Park. Download offline maps before arrival as GPS service becomes unreliable in many camping areas.
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance planning while others operate on a first-come basis. "Oak Point is perfect for those that want to get away and enjoy some quiet time. No reservations though so you'll want to get there ahead of time to ensure yourself a spot," explains a visitor. Check each campground's specific reservation policy before traveling.
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds in the area operate with reduced services or close completely during winter months. "Shower houses are kept clean, but as of this posting, they need some maintenance work," notes one camper at Oak Point. Services like water hookups and shower buildings may shut down between mid-November and March at many locations.
Beach access considerations: Crab Orchard Lake provides family-friendly swimming areas. "Cheap campground that is clean and quiet. The back in site we had overlooked the lake. For the price, you can't beat the view," shares a visitor. Some beaches charge small day-use fees ranging from $2-5 per person.
Playground facilities: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "South Sandusky is a very nice campground with lots of trees, concrete pad, fire pit, playground, and bathroom facilities. It is wheelchair accessible and walking distance from the lake where you can swim, fish, boat, go tubing or just walk the trails," reports a camper. Most playgrounds are centrally located near bathhouses.
Wildlife awareness: Prepare children for encounters with local fauna. "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. Good wifi, phone and cable signals," advises a Gun Creek camper. Some campgrounds report occasional sightings of skunks, snakes, and various insects, so appropriate footwear and insect repellent are recommended.
Leveling challenges: Giant City State Park Campground requires careful site selection for larger rigs. "Some sites are gravel and some are asphalt. Not sure if they are upgrading a little at a time?? There are plenty of trees for shade. Some sites are close together and some have more room in between them," explains a visitor. Many sites throughout the region feature slopes requiring leveling blocks.
Hookup variations: Shawnee Forest Campground offers full hookup options for larger rigs. "The gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21. The water and electric(50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad. There are two sewer hookups, which was nice," reports a camper. Utility placement varies significantly between campgrounds, so extension cords and longer hoses are recommended.
Dump station locations: Plan waste management carefully as not all campgrounds offer on-site disposal. "There are no sites with sewer hookup. There is a dump station at the entrance," notes a camper at Oak Point. Most larger campgrounds maintain dump stations at entrance areas, though some smaller facilities require using nearby campgrounds or service stations for waste disposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Simpson, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Simpson, IL is Shawnee Forest Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 37 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Simpson, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 glamping camping locations near Simpson, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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