Illinois State Parks · Illinois
Giant City State Park
Illinois State Parks · Illinois, United States
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 669 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Nearest town
- Makanda
- Address
- 235 Giant City Road, Makanda, IL 62958
- Phone
- (618) 457-4836
- Activities
- Camping, Group Camping, Equestrian Camping
About
Giant City State Park is an Illinois DNR state park in the South region of Illinois. Camping site types: Class A (showers, electricity, vehicular access); Class C (vehicular access without showers, or walk-in with shower access); Equestrian camping. Also offers: Youth group camping. Pets ARE allowed (leashed, with water, never left unattended or in a parked vehicle) - IDNR's general statewide practice, confirmed via Starved Rock State Park's own IDNR FAQ. Reservable online through Illinois DNR's own Explore More Illinois system (camp.exploremoreil.com, redirects to the live recreation.exploremoreil.com/IllinoisWeb/ booking platform). Advance booking requires at least 3 days' notice; most sites are reservable May 1-October 31 (some year-round - confirm per park).
Fees
Class A: $20/night ($30 holiday weekends) - showers, electricity, vehicular access. Class C: $8/night - vehicular access without showers, or walk-in sites with shower access. Youth group (Class Y): $2/person/night, $20/day minimum. Equestrian camping available (specific class/rate varies by site). Reservation fee $5/reservation (non-refundable) plus first night's camping fee; camping fees refunded if cancelled online 3+ days before arrival. Discounts (about half the listed camping fee, full utility fee still applies) for Illinois residents 62+ or disabled with a Class 2/2A card; Illinois disabled veterans and POWs camp free aside from the utility fee; no entrance fee to any Illinois state park (dnr.illinois.gov).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 28° | 5° | 67° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 47° | 29° | -1° | 72° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 59° | 41° | 19° | 78° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 68° | 49° | 31° | 84° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 78° | 62° | 44° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 86° | 68° | 55° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 72° | 63° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 71° | 63° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 66° | 53° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 67° | 50° | 35° | 83° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 57° | 40° | 16° | 75° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 46° | 32° | 11° | 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
- Trail of Tears State Forest · Illinois State Parks · 12 mi
- Ferne Clyffe State Park · Illinois State Parks · 12 mi
- Pine Hills Campground · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi
- Lake Murphysboro State Park · Illinois State Parks · 16 mi
- Trail of Tears State Park · Missouri State Parks · 19 mi · 54 sites
All public campgrounds in Illinois · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.