Map showing campground location near Whittington, Illinois

Camper submitted image from Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Deer move through the loops at Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground throughout the day, sometimes visible right from a campsite. That kind of wildlife proximity is one of the more consistent things campers mention about this large state park facility on the shores of Rend Lake in Whittington, Illinois. The campground runs year-round and spans multiple loops, with more than 240 modern sites offering electric, water, and sewer hookups alongside roughly 40 tent-only sites, accommodating rigs up to 44 feet.

Water access shapes how most campers experience the park. Rend Lake is a sizeable body of water with room to fish, boat, and explore by kayak or canoe. Crappie and largemouth bass are among the species anglers target here, and the proximity to the lake is a draw for waterfowl hunters in fall and winter. Sites closest to the water fill quickly, and as Lucas T. puts it, "Get there on Wednesday to get a spot on the water." Most interior sites are well-shaded but, as one reviewer notes, provide "no real view of the lake."

The campground has three shower buildings, which are centrally located and tend to require a walk from most sites. Campers report the facilities are clean and not heavily congested outside peak weekends. A playground and boat ramp are on-site. A bike trail runs through the park, though its surface is rough enough that reviewers recommend bringing spare tubes. There are no trash dumpsters in the camping area itself, so plan accordingly.

The reservation system warrants attention before arrival. A portion of sites are walk-up only, operating on a first-come basis with a payment-by-8pm rule that can create confusion during busy weekends like Memorial Day. The Reserve America section gives advance-booking campers more predictability and, at times, access to quieter clusters of sites. Gun Creek and other options for camping near Whittington give campers additional choices if the park is at capacity. Groceries are roughly 20 minutes away, so arrive with supplies already stocked.

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Map & DirectionsWayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground is located in Illinois near Whittington

Public Campground

Directions

Located 6 miles north of Benton. The park entrance is 2 miles west of Interstate 57, located on Illinois Route 154.

Address

11094 Ranger Rd
Whittington, IL 62897

Coordinates

38.11100084 N
88.93400075 W

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Connectivity

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T-Mobile5G
Good Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 6 users
Last on 7/9/26
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage

Connectivity

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T-Mobile5G
Good Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 6 users
Last on 7/9/26
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Cabins
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
50 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

1 hr 7 min from Paducah, KY
1 hr 17 min from St. Louis, MO
1 hr 24 min from Cape Girardeau, MO
1 hr 31 min from Evansville, IN

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Reviews14 Camper Reviews - Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.5

out of 5

14 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the spacious, well-maintained sites with clean facilities and lakefront access for fishing and hunting. Some noted concerns about uneven sites and occasional noise from the interstate. The booking system can be confusing during peak times.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Kennon H.

Guide

Reviewed Apr. 23, 2025

Quick overnight

Lots of interstate noise. Many sites are very off level. CHECK carefully

Site28

Month of VisitApril

Cody S.

Guide

Reviewed Jan. 5, 2025

Lake camping with space

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. Rend lake is a good size lake with numerous areas to explore the water.

The showers and bathrooms are centrally located, so they are a bit of a hike. They are clean and not too busy.

Site31

Month of VisitSeptember

Blake M.

Guide

Reviewed May. 24, 2023

Good Luck

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. And people can stay as long as they want as long as they pay for the next day by then. But if they don’t pay they have to leave by 9am the next morning. So you never know when people are actually leaving or a spot was opening up. Every spot was taken when we go in and we heard from the check in lady that someone was leaving so we went and waited watching them pack up to get their spot. We were there for one night and had 5-6 people come to us asking what time we were leaving the next morning. It was crazy. This was also the week before memorial day weekend so that’s probably why. Primitive camping was closed. We were in a truck with a roofnest.

Site183

Month of VisitMay

Matthew B.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2022

Peaceful

Sites are well spaced apart. Bathrooms are pretty disgusting buggy and dirty.

Site11

Bill P.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 17, 2021

Large sites

This is a very nice campground with very large back in spots in the reserved area. There are restrooms but no trash dumpsters in the camping area. Very well shaded but no real view of the lake.

Site7

Month of VisitSeptember

(5) View All

Angie

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 18, 2021

Nice stay

Campground clean, peaceful, campsites are paved, ours was pitched, Tmobile data slow

Month of VisitJuly

Joel R.

Legend

Reviewed Apr. 10, 2021

Quiet camping convenient to I-57

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. It’s convenient for a short stop if you are traveling through, or as a destination. Although it’s right off the interstate there is no traffic noise. The campground has 40 tent sites and over 240 modern campsites, which offer electrical hookups, water and sewer facilities. Modern sites are $20/night, with 30/50 amp service. Primitive sites are $6. There is no internet. There are a few pull through sites.. there is lots of room and the sites appear to be level. There are 3 shower buildings. Many sites can be reserved online. There is a playground, and boat ramp. The park has hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking and boating. there is a golf course nearby and a lodge. Rend Lake is well-known for crappie, particularly in the early spring, as well as largemouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill.

