Best Campgrounds near Vienna, IL

Camping in Vienna, Illinois centers on the Shawnee National Forest region, with a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed options. The Shawnee Forest Campground provides full hookup RV sites on a converted golf course with fishing ponds, while nearby Lake Glendale Recreation Area offers boat-in access and primitive camping. Several campgrounds like Oak Point Campground accommodate both tent and RV camping, with dispersed options available at Jackson Falls for those seeking a more remote experience.

Road access to most camping areas remains reliable year-round, though some campground facilities operate seasonally. Several campgrounds like Redbud at Bell Smith Springs operate from March to December, while others maintain year-round availability. "The sites are nice and level. Quiet in the area. Picnic table and fire ring at every site. Park offers firewood. Pond for fishing so bring your poles," noted one camper about Shawnee Forest Campground. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better coverage near Vienna proper and diminished signals in more remote forest areas. Many campgrounds provide basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, though dispersed camping areas typically lack facilities.

Campers particularly appreciate the fishing opportunities throughout the region, with multiple campgrounds featuring ponds or lake access. The converted golf course at Shawnee Forest Campground creates unique walking paths around fishing ponds, though reviews mention some path maintenance issues. Reviews highlight the convenience of the area for exploring nearby natural attractions. As one visitor noted, "We camped with friends here for a long weekend. It was an old golf course which made great walking and bike trails. Kids loved that. We hiked in Little Grand Canyon and ate at Giant City Lodge." Proximity to highlights like Garden of the Gods makes Vienna an excellent base camp for exploring the Shawnee National Forest region, with most campgrounds situated within reasonable driving distance of these natural attractions.

Best Camping Sites Near Vienna, Illinois (125)

    1. Shawnee Forest Campground

    36 Reviews
    Vienna, IL
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-0619

    $40 / night

    "There is easy access to the tunnel state trail in Vienna. It’s about a 9 mile ride to the tunnel. Be sure to visit Garden of the Gods. Really remarkable."

    "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."

    2. Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs

    32 Reviews
    Eddyville, IL
    14 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."

    3. Jackson Falls

    22 Reviews
    Shawnee National Forest, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    "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."

    4. Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    16 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    $18 / night

    "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."

    5. Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    15 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    "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."

    6. Oak Point - Lake Glendale

    15 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 638-3246

    $10 - $20 / night

    "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."

    7. Lake Glendale Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3807

    $12 - $44 / night

    "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."

    8. Oak Point Campground

    9 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3807

    "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."

    9. Dixon Springs State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Grantsburg, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 949-3394

    "We were a bit nervous about this campground when reading reviews and seeing the location (there is an Impact Incarceration Program that shares the border), but I'm glad we found it."

    "There was a couple nice playgrounds for the kids to play on and plenty to walk around and see."

    10. Dutchman Lake Camp

    4 Reviews
    Buncombe, IL
    5 miles

    "We pulled in around midnight and left at 8 am."

    "Beautiful spot with easy access and not far off the highway"

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Recent Reviews near Vienna, IL

755 Reviews of 125 Vienna Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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.

  • j
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Canal Campground- Lake Barkley COE

    Nice COE campground

    Grand Rivers KY Canal Campground at Barkley Lake COE Site 111 This is a great COE campground located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with views of the Barkley Dam. The canal connects them and you can see boats and occasionally barges passing through. There are over 100 campsites are available, many with water views. We had a spacious site with a river view. Other loops are closer together and no view. Sites offer electric and/or water hookups, tables and fire ring. Other amenities include clean old style bathhouses, a dump station, laundry facilities, a playground, and picnic pavilions. We saw several deer roaming the grounds. There's a great pizza place in town Papa Z.

  • 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.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Gun Creek

    Nice!

    Nice, large, well thought out campground. Lots of trees, paved sites, bathrooms, showers, and well maintained. Offers full hookups, partial or none. Convenient to I64. Only stayed 1 nite, but would definitely come back.

  • L
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Cave-in-Rock State Park

    Beautiful, empty, cheap state park

    We are the only campers here in a very well kept campground. The bathrooms are clean and the only sound is from the birds. $20 for a state park site with electricity is incredible. It is out of the way (we took the ferry from Kentucky).

  • Tom B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Columbus-Belmont State Park

    Nice, clean campground, back sites have sewer, be prepared to level out.

    Stayed here for 2 nights at site 25 on the back side of the campground. The back sites have sewer. These sites were paved, but not level, so be prepared to level. TIP: If using those yellow camco "lego" block to level, be sure to put a canvas tarp or rubber mat between the blocks and the pavement, otherwise they will slide when you try to roll on top of them. My daughter used the bathhouse, and she said it was not good. Leaky, standing water. The park was awesome, which made the bathhouse an oddity. The little snack shack over by the chain was a nice evening diversion of ice cream and funnel fries. The camp host couple was wonderful. The park is clean and well maintained.


Guide to Vienna

Dispersed camping opportunities near Vienna, Illinois center primarily around Shawnee National Forest at elevations ranging from 340 to 700 feet above sea level. The region features sandstone bluffs, natural springs, and oak-hickory forests across its rolling terrain. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-95°F with high humidity, while winter camping requires preparation for freezing temperatures and occasional snow.

What to do

Waterfall hunting: 3-mile hike at Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area leads to multiple water features. "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. Half the hikers were carrying towels so it must be a common plan," notes one visitor.

