Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois
Dale Miller Youth
Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- March 28 to November 1
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 469 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Rend Lake
- Nearest town
- BENTON
- Address
- Rend Lake Project Office, BENTON, IL, 62812
- Phone
- 618-724-2493
- Activities
- Biking, Birding, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Picnicking, Swimming, Water Access
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Dale Miller Youth 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.
Recreation
Within the area, 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).
Facilities
Dale Miller Youth Campground has five cabins with open floorplans to accomodate air mattresses or other sleeping equipment. There are also nine (9) RV campsites and several tent sites available, bringing the total capacity to 200 guests. A large enclosed picnic shelter with electricity, tables, a fireplace and grill is provided, along with a private beach, playground, baseball field, basketball court, and tennis court.
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39° | 27° | 5° | 68° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 47° | 30° | 1° | 72° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 59° | 40° | 18° | 80° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 68° | 50° | 31° | 85° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 80° | 63° | 46° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 69° | 56° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 73° | 66° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 71° | 64° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 67° | 53° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 67° | 50° | 36° | 83° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 56° | 40° | 17° | 75° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 46° | 32° | 8° | 66° | 8 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- South Marcum Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 0 mi · 160 sites
- Gun Creek · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 101 sites
- South Sandusky Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 128 sites
- Shagbark Group Area · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 1 sites
- North Sandusky Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 4 mi · 118 sites
All public campgrounds in Illinois · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-05-09. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.