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Camping near Frohna, MO

5 campgrounds with availability next weekend

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    Camping options around Frohna, Missouri include a mix of developed facilities and more rustic settings within an hour's drive. The area features several established campgrounds like Trail of Tears State Park and Turkey Bayou Campground, offering both tent and RV accommodations. Perryville RV Resort provides full hookups and cabin rentals approximately 10 miles northwest of Frohna, while more primitive camping can be found at conservation areas like Apple Creek. The region's camping landscape spans both Missouri and nearby Illinois, with several sites situated along rivers and lakes.

    Seasonal considerations impact camping experiences throughout the area, with many sites operating year-round while others close during winter months. Trail of Tears State Park and Lake Murphysboro State Park maintain facilities throughout the year, while Pine Hills Campground typically operates from mid-March through mid-December. Road access varies by location, with some sites requiring travel on gravel roads that may become challenging during wet conditions. Turkey Bayou requires navigation down approximately four miles of gravel road that can be difficult for larger vehicles. As one visitor noted, "The only downside is the drive in - 4 miles of gravel road that was slow going in our 36' class A - lots of overhanging trees that will rip a TPO roof."

    The waterfront locations throughout the region receive particularly strong reviews from visitors. Turkey Bayou Campground, despite its primitive nature with only porta-potties and no running water, earns consistent praise for its peaceful setting along the Big Muddy River. Several campers highlighted the campground's spaciousness and natural beauty. One visitor remarked, "We pulled in to see many of the large sites available and picked the one with a tree for shade looking over the river." The free camping at Turkey Bayou makes it especially popular, though visitors should be prepared for basic conditions. Other campgrounds in the region provide varying levels of amenities, from the more developed facilities at Perryville RV Resort to the simpler accommodations at conservation areas, giving campers options based on their desired comfort level.

    Best Campgrounds near Frohna (106)

      1. Turkey Bayou Campground

      4.3(15)12mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents

      "We took a chance camping here since we hang hammocks but we found a site that had some trees nearby. We were pleasantly surprised to see a port-a-pottie at the campground."

      "Stayed during the eclipse so crowds were intense but the hosts lets us camp where we could find room, the site was clean and the pond was beautiful (as always bring the bug spray when camping near the"

      2. Trail of Tears State Park Campground

      4.1(21)16mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents

      "Due to the pandemic, only one host has volunteered for Trail of Tears."

      "PRO  Senior discount saving $6 

      Able to reserve on-line 365 days prior to arriving 

      Very friendly and helpful camp host 

      Unobstructed view of the Mississippi River 

      Great dark sky viewing 

      No highway"

      3. Perryville RV Resort By Rjourney

      4.6(12)17mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "Close to home. Extra clean. Friendly staff. Lots of trees. Drive Through. Easy access off the interstate. Town close by, and a Walmart."

      "Great clean campground- easy hook ups- pleasant staff and close to town. Went to Mary Janes for dinner gotta recommend! Campground Has a trail to a hike around lake. Playground was fun and safe."

      4. Giant City State Park Campground

      4.2(26)24mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "There is currently walk in only unless you are reserving a horse camp. There are fantastic hiking trails and equestrian trails here and you would think you are in the mountains here."

      "The Trillium Trail in the Park has beautiful views and rock formations. Get ice cream and walk the Secret Garden in Makanda. Lake Glendale is close by for swimming and kayak rentals."

      5. Pine Hills

      4.4(5)14mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents

      "Overall good location and an occasional train but overall great spot."

      from $10 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Goatey Goat Ranch RV Park & Campground

      5.0(3)13mi from Frohna3 sitesRVs

      "The trail back to the site is truly one of a kind. Highly recommend you will not be disappointed."

      from $30 - $50 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Devils Backbone Park

      3.0(2)6mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "There are 21 miles of trails throughout the park and a large lake. The attractions are all relatively close to the road (cave, "hidden" spring, and trout streams)."

      8. Johnson Creek

      3.2(6)15mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents

      "single, double, and triple camping spots set up on three loops in this small campground nestled in the corner of shawnee national forest. there's a central bath house located near check in. only amenities"

      "The site was fairly secluded, and right on Kincade lake."

      9. Lake Murphysboro State Park Campground

      3.0(7)16mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "We had pit toilets, but had to drive elsewhere for showers. I would come back again."

      10. turkey bayou campground Illinois

      4.0(2)12mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents

      "Often empty, free, great hiking near by. Known to flood but it’s volunteer run and you will have to check local weather reports to know."

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    Recent Reviews near Frohna, MO

    548 Reviews of 106 Frohna Campgrounds

    • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 30, 2026

      Whittington Woods Campground

      Decent Campground

      We 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.

    • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 29, 2026

      Marion/Shawnee National Forest KOA Holiday

      Different than Most KOA Holidays

      We 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.

    • Ronald C.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 14, 2026

      South Marcum Campground

      Large site

      Great campsite very large easy to get in and additional parking for your truck right next to your trailer

    • Scott M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 13, 2026

      COE Rend Lake North Sandusky Recreation Area

      Excellent campground

      What 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!

    • Randy H.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 27, 2026

      Gun Creek

      Great Digs

      Rend 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.

    • DThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 25, 2026

      Giant City State Park Campground

      Good staff & clean facility.

