South Marcum Campground
South Marcum Campground is located on the south-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
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 140 |
| Walk-in | 14 |
| RV with electric | 6 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 76 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
160 sites in 6 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 019 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 50/30 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 3 | Yes | |
| 020 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 50/30 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 021 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 50/30 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 022 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 50/30 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 3 | Yes | |
| 023 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 50/30 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 024 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50/30 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 025 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 50/30 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 026 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | 50/30 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | |||
| 027 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 50/30 amp | 8 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 028 | BLOD | Electric | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 50/30 amp | Yes / Yes | 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 04:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 94 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 045, 049, 059, 065 and 2 more are listed accessible |
South Marcum Campground offers 158 reservable campsites each equipped with a picnic table and a firepit. Electric hookups are provided at all sites, excluding tent sites. 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 Whispering Pines camping loop near the shower house.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-57 take exit 71 and turn west onto Highway 14. After 3 miles turn right on Rend City Road, then right on Rend Lake Dam Rd. Continue 3 miles to the park entrance on the left.
| Nearest town | Benton, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 38.0338° N, 88.9402° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 0.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 8.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Gander Outdoors ↗ | 19.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
South Marcum Campground, Rend Lake, Benton, IL
Worth a stop
Rend Lake Spillway Recreation Area Rend Lake Project Office/ Visitor Center Rend Lake Bike Trail
- 5.4 miJackie Branch Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 8 miTurnip Patch Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Public land it sits in
Shawnee National Forest begins about 14.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 14.6 miShawnee National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 930,027 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Franklin County JailBuilding · Benton · 2.7 mi
- Sesser Opera HouseBuilding · Sesser · 7.2 mi
- West Frankfort City HallBuilding · West Frankfort · 9.4 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 the known crappie population.
Recreation
South Marcum Campground is conveniently located near the South Marcum Day Use Area, which includes a boat ramp and a reservable picnic shelter. Within the campground, visitors can access the Rend Lake Bike Trail—over 20 miles of paved pathways that guide riders through scenic woodlands and across views of Rend Lake and the Big Muddy River. The area offers abundant opportunities for boating, hiking, fishing, hunting, swimming, and general outdoor exploration. Additional recreation features around Rend Lake include 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 South Marcum Campground?
Sites at South Marcum Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at South Marcum Campground?
Check-in 05:00 PM, checkout 04:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does South Marcum Campground have?
160 sites, including 140 standard sites with power, 14 walk-in sites, and 6 RV sites with electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at South Marcum Campground?
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 South Marcum Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at South Marcum Campground?
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 South Marcum Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at South Marcum Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at South Marcum Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at South Marcum Campground?
Sites 045, 049, 059, and 065 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 South Marcum Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE 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 South Marcum Campground?
South Marcum Campground is conveniently located near the South Marcum 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 South Marcum Campground?
Benton, Illinois. Rend Lake Spillway Recreation Area Rend Lake Project Office/ Visitor Center Rend Lake Bike Trail
Source: Getting there