100% (18) • 6 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Glen Carbon
McCully Heritage Project
1. McCully Heritage Project
98%
(444)
50mi from Glen Carbon · 10 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
The McCully Heritage Project is a 940- acre environmental center located one mile south of Kampsville, Illinois in beautiful and remote Calhoun County.
We are a private non-profit left as the legacy of Howard and Eva McCully.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
$25
/ night
Hidden Ridge - at Otter Lake
2. Hidden Ridge - at Otter Lake
100%
(22)
47mi from Glen Carbon · 1 site · Lodging
At Hidden Ridge, you will have the essential comforts of home while enjoying the serenity of a natural, peaceful setting.
You will sleep on comfortable queen-size bed within a 14x16 canvas wall tent which is secured to a stilted deck providing beautiful views of the lake.
A private outhouse with flushing toilet, hot shower and an outdoor cooking area are also available.
More than just two of you?
There is plenty of space for cots, air mattresses and additional tents.
We encourage our guests to relax and recharge their spirits by unplugging from their electronic devices. Play games which are available at the camp. Enjoy boating, skiing or fishing on Otter Lake - you can have your boat in the water within minutes from camp!
Sit quietly and watch the fish jump - you may even see an eagle fly by. Snuggle by the fire, roast marshmallows or sip a glass of wine from the local winery.
To ensure your experience is as authentic as possible, Hidden Ridge is off grid. There is no electricity; enough water is provided for quick showers and bathroom use. Enjoy firelight, lanterns and cooking on an open fire or grill! We do provide cooking essentials. Winter heating is provided by a small propane heater.
Our water is not suitable for drinking. Please bring drinking water with you.
Verizon and AT&T service coverage is good - just plan to recharge from your automobile.
Learn more about this land:
Experience authentic camping in a private wooded hideaway located at Otter Lake, Girard, Illinois, just 10 minutes from old Route 66.
Experience authentic camping in a private wooded hideaway located at Otter Lake, Girard, Illinois, just 10 minutes
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
$129
/ night
100% (18) • 6 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Glen Carbon
McCully Heritage Project
1. McCully Heritage Project
98%
(444)
50mi from Glen Carbon · 10 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
The McCully Heritage Project is a 940- acre environmental center located one mile south of Kampsville, Illinois in beautiful and remote Calhoun County.
We are a private non-profit left as the legacy of Howard and Eva McCully.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
$25
/ night
Hidden Ridge - at Otter Lake
2. Hidden Ridge - at Otter Lake
100%
(22)
47mi from Glen Carbon · 1 site · Lodging
At Hidden Ridge, you will have the essential comforts of home while enjoying the serenity of a natural, peaceful setting.
You will sleep on comfortable queen-size bed within a 14x16 canvas wall tent which is secured to a stilted deck providing beautiful views of the lake.
A private outhouse with flushing toilet, hot shower and an outdoor cooking area are also available.
More than just two of you?
There is plenty of space for cots, air mattresses and additional tents.
We encourage our guests to relax and recharge their spirits by unplugging from their electronic devices. Play games which are available at the camp. Enjoy boating, skiing or fishing on Otter Lake - you can have your boat in the water within minutes from camp!
Sit quietly and watch the fish jump - you may even see an eagle fly by. Snuggle by the fire, roast marshmallows or sip a glass of wine from the local winery.
To ensure your experience is as authentic as possible, Hidden Ridge is off grid. There is no electricity; enough water is provided for quick showers and bathroom use. Enjoy firelight, lanterns and cooking on an open fire or grill! We do provide cooking essentials. Winter heating is provided by a small propane heater.
Our water is not suitable for drinking. Please bring drinking water with you.
Verizon and AT&T service coverage is good - just plan to recharge from your automobile.
Learn more about this land:
Experience authentic camping in a private wooded hideaway located at Otter Lake, Girard, Illinois, just 10 minutes from old Route 66.
Experience authentic camping in a private wooded hideaway located at Otter Lake, Girard, Illinois, just 10 minutes
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
$129
/ night
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
C
Christina
November 2025
Tent
Always enjoy my time there! Nice and quiet! And the hoot owls love to keep us company!
See moreR
Rhiannon
November 2025
Tent
What an amazing place! We enjoyed camping at one of the walk up sites. And we also enjoyed a beautiful hike on the property. The host was super friendly, inviting and informative. It was a peaceful place and very well maintained- from the campsite to the trails to the bathrooms. I highly recommend and plan on coming back sometime soon!
See more
Andrew
October 2025
Tent
Group trip
Second visit. Great spot even in a thunderstorm. Would return again.
See moreD
Dan
October 2025
Tent
With pets
We visited during a weekend when it was unusually busy due to a local festival in Kampsville. And that really wasn't a problem. Our site #2 was roomy and somewhat private. Lovely place and clean good facilities a short walk away. Super dark sky for stargazing if you walk out towards the shelter house.
