Best Cabin Camping near Whittington, IL

Cabin options near Whittington include Whittington Woods Campground and Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground, which offer rustic accommodations for those seeking a forested retreat. Whittington Woods Campground provides cabins with electric hookups, while Wayne Fitzgerrell offers more basic cabin accommodations in a state park setting. Both locations feature picnic tables and fire rings at cabin sites, and are situated near Rend Lake, providing water recreation opportunities. Bathroom facilities vary by location, with some cabins requiring guests to use centralized shower houses or restrooms. "Under new ownership but 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."

Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Primitive cabin options at Arrowhead Lake Campground provide more basic accommodations, while KOA-style cabins at Benton KOA offer additional amenities. Most cabins require advance reservations, especially during summer months when waterfront cabin sites fill quickly. Pet policies vary significantly between locations - Whittington Woods and Wayne Fitzgerrell both allow pets at their cabin sites, though additional fees may apply. A camper wrote: "We stayed in Shawnee Lodge in camp campus. Camp amenities include: lodges, cabins, shelters, parking, fire pits/fireplaces all with wood supplied."

Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Kitchen facilities range from basic to fully equipped depending on the cabin type and location. Rustic cabin rentals typically offer limited cooking options beyond fire rings or grills, while furnished cabins may include small refrigerators or microwaves. Nearby Benton offers grocery and supply options, though campers should arrive prepared with essentials. Washington County State Recreation Area cabins are noted for their lake views but have no running water or nearby toilets, requiring more self-sufficiency. A review mentioned: "It is overcrowded all through the week in the RV area with no great views of the lake, sadly. Two cabins but overpriced due to no running water or nearby toilet but more private and great lake views."

Best Cabin Sites Near Whittington, Illinois (32)

    1. Gun Creek

    21 Reviews
    Whittington, IL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 724-2493

    $18 - $30 / night

    "There are sites with electric, water, and sewer. Several sites are right on Rend Lake. Most sites have concrete picnic tables and fire rings."

    "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."

    2. South Marcum Campground

    17 Reviews
    Benton, IL
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 724-2493

    $16 - $44 / night

    "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."

    "This is hands-down the nicest campground on Rend Lake."

    3. Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Whittington, IL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 629-2320

    "So I took a drive through the Class A campground just to see it. Here’s what I discovered: the primitive section is far removed from the Class A (by a mile or two). The Class A section is HUGE!"

    "Wayne Fitzgerald State Park is on Rend Lake, just off I-57 in Southern Illinois. It’s a great place for camping, fishing and bikes."

    4. Whittington Woods Campground

    12 Reviews
    Whittington, IL
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (618) 435-3401

    "Beautiful campground with mature trees providing lots of shade on the 100F weekend we were there. Gravel sites, level. A lot of common ground, shaded, picnic shelters."

    "This campground is beautiful with lots of gardens and potted plants at a lot of the campsites The host is very friendly, the pool is well maintained, they have a dog park The Host even led us to our"

    5. Benton KOA

    13 Reviews
    Benton, IL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 439-4860

    "T-Mobile worked well- issues connecting to site Wi-Fi- staff pleasant- clean- didn’t use showers- small camp store available"

    "The spaces were large and roomy. Showers and bathroom were very nice, too. We didn’t use any of the other amenities because we were just passing through."

    6. Rend Lake

    5 Reviews
    Whittington, IL
    4 miles
    Website

    "Hundreds of campsites, marinas with boat rentals, beaches and stores nearby in case you need something. This area is truly a southern Illinois gem!"

    "Large spacious sites, close to swimming beaches, although not walking distance. Tree covered and offer some privacy. Great place to meet with family and friends."

    7. Archway RV Park

    16 Reviews
    Mount Vernon, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 244-0399

    $60 / night

    "This is primarily a RV park near I-64 and on a highway. Noisy!! Bad noisy. Camp site was nice. Grassy, level, near a picnic shelter with tables. Shade trees. But only about 2-3 such sites."

    "Stores nearby. Just staying one night as we headed back home. No complaints! There are some cute vintage campers and tiny cottages for rent as well. Nice doggie park area fenced off too!!"

    8. North Marcum Day Use Area

    2 Reviews
    Rend Lake, IL
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 724-2493

    "Just beautiful, the Corp of Engineering’s really take care of these camp grounds, very clean, most have new showers. Love it here, just wish I could stay all year round.🚴‍♀️🚣‍♀️🏊‍♂️"

    "This is an beautiful little beach on Rend lake. The lake is an important bird habitat making it a great place for my fellow bord watchers to go!"

