The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Equestrian Camping near Frohna, MO

21 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates

    Giant City State Park offers 25 equestrian campsites in a separate area from the standard RV and tent campground. The sites have been upgraded with 50-amp full service hookups, accommodating horse owners who prefer bringing their trailers. Each site includes a horse hitch, fire ring, and access to potable water. The campground connects directly to an extensive network of horse trails that wind through the park's distinctive rock formations and forested areas. Campers regularly note the well-maintained horse facilities and convenience of having dedicated space for both horses and riders. The equestrian area operates on a reservation system separate from the main campground.

    Johnson Creek Recreation Area in the northwestern edge of the Shawnee National Forest features a loop specifically designed for equestrian camping with multiple horse hitches throughout the grounds. This primitive camping area sits on the edge of the forest with more open spaces than the wooded tent camping loops. Self-check-in stations collect the $10 nightly fee for equestrian sites. The campground provides access to several connecting trails suitable for horseback riding, though seasonal maintenance varies considerably. Some riders report significant poison ivy along certain trail sections during summer months. Bathrooms consist of clean pit toilets, and potable water is available at the entrance. Randolph County State Recreation Area adds additional options with an equestrian site containing eight stalls for horses near its group camping area.

    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Frohna (21)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVDispersedCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Giant City State Park Campground

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

      "There are currently 25 equestrian camp sites in this park in a different area than the normal RV and Tent campground."

      "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."

      Check Availability

      2. 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)."

      Check Availability

      3. 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."

      Check Availability

      4. Apple Creek Conservation Area

      3.0(1)7mi from FrohnaTents
      Check Availability

      5. Johnson Creek Campground

      3.0(2)15mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents

      "As with all of southern Illinois it’s very senic rock formations neat trails and fishing."

      Check Availability

      6. Randolph County State Recreation Area

      4.1(8)25mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Getting around is a little right for bigger rigs but still doable as long as you’re careful."

      "Easy walk to the lake with a gorgeous view, , 2 different playgrounds walkable distance from campground."

      Check Availability

      7. Pyramid State Recreation Area

      4.2(5)26mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents

      "Much enjoyed driving around exploring this large state park in IL. Seems to be awesome for fishing as there are many lakes. Great access to the lakes for canoe & kayak."

      "The park office is a pretty long drive from the north end campground. The hiking is limited but the campground was peaceful and close to the lakes. Probably covered in bugs in the summer."

      Check Availability

      8. Crab Orchard Lake Crab Orchard NWR

      4.7(7)28mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This is a quiet family campground, most spots are lake side. Very spacious and lots of trees. First come first serve, and the park was full most of the time we were here."

      "Overall the campground was full but not very many people around. Appears many locals take spots on the weekends & then hold onto them during the week."

      Check Availability

      9. Shawnee Forest Campground

      4.5(37)44mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "We followed our GPS to the clearly marked CG entrance but our GPS showed we still had about a half mile to go."

      "Super friendly camp host, conveniently located off the interstate and feels pretty secure and tranquil. I will say some of the gravel was washed out which is surprising given how dry it’s been."

      from $40 / night

      Check Availability

      10. Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

      4.3(16)36mi from FrohnaRVs, Tents

      "Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois."

      "Dog friendly, pretty well spaced out campsites but some are used as paths with to get to farther back campsites. Good set up, not too close to neighbors and it’s heavily wooded in between."

      Check Availability
    View all 21 campgrounds

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Frohna Contest

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time

    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Frohna, MO

    2 Photos of 21 Frohna Campgrounds

    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Frohna, MO

    193 Reviews of 21 Frohna Campgrounds

    • Michael M.
      Oct. 23, 2017

      Giant City State Park Campground

      Campground Improving in 2017

      There are currently 25 equestrian camp sites in this park in a different area than the normal RV and Tent campground. The campground is being upgraded this year in which I belive they are adding 50 amp full service to many of the electric only sites. 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 geology is much like the Missouri area near the other bank of the Mississippi river. I have tent camped here and camped in a pop-up camper in the fall both times. Hiking is the best activity here unless you ride horses and that is great here too. This one and Wolf Creek on Lake Shelbyville are the best parks in Illinois for horse trails.

