Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois
Gun Creek
Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois, United States
- Sites
- 101
- Hookups
- 101 electric, 27 with water
- Season
- March 13 to November 22
- Max RV length
- 52 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 446 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · AT&T good · T-Mobile none (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, Day Use Area, Fishing, Picnicking, Water Access
101 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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.
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).
Facilities
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.
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.
Nearby Attractions
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)
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 27° | 5° | 68° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 47° | 29° | 2° | 72° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 59° | 40° | 18° | 80° | 6 of 11 |
| April | 68° | 50° | 30° | 85° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 80° | 62° | 44° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 69° | 54° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 73° | 64° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 71° | 62° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 66° | 51° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 67° | 49° | 35° | 83° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 55° | 39° | 17° | 75° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 46° | 31° | 8° | 66° | 9 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
- Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area · Illinois State Parks · 3 mi
- Dale Miller Youth · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 1 sites
- South Marcum Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 160 sites
- North Sandusky Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 4 mi · 118 sites
- Shagbark Group Area · Army Corps of Engineers · 5 mi · 1 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.