4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV-friendly campgrounds operate near Johnsonville, Illinois, offering both electric-only and full-hookup options across the region. Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area provides electric hookups and accommodates larger rigs with sites arranged to maximize privacy. Archway RV Park in Mount Vernon features 50-amp electrical service on level gravel sites. "Most sites are level and easy to get into. There are a few pull-through sites," noted one visitor about the Corps of Engineers campgrounds in the area. Rend Lake Gun Creek Campground offers electric hookups on concrete pads, though some sites have noticeable slopes that may require leveling blocks.
Full-hookup services are available at several locations within 30 miles of Johnsonville, with dump stations provided at parks that lack sewer connections. Cell service varies throughout the region, with most campgrounds reporting 2-3 bars on major carriers. Most RV parks in the area remain open year-round, though seasonal facilities typically close from late fall through early spring. A recent review noted, "The pull-through spot was nice and level. The spot was also all gravel which was very nice! We had full hookups and full cell service through AT&T." Reservations are recommended during summer months and weekends, with online booking available through recreation.gov for federal sites and through individual park websites for private campgrounds.
"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
"Full hook ups. No WiFi or cable or anything fancy. There is a little playground on site as well. Pet friendly."
from $42 / night
"Long spots, friendly owner, easy access to hardware store across the street, coin laundry available. Downsides is wifi is poor, gravel is unlevel, limited menu on DoorDash."
from $30 / night
"Campground is off the beaten path, lots of space to spread out, and the top 4 amenities (electricity, water, flush toilets and showers). It’s not the cleanest bathrooms but certainly not the worst."
"Quiet pretty area. Good Verizon service."
"The pull through spot was nice and level. The spot was also all gravel which was very nice! We had full hookups and full cell service through at&t."
"Our second time staying here we had site #2 waterfront pull through with full hook up and shaded till late afternoon. The sun sets behind the camper."
from $35 - $999 / night
"This campground is very convenient if you’re looking for a quick stay during a trip. It’s just a short hop off the highway, yet the road noise wasn’t bad."
"Family owned with a nice little fishing area (no license required catch and release) paddle boats and camp store. A nice pool with a big covered pavilion, clean restrooms and showers with hot water."
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.
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!
GuideThis was a beautiful place to spend an evening on our cross country trip. We were able to secure site B7 -a nice level and shady spot on a beautiful tree lined lake. The site was dusty but there was a picnic table and electricity. It was 90 degrees in early October so I can imagine the open spots are really hot during the heat of the summer. Signs tell you to check in with camp host before parking but there was no one at their camper. I called the phone number and a helpful gentleman explained that the sites were first come, first served and someone would be around to collect our $20 fee. One large bathhouse for the campground was a good walk away but was spotless. I would have given this campground a 5 rating but after walking around, we realized that most of the sites by the lake were hard packed dirt, small and not level. However there is a new section I that has 10 long back in gravel pads with electric & water. They are away from the water but close to the shower house. Finally, google coordinates directed us to a private residence just short of the marina. Follow directions to the marina and find the road to the campground at the end of the parking lot.
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.
TravelerJody, the hostess, is friendly and responsive. We stayed one night in the fall so the many permanent RVs were not occupied. The park is large and surrounded by woods and fields. We had a peaceful night near the cornfields where the short-term RV sites are located. Can hear the train horn in the distance. Note that they are tandem, so pull thru for the first person but back in for the second. We would stay here again.
TravelerI believe this is one of the best campgrounds I've been to. It is safe friendly, theres laundry, lp fill, close to rend lake, 20 mins from walmart, a great place to relax and visit, vacation, whatever you like.
Tent and RV campgrounds near Johnsonville, Illinois border several lakes and conservation areas across Wayne, Jefferson, and Clay counties. The terrain consists primarily of gently rolling hills with elevations between 450-550 feet above sea level, creating natural lakeside camping opportunities. Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area serves as the closest established camping option directly in Johnsonville, while several private RV parks and Corps of Engineers campgrounds operate within a 30-mile radius.
