Gun Creek

Rend Lake — lakeside, fishing

Location: Benton, IL, IL

Price: From $18 per night

Price range: $18–$30 per night

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (1021 reviews)

Season: May through October

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.Rend Lake Golf Complex, which includes a 27-hole golf course, restaurant, and lodge.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/gun-creek to be notified when sites open up.

Gun Creek offers affordable camping ($18/night) on the eastern shore of Rend Lake with large, private campsites and a full range of amenities including showers, fishing, and boat launch access. Campers consistently praise it as inexpensive, secluded, quiet, and conveniently located for road trips.

Wildlife alert: Osprey, Red-headed Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Palm Warbler, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Spiny Softshell, Gray Ratsnake, and Midland Watersnake present in the area.

Insider tips for Gun Creek: Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Electric hookups available on select sites only; confirm at reservation Only 2 pull-thru sites available; most RVs towing vehicles will struggle with turnaround space

Skip Gun Creek if: You require full hookups (water/sewer) — only electric available on select sites. You need year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only. You're towing a vehicle with an RV — limited pull-thru options and tight turning radius.

Best time to visit Gun Creek: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during this window only. Spring and Fall — Campers report these seasons as particularly pleasant for visits.

Nearby campgrounds: North Marcum Day Use Area (BENTON, IL), Dale Miller Youth (BENTON, IL), South Marcum Day Use (BENTON, IL), South Marcum Campground (Benton, IL).