Campgrounds and RV parks near Cambria, IL

Water recreation anchors most trips. Crab Orchard Lake covers about 7,000 acres and supports campgrounds, marinas, and multiple boat launches. Blue Heron Marina and Campground provides launch access, boat rentals, fishing, and lake frontage on the northwestern shore. Giant City State Park is the region's main hiking draw. Popular trails include the Giant City Nature Trail, Red Cedar Trail, and Trillium Trail. Rock climbing and rappelling are permitted in designated areas of the park. Horse owners may use the Class A Equestrian Campground from May 1 through October 31, with direct access to the park's 12-mile equestrian loop trail. The refuge is a major stop on the Mississippi Flyway, with wintering Canada goose numbers that can peak near 200,000, making fall and winter strong for birdwatching.

Camping seasons here follow the standard southern Illinois pattern. Blue Heron Marina and Campground, now operated as Bluegill Bay Marina and Campground by The REEF LLC, runs seasonally from April 1 through October 31. At Giant City State Park, the shower building in the Class A campground closes the day after the first shotgun deer season and reopens April 1. Spring is wet and green, with April typically among the region's rainiest months; trails can be muddy and creeks run high. Summer brings warm, humid conditions, active lake use, and higher demand for lakefront sites. Fall delivers milder days, lower humidity, and strong hardwood color across the Shawnee, and it overlaps with waterfowl migration on Crab Orchard Lake. Winter operations are limited. Little Grassy Lake Campground and Marina closed at the end of 2024 ahead of a complete lake drawdown for dam repairs, so travelers should verify current status before booking. Cold-weather RVers should expect closed shower houses at several properties and plan around shotgun deer seasons in November and December.

Sites range from full-hookup RV pads to primitive walk-ins. Blue Heron Marina and Campground offers 34 campsites with water and electric hookups, a bathhouse, laundry, fish cleaning station, and an activity center. The property also includes primitive tent camping and a full-service shower house and dump station. Giant City's Class A Campground provides water, electricity, showers, and sanitary facilities for tent and trailer camping, and its Class C walk-in area offers a more primitive setting with privies and shared showers. Nine Class A sites offer 50-amp service. Sandstone bluffs can be slippery when wet, and venomous copperhead snakes are found on sunny ledges, so use caution on trails. Cell coverage inside the refuge and deeper park areas can be patchy, so download maps before arrival.