2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
RV parks near Whittington provide varying hookup options and site configurations for different needs. Gun Creek Campground offers electric hookups and 30-amp service, operating from March through November with spacious sites along Rend Lake. North Sandusky Campground and South Sandusky Campground feature water and electric hookups, with both offering lakeside camping opportunities for RVs. Archway RV Park in Mount Vernon provides full hookups including 50-amp service with year-round availability for big rigs. Sites throughout the region range from basic electric-only to full-service pads with sewer connections. "Sites are nice, although all sites face each other meaning you will be 5-10 feet from your neighbors if you are sitting out front."
Access to most RV parks in the area involves paved roads with adequate signage, though some campgrounds around Rend Lake require navigation through winding roads. Several parks offer sanitary dump stations, with Archway RV Park, Gun Creek, and South Sandusky Campground providing this essential service. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better coverage near Mount Vernon and more limited connectivity at some lakeside locations. Most RV parks in the area welcome pets, though specific restrictions may apply. During peak summer months and holiday weekends, advance reservations are strongly recommended. Local amenities including propane, groceries and repair services can be found within driving distance of most parks, with Mount Vernon offering the most comprehensive services for RV travelers.
"Gravel sites arranged like a parking lot but large enough for big rigs. Trees and flowers all about. 50 amps only."
"Lots of space, i used 50 amp, full hookup, no problems."
from $60 - $75 / night
from $42 / night
"This actually feels like a campground and not a parking lot even though it’s super convenient to the interstate."
"Nice place clean and quiet Water pressure is only about 30 to 35 psi that is a little week. People were very nice and helpful ."
from $40 / night
"I was more than satisfied with the facilities and service. I would highly recommend to others."
from $40 - $200 / night
"I personally use a tent every time I camp but the amenities that were provided here were pretty nice. This place seems like it was made for RV camping."
"This is a nice campground on Rend Lake. The sites themselves are nice and the lake is beautiful! Our only issue is that the sites on not very level."
"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."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $30 / night
"Great time, fun place nice crew, clean restrooms"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $150 / night
"All campsites have electric hookups, 16 campsites are full-hookup., 30 & 50 amp. There is a dump station, hot showers and flush toilets."
"This campground has a great view of the lake. It’s well-kept and the site has nice spacing in between. The shower house and rest rooms were clean and well-kept."
from $30 / night
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $150 / night
TravelerThis is a 100 site campground on Rend Lake in Illinois. Lots of trees. Level paved sites unless you book right by the lake. Some are very steep. Bring lots to level with! We are in site 92. Away from the lake but beautiful sunshine.
GuideGreat place easy on off the hyw sites are old so you may need to block up your RV to level it . Some sites only have electric so be careful when you book it. Heard some road noise from the HYW but the campsite had plenty of room
LegendWe had never stayed at Whittington Woods, but several of our camping friends have stayed here over the years while traveling through the area. At a recent RV open house, we talked with the campground (CG) owners and decided to switch our reservation from another private CG to Whittington Woods to check it out. The owners suggested sites 92 or 97, and we were able to reserve back-in site 92 with FHUs for our two-night stay. Site 92 is one of the better sites, with a large yard and good separation from neighboring sites. The CG was easy to find off I-57—follow your GPS or the signs. Check-in was quick, and we were escorted to our site. Unfortunately, one of the CG’s regular guests had set up in our reserved site 92 instead of site 93. After a brief discussion between our owner/escort and the guest, moving him was clearly not going to be a quick process. We were offered a couple of other available sites and decided to take site 93. Site 93 was a significant downgrade, with only a sliver of yard and very little separation from site 94. The sewer and electrical connections are near the center of the gravel pad, while the electrical breaker is on the opposite side of site 94. The water connection is at the very back, requiring more than 30 feet of hose for our rig. The owners were very nice, probably too nice when dealing with their“regulars,” and made the situation more tolerable by giving us a good discount for site 93. We received two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. We normally get good performance from our T-Mobile internet with two bars, but download speed was only 41.2 Mbps. The CG Wi-Fi was better at 69.3 Mbps download. There are a lot of mature trees, so satellite/Starlink reception could be iffy depending on the site. The CG is conveniently located near I-57 and right off IL-37, although there was quite a bit of highway noise that was manageable for us. The property provides plenty of room for walking, especially with a dog, and has a decent-sized dog park. There are quite a few full-timers and regulars, with some keeping their sites well maintained and others not so much. We also saw some of the same latitude given to“regulars” when it came to keeping dogs on a leash and picking up after them. They have 5 pull throughs that are mainly used for overnighters that are handy but close together. We understand why several of our friends regularly stay here for a night or two while traveling to and from Florida. Whittington Woods is conveniently located off I-57 and offers FHUs, making the CG a practical overnight stop. Our home base is only about an hour and a half away, however, and we have better options in the area when we need a final stop to flush tanks before heading home.
