The best campgrounds near Edwardsville, Illinois with swimming

Looking to go camping near Edwardsville, Illinois and take a dip? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 445 options near Edwardsville, Illinois that offer swimming, you're sure to find the perfect spot. Whether you're looking for a lakeside retreat or a riverfront oasis, Hipcamp has got you covered. Check out top campsites like Spring Lake Ranch (522 reviews), Wine Trail Wilderness (291 reviews), and Bear Creek Farm and Ranch (273 reviews) for some tried-and-true swimming spots. Plus, you'll love popular amenities like campfires, pet-friendly sites, and showers. So pack your swimsuit and get ready for some water-filled fun!

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Top-rated campgrounds

1. Matt's Place at Meramec n Labarque

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(68)

43mi from Edwardsville · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Eureka, MO

Located at the confluence of the Meramec River and Labarque Creek, my place (Matt's Place) is a ridge above a bottomland bowl of sorts. The old iron truss bridge here is likely built in 1910 and it has a survey marker from 1932. The creek has a nice little swimming hole, and a beach that is sometimes sand, sometimes, gravel, and sometimes a mix of both with some silt or even mud after a storm. It's peaceful down there to explore in the creek, wade while looking outward to an opening into the Meramec River. It's also fun to stand just at the mouth of the creek in the Meramec River. It's an awesome view upstream or downstream of tree lined banks, rock bluffs, and every now and then, passing boats, canoes, paddle boards, or kayaks. The old iron truss bridge hovers above the meeting of two waters. The water is cool and clean. Some fifty species of fish have been recorded in this creek, the most in all of Jefferson County and St Louis County. The bottomland has two levels, the lower bottoms down by the creek and the upper bottoms about a hundred feet from the creek. The upper bottoms has a clearing like a meadow with mowed grass. My favorite things to do here include gazing up at a cottonwood tree that must be sixty feet tall. It's leaves in a breeze are like a thousand hands waving hello. The bottomland meadow offers just enough sky to see bats dance in the dusk air between the trees, then fireflies as it gets darker yet. Up top is where I live. Just five miles off HWY 44 and HWY 109, at Eureka, MO, (30 minutes west of downtown St Louis, 18 minutes from Six Flags) this place sits on a ridge with great views above the Meramec River.

2. Atkins' Acres Educational Farm

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(11)

25mi from Edwardsville · 1 site · Tent · Millstadt, IL

We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit educational farm. We teach gardening techniques, 4-H programs, Jr Master Naturalist programs, and how to be good stewards of the environment. We are taking row crops out of service and restoring the land to it's previous native condition. Tours are available at no cost by request. Note - the camping area is approximately 200 yards from where you will park. If we are available, we can support with moving your supplies. However, if we are not home at the time of your arrival, you will need to walk your supplies in.

Looking to go camping near Edwardsville, Illinois and take a dip? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 445 options near Edwardsville, Illinois that offer swimming, you're sure to find the perfect spot. Whether you're looking for a lakeside retreat or a riverfront oasis, Hipcamp has got you covered. Check out top campsites like Spring Lake Ranch (522 reviews), Wine Trail Wilderness (291 reviews), and Bear Creek Farm and Ranch (273 reviews) for some tried-and-true swimming spots. Plus, you'll love popular amenities like campfires, pet-friendly sites, and showers. So pack your swimsuit and get ready for some water-filled fun!

100% (68)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Matt's Place at Meramec n Labarque

100%

(68)

43mi from Edwardsville · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Eureka, MO

Located at the confluence of the Meramec River and Labarque Creek, my place (Matt's Place) is a ridge above a bottomland bowl of sorts. The old iron truss bridge here is likely built in 1910 and it has a survey marker from 1932. The creek has a nice little swimming hole, and a beach that is sometimes sand, sometimes, gravel, and sometimes a mix of both with some silt or even mud after a storm. It's peaceful down there to explore in the creek, wade while looking outward to an opening into the Meramec River. It's also fun to stand just at the mouth of the creek in the Meramec River. It's an awesome view upstream or downstream of tree lined banks, rock bluffs, and every now and then, passing boats, canoes, paddle boards, or kayaks. The old iron truss bridge hovers above the meeting of two waters. The water is cool and clean. Some fifty species of fish have been recorded in this creek, the most in all of Jefferson County and St Louis County. The bottomland has two levels, the lower bottoms down by the creek and the upper bottoms about a hundred feet from the creek. The upper bottoms has a clearing like a meadow with mowed grass. My favorite things to do here include gazing up at a cottonwood tree that must be sixty feet tall. It's leaves in a breeze are like a thousand hands waving hello. The bottomland meadow offers just enough sky to see bats dance in the dusk air between the trees, then fireflies as it gets darker yet. Up top is where I live. Just five miles off HWY 44 and HWY 109, at Eureka, MO, (30 minutes west of downtown St Louis, 18 minutes from Six Flags) this place sits on a ridge with great views above the Meramec River.

2. Atkins' Acres Educational Farm

100%

(11)

25mi from Edwardsville · 1 site · Tent · Millstadt, IL

We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit educational farm. We teach gardening techniques, 4-H programs, Jr Master Naturalist programs, and how to be good stewards of the environment. We are taking row crops out of service and restoring the land to it's previous native condition. Tours are available at no cost by request. Note - the camping area is approximately 200 yards from where you will park. If we are available, we can support with moving your supplies. However, if we are not home at the time of your arrival, you will need to walk your supplies in.

Public campgrounds near Edwardsville

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Stories from the community

Near Site 2. Labarque Creek is one of the cleanest creeks in Missouri, with 50 species of fish. Great place to put in or take out canoes, swim, picnic, and camp. Great picnic site or take-out ramp for a day trip of floaters. Up near the bridge is Site 1.

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Andrew

3 weeks ago

Tent

1 night at Matt's Place at Meramec n Labarque

Great spot for rooftop tents and ground tents. Matt showed me the lay of the land before driving to the site. Great host! Would camp here again

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Teresa

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Matt's Place at Meramec n Labarque

Matt is a wonderful host. We stayed in his cabin and had a great evening in front of the fire listening to the sounds of the river. Matt can provide extras to enhance your stay - we had coffee and toast and jam in the morning. Everything was perfect- Matt is very responsive, thoughtful and kind. I loved the new outhouse!

P

Peyton

August 2025

Tent

1 night at Atkins' Acres Educational Farm

Truly such a wonderful experience! Mark and Kim were kind and accommodating. Their land is absolutely beautiful. They got a fire going for me and helped me bring all of my supplies to where I planned to camp. Got to go on the paddleboat, explore the grounds, stargaze. Perfect getaway!