Gun Creek
Gun Creek Campground is located on the eastern shore of Rend Lake— the perfect place to enjoy a wide variety of activities, events, and nature at its best. Rend Lake is made up of 20,633 acres of water and 19,523 acres of land. Whether you're looking for high adventure, a peaceful retreat, or something in between, you'll find it here in the heart of Southern Illinois.
More like this: electric hookups in Illinois · full hookups in Illinois · reservable in Illinois · big rigs in Illinois · pets allowed in Illinois · group sites in Illinois
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 100 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 52 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
101 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 041 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 30/50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 3 | Yes | |||
| 042 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 30/50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 043 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 30/50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 044 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 30/50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 045 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 30/50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 046 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 30/50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 047 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 30/50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 048 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 30/50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||||
| 049 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 30/50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | |||
| 050 | BLUE | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 30/50 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 05:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 052, 062, 089, 100 and 2 more are listed accessible |
Gun Creek Campground offers 98 reservable campsites equipped with electric hookups, a picnic table, and a firepit. The campground offers a dump station, hot showers, flush toilets, and drinking water to provide a comfortable camping experience for guests. A playground is also conveniently located within the Nighthawk and Eagle camping loops.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-57 take exit 77 and turn west on Route 154. Turn left onto Gun Creek Trail/Larry Foster Parkway, then right onto Golf Course Road. Continue 1/2 mile to park entrance.
| Nearest town | Whittington, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 38.0786° N, 88.9303° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 3.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 5.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Gander Outdoors ↗ | 22.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Gun Creek Recreation Area Campground Tour -near Whittington, Illinois
Worth a stop
Rend Lake Golf Complex, which includes a 27-hole golf course, restaurant, and lodge. Rend Lake Shooting Complex Rend Lake Archery Complex Rend Lake Mountain Bike Trail Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park North Marcum Day Use (Beach and Boat Ramp)
- 3.8 miJackie Branch Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 5.2 miIna Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Franklin County JailBuilding · Benton · 5.7 mi
- Sesser Opera HouseBuilding · Sesser · 6.6 mi
- C. H. Judd HouseBuilding · Belle · 10.2 mi
Natural features
The fields, forests and waters of Rend Lake provide a natural haven for wildlife and an outdoor wonderland for you. Woodland areas are made up of hickory, oak, and beautiful maples providing habitat to white-tail deer, turkeys, racoons, and many more native species. The shorelines are an excellent viewing area for waterfowl, shorebirds, and bank fishing our known crappie population.
Recreation
Gun Creek Campground is conveniently located near the Gun Creek Day Use Area, which includes a boat ramp and a reservable picnic shelter. The area offers abundant opportunities for boating, hiking, fishing, hunting, swimming, and general outdoor exploration. Additional recreation features around Rend Lake include the Rend Lake Bike Trail, an archery complex with a 3D trail and elevated shooting platform, a dog park with a swimming feature, and two public swimming beaches (including the pet-friendly North Marcum Beach).
Guidebooks for Illinois
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Gun Creek?
Sites at Gun Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Gun Creek?
Check-in 05:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Gun Creek have?
101 sites, including 100 standard sites with power and 1 group shelter electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Gun Creek?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Gun Creek have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Gun Creek?
The campground offers a dump station, hot showers, flush toilets, and drinking water to provide a comfortable camping experience for guests.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Gun Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Gun Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Gun Creek?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Gun Creek?
Sites 052, 062, 089, and 100 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 6 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Gun Creek?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Gun Creek?
Gun Creek Campground is conveniently located near the Gun Creek Day Use Area, which includes a boat ramp and a reservable picnic shelter. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Gun Creek?
Whittington, Illinois. Rend Lake Golf Complex, which includes a 27-hole golf course, restaurant, and lodge.
Source: Getting there