    9. Arrowhead Lake Campground

    5 Reviews
    Johnston City, IL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 983-3535

    "Very clean, level sites, large lake with a well maintained walking trail. Lake side sites, wooded sites and regular sites in the middle. Water, 30 and 50 amp, shower house, small laundry facility."

    "Campground was nice and clean, has a beautiful walking trail, the camp host was nice. The restrooms and showers were super clean. Enjoyed our stay will definitely be back."

    10. Washington County State Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    Nashville, IL
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 327-3137

    "Showers ran cold at first but after a few mins it gets warmer! There were plenty of pit toliets through out the campground and trash cans."

    "This is a small lake management by the state of Illinois. The campground is usually not crowded, but some weekends do get busy. There is a shower/bathroom that was clean each time we were there."

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Recent Cabin Photos near Whittington, IL

2 Photos of 32 Whittington Campgrounds


Cabin Reviews near Whittington, IL

241 Reviews of 32 Whittington Campgrounds


  • J
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area

    Cabins and more

    This State Park is located outside Carlyle,Illinois. This park offers playground areas and more. Cabins, campsites with power or no power the choice is yours. This is one State Park i enjoy visiting. However there are times this park cannot be accessed because of flooding.

  • Ashley Y.
    May. 22, 2017

    Giant City State Park Campground

    Wonderful southern illinois scenery

    Kind of a bare bones campground but this state park does offer rock climbing (if you have the expertise and your own gear). A few picnic shelters and an amazing CCC lodge that has a cabin rentals and a pretty good area restaurant. The park used to have an interp center but I believe the state closed it do to funding. The trails aren't always maintained it definitely depends on the season but the park itself is not to be missed.

  • AC
    May. 16, 2021

    Washington County State Recreation Area

    Shady Rest campground

    Really great campground. Good mix of tents and RVs. Bath house was very well kept and clean. Showers ran cold at first but after a few mins it gets warmer! There were plenty of pit toliets through out the campground and trash cans. My tent site was clean, good flat spot for tent, picnic table and fire pit with attached grill.

    The Concession building in the park is closing. No boat rentals, selling everything he has on the shelf.

    Caught a few bass and and good amount of hiking. Large trail around the whole lake, smaller trails lead to sites around the different campgrounds.

  • Debra M.
    Mar. 23, 2021

    Rend Lake Gun Creek Campground

    Many lakeside sites, extra long drives for boat trailers, quiet and scenic

    Rend Lake is a large COE recreation area with 4 campgrounds, some with full hook ups for $28 a night, two dams, 2 beaches, several boat launches, a marina, golf course and a restaurant.  Not all facilities were open when we visited in March.  Hiking and biking trails and close to town for gas and bait.  Each site has a stone picnic table and fire ring.  Showers, bathrooms and  playgrounds in multiple places and convenient locations.  Some sites do have steep grade, originally booked Bluejay 48 and moved.

    https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233504?tab=seasons

  • James D.
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Devils Backbone Park

    Cool to see the Devil's Bake Oven and Tower Rock but otherwise blah

    Maybe it's because I am from WI and we tend to rip on IL a lot, but I really found this park sub-par. I am also spoiled from getting to see some of the larger parks in the country. Would probably be nice for a long weekend with the kids. But I don't have kids. It's more of a touristy place than a real campground in my opinion. If you are in the area check out the view of Tower Rock. There are a lot of campsites available for both tent and RV, and they do offer grills, tables, camp fire pits, toilets, and a playground. Pets are welcome. Part of a foundation of an old house built on a rock is still around and is a neat part of history.

  • Dana P.
    Jul. 31, 2018

    Washington County State Recreation Area

    Cabin rental Washington County Lake IL

    It is overcrowded all through the week in the RV area with no great views of the lake, sadly. 2. cabins.but overpriced due to no running water or nearby ttoilet but more private and great lake views Awesome fishing here and boat rentals

  • C
    Oct. 6, 2019

    Gun Creek

    So beautiful

    There’s not a bad campsite here. There are sites with electric, water, and sewer. Several sites are right on Rend Lake. Most sites have concrete picnic tables and fire rings. The bath houses are really nice, they are individual shower houses that are clean and well lit. The grounds are very well maintained. The park was full while we stayed there, but was really quiet. You can tent camp or use a camper.