LegendWe were heading back to our home base and decided to check out this new KOA Holiday and dump our tanks before heading home. The campground (CG) was approximately 10 miles and 20 minutes off I-57 on southern Illinois backcountry roads. Along the way, we encountered a suspiciously low power line that our 13.5'-high rig cleared. Small KOA signs guided us all the way in. We've stayed at many KOAs and particularly enjoyed KOA Holidays for their service and amenities, but this CG was not what we expected. We arrived at a large gravel parking area and found a check-in room at the end of a warehouse, with envelopes on a bulletin board and a phone number to request an escort. Since the RV sites were down a steep hill, we checked our assigned Creek Side site 26 before moving our rig. Sites 23–26 sat in a bowl at the bottom of the CG, with little room to maneuver our 41' fifth wheel and F450. The escort number went to voicemail, but we reached the manager using the CG brochure number. He agreed our rig wouldn't fit and moved us to back-in site 18 on the hill. All RV sites were back-ins. Creek Side sites appeared better suited for smaller RVs, although larger rigs might fit sites 23 and 24. We later discovered the main KOA office near the marina, which handled cabin check-ins, food, and boat rentals. Sites 1–19 were former pull-through motorcoach sites converted to back-ins, with utilities on the opposite side to accommodate other RVs. Our site 18 was exceptionally wide but close to neighboring sites. We positioned our rig toward the right side of the gravel pad (facing the site) to maintain reasonable access to hookups. The electrical pedestal was at the far back, requiring approximately 35' of power cord to accommodate our toy hauler's rear deck. The wide pad provided plenty of parking for a tow vehicle or boat. However, the CG brochure listed a $75 fee for parking boats or trailers at sites, and a marina sign listed a $50 launch fee. We couldn't determine how these fees applied. Water pressure was excellent, so use a regulator. CG Wi-Fi delivered 20.9 Mbps, Verizon had two bars, and T-Mobile had three. Our T-Mobile Home Internet delivered 358 Mbps, allowing us to stream golf and football. With no trees around the RV sites, satellite reception shouldn't be a problem. Some sites had limited lake views, but don't expect panoramic views or direct lake access. The CG had undergone considerable improvements, including attractive cabins, several right on the lake. KOA cabins were mixed with privately owned cabins, while lake access was concentrated near the small marina and swimming area. We expected more direct lake access and walking trails, but neither was available from the RV sites. A standard fenced KOA dog park was available, but longer walks with our pup were limited to a short path around the fishing pond, gravel areas, and CG roads. Considerable work and investment had gone into this CG, but our experience didn't entice us to return.
GuideGreat campsite very large easy to get in and additional parking for your truck right next to your trailer
GuideWhat started as a one-night camping trip quickly turned into a three-night stay—I just didn't want to leave! Most of the campsites feature beautiful lake views and are well-shaded by tall trees. Each spot is equipped with an electric hookup, a fire pit, and a picnic table, plus having access to hot showers made the stay super comfortable. To top it off, our cats loved taking walks with us around the campground!
ScoutRend Lake, in Whittington, Il is just a great place to camp. From primitive to full hook ups they have what you need for a Corps of Engineers campground.
GuideVery small, maybe 10-12 sites that are first come first serve. $10 per night as of September 2026. Solid Verizon cell coverage. Very quiet.
GuideI stayed at a walk-to tent site for which the price was $8 per night. Pretty solid Verizon cell signal. Clean showers and well kept. The place did sound pretty loud as far as older partiers, though around 9pm, it was near silent. I'd definitely stay here again.
Camping sites surrounding Whittington, Illinois offer varied terrain along the shores of Rend Lake, with elevations ranging from 405-430 feet above sea level. Located in Franklin County, the region experiences hot, humid summers with average July temperatures around 89°F and mild winters with January lows averaging 28°F. Spring and fall typically provide the most moderate camping conditions with daytime temperatures between 65-75°F.
