Campgrounds and RV parks near Ina, IL

Rend Lake is the main draw. Corps of Engineers boat ramps, swimming beaches at North Marcum and South Sandusky, and the paved Rend Lake Bike Trail that connects the state park to the Rend Lake Resort area give families a full day on the water or on wheels. The 27-hole Rend Lake Golf Course sits adjacent to the recreation area. At Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area, a 4-mile hiking and biking trail runs from the day-use areas through the campgrounds to Rend Lake Resort and connects to the Rend Lake College Bike Trail. A 9-mile bridle trail encircles the wildlife and field-trial area, and the park hosts more than 25 sporting-dog field trial events each year. Off the water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rend Lake Visitor Center, the Southern Illinois Artisans Shop, and small-town shopping and dining in nearby Benton round out a trip.

The Rend Lake camping season runs primarily from spring through late fall, with most Corps of Engineers campgrounds opening around March and closing in November. Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area operates year-round, though services are reduced in winter. Late spring is a busy window. Crappie spawn draws anglers in March and April, largemouth bass fishing improves through May and June, and the wooded loops around the lake come into leaf. Summer brings hot, humid weather, active swimming beaches, and the highest campground demand. Waterfront sites at Wayne Fitzgerrell and the Corps campgrounds fill quickly on weekends, so weekday arrivals are easier for last-minute plans. Fall is quieter and cooler, with waterfowl moving through and catfish and bass still biting. The bridle trail at Wayne Fitzgerrell closes from September 15 to April 15 during hunting and designated field-trial seasons, and hunters use portions of the site heavily in fall and winter, so campers should check park notices before booking a late-season stay.

Wayne Fitzgerrell offers Class A sites with electric hookups, paved pads, three shower buildings, and rigs up to 44 feet. Sites are generally shaded, though some pads are pitched, so it is worth walking the site before leveling. Cell coverage on some carriers can be slow in the area. Whittington Woods is an RV-oriented park with 30- and 50-amp full-hookup pull-throughs, gravel sites under mature oaks, a pool, laundry, and a small store. Benton KOA Journey sits close to I-57 for quick highway pull-offs and offers standard KOA amenities. Expect summer humidity, mosquitoes near the water, and deer moving through the loops throughout the day. Firewood restrictions apply at many parks, and moving outside firewood into the area is discouraged to slow the spread of invasive pests.