  • Barb N.
    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.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 22, 2022

    Gun Creek

    Lake Views

    We loved staying here. Pet friendly and beautiful lake views from many of the camp sites. I recommend checking the grade of the camp site because some of the ones next to the lake were at a pretty big angle. Our site was nice and flat so no issues there. We loved it and would definitely stay again.


Guide to Whittington

Cabin camping options near Whittington, Illinois center around Rend Lake, which spans over 18,900 acres in Franklin and Jefferson counties. The lake features 162 miles of shoreline and sits at an elevation of 405 feet. Winter cabin rentals typically experience average temperatures between 25-45°F, while summer cabin stays see temperatures between 65-90°F with higher humidity levels.

What to do

Fishing access at lakefront sites: Gun Creek provides cabin and camping options with direct lake access for fishing. "What a beautiful campground, it's our second time here. Some spots do have a fairly good slope to them," notes Jeff F. about Gun Creek.

Hike the lake trail: Washington County State Recreation Area offers trails around its lake for campers staying in their cabins. A visitor mentioned, "Large trail around the whole lake, smaller trails lead to sites around the different campgrounds," and noted they "caught a few bass and and good amount of hiking" during their stay at Washington County State Recreation Area.

Wildlife viewing: South Marcum Campground provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities for cabin campers. "Abundant Wildlife" is how one visitor titled their review, explaining: "We had 3 of the sites closest to the lake with only electric. Bathhouses were a little bit of a walk. The sites were pretty level. The campground is well kept, about 20 minutes from any groceries so come with your necessities."

What campers like

Dark skies for stargazing: The cabins at Washington County State Recreation Area provide excellent night sky viewing. "The campground is pretty far from any big metro area, so the sky was real dark, great for picking out constellations. We listened to Whip-por-will calls around the campfire," writes one reviewer.

Large, shaded sites: Whittington Woods Campground offers cabin rentals with mature trees. "Beautiful campground with mature trees providing lots of shade on the 100F weekend we were there. Gravel sites, level. A lot of common ground, shaded, picnic shelters. Short drive to Rend Lake, bike trails, kayaks, fishing," according to Jan S.

Lake views: Many cabins at South Marcum Campground offer views of Rend Lake. One camper noted: "If I was in any other spot this would probably be a 4/5, but spot 56 has a crazy lake view and is on the tip of an outlook with pretty nice privacy!"

What you should know

Seasonal availability: Most cabin rental areas near Whittington have limited seasons. Gun Creek operates from "March 14 to November 30" according to their information, while South Marcum runs from "March 28 to November 2."

Distance to amenities: When staying in cabins near Whittington, plan to bring supplies. A reviewer at South Marcum noted: "The campground is well kept, about 20 minutes from any groceries so come with your necessities."

Cash payment requirements: Some cabin rental facilities require cash payment. A visitor to Washington County noted: "No cards accepted. We had to run back to the town of Nashville to get some cash from the ATM."

Bathroom access: Arrowhead Lake Campground cabins have clean bathrooms but note their hours. A visitor mentioned: "It's valuable to note that the worker said they close the bathhouse at 8. Fantastic prices and such a hidden gem."

Tips for camping with families

Child-friendly amenities: South Marcum has a playground in one area. "Also a playground in the Whispering Pines loop. The campground is on Rend Lake with swimming, fishing and boating," mentions Joel R.

Check site location for privacy: When booking cabins with families at Gun Creek, verify the site location. "Site 29 is very close and the picnic bench is literally 8 feet away from the back of the pad of site 30. Don't expect much in the way of privacy," warns one reviewer.

Seasonal noise considerations: Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground can get busy during peak seasons. "We went on Labor Day weekend and there were a number of sites open. Many of the sites are walk up only. The sites have a lot of room to enjoy a relaxing weekend or set up yard games," notes Cody S.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park cabins and RV sites may require leveling equipment. One camper warned: "Lots of interstate noise. Many sites are very off level. CHECK carefully."

Hookup configurations: Benton KOA offers various cabin options with different utility setups. "This is not a typical KOA. The spaces were large and roomy. Showers and bathroom were very nice, too," mentions Joel R.

Site reservation strategies: At Wayne Fitzgerrell, a reviewer explained the cabin and site reservation process: "The stay was pleasant and the lake was very nice but the reservation system and finding a spot was overly complicated for a first timer. Basically people show up and throw a cooler or tent onto a site to claim it and then leave. They have to pay for the spot by 8pm."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Whittington, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Whittington, IL is Gun Creek with a 4.7-star rating from 21 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Whittington, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 32 cabin camping locations near Whittington, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.