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Southern Illinois around Stonefort features diverse camping opportunities within the Shawnee National Forest and surrounding public lands. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs provides spacious tent and RV sites with basic amenities including pit toilets and fire rings, operating from March through mid-December. Garden of the Gods Recreation Area offers year-round camping with drinking water and electric hookups, situated near dramatic sandstone formations. Little Lusk Trail Lodge & Campground serves as a specialized equestrian facility with high lines for horses and full hookup options. Lake Glendale Recreation Area and Ferne Clyffe State Park round out the options with shaded sites and water access.
Many campgrounds in this region have limited or no cell service, requiring advance planning. According to one camper at Camp Cadiz, visitors should "fill your gas tank up and your food locker or you will be driving back out a ways to refill." Gravel forest roads are common, sometimes generating dust that can affect campsites positioned too close to roadways. Water availability varies significantly between locations, with some campgrounds like Jackson Falls requiring campers to bring their own drinking water. Spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable camping conditions, while summer brings higher humidity. Hunting seasons, particularly turkey season in spring, can suddenly increase campground occupancy.
The unique geology of the area distinguishes camping experiences from typical Illinois landscapes. One visitor noted that Ferne Clyffe State Park is "situated on a limestone bluff which is cut by a small rivulet and some seasonal small waterfalls." Campers frequently mention the sandstone formations, particularly at Garden of the Gods, as a highlight. Weekday camping generally provides more solitude, with one reviewer noting, "By Saturday morning all but 5 sites had cleared out and we had the place nearly to ourselves for the rest of the stay." Water-based recreation opportunities exist at several locations, with Lake Glendale offering "a nearby beach available to enjoy during the summer as well as hiking trails." The region serves well as a base camp for exploring attractions including Cave in Rock State Park and the Ohio River.
"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."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Jackson offers some of the best rock climbing in southern Illinois. There are about 60 climbing areas along the sandstone bluffs and freestanding boulders, with multiple routes."
"We are a Jeep family so I may have more experience than others in off-roading. We opted to turn around and stay at the main parking lot which is VERY accessible."
"This is a stunning but small campground on top of a crazy high ridge surrounded by cliffs. I had no idea landscapes like this existed in Illinois and was pleasantly surprised."
"Two of the reviews are not the Illinois subject area but of somewhere in the western US."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"We followed our GPS to the clearly marked CG entrance but our GPS showed we still had about a half mile to go."
"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."
from $40 / night
Check Availability"Our favorite in all of Illinois!!"
"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."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Lake Glendale is a true southern Illinois gem. They have recently improved the shower houses, the kids love the playground, and there is SO much shade!"
"Ill Iron Forge, Garden of the Gods and Trail of Tears segments on ATT cell service was spotty but I drove to Dixon Springs SP where there was a cell tower."
from $12 - $44 / night
Check Availability"Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois."
"Dog friendly, pretty well spaced out campsites but some are used as paths with to get to farther back campsites. Good set up, not too close to neighbors and it’s heavily wooded in between."
"Had very nice trails, very clean. Forest is beautiful. We camped at the primitive area spot 11. Spots are pretty dam close to each other. There is camping you can walk off to."
"Great campground away from roads and noise. Goreville is small local town with grocery store and service station for supplies. South LOOP sites 1-23 are first come sites."
from $18 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"Address: 50 Barger Rd, Stonefort, IL.
Little Lusk is the most Spacious and beautiful equestrian campground in southern IL. Bring your horses, or just come and camp and stay in the lodge. ""I will be back next time I'm near shawnee."
from $30 / night
GuidePristine campsites with steamy hot showers! What more could you want?! One bar with mint mobile but starlink works no problem! No sewer hook up at all sites but no matter! There’s a dump site! The lake is beautiful and quiet with a swimming area! Definitely a must stay!
GuideFull hook up. Level. Parked in large trees. Concerned we might not be able to get our slide out, but it was okay. Shaded. Great water views. Lots of boat activity. Gave we “party cove” vibes. But family friend party cove.
GuideThe views!!! Loved it. Lots to do in the area. Recommend Giant City! Grounds were well maintained. There was a giant snake behind our site. And goose poop everywhere. But we are camping in THEIR homes.
GuideLovely lake. If you have an E-bike, you can ride MILES around the lower portion of the lake.
We were in spot 57. Spectacular views of the lake. Lots of trees. Large spaces. Nice concrete picnic table. But boy oh boy was this space unlevel. We were down 13 inches low in the back. The best we could get it was 6 inches off. A camper may not be as much an issue… but a class A, it’s rough.
GuideWe were on our hike in Shawnee National Forest, and we found this campground. And it was an amazing experience. It has a beautiful view of the sunset, and there are ponds. There are horses on the property, and it’s very cheap for tent camping. 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
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.
