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South Sandusky Day Use
USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers — SESSER · Illinois · Rend Lake
| Agency | USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Area | Rend Lake |
| Location | SESSER · Illinois · Rend Lake · 38.05303, -88.99229 · Map |
| Sites | 2 public sites counted from the federal listing — 2 group shelter electric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 2 of 2 sites (up to 30 amp where reported) Water hookups at 0 of 2 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 2 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 2 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Not reported in the federal data |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 8:00 AM · Out 7:30 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 618-724-2493 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-05-09.
From the official listing
Overview South Sandusky Day Use Area— the perfect place to enjoy a wide variety of activities, events, and nature at its best. Rend Lake is made up of 20,633 acres of water and 19,523 acres of land. Whether you're looking for high adventure, a peaceful retreat, or something in between, you'll find it here in the heart of Southern Illinois.
Recreation Within the area, visitors can access the Rend Lake Bike Trail—over 20 miles of paved pathways that guide riders through scenic woodlands and across views of Rend Lake and the Big Muddy River. The area offers abundant opportunities for boating, hiking, fishing, hunting, swimming, and general outdoor exploration. Additional recreation features around Rend Lake include an archery complex with a 3D trail and elevated shooting platform, a dog park with a swimming feature, and two public swimming beaches (including the pet-friendly North Marcum Beach).
Facilities South Sandusky Day Use Area features two large reservable picnic shelters (capacity 50 per shelter) with picnic tables, grill, and drinking water. The area has a boat ramp and playground all within walking distance. South Sandusky Day Use Area also has two restroom facilities and a shower facility. Natural Features South Sandusky Day Use Area sits along the banks of Rend Lake in the heart of Southern Illinois. The South Sandusky Day Use Area offers the most accessible public swimming beach on the lake. The sandy beach is spacious enough to accommodate a large number of people and provides visitors with convenient access to the refreshing waters of Rend Lake.
Wildlife in the area includes white tailed deer, wild turkey, fox, raccoon, opossum, waterfowl, and others as seasons change throughout the year. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (618) 724-2493. Nearby Attractions Rend Lake Project Office/ Visitor Center
Rend Lake Bike Trail
Rend Lake Marina
Rend Lake Dog Park
Blackberry Nature Trail
Directions, from the listing
From I-57 take take exit 71 and turn west onto Route 14. Continue for 3 miles, then turn north on Rend City Road. The entrance is on the right after about 5 miles, just past the Rend Lake Dam.
Nearest federal campgrounds
1 mi straight-line · BENTON IllinoisUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersDam West Area (Day-Use)
1 mi straight-line · BENTON IllinoisUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersShagbark Group Area
1 mi straight-line · Sesser IllinoisUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersNorth Sandusky Campground
1 mi straight-line · Sesser IllinoisUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersSouth Sandusky Campground
2 mi straight-line · SESSER Illinois
Trip Card — South Sandusky Day Use
SESSER · Illinois · Rend Lake
| Agency | USACE · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Location | SESSER · Illinois · Rend Lake |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | Electric at 2 |
| Max RV | Not reported |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 2 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233614 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.