Illinois State Parks · Illinois
Pyramid State Recreation Area
Illinois State Parks · Illinois, United States
- Group sites
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 463 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Nearest town
- Pinckneyville
- Address
- 1562 Pyramid Park Road, Pinckneyville, IL 62274
- Phone
- (618) 357-2574
- Activities
- Camping, Group Camping, Equestrian Camping
About
Pyramid State Recreation Area is an Illinois DNR state park in the South region of Illinois. Camping site types: Class C (vehicular access without showers, or walk-in with shower access); Class D (tent/primitive walk-in or backpack sites, no vehicular access); Equestrian camping. Also offers: Youth group camping. IDNR's own page describes Pyramid as "the largest IDNR-managed site in Illinois" at over 19,700 acres. 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. No online reservation system for this site per IDNR's own live Camp Classifications table (dnr.illinois.gov/parks/camp/camp-classifications.html) - camping here is first-come, first-served, or by calling the park office directly.
Fees
Class C: $8/night - vehicular access without showers, or walk-in sites with shower access. Class D: $6/night - tent camping or primitive sites (walk-in or backpack), no vehicular 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° | 27° | 5° | 68° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 46° | 29° | 0° | 74° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 59° | 41° | 18° | 79° | 6 of 11 |
| April | 68° | 49° | 31° | 85° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 80° | 63° | 45° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 69° | 55° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 89° | 73° | 65° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 71° | 63° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 85° | 66° | 55° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 67° | 50° | 36° | 83° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 56° | 39° | 17° | 75° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 47° | 32° | 9° | 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
- Pinckneyville City Park/Fairgrounds Camping · City, County & Regional Parks · 5 mi
- Johnson Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
- Lake Murphysboro State Park · Illinois State Parks · 16 mi
- Washington County State Recreation Area · Illinois State Parks · 20 mi
- Randolph County State Recreation Area · Illinois State Parks · 21 mi
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.