Top Camping Spots Near Cartter, IL: Explore Scenic Outdoor Adventures & Parks
Nestled in the scenic landscapes of Cartter, IL, outdoor enthusiasts can find a variety of camping options that cater to every preference, from RV setups to tent camping and even dispersed sites. The nearby Shawnee National Forest offers numerous campgrounds ideal for RVers, complete with electric hookups and proximity to picturesque hiking trails, such as the breathtaking Garden of the Gods. For those seeking a more rustic experience, tent camping at nearby campgrounds allows visitors to immerse themselves in nature, with serene spots along the banks of the Ohio River that are perfect for fishing and picnicking. Dispersed camping is also a popular choice in the surrounding forests, where adventurers can set up camp away from the crowds and truly connect with the natural beauty of southern Illinois. The region's rolling hills, diverse wildlife, and lush woodlands provide an ideal backdrop for outdoor activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. Whether you're traveling with an RV, pitching a tent, or exploring off-the-beaten-path sites, Cartter, IL, offers a rich camping experience that celebrates the charm of the great outdoors.

















Boulder Rec Area in Clinton County is located 1 hr 7 min east of Belleville, IL with an elevation of 457 feet. There are a total of 82 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid April to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 43 and 101 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. 8 sites have electric and water hookups. 74 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $36.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, laundry facility, playground, boat ramp, marina, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Coles Creek Rec Area in Clinton County is located 1 hr 6 min east of Belleville, IL with an elevation of 464 feet. There are a total of 146 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of September. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 39 and 115 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. 25 sites have electric and water hookups. 121 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $250.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, swimming, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Lotus Group Area in Clinton County is located 1 hr 6 min east of Belleville, IL with an elevation of 457 feet. The site is normally open from the beginning of May to the beginning of September. Prices start at $125.00 per night. Some amenities include playground. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Mcnair Group Area in Clinton County is located 55 min east of Belleville, IL with an elevation of 446 feet. The site is open all year. Prices start at $125.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, dump station, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Dam West Rec. Area in Clinton County is located 51 min east of Belleville, IL with an elevation of 448 feet. There are a total of 108 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the beginning of November. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 51 and 138 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. 23 sites have electric and water hookups. 85 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $52.00. Some amenities include dump station, swimming, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, floating sports.
Gun Creek Campground in Franklin County is located 49 min northeast of Carbondale, IL with an elevation of 472 feet. There are a total of 100 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid March to the end of November. 99 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 99 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 25 sites have electric and water hookups. 74 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $30.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Shagbark Group Area in Franklin County is located 53 min northeast of Carbondale, IL with an elevation of 453 feet. The site is normally open from the end of March to the beginning of November. Prices start at $175.00 per night. Some amenities include amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, floating sports.
North Sandusky Campground in Franklin County is located 53 min northeast of Carbondale, IL with an elevation of 453 feet. There are a total of 97 campsites. The campground is normally open from the end of March to the beginning of November. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 90 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 23 sites have electric and water hookups. 74 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $26.00. Some amenities include shower, playground, swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
South Sandusky Campground in Franklin County is located 49 min northeast of Carbondale, IL with an elevation of 483 feet. There are a total of 127 campsites including 8 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of March to the beginning of November. 119 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 45 and 99 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. 89 sites have electric and water hookups. 30 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $16.00 to $26.00. Some amenities include shower, playground, swimming, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
South Marcum Campground in Franklin County is located 51 min northeast of Carbondale, IL with an elevation of 437 feet. There are a total of 160 campsites including 14 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of March to mid November. 146 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 32 and 94 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 46 sites have electric and water hookups. 100 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $16.00 to $44.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, dump station, playground, restroom, trash dumpster, ramada, flush toilets. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Lithia Springs Campground in Shelby County is located 52 min southeast of Decatur, IL with an elevation of 654 feet. There are a total of 102 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 100 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 35 sites have electric and water hookups. 67 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $36.00. Some amenities include dump station, boat ramp, swimming, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Opossum Creek Campground in Shelby County is located 42 min south of Decatur, IL with an elevation of 655 feet. There are a total of 63 campsites including 17 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the beginning of September. 46 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 100 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 14 sites have electric and water hookups. 49 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $16.00 to $32.00. Some amenities include dump station, playground, boat ramp, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Coon Creek Campground in Shelby County is located 46 min southeast of Decatur, IL with an elevation of 665 feet. There are a total of 176 campsites including 12 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. 164 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 99 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 19 sites have electric and water hookups. 157 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $48.00. Some amenities include boat ramp, swimming, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Lone Point Campground in Shelby County is located 47 min southeast of Decatur, IL with an elevation of 648 feet. There are a total of 64 campsites including 1 tent-only site. The campground is normally open from mid May to the beginning of September. 63 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 80 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 15 sites have electric and water hookups. 48 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $16.00 to $32.00. Some amenities include dump station, boat ramp, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Forrest W. Bo Wood Campground in Shelby County is located 43 min southeast of Decatur, IL with an elevation of 617 feet. There are a total of 135 campsites including 4 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the end of October. 131 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 50 and 150 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 58 sites have electric and water hookups. 77 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $48.00. Some amenities include dump station, laundry facility, boat ramp, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Wilborn Creek Group Campground in Shelby County is located 38 min southeast of Decatur, IL with an elevation of 662 feet. The site is normally open from mid April to the end of October. Prices start at $240.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Babler Campground is part of Babler State Park in Missouri (just 14 min southwest of Chesterfield, MO) with an elevation of 752 feet. There are a total of 72 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 52 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 12 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 47 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $27.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, playground, restroom, trash dumpster, amphitheater, firewood, flush toilets. Activities include biking, hiking trails.
