Lake Murphysboro Campground

The Great Outdoors

The sprawling Kinkaid Lake is just a few miles away from the campground at Lake Murphysboro. This almost 3,000-acre lake is surrounded by forest and natural parks with a lot of outdoor recreational opportunities. Come here for a hike, bike ride, or a picnic with a great view. Other popular pastimes here include fishing and boating. Here you can catch largemouth bass, catfish, and muskie, among other species. When in the season, you can also go hunting for deer, rabbit, and waterfowl. There are several boat ramps and a public marina on-site.Shawnee National Forest is approximately ten minutes' drive from the campground. The almost 300,000 acres of forest is nestled between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. This beautiful forest provides a great escape from busy city life, and more than a million people visit every year. The diverse ecological regions of the forest are habitat to many plant and animal species. Here you can find some of the most stunning views in this part of the United States, with gorgeous forests, rivers, lakes, and caverns. Visit Inspiration Point Trail at LaRue Pine Hills, Little Grand Canyon Trail, or Bell Smith Springs for majestic views of the wilderness. If you choose to hike the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, you will encounter many historic sites dedicated to the Underground Railroad. Recreational opportunities are endless here, from hiking, scenic driving, and hunting to swimming, kayaking, and horseback riding.Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge is about one hour's drive south of the campground. This is a perfect place to visit if you like bird watching. The refuge is an important habitat for many shorebirds and migratory birds. The refuge is dedicated to managing and restoring wetlands and forest areas. Most of it is open to the public, except for the Frank Bellrose Waterfowl Reserve, which covers about 1,000 acres. Here you can see Indiana bats, prothonotary warblers, and so much more. Walk through bottomland hardwood forests, canebrakes, and see the unique swampland.

Exploring the City

The General John A Logan Museum is located in Murphysboro. It's dedicated to General John A Logan and the almost two million people who fought to end slavery. The museum features exhibits that display items from the general’s life and other historical memorabilia. Visitors can join educational and cultural programs on offer. You can learn about politics, the Civil War, and Memorial Day while you're here.The Fuller Dome Home is another tourist attraction you can visit when motorhome camping at Lake Murphysboro Campground. This home museum preserves the unique building where architect Richard Buckminster Fuller and his wife Anne lived. R. Buckminster Fuller was the best known as a 20th-century inventor and visionary. The geodesic dome is an interesting structure, enclosing the largest volume of interior space with the least amount of surface area.Visit The Science Center in Carbondale, which is only about 20 minutes' drive away from the campground. This children's museum has a variety of exhibits to explore, offering a full day of fun. The interactive exhibits are great for kids of all ages, from infants to teens and their families. The museum has dozens of exhibits, including a 3-D real-time Topographical Sandbox, Excavation Station, Earthquake Table, and so much more.