Dixon Springs State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Dixon Springs State Park is on top of an enormous block of sandstone that was dropped along a fault line around 315 million years ago. This geological event created the beautiful canyons and waterfalls that are in the park. You can also see large boulders, brooks and creeks, cliffs and crags, valleys and century-old trees. Several tribes of Algonquins used to live in the region, and the Shawnee moved here from Tennessee. In 1848, William Dixon received a school land warrant, which spurred a small community of Americans. Because of the mineral water in the area, Dixon Springs soon attracted visitors from other states who wanted to experience the springs.
Nearby Cities:
Golconda, IL
Vienna, IL
New Burnside, IL
Joppa, IL
Spring 35–76 F
Summer 62–87 F
Fall 35–81 F
Winter 22–47 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Dixon Springs State Park
Campground Accommodations
Dixon Springs State Park Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: Yes
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 55 feet
Other amenities: Pit toilets, campfires, picnic tables, potable water, dump station, swimming pool
Dixon Springs State Park
Dixon Springs State Park offers pet-friendly campgrounds and sites for RVers. Travelers have access to sanitary dump stations, hot showers, electrical hookups, and sheltered picnic spots for some quality time. There may not be Wi-Fi availability, but most network providers offer quality signal strength in the area. The entire park is paved, and the pathways are even, offering easy parking and driving experiences for RVers. Hiking trails are quite accessible from the campsites, and RVers can explore the local beauty without worrying about getting lost in the forest. The average rate for an overnight stay is $25 with a $5 reservation fee.
Electrical hookup: 30/20/15 amp
Water hookup: Yes
Dump stations: Yes
Picnic tables: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
Alcoholic beverages: Yes
Open fires: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
Oak Point Campground
Oak Point Campground is located eight minutes from Dixon Springs Campground and offers all the modern amenities of life, including restrooms, showers, laundry rooms, and electrical and water hookups. There are 60 campsites in total. Out of these 60 campsites, 34 have electrical hookups while the remaining 26 are non-electric campsites. However, all RVers have access to the dump stations in the park. The campsites are surrounded by a beautiful, deep oak and hickory forest. Each site also offers a large seating area. The rates for campsites with electricity are $22 to $44. Sites without electricity average $12 to $24.
Electrical hookup: 30/20/15 amp
Water hookup: Yes
Dump stations: Yes
Picnic tables: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
Alcoholic beverages: No
Open fires: Yes
Wi-Fi: No
What to Do at
Dixon Springs State Park
Grab a bird checklist from the park office to try spotting as many birds as you can during your stay. Dixon Springs State Park allows hunting of deer, turkeys, doves and squirrels in 567 acres of the park. You can use archery as your hunting gear of choice for deer and turkeys. Dixon Springs State Park is also a wonderful area for having a picnic. There are picnic tables throughout the park, three shaded picnic areas and an outdoor stove at each shaded picnic area.
Hiking to see the canyons, waterfalls and rock formations is one of the most popular activities at Dixon Springs State Park. Other top outdoor adventures include mountain biking and pond fishing.
Inside Dixon Springs State Park
There are hundreds of different fun recreational activities for visitors inside the park. These activities include bird-watching, wildlife viewing, boating, canoeing, fishing, hunting, picnicking, swimming, and hiking. Moreover, you can also take some time out and take a dip in the active waterfalls or climb the gorgeous canyons inside the park.
Fishing
You can fish from several ponds at Dixon Springs State Park. Types of fish that you'll find in the ponds are bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish and bluegill.
Nature Watching
In the forest, you can see songbirds, groundhogs, foxes, rabbits and deer. Early mornings and late afternoons are good times for birdwatching. Birds that you can see include tanagers, vireos, flycatchers, thrushers and woodpeckers.
Flora and Fauna
Trees that you'll find in the forest include oak, gum, cypress, pine, persimmon, walnut, sycamore, and birch. Seasonally, you can find blooming dogwood and catalpa trees. Hickories and maples can also be found in the forest. Springtime flowers in bloom include lady's slipper, violet, jack-in-the-pulpit, sweet William, and mayapple.
Hiking
Ghost Dance Canyon Trail is a 0.7-mile moderate hike that features a rock scramble along a creek. It's a very rocky and wet path with bluffs, rock formations, outcroppings, waterfalls, and natural shelters. For an easy trail with beautiful scenery, take the Bluff Trail, a 1.6-mile hike past bluffs, creeks, rock formations, and natural shelters. It leads to Lake Glendale where you'll find more trails, including the start of the Shawnee Challenge. Experienced hikers will want to take the Shawnee Challenge, a 10-mile hike through some of the best scenery in the area. You can redeem a free prize when you complete it.
Swimming
You can swim at the pool, which features a 45-foot water slide, a concession stand, a lifeguard, and a nearby playground. Oak, elm, and birch trees surrounding the pool provide natural shading. The pool is usually open from Memorial Day through August.
Climbing
Dixon Springs State Park has a lot of boulder climbing opportunities, most of which can be found in Ghost Dance Canyon. You'll also find bouldering in the Boulderfield Picnic Area. Boulder climbing routes at Dixon Springs State Park range from V1 to V5 with the majority rated at V4.
Biking
You can go mountain biking on Bluff Trail and Shawnee Challenge Trail. At Lake Glendale, there are nearly 20 miles of additional mountain biking trails to explore.
How to Get to
Dixon Springs State Park
Dixon Springs State Park is in the Shawnee National Forest near Golconda, IL. Accessing the park is easy, as most of the roads are flat and easy for RVs to navigate. You can reach the park via IL-145 or IL-146. From Golconda, travel on IL-146 W for about 9.7 miles, then turn right to access the state park.
Entering Dixon Springs State Park
You'll find a lot of available parking at Dixon Springs State Park. It's also free to enter, although some activities, such as the swimming pool, have a small fee. There is plenty of parking throughout the park with no additional parking fee.
Dixon Springs State Park Per Person : $0.0
Dixon Springs State Park offers amazing wildlife exploration and hiking opportunities for your family. You can go boating, try canoeing, spend an afternoon fishing, or enjoy exploring the local flora and fauna with guides. During the trip, you can stop at some of the scenic trails inside the park. Be sure to take pictures or videos with your family and tag RVshare in your social media posts about the park. You can also send your photos and memories of your trip to [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions About Dixon Springs State Park
The peak season at Dixon Springs State Park is April through October when the weather is at its best and you can enjoy more of the available park activities. Snow in the winter sometimes causes road closures, so you would need to check before driving that the roads you need are open.
You can find beautiful birds like tanagers, flycatchers, vireos, woodpeckers, and thrushers at Dixon Springs State Park. Plan on birding outings for early mornings and late afternoons. Other wildlife to try spotting are groundhogs, deer, rabbits, and foxes.
Yes, there are designated RV camping spots at Dixon Springs State Park, and some of them also allow tents. All of the RV campsites have electric hookups.
You're not required to reserve a camping spot, but you should make a reservation because there aren't a lot of campsites at the park. It costs around $18 per night to camp at an electric site and $5 to make a reservation.
Pets are allowed at Dixon Springs State Park, but they need to be on leashes at all times. Some areas of the park, such as park buildings and certain trails, don't allow pets.