Silver Mines Campground is located in the Potosi / Fredericktown Ranger District, Mark Twain National Forest (just 28 min south of Farmington, MO) with an elevation of 588 feet. There are a total of 49 campsites including 12 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of March to the end of October. 36 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 60 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 9 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $11.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Eureka Campground in Livingston County is located 39 min east of Paducah, KY with an elevation of 437 feet. There are a total of 27 campsites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to mid October. 26 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 16 and 65 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 24 sites have electric and water hookups. 2 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $35.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, floating sports.
Canal Campground in Livingston County is located 36 min east of Paducah, KY with an elevation of 379 feet. There are a total of 115 campsites including 2 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of March to the end of October. 106 sites can accommodate RVs between 20 and 99 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 28 sites have electric and water hookups. 87 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $240.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, restroom, trash dumpster, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Hurricane Creek Campground in Livingston County is located 55 min east of Paducah, KY with an elevation of 389 feet. There are a total of 51 campsites including 6 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to the end of October. 45 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 64 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 16 sites have electric and water hookups. 28 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $12.00 to $30.00. Some amenities include shower, swimming. Activities include fishing.
Council Bluff Rec Area is located in the Potosi / Fredericktown Ranger District, Mark Twain National Forest (48 min west of Farmington, MO) with an elevation of 1,282 feet. There are a total of 42 campsites including 8 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to mid October. 32 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $11.00 to $25.00. Some amenities include playground, swimming. Activities include fishing.
Sam A. Baker Campground is part of Sam A. Baker State Park in Missouri (56 min south of Farmington, MO) with an elevation of 406 feet. There are a total of 194 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 27 and 77 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 12 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 139 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, sewer hookup, dump station, laundry facility, boat ramp, restroom, trash dumpster, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails, floating sports.
Tipsaw Lake Campground is located in the Tell City Ranger District, Hoosier National Forest (1 hr 6 min northeast of Owensboro, KY) with an elevation of 518 feet. There are a total of 47 campsites including 2 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the end of October. 43 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 102 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 11 sites have electric and water hookups. 22 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $21.00 to $70.00. Some amenities include shower, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Indian Celina Lake Campground is located in the Tell City Ranger District, Hoosier National Forest (1 hr 3 min northeast of Owensboro, KY) with an elevation of 746 feet. There are a total of 27 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 35 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 24 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $21.00 to $44.00. Some amenities include shower, playground. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Greenville Rec Area is located in the Poplar Bluff Ranger District, Mark Twain National Forest (54 min south of Farmington, MO) with an elevation of 378 feet. There are a total of 96 campsites including 95 boat sites. The campground is normally open from mid March to the beginning of November. 95 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 44 and 125 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 95 sites have electric and water hookups. 1 site has electric hookups. Fees range from $24.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, accessible, playground, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Highway K Campground in Iron County is located 57 min southwest of Farmington, MO with an elevation of 570 feet. There are a total of 81 campsites including 1 tent-only site. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. 80 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 12 and 96 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 20 sites have electric and water hookups. 34 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Red Bluff Campground is located in the Potosi / Fredericktown Ranger District, Mark Twain National Forest (2 hrs southwest of O'Fallon, MO) with an elevation of 881 feet. There are a total of 25 campsites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to the end of October. 24 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 45 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 23 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $11.00 to $36.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station. Activities include fishing, floating sports.
Peoples Creek Campground in Wayne County is located 1 hr 8 min southwest of Cape Girardeau, MO with an elevation of 435 feet. There are a total of 55 campsites including 3 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of April to the beginning of September. 52 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 18 and 62 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. All sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $16.00 to $40.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, restroom, trash dumpster, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Redman Creek Campground in Wayne County is located 1 hr 10 min southwest of Cape Girardeau, MO with an elevation of 419 feet. There are a total of 101 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 40 and 87 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. All sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $24.00 to $48.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, swimming, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include biking, hiking trails.