Best Glamping near Simpson, IL

Shawnee Forest Campground and Bear Branch Campground house upscale glamping accommodations in the heart of southern Illinois, just minutes from Simpson. These destinations 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.

Map showing campgrounds near Simpson, Illinois

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Best Glamping Sites Near Simpson, Illinois (26)

1. Shawnee Forest Campground
36 Reviews
Vienna, IL
7 miles
Website
+1 (618) 658-0619
$40 / night
"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!"
2. Oak Point Campground
9 Reviews
Grantsburg, IL
6 miles
Website
+1 (618) 949-3807
"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."

3. Giant City State Park Campground
24 Reviews
Makanda, IL
26 miles
Website
+1 (618) 457-4836
"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."
4. Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground
3 Reviews
Eddyville, IL
12 miles
$30 / night
"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."

"I will be back next time I'm near shawnee."

5. Bear Branch Campground
2 Reviews
Eddyville, IL
9 miles
Website
+1 (618) 672-4249
$30 - $200 / night
"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"
6. Pine Ridge
17 Reviews
Karbers Ridge, IL
29 miles
Website
+1 (618) 658-2111
$10 / night
"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. "

7. Cave-in-Rock State Park
14 Reviews
Cave-In-Rock, IL
33 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..."
8. Crab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR
6 Reviews
Bargerville, IL
27 miles
Website
+1 (618) 985-4983
"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."

9. South Sandusky Campground
19 Reviews
Sesser, IL
41 miles
Website
+1 (618) 724-2493
$16 - $26 / night
"South Sandusky is a very nice campground with lots of trees, concrete pad, fire pit, playground, and bathroom facilities."

"many of the site are right on the lake and the sunrise and sunsets are always gorgeous."
10. Gun Creek
21 Reviews
Whittington, IL
43 miles
Website
+1 (618) 724-2493
$18 - $30 / night
"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."

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Recent Glamping Photos near Simpson, IL

3 Photos of 26 Simpson Campgrounds

Glamping Reviews near Simpson, IL

247 Reviews of 26 Simpson Campgrounds

D
David N.
Scout
Sep. 9, 2019
Shawnee Forest Campground
Great place
Gary 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.
Priscilla B.
Traveler
Sep. 7, 2019
Shawnee Forest Campground
Converted Golf Course w/fishing ponds
Relatively 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.
L
Laura P.
Guide
Dec. 7, 2022
The Art Farm Women’s Retreat
Serene and private. Beautiful rolling farmland.
Lots 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.
Barb N.
Ranger
Apr. 5, 2023
Gun Creek
Lots of space by a Lake
RV 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.
Chrissy W.
Guide
May. 4, 2018
South Sandusky Campground
Rend lake south sandusky
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.
Madison K.
Traveler
Jun. 21, 2021
Oak Point Campground
Peaceful and beautiful
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. 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.
Shana D.
Legend
Apr. 23, 2019
Giant City State Park Campground
Nice Campground & Beautiful Park!
We 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.
Gina J.
Traveler
Jul. 15, 2018
South Sandusky Campground
Amazing View
We 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.
Cassondra P.
Ranger
Jun. 18, 2023
Shawnee Forest Campground
Very clean and well kept - new campground
This campground is very clean! Large open sites- shade is minimal for most sites but we had a beautiful large site with some shade (site 51). They have new trees planted.

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!

There is some freeway noise but didn’t bother us at all

Laundry and bathroom facilities were very clean - was great to do a laundry mid trip!