Campgrounds and RV parks near Aviston, IL

Aviston sits in Clinton County in southern Illinois, roughly a half-hour east of the St. Louis metro area and within short driving range of Carlyle Lake, the largest man-made lake in Illinois. The area is flat to gently rolling farmland cut by the Kaskaskia River, with a mix of state recreation areas, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land, and small private and municipal parks that accept RVs. The closest major camping destination is Eldon Hazlet State Recreational Area, a 3,000-acre site on the western shore of Carlyle Lake located 3 miles north of Carlyle and 2 miles east of Illinois Route 127 in Clinton County. The Illini Campground there has 328 Class A campsites with 30 and 50 amp electrical hookups plus 36 Class C walk-in tent sites, and the campground occupies almost 1 1/2 miles of the Carlyle Lake shoreline. Smaller options round out the area. American Legion Freedom Farm and Rustic Acres Campgrounds serve travelers looking for a quieter private-park stay, Kaskaskia River Camping & RV Park sits along the river in New Athens, and Lonely Oaks is one of three campgrounds inside Washington County State Recreation Area south of Nashville.

Illinois state park sites, including Eldon Hazlet and Lonely Oaks at Washington County State Recreation Area, are booked through the state's ExploreMoreIL system. Reservations must be made a minimum of 3 days in advance and can be booked up to 180 days ahead. The maximum stay is 14 nights within a 30-day period, and a non-refundable reservation fee applies. Accessible campsites at Washington County SRA are also reservable through ExploreMoreIL at least 3 days prior to arrival. Private parks such as Rustic Acres Campgrounds, American Legion Freedom Farm, and Kaskaskia River Camping & RV Park handle their own bookings; contact each operator directly to confirm availability, rig length, and hookup type.