Lake recreation: paddling and fishing at Lake Glendale Recreation Area offers boat rentals and multiple access points. "Electric motors only on the lake," according to visitors, with multiple campers noting the lake trail that connects all facilities: "The trail around the lake is about 3 miles; a nice hike that really gives you a good look at the park."

Rock climbing: advanced technical routes at Jackson Falls attract climbers from across the region. "This place is popular with climbers," notes one visitor, while another adds: "Beautiful location. Definitely off the beaten path. There was another group of campers but they camped on the trail."

What campers like

Dark skies for stargazing: The remote locations mean minimal light pollution. At Ferne Clyffe State Park, campers enjoy clear night viewing. "There was a ton of wildlife though and it was really neat to listen to all the different species throughout the night. Overall the grounds are quite nice."

Peaceful morning walks: Most campgrounds feature interconnected trail systems. "There are lots of well maintained trails to hike... hikes that include bluffs, caves, creeks, etc. Our favorite is Hawk's Cave Trail. It's an easy hike and the kids explored the caves for hours!"

Wildlife observation opportunities: Early risers often spot deer, foxes, and various bird species. "Also in this park is a little lake and a gorgeous waterfall. We will be back again next year. One of our favorites!" reports a Turkey Ridge camper.

What you should know

Seasonal facility closures: Many campground amenities operate on limited schedules. At Dixon Springs State Park Campground, "Pool was closed on Labor Day weekend???" notes one camper, while another mentions: "There is a minimum security correctional facility on the property... You will hear them from your campsite - it's about it 300' away."

Road access limitations: Heavy rain can impact accessibility to certain areas. A Jackson Falls visitor cautions: "Grave Road getting there was a bit rough for my Ram Promaster. Hill down to trail head could get slick if wet weather. Was alittle nervous getting out after it had rained."

Poison ivy prevalence: The plant grows throughout the region. "The poison ivy is EVERYWHERE. Anywhere you see trees and bushes, there will be poison ivy. It was definitely nerve wracking putting up the hammock," warns one Dixon Springs visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: fee-based access to swimming areas provides relief during summer months. "A nearby beach is available to enjoy during the summer as well as hiking trails," notes an Oak Point Campground visitor. Another adds: "A short jont down the road you have a boat loading area to go out on the lake, a public picnic area, and a beach where you can swim (for a small fee) or rent paddle boats."

Kid-friendly hiking routes: Several trails accommodate younger hikers. "Rebman trail is good for anyone including little kids," suggests one camper, while another family mentions their camping ritual: "We have been coming to Oak Point since 2006... A playground located in the electric area for the kiddos to play in and around."

Firefly viewing opportunities: Late spring and early summer evenings offer natural light shows. "Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!" exclaims a Deer Ridge visitor.

Tips from RVers

Site selection criteria: Many campgrounds have limited level sites. At Shawnee Forest Campground, a camper advises: "The sites are spacious and have picnic tables and fire rings. Full hookups is a plus. Super convenient to 24 but not too close that it is loud. The sites are loose gravel and not level front to back, so you need to unhook."

Water and electrical connections: Hookup locations vary by campground. "The water and electric(50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad. There are two sewer hookups, which was nice. The water pressure was good around 50 psi."

Cell service reliability: Coverage varies significantly across the region. At Shawnee Forest Campground, visitors report: "Their WiFi was very good. We got two bars on Verizon," making it one of the best places to camp near Vienna, Illinois for remote workers needing connectivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities do Vienna campgrounds offer for visitors?

Campgrounds near Vienna offer diverse amenities to enhance your stay. South Marcum Campground is considered one of the nicest in Illinois, featuring numerous bathrooms, lakefront sites, and wooded options. Just a short drive from Vienna, Oak Point - Lake Glendale provides water and electric hookups at mostly private sites backing up to Lake Glendale, with a beach available for swimming. Many area campgrounds feature fishing opportunities, with Shawnee Forest Campground offering three catch-and-release ponds. Visitors can generally expect picnic tables, fire pits, and access to trails, while developed campgrounds typically provide restrooms, showers, and drinking water, creating comfortable bases for exploring the region's natural attractions.

What RV camping options are available in Vienna?

Shawnee Forest Campground offers excellent RV accommodations in Vienna with spacious, level sites featuring full hook-ups. This campground was converted from a golf course in 2016 and can accommodate larger rigs - reviewers mention successfully parking 35-foot motorhomes with attached vehicles. For RV campers looking to explore beyond Vienna, South Sandusky Campground at Rend Lake offers full hookups with spacious sites that can accommodate big rigs. It's a Corps of Engineers campground where America the Beautiful passes are accepted. The campground is well-maintained and offers a variety of amenities that make it suitable for extended RV stays.

Where are the campgrounds near Vienna, Illinois located?

Vienna, Illinois is surrounded by several excellent camping options in the scenic Shawnee National Forest region. Shawnee Forest Campground is conveniently located in Vienna itself with easy access to the tunnel state trail (about 9 miles to the tunnel). Just a short drive from Vienna, you'll find Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park situated in a beautiful limestone setting within the Shawnee National Forest. Other nearby options include Rend Lake campgrounds and various sites throughout the Shawnee Forest area, all within reasonable driving distance of Vienna.