    • Stacia R.
      Apr. 27, 2019

      Johnson Creek

      off the beaten path

      Located on Kincaid Lake in the northwestern edge of the Shawnee National forest. The campground has three small loops. Two are more forested with smaller sites and one is more open on the edge of the forest, and geared up for equestrian camping. There are very basic pit toilets that were fairly new and clean. You can get potable water at the entrance. We camped here mid-April and the campground water spigots had not been turned on yet. Camping is $10 a night - self check in. No need to worry about finding firewood, as it is plentiful within the forest. Listened to owls at night before bed.

      We took a short ride to nearby Ava and checked out Scratch Brewery. Delicious and unique little place that is off the beaten path. Only open on weekends, but highly recommend.

    • J K.
      Aug. 10, 2019

      Randolph County State Recreation Area

      Nice quaint campground

      This is a great little campground with a fishing lake. Sites are gravel but well maintained. Sites are fairly close with most shaded. Getting around is a little right for bigger rigs but still doable as long as you’re careful. Make sure you fill up at the dump station before you get to the campground because there’s no easy way to turn around if you miss it. It’s approximately a mile before the campground on your left. Be aware that there are no showers though, only bathrooms. Fifty-one Class BE campsites, 95 Class C campsites, an equestrian site with eight stalls for horses, and four Class D (primitive) campsites are available throughout the area. A group camp area has its own shelter, stone fireplace, electricity and tables. Some campsites at Randolph County SRA can be reserved online through Reserve America at www.reserveamerica.com Randolph County State Recreation Area is a mecca for outdoor recreational activities. Fishing, hiking, picnicking, boating, hunting and camping are just a few of the choices on the 1,101 acres at the site. Located five miles northeast of Chester, Randolph County SRA lies in the rolling hill country of southern Illinois. Offering a cool retreat from hot summer days, well shaded picnic areas, hiking trails and scenic forest stands await park visitors.

      Park Information:

      West Central Illinois

      4301 S. Lake Drive Chester IL 62233

      618-826-2706

      N: 37.968 W: -89.802 History In 1958, land was purchased and plans started to build a dam and spillway for a 65-acre lake. The lake was completed in 1961, and since that time, recreational facilities have been added to provide picnic shelters, toilets, a boat ramp and a concession stand at Randolph County SRA..

      Directions All access to Randolph County SRA is from the west entrance off Palestine Rd. Coming from the North on Route 3, visitors will turn east on Shawneetown Trail south of the town of Ellis Grove. At Palestine, turn south on Palestine Road and proceed two miles, then turn left at the entrance sign. Coming from the north on Route 150, turn west on Shawneetown Trail and proceed to Palestine, then turn south on Palestine Road and proceed to the entrance sign and turn left into the area. Coming from the south from Chester, head north on Palestine Road to the entrance sign and turn right into the area.

    • Mike V.
      Jul. 1, 2016

      Pyramid State Recreation Area

      Pyramid State Park, IL, initial visit

      Much enjoyed driving around exploring this large state park in IL. Seems to be awesome for fishing as there are many lakes. Great access to the lakes for canoe & kayak. Did a nice long walk along one trail late May and there was a lot of bird activity. Can't explore it all on one visit. Saw several people camping, and some were horse back riding on a trail. Hope to go back some day and spend more time there.

    • e
      May. 31, 2018

      Johnson Creek

      woods camping byo horse

      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 there are a pit toilet, so come prepared. drinking water available right outside the camp and most sites have a non-potable water spigot, horse hitch, and fire ring. close to lake kinkaid and johnson creek. there are a few trails that connect to this spot.

      if you have a golden pass then you can receive a discounted stay.

    • A
      Aug. 12, 2018

      Huzzah Valley

      Fun party camp

      This place caters to large groups fun variety of float trips available as well. We stayed in cabin with our dog nice and clean good prices. They offer trail rides on their horses. Dog friendly. Connected to ozark trail.

    • Katie B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 3, 2025

      Dutchman Lake Camp

      Great stop for the night

      We pulled in around midnight and left at 8 am. There’s a large turnaround that could fit many vehicles, but someone was already parked there and we didn’t want to disturb them and also wanted our privacy. There a space for a vehicle to pull off and walk around some boulders to set up a camp, complete with a fire ring. Some bike-packers were already set up there. Close to the lake there is another spot for one or two vehicles. The lake surface had a lot of bug activity - no thanks! We ended up choosing a grassy space next to the curve in the road in between our neighbors. Very peaceful! No bugs.

    • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Apr. 30, 2019

      Gun Creek

      Fish and camp on Rend Lake

      One of the first campgrounds that you come to at Rend Lake when you get off the highway, this campground has lots of positives and few negatives. Among the positives is that this is a 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. That being said, every site has electric (a plus), and every site looked well maintained. There are quite a few sites on the lake or with lake views, and these seemed to be the most coveted sites. My site was on the lake with a down slope reaching down to the tent/picnic pad (a concern if it was going to rain hard), and littered with sweet gum balls that had not been swept up yet. However, I had plenty of space at my site (#79) to spread out and relax. It was pretty neat to look at the exposed roots of trees along the shore, erosion at work. Not far from the campground is a picnic area and the boat launch. One of the down sides is that you can clearly hear the highway from the campground, and of course if you have a lake site, you will have plenty of boat noise. Speaking of boats, most people seemed to be fishing. The campground does not have a fish cleaning station in it but up near the golf course (you drive past it to get to the campground) there is an almost new looking fish cleaning station.

    • Anton T.
      Jul. 31, 2016

      Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

      Ferne Cliffe State Park

      Ferne Cliffe State Park is situated in the Shawnee National Forest, in the southern part of Illinois. It is not among the best known parks, and its distance from bigger cities makes it more obscure and less frequented than other places I have visited. The campground is small, situated on a limestone bluff which is cut by a small rivulet and some seasonal small waterfalls. The area is really a hidden gem - one has to hike down to discover the natural canyon with the awesome sites. The campground is clean and well maintained. A site of interest nearby is the Garden of the Gods wilderness, which 300 million years ago was the bottom of a sea. The whole area was spared by the glacier activity, yet the weathering of the rocks has given us a sandstone plateau with numerous hoodoos. Close nearby are also Cave in Rock and Land Between the Lakes, both worth seeing.

    Guide to Frohna

    Frohna, Missouri sits in proximity to the Shawnee National Forest, placing it near numerous outdoor recreation opportunities. Most campgrounds near Frohna are within 30-40 miles, concentrated in southern Illinois across the Mississippi River. The region features wooded hills, limestone formations, and several lakes that provide habitat for diverse wildlife.

    What to do

    Hiking trails: Giant City State Park offers multiple hiking options 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)," notes Kyle K. about Giant City State Park Campground.

    Fishing opportunities: Several lakes near Frohna provide fishing access. At Randolph County State Recreation Area, visitors can fish the 65-acre lake. As Joel R. mentions, "This campground is located on a small lake in Southern Illinois and managed by the department of natural resources. Good place for Camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking and boating."

    Rock formations: The region features unique geological formations. Ashley Y. reports that Giant City State Park "does offer rock climbing (if you have the expertise and your own gear)." For those interested in exploring without climbing gear, trails lead through impressive rock features throughout the area.

    What campers like

    Spacious campsites: Many campsites in the area provide ample room. At Crab Orchard Lake, Never Sitting S. notes, "This is a quiet family campground, most spots are lake side. Very spacious and lots of trees."

    Wildlife viewing: The natural settings support abundant wildlife. Ferne Clyffe State Park offers evening nature shows, as Stephanie S. describes: "Once darkness hit the fireflies in the forest were magnificent!"

    Multiple water activities: Lakes near Frohna provide various water recreation options. Wendy C. reports at Johnson Creek Recreation Area, "Lake Glendale is close by for swimming and kayak rentals."

    What you should know

    Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate first-come, first-served. At Crab Orchard, "All sites are FC/FS. Full hookups are in Loop B & it was full. Overall the campground was full but not very many people around. Appears many locals take spots on the weekends & then hold onto them during the week," explains Tracie E.

    Facilities range widely: Campground amenities differ significantly throughout the region. Em P. notes about Johnson Creek Recreation Area: "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 there are a pit toilet, so come prepared."

    Trail conditions: Trail maintenance varies seasonally. As Daniel B. mentions about Giant City, "the trail itself is tricky. It does have markings, which keep you on the trail, but there's no way of knowing how far along the hike you are, or how long the hike even is."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Frohna, MO?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Frohna, MO is Giant City State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 24 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Frohna, MO?

    TheDyrt.com has all 21 equestrian camping locations near Frohna, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.

    Keep Exploring