Fishing opportunities: Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area offers electric-only sites with direct lake access. "Clean campground right on the lake," notes one visitor, while another camper explains the amenities: "Site 35 was perfectly level for the Class C. Great Campground host. Beautiful lake."
Birdwatching and nature sounds: Spring Creek Campground features a small fishing pond and natural areas ideal for wildlife observation. A recent visitor described it as "one of the most beautiful campgrounds I've been in in a long time. It's small, owned by an older farmer, has electricity and bathrooms. It's on a couple of small lakes and the bird sounds, the frogs, ducks, the whole natural environment is just wonderful."
Swimming access: Campers at Camp Lakewood can use the swimming area. "The swimming area is basically just a dock you can jump off of but it's not crowded at all so plenty of room for my family," reports one visitor. The campground also offers fishing with reports that "the bass are biting!"
Clean facilities: Cleanliness ranks high among camper priorities at RV parks near Johnsonville. "Everything is super clean here, staff is friendly. There is laundry on site and the showers are some of the cleanest I've seen," says a visitor to Camp Lakewood.
Quiet atmosphere: Archway RV Park in Mount Vernon receives praise for its peaceful setting despite proximity to highways. "Just far enough from Interstate so noise isn't an issue," reports one camper. Another notes, "The outside area is made for families to play and relax and enjoy time together."
Helpful staff: Personal service stands out at smaller campgrounds. A Spring Creek visitor noted, "Bob showed up as I pulled in and made sure I was all set for the night. This place is going in my saved list for sure." Similarly, at Archway RV Park: "We booked this on the road, and even though the office was closed, a site had been reserved and marked for us. Owner came out early the next morning to check on us."
Seasonal variations: While many campgrounds near Johnsonville remain open year-round, facilities may be limited in winter. "The fishing pond is great and beautiful," states a Spring Creek visitor, but notes that the area would be "nice in summer and fall when leaves are on trees."
Site variations: Campsites vary significantly in quality even within the same campground. At Rend Lake Gun Creek Campground, "There is a bit of a slope to the pads so you will need to level. Lake is very pretty - you could anchor your boat off your campsite."
Reservation policies: Some smaller campgrounds accommodate same-day arrivals. "I called a day in advance and was able to schedule a reservation, the lady on the phone was very nice," reports an Archway RV visitor. At Spring Creek, one camper noted the casual check-in process: "No reservation was needed, just stop in, find a site and we'll find you in the morning."
Playground access: Most family-oriented campgrounds offer play areas. Spring Creek provides "a nice playground in the shade next to a pavilion," while Archway RV Park has "a nice playground and dog park as well as a pond at the location."
On-site food options: Some campgrounds offer convenient dining. At Camp Lakewood, "A pizza place is operating on site. Had pizza and wings that were good," reports one visitor. Another mentions, "We had pizza in their bar it was locally made chicken, bacon, ranch and Butch's sweet hot sauce."
Space for activities: Choose sites with enough room for family gatherings. At Kaskaskia Dragon RV Park, "Long spots, friendly owner, easy access to hardware store across the street" make family stays more convenient. Camp Lakewood offers waterfront options: "Beautiful view from site 19! My son came to fish so make sure your site isn't on a hill where you can't fish from the site."
Site leveling needs: Many RV campgrounds near Johnsonville require leveling equipment. At Rend Lake Gun Creek Campground, "There is a bit of a slope to the pads so you will need to level." Similarly at Camp Lakewood, "The campground is fairly small. They appeared to have all gravel sites with minimal grass."
Power adapter requirements: Check electrical connections before arrival. At Archway RV Park, "Full-hookups with only a 50amp connection so if you are using 30 make sure you have a 50/30 adapter."
Water fill protocols: Water access varies between campgrounds. At Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area, "It clearly states electric only. Which was no problem. They had a water hookup that you could pull up to for more water if needed. Dump station right outside the campground."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Johnsonville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Johnsonville, IL is Archway RV Park with a 3.9-star rating from 17 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 63 RV camping locations near Johnsonville, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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