(8) View All

Tina J.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 22, 2020

Abundant Wildlife

Reservations made through Reserve America, this allowed us to have this part of the park almost to ourselves. We had 3 of the sites closest to the lake with only electric. Bathhouses were a little bit of a walk. With our 40' diesel we did not have to use them. The sites were pretty level. The campground is well kept, about 20 minutes from any groceries so come with your neccessities.

Jim L.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 15, 2020

WF State Rec Area

I’m here every year. Had to wait this year though cause of the virus. Beautiful and quiet. The fishing is really good here.

Month of VisitJune

J K.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 6, 2019

Beautiful Rend Lake campground

This is an older state park but still has hundreds of well-maintained sites and if you get to some of the first come sites at just the right time you will have a lakefront campsite to enjoy. Easy to get around and plenty of facilities with bath houses and bathrooms as well as playgrounds for the kids and hiking and biking trails.

Lucas T.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 1, 2019

Wildlife

Never been to a CG with such abundant wildlife! Can sit at your spot and watch deer throughout the day. Spots are first come first serve but seldom sell out. Get there on Wednesday to get a spot on the water!

Annie C.

Legend

Reviewed Apr. 30, 2019

Great lake views here

I tried to camp here in the primitive tent area, however the primitive campground was closed and I could not find anyone who could tell me when or if it would reopen. There was a sign stating it was closed in October due to staffing issues. 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! There were several loops and spurs, including one set aside for volunteers only and one that was for Reserve America only (I’ve never seen that before). I am guessing that the primitive section has some lake access or views like the Class A section does (and the lake views are great!). Looks like a burn was done recently to clear out brush and fall leaves along the backs of a couple of loops. There is a bike trail that seems to go throughout the park but is in pretty bad shape. I would not use a good bike on this and would bring some patches and spare tubes. All sites had the requisite picnic tables and fire rings. There were two campground host sites, but no one seemed on duty to answer my questions. All of the spring flowers were blooming in the woods along the bike trail, which was nice to look at as I bounced down the lanes.

Month of VisitApril

(10) View All

Chad K.

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 18, 2016

Hidden and nice

The campground offers a wide variety of sites from RV to primitive. For a tent camper, spots were level and nice. The facilities are clean and well maintained. The camp is close to the lake and offers several places to throw your pole in. There is a short hiking trail that will take you to the resort. All in all a nice place to stay.

Jill R.

Ranger

Reviewed Jul. 18, 2016

Close to the lake

We stay here every year during duck hunting season it is awesome because you are so close to Rend to where it's not that big of a hassle to wake up in the early morning and get to a good spot

Frequently Asked Questions

What do reviews say about camping at Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area?

Campers consistently praise Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area for its beautiful lakeside setting and abundant wildlife, with deer often visible throughout the day. The spacious, well-maintained sites receive positive mentions, particularly the coveted lakefront spots. Visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere despite proximity to I-57, noting there's minimal highway noise. The campground is described as clean with good fishing opportunities. Some challenges mentioned include occasionally dirty bathrooms, complicated reservation procedures for first-timers, and the practice of visitors claiming sites by leaving items there. T-Mobile data service can be slow in the area.

What activities can you do at Rend Lake near Wayne Fitzgerrell Campground?

Rend Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities right from Wayne Fitzgerrell Campground, with multiple spots to cast your line. The lake is perfect for boating and water exploration, with numerous areas to discover. Duck hunting is popular during season, with the campground serving as a convenient base for early morning hunting trips. There's a short hiking trail that leads to the lake, and the area is good for biking. The campground's lakefront sites provide easy water access, and wildlife viewing is exceptional—many campers enjoy watching deer throughout the day right from their campsites.

What camping facilities are available at Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area?

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area offers diverse camping options, including Class A sites with electric hookups for RVs and a primitive tent camping area (though this may close seasonally due to staffing). The campground features paved sites, many of which are spacious and well-shaded. Facilities include clean bathhouses and restrooms, though they may be a walk from some sites. The campground has both reservable sites (through Reserve America) and first-come, first-served options. Many sites are fairly level, though some RV sites may be pitched or uneven, so checking carefully before setting up is recommended.

Where is Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area Campground located?

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area is located on the shores of Rend Lake in Southern Illinois, just off Interstate 57. This convenient location makes it easily accessible for travelers passing through the region. Despite being close to the interstate, the campground remains peaceful with minimal traffic noise. The location offers excellent access to Rend Lake, making it ideal for both short stopovers during long journeys and as a destination in itself.

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