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Wayne Fitzgerrell SRA
Overview
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area serves as a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts in Southern Illinois. Nestled along the shores of the massive Rend Lake, this expansive park offers a peaceful escape with a focus on water-based recreation and natural beauty. It provides a spacious environment where visitors can enjoy the gentle breeze off the reservoir while exploring thousands of scenic acres of protected land and shoreline.
Location & Surroundings
Situated in Whittington, Illinois, the park is easily accessible from Interstate 57, making it a convenient stop for travelers moving through the heart of the Midwest. The surrounding landscape is dominated by the sprawling waters of Rend Lake, which features over 160 miles of shoreline. This location provides a unique blend of prairie landscapes and aquatic vistas, creating a serene backdrop for any RV adventure in the region.
Amenities & Park Features
The park features three main camping loops with more than 240 campsites, most of which offer electrical hookups suitable for modern RVs. Travelers will find paved pads, fire rings, and picnic tables at individual sites to ensure a comfortable stay. On-site facilities include modern shower buildings and sanitary dump stations for convenience. For those bringing boats, multiple high-quality launch ramps provide direct access to some of the best fishing and boating spots in the state.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Anglers frequent the area for its legendary crappie and bass fishing, while hikers can enjoy the four-mile multi-use trail that winds through the park. Just outside the gates, the Rend Lake Golf Course offers a professional-grade experience for golfers looking to hit the links. Additionally, the nearby Southern Illinois Art and Craft Center showcases local talent, providing a cultural break from the traditional outdoor activities found within the park boundaries.
Who This Park Is Best For
This recreation area is an ideal match for active families and boaters who want a base camp right on the water. It is particularly well-suited for extended stays where travelers can settle in and enjoy a variety of activities like disc golf, hunting, or birdwatching. Because of its large size and diverse facilities, it also appeals to group campers and those traveling with pets who appreciate wide-open spaces and quiet evenings.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Leslie Slingerland
Beautiful scenery. Shelters. Playgrounds. Grills. Bathrooms.
Rainee Webster
Beautiful place! It was just too hot to camp!!!! Definitely will be returning!
Lesa Belwood
We are from Florida and have been to this State Park 3 times now. Inexpensive, especially compared to many other places we've been. $20 a night, electric only. Water spigots are scattered through the park. Most sites are well spaced, especially at the points. Very pretty, quiet, and full of nature. Lots of deer, turkeys, and yes, skunks. Lake is huge and great for boaters and kayaking. We stayed in the first come, first serve section, and the reserved section. We managed to get prime spots both times. It doesn't get a 5 because they are very lax on the rules here. We saw several campers that came, parked their rig, or just a kiddie tent (would never happen in Fl) and didn't pay! The 2 car per site rule is just laughed at. Host just does a cursory drive thru. Bathrooms were not very clean. Otherwise, for the price, it's great.
Adam Knappier
Best lake around has rental e bikes campers boats kayaks bath rooms are nice has good hot water bike trails good sunsets nice beach good fishing and good tent sites and golfing also has good places to go eat just down the road and has play grounds all around the lake
Thomas Downing
We had a great visit at Wayne Fitzgerald State Park. The campsites are huge compared to other campgrounds in the area. Our host was fantastic and resolved a problem where a new arrival stole our reserved campsite. We were camping with a motorhome and needed to go into town. The interlopers took our reservation form off the clip board and parked in our spot. They also ignored the fact that we left our camp chairs with bundles of firewood. The host checked his records and confirmed that we had paid for 10 days, then went down to talk to these people. The interlopers claimed that that it looked like our reservation expired and pulled the receipt from the post. The host knew this wasn’t true, because he regularly checks the posts everyday and takes down any expired receipts before new arrivals check in. The interlopers left without any fuss after talking to our host. Not all campgrounds are run this well. This is a beautiful natural area with lots of wild life.
