Campgrounds and RV parks near Crainville, IL

Crainville sits in Williamson County in southern Illinois, minutes from Marion, Carterville, and Carbondale. The village is a practical base for RV trips into the Shawnee Hills, with Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge on its doorstep and Giant City State Park a short drive south. Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge covers almost 44,000 acres and contains three lakes: Crab Orchard, Little Grassy, and Devils Kitchen. Four seasonally operational campgrounds are open from April through October and offer full hook-up, water, electric, or non-electric sites. Concession-run facilities on Crab Orchard Lake include Blue Heron Marina and Campground, operated by The REEF LLC. Nearby, Little Grassy Lake Campground and Marina sits on undeveloped shoreline inside the refuge, while Four Seasons Campground and Marion Campground and RV Park offer additional RV parking closer to town services. Horse Camp at Giant City State Park serves equestrian visitors on the park's southwest side.

Illinois state park sites, including the Class A sites at Giant City State Park and the equestrian Horse Camp, are booked through the state's ExploreMoreIL reservation system. Campers arriving without a reservation can use the silent host self-registration system at the campground entrance, though walk-up availability is limited in spring and fall. Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge campgrounds operate on different systems depending on the site. Crab Orchard Lake Campground and Blue Heron Marina and Campground are run by concessionaire The REEF LLC and can be booked through the operator's website or by calling the campground directly. Little Grassy Lake Campground and Marina takes reservations through its own operator. Private parks such as Four Seasons Campground and Marion Campground and RV Park handle bookings on their own websites or by phone. Reserve summer weekends and holidays well in advance; sites fill quickly during peak season.