ScoutTook a road trip in are RV over the summer last year and stumbled across this place they had it all water hookup waste hook up and were very reasonable on price definitely recommend
ScoutAwesome campsite rented a cabin we brought are dogs so we had to find a location that excepted pets and they were the ones who were friendly and awsome definitely recommend if u want a place to go this is the place
LegendBefore arrival, we received a helpful confirmation email with clear directions for entering the campground, although the turn was easy with our 40-foot fifth wheel. Check-in was exceptionally friendly—we were even welcomed by a fellow Brinkley owner—and escorted to pull-through Site A6 with full hookups. The utilities were easy to reach, and water pressure was good. We were pleasantly surprised to learn we could park our truck anywhere, even on the grass. Starlink would be questionable because of the mature trees, but the campground's Wi-Fi was better than most we have experienced at around 50 Mbps download and 24 Mbps upload. We had two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile, while our T-Mobile Home Internet work well. The upper A-loop pull-through sites are fairly level but somewhat close together. The terraced B, C, and D loops could be more challenging for larger rigs to maneuver, level, and exit. The campground also offers a fishing pond, cabins, tent sites, and a fenced dog park. Overall, this is a clean, well-maintained KOA Journey with friendly staff that worked very well for our overnight stay, and we would stay here again.
Camping opportunities near Stonefort, Illinois cover diverse terrain within Shawnee National Forest, situated on weathered bedrock dating back 300 million years. Elevations range from 350 to 1,064 feet across the region, creating microclimates that affect individual camping areas. Winter temperatures typically hover between 25-45°F while summer brings sustained heat with daily highs regularly exceeding 90°F during July and August.
Trail exploration: 3-mile Lake Glendale hike: Lake Glendale Recreation Area offers a comprehensive trail system circling the entire lake. "There is an easy 3 mile hike around the lake and is easily accessed directly from a number of the sites," notes one visitor who appreciated the lake trail's accessibility.
Natural swimming holes: spring and summer only: The clear pools at Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs provide cooling relief during hot months. According to a camper, "Just around the corner (or down the trail at the start of camp) is a network of hiking trails. They scurry around cliffs, falls and ravines. We found small pools perfect for a summer dip."
Rock formations and climbing: expert required: Jackson Falls features unique sandstone bluffs popular with experienced climbers. A visitor explained, "This place is popular with climbers, but I'm not one and had a rough time locating this place. The roads weren't marked the same way they are on the website's map, and the trailheads are confusing as well."
Privacy in primitive areas: non-electric sites: The secluded tent camping areas at Turkey Ridge Campground provide more natural camping experiences. "Spots are pretty dam close to each other. There is camping you can walk off to. We stayed for 1 night at the Turkey Ridge, so we stayed closer to the parking. Was only 1 other group camping on a Wednesday," explains one camper who found midweek solitude.
Night sky viewing: minimal light pollution: Rural locations like Pharoah Campground deliver exceptional stargazing opportunities. As one camper described their experience: "The rock formations are surreal and shoulder season is so quiet! We will be back as the hiking is awesome."
Wildlife observation: spring and fall peak seasons: Deer Ridge Campground offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. A visitor shared: "Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!"
Campsite conditions: ground cover varies: Many campsites contain problematic plant species. At Jackson Falls, a camper warned: "Bring everything you need, there is no water source and bring lots of wood. We scavenged wood from the hills around but ultimately had to leave and purchase wood."
Seasonal water levels: check before arrival: Stream and waterfall flow varies dramatically by season. One visitor to Lake Glendale noted: "We went during a dry spell and there was no running water at the falls! Still had a blast there though!"
First-come basis: weekday arrival recommended: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak periods. A camper at Redbud Campground explained: "There are a few vault toilets scattered around that are ok but not the best we've seen. A hand pump for water is near the garbage cans. We found plenty of empty sites but people were starting to fill them in. I imagine it might get full for the weekend."
Playground access: limited availability: Shawnee Forest Campground offers one of the better play areas. One visitor noted its unique layout: "Unique campground in that it is on a former golf course. Has the old golf cart paths as walking/biking paths!"
Water safety: supervision essential: Swimming areas exist but conditions vary. At Oak Point, one family mentioned: "We were the only campers in our loop for the entire stay. This is a very clean, well maintained campground, the hosts were very friendly and helpful."
Bug preparation: comprehensive protection needed: Insect issues affect all local campgrounds. A family camping at Bell Smith Springs reported: "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. Definitely lots of ticks but you're in nature so it's a given."
Road access: scout ahead for larger rigs: Gravel roads with steep sections challenge larger vehicles in many locations. At Jackson Falls, one RVer advised: "We run a 28ft RV and were able to cross the first water wash without problem. We are a Jeep family so I may have more experience than others in off-roading."
Site leveling: blocks required: Most campgrounds feature uneven terrain. An RVer at Dixon Springs State Park reported: "Our reserved site #6 was so sloped for our 24' C class that we had to give up on it and move to a vacant more level spot."
Hookup limitations: prepare for self-sufficiency: Full hookups are rare at campsites near Stonefort, Illinois. An experienced RVer shared about Oak Point: "Spacious, clean open campground with little privacy. Well kept bathrooms and water pumps throughout."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Stonefort, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Stonefort, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 121 campgrounds and RV parks near Stonefort, IL and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Stonefort, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Stonefort, IL is Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs with a 4.6-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Stonefort, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Stonefort, IL.
What parks are near Stonefort, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Stonefort, IL that allow camping, notably Shawnee National Forest and Rend Lake.
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