Franklin County Camping | 4 Best Campgrounds near Benton, IL

Home to the stunning Rend Lake, you can find Franklin County camping options all around the man-made resovior! Enjoy swimming beaches, great fishing, hiking, and other water sports all while sleeping under the stars! We’ve found the four best campgrounds near Benton to make your trip planning a breeze!

4. Old Bates Campground

This privately owned campground near Rend Lake, Old Bates Campground is open all year long with full hookup-sites to enjoy Franklin county camping in a smaller setting. There is a pool, shower house, area for play, and a pavilion located at the campground for activities. There are tent sites and RV sites. Additional activities near the campgrounds include boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, kayaking, beach access, and more.

For more information and booking, please visit www.reserveamerica.com.

3. Benton KOA

Best Private Franklin County Camping

franklin county camping

Benton KOA is perfect for anyone looking for private franklin county camping and for RV campers with its extra-long and wide RV sites! Conveniently located right off of the highway, this campground has a wide range of amenities available including a 50 Max Amp, Wi-Fi, Pool (open from May to September), Propane, Cable TV, a Snack Bar, Fishing, Basketball, Paddle Boats for rent, and a picnic pavilion. For some reason, they even have a hair salon on the campground too – You’ll have a hard time finding time to leave the campsite with all that the KOA has to offer!

Stay at Benton KOA in one of three ways – RV Sites, Tent Camping, or Lodging in wooden cabins. Explore campsite descriptions and availability on the KOA website.

2. North/South Sandusky Campgrounds

Another Great Option for Franklin County Camping

South Sandusky Campground offers more than 100 reservable campsites with electric hookups at all campsites. The campground has a dump station, full bathroom, and drinking water for all your camping needs. There are also two playgrounds and a volleyball court as well.

South Sandusky is on Rend Lake in Southern Illinois where you can spot white-tailed deer, wild turkey, fox, raccoon, opossum, and others throughout the year. Boating, fishing, hunting, and swimming are available as activities at South Sandusky Campground. To book a campsite, check out recreation.gov for South Sandusky and North Sandusky.

1. Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

Best Franklin County Camping

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area overlooks the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 19,000 Rend Lake Reservoir. There is a wide variety of outdoor recreation for all ages ranging from hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, and other outdoor sports. You will have the ability to spot the American bald eagle, red-tailed hawks, and a variety of mammals such as the white-tailed deer as you explore the lake.

This campsite offers a wide range of opportunities for fishing tournaments, boaters, water skiers, and the regular fisherman. The SRA has 17 tent sites to accommodate campers and then there is upgraded camping offered by 243 modern campsites that offer electrical hookups and bathroom/shower facilities. There are also buildings for campers to shower in. Fees range from $20 a night for sites with electricity down to just $6 per night for basic campsites. Campsite maps and reservations can be found online at www.ExploreMoreIL.com or check out the DNR website for more information.

Additional Options for Franklin County Camping

If these campgrounds are full or you’d like to explore a little further than Rend Lake – Check out our other nearby county camping guides for more of the greatest campgrounds in Illinois!

About the Author

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John Lampros

John grew up camping a few times a year and has carried that passion into adulthood. John's favorite hike is Angel's Landing at Zion National Park and he's always looking for the next peak to conquer!

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