See more
C
Christina
October 2025
Tent
With kids
My granddaughters absolutely loved it there! We had such a good time this weekend! They said maw maw do we have to leave can’t we stay lol! Thank u so much for your hospitality as always and we will definitely be back in the spring!
See moreD
Devin
October 2025
Tent
I've been going here for years. I trained for the AT here. I hope to bring my kids here some day!
See more
Donna
September 2025
With pets
We had a great time staying at Watkin's Place. The home and location were exactly what we were looking for. The home is isolated and feels remote even though it is only a short drive to Hardin. Plenty of hot water and full kitchen made our stay comfortable and a step up from tent camping but we still had the "out in nature" experience. Our dogs loved it as well. Hiking took us through open fields and forest sheltered paths. Watkins Place was clean and stocked with the necessities, including linens and basic cooking supplies. If you are looking for a cross between roughing it and glamping, Watkins Place is exactly the right fit.
See moreM
Marlene
September 2025
Tent
Group trip
Beautiful location. Well maintained
Wish more of the trails were more mowed to lessen risk of ticks
See more
S
Stephanie
August 2025
Weekend Trip to Hidden Ridge - at Otter Lake
My husband and I have stayed here twice, and everything has been perfect both times. The property is beautiful and private, and the host provides so many thoughtful elements. It’s a perfect way to get out in nature without having to deal with all of the packing and preparation required for a typical camping trip.
See more
C
Christina
July 2025
Tent
Very nice place to camp lots of privacy and beautiful scenery!
See more
K
Kevin
July 2025
With kids
Had a great time. Excellent communication, spacious tent, plenty of wood and everything we needed. Close to 2 small towns for food and ice cream. Fire pit was ready when we got there, all we had to do was toss in a match and start cooking!
See moreK
Kathy
June 2025
Tent
With pets
The area, and all surrounding areas, were clean, private and peaceful. I appreciated the bathrooms and the toilet tissue paoer was hilarious! :)
See moreA
Andrew
June 2025
Weekend Trip to Hidden Ridge - at Otter Lake
My wife and I made our second trip to Hidden Ridge to celebrate our 10th anniversary. The last time we stayed it was cold and raining the entire time and we still had such a great time that we knew we needed to come back. This place is genuinely a great find! We are normally tent campers so this setup almost feels like cheating and we compare it to renting out a cabin for the weekend. Probably the best part though is the responsiveness of the hosts. We did have a few hiccups with the water system while we were there but were always able to get ahold of the hosts and they got us back up and running quickly. It really does come across that they want you to enjoy your time at this location.
See moreM
Michael
May 2025
Tent
With pets
We loved tent camping. We may choose a different spot a little more secluded next time. But overall it’s a nice area!
See more
Brett
May 2025
With pets
We stayed at Hidden Ridge for the weekend and had an amazing experience. The campsite is secluded, yet still very easy to find. You can tell Terri put a lot of thought and care into every detail. The outdoor kitchen station was fully stocked with everything we needed—silverware, plates, cups, cooking utensils, and more.
The bathroom and shower area was clean and super convenient. The glamping tent was spotless, and the bed was comfortable. One of my favorite moments was waking up in the morning and enjoying the peaceful view from the tent’s back porch.
Terri also had plenty of firewood ready to go. It had rained just two hours before we arrived, but the fire pit and logs were all covered and dry—such a thoughtful touch. And to top it all off, the place is pet-friendly! My cattle dog had the time of his life exploring the area.
I truly can’t wait to come back and stay here again. Highly recommend!
See mores
staci
May 2025
With pets
I don't know what I was expecting when I reserved this little camping spot, but it surpassed any and all expectations! This place is ADORABLE ... and cozy and homey and relaxing ... it was just perfect. And Teresa was a great host who checked in to make sure we had everything we needed. We travel to this part of Illinois on a regular basis to visit family/friends, and I have no doubt that we'll be staying here again in the future.
See more
Z
Z
May 2025
Tent
Both I and my girlfriend had an incredible time. The overall experience was fantastic. It felt so much better than one of those parking spots with a picnic table camp sites. I was very happy to get a free bag of firewood and opted to get a second for the extra $5. The grill included on the campfire pit combined with a portable griddle top let me cook steak and eggs right over the fire, allowing for a delicious meal out. The hiking trail was fantastic. It was so secluded (We went on a week day) and relaxing. The forest was beautiful. Thank you so much for keeping this land available for camping and I hope to visit again.
See moreK
Kristen
April 2025
Tent
Beautiful, quiet, well kept place! Nothing like any campsite I’ve stayed at.
See moreP
Phong
December 2024
Weekend Trip to McCully Heritage Project
Excellent facilities, heated bathrooms with hot water showers available during December which is always appreciated. Campgrounds are quiet and private but is situated next to a road so there was the occasional traffic noise.
See moreAndrew
November 2024
Tent
Group trip
Beautiful location. It was pretty cold and we were the only folks out there but they made sure they kept the firewood stocked for us. The fishing was fun as well! We already plan on returning sometime in the Spring.
See more