      I 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.

    • Jay L.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 19, 2026

      Pine Hills

      Great

      Great campground, no reservations required and has bathrooms available. Overall good location and an occasional train but overall great spot.

    Guide to Frohna

    Camping near Frohna, Missouri occurs primarily in wooded landscapes at elevations between 400-600 feet above sea level. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes with hot, humid summers reaching 90°F and winter temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds remain accessible year-round with primitive sites available at conservation areas during all seasons except flooding periods.

    What to do

    Fishing at Apple Creek Conservation Area: Located approximately 15 miles south of Frohna, this conservation area provides access to Apple Creek for fishing and kayaking. "The creek is a good place to fish and you can launch a kayak the boat ramp. A picnic table and trash can were also on the site," notes visitor Ralph S. at Apple Creek Conservation Area.

    Hiking at Giant City State Park: About 40 miles southeast of Frohna, this park offers multiple trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "Lots of amazing, beautiful hikes in this park, especially if you're into bluffs and large boulders. Easy drive to many other picturesque and unique parks (i.e. Garden of the Gods, Ferne Clyffe)," shares Kyle K. The park also features "a new picnic shelter" that is "beautiful and there is seating around a fire pit," according to Chelsea D.

    Star gazing at rural sites: The open skies and minimal light pollution create excellent star viewing opportunities. At Goatey Goat Ranch RV Park & Campground, just 10 miles northwest of Frohna, campers experience "perfect star gazing, only 5 to 10 minutes from grocery store & downtown area for drinks & dining," as described by Carisa S.

    What campers like

    Secluded sites along water: Many campgrounds offer waterfront sites providing peaceful settings. At Turkey Bayou Campground, about 35 miles southeast, "we pulled in to see many of the large sites available and picked the one with a tree for shade looking over the river," reports Bernadette H. Another camper, Ethan B., notes it feels "criminal this is free" with sites that are "clean, right next on the water, only 2 other groups (~20 sites total)."

    Clean facilities despite primitive settings: Even basic campgrounds maintain serviceable amenities. Sheryl P. mentions Turkey Bayou had a "port-a-pottie at the campground. It was clean and had toilet paper. Middle of the week in June and the campground was about half empty. Very peaceful place. We could hear the fish jumping all night."

    Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region offers chances to observe native wildlife. At Trail of Tears State Park Campground, approximately 25 miles south of Frohna, visitors report seeing deer and enjoying "great dark sky viewing" with "unobstructed view of the Mississippi River," according to reviewer Napunani.

    What you should know

    Road conditions vary significantly: Access to some campgrounds requires traveling on unpaved roads. Pine Hills Campground, 45 miles southeast of Frohna, has "very quiet and secluded" sites where "some firewood is supplied," according to Cecilia. However, the access road requires attention during wet weather.

    Seasonal variations affect availability: While many sites operate year-round, some have limited seasons. Pine Hills operates from "March 15 to December 15," making it unavailable during the coldest winter months.

    Cell service is inconsistent: Coverage varies widely between campgrounds. At Johnson Creek, 50 miles south, visitors note spotty connectivity, though some areas maintain service. One campground 35 miles southeast reports that "spectrum Mobile works out here," according to Elisha S., who added it was "peaceful" with "not too many people."

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground accessibility: Some campgrounds feature dedicated children's areas. At Perryville RV Resort, 10 miles northwest of Frohna, families appreciate the "giant trampoline" which "looked like it would be my daughters favorite thing," notes Jamey W. The campground also has "a pool better then most hotels."

    Safety considerations: Campgrounds with ranger patrols offer added security for families. At Pine Hills, Dave N. reports feeling safe even in solitude: "sheriff drove through on patrol twice while I was there," making it a "great spot if you want some solitude but still wanna feel safe."

    Water recreation options: Several camping areas provide swimming and boating opportunities. At Lake Murphysboro State Park Campground, about 55 miles southeast, visitors enjoy fishing and canoeing. Joel R. notes it has "lots of free fire wood, hiking, fishing and canoeing" making it especially suitable for group camping with children.

    Tips from RVers

    Hookup availability: Full-service sites exist at select campgrounds. The Perryville RV Resort offers complete utilities approximately 10 miles from Frohna. Chad H. describes it as "very clean well maintained, very large grassy area for lots of room for kids to run around."

    Site spacing considerations: RV sites vary significantly in size and proximity. Napunani observes at Trail of Tears State Park that "sites that back to the river very close to each other. We stepped out our door onto the neighbors stinky slinky. Insufficient space to deploy awning." This matters for planning which campground best suits your vehicle size.

    Leveling requirements: Prepare for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. Several reviewers note challenges with site leveling, particularly at natural surface sites. At Trail of Tears, one RVer reported "Site 6 not level side-to-side," requiring stabilization equipment.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What camping is available near Frohna, MO?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Frohna, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 106 campgrounds and RV parks near Frohna, MO and 4 free dispersed camping spots.

    Which is the most popular campground near Frohna, MO?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Frohna, MO is Turkey Bayou Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 15 reviews.

    Where can I find free dispersed camping near Frohna, MO?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Frohna, MO.

    What parks are near Frohna, MO?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 10 parks near Frohna, MO that allow camping, notably Rend Lake and Shawnee National Forest.