South Marcum Campground

Rend Lake — lakeside, fishing

Location: Benton, IL, IL

Price: From $16 per night

Price range: $16–$44 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (718 reviews)

Season: May through October

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.South Marcum Campground offers 158 reservable campsites each equipped with a picnic table and a firepit.

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/south-marcum-campground to be notified when sites open up.

South Marcum Campground sits on the southeastern shore of Rend Lake's 20,633 acres with paved bike trails, boat launch access, and a 4.6/5 rating from 172 campers who praise its level sites, privacy, and recreational variety including biking, fishing, boating, and swimming.

Wildlife alert: White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Gray Squirrel, American Goldfinch, Spiny Softshell, and Midland Watersnake observed in the area.

Insider tips for South Marcum Campground: Book early—this is a popular federal campground with high demand. Request sites in Beaver Lodge Loop for nice shower/restroom combos and easy lake access. Paved bike trails available on-site for recreational cycling.

Skip South Marcum Campground if: You need water or sewer hookups—only select sites have electric hookups; most sites have no hookups.. You want to bank fish—rocky shoreline limits sandbar fishing spots.. You're visiting outside May-October—campground is seasonal..

Best time to visit South Marcum Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..

Nearby campgrounds: Dale Miller Youth (BENTON, IL), South Marcum Day Use (BENTON, IL), North Marcum Day Use Area (BENTON, IL), Dam West Area (Day-Use) (BENTON, IL).