Fishing at lakeside sites: North Sandusky Campground features sites directly on Rend Lake with excellent access for anglers. According to one visitor at North Sandusky Campground, "Sites are close to the water so you can fish or boat right from your campsite." Another camper mentioned, "Beautiful and spacious camp sights in a quiet environment. We have had deer playing on an adjacent site to us."
Walking trails: Arrowhead Lake Campground offers a scenic walking path around the lake. One visitor reported, "We had a great stop at this campground. We called to secure a site last minute and are glad we found this campground. The grounds were nice, we walked a nature trail and down by the lake. There were ducks and geese, and it was a lovely reprieve from our travels."
Disc golf course: Try the disc golf course at North Sandusky. "There is a boat dock, boat ramp, playground, and disk golf course," notes one reviewer. The course is accessible to all campers and provides a recreational activity option beyond water sports.
Lake views and wildlife: South Sandusky Campground offers exceptional water views from many sites. As one camper noted, "We love tent camping at South Sandusky. Many of the site are right on the lake and the sunrise and sunsets are always gorgeous." Wildlife sightings are common, with another camper sharing, "Bring binoculars for egrets and herons on the lake."
Clean facilities: Arrowhead Lake Campground maintains well-kept restrooms. "The restrooms and showers were super clean. Enjoyed our stay will definitely be back," reports one visitor. Another mentions, "Very clean, level sites, large lake with a well maintained walking trail."
Fishing opportunities: The region's campgrounds are popular with anglers. A visitor to North Sandusky reports, "Good place to bring the kids for a day out. The fishing is really good here." Another camper at South Sandusky mentioned, "There is a dump station, flush toilets, a sand beach, boat ramp, 2 picnic shelters, a paved bike trail, and playgrounds."
Site levelness varies: Check site descriptions before booking. A visitor to Gun Creek reported, "What a beautiful campground, it's our second time here. Some spots do have a fairly good slope to them." Another camper at North Sandusky mentioned, "Most sites are fairly level, but some have an incline to get into."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds are affected by interstate traffic noise. A reviewer at Benton KOA noted, "1 side is directly on the freeway VERY loud, the other is in between the sewer treatment plant and municipal airport. If you're a light sleeper might want to stay away."
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. At Gun Creek, campers suggest booking early: "Overall a great stay, very busy as it was full the entire time we were there while the state park down the road was empty." South Sandusky also requires advance planning with one camper noting, "Sites can be reserved on the Internet at www.recreation.gov."
Playground access: Benton KOA offers family-friendly amenities. A camper mentioned, "Has a decent pond with catfish and bass. Usual fare for a KOA. Beautiful Trees and shrubs. Impressive stand of bamboo with secret grove. Definitely a family spot."
Beach activities: South Sandusky Campground features a swimming beach. "We love the large beach. The campsites have a nice set up and are a decent size. The kids loved the playground. There were kids everywhere and everyone was very friendly! Fun spot!"
Quieter sections: For families seeking peaceful sites, consider specific loops. At South Sandusky, a camper noted, "They have quiet hours from 10-6 and the bathrooms and showers are always really clean." Another visitor at Arrowhead Lake mentioned, "Very nice, quiet, clean. We come here often. $25.00/night."
Hookup configuration: At Marion Campground & RV Park, RVers should note site layouts. "Pull thru, 50 amp, full hookup. Bar, gaming, laundry, wifi, and showers on site. Military rate was $35 a night. Graveled Sites are close together." Another RVer added, "This campground is laid out very well. The showers/bathrooms are perfectly designed down to a shelf in the shower."
Site spacing: Consider proximity to neighbors when selecting your site. At Gun Creek, a reviewer observed, "Large campground with two loops and two spurs for camping. It didn't seem to matter where your site was, each was fairly small, on top of each other, and lacking the privacy I like when tent camping."
Cellular connectivity: Remote work capabilities vary between campgrounds. At North Sandusky, a camper reported, "We had ATT and Tmobile service at our site. Signal was strong enough to stream video and work remotely." Consider your connectivity needs when selecting an rv campground around Whittington.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Whittington, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Whittington, IL is Archway RV Park with a 3.9-star rating from 17 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 87 RV camping locations near Whittington, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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