South Marcum Campground
Rend Lake · Illinois · 160 sites
Photos: US Army Corps of Engineers via Recreation.gov
Overview
South Marcum Campground is a US Army Corps of Engineers campground in Rend Lake, Illinois, with 160 sites in 6 loops. Very shady: nearly every site is under trees. T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T report coverage at every site.
144 of 160 sites shaded
8 of 160 sites in full sun
23 of 160 sites with clear sky
Map of the campground
Every site from the Recreation.gov listing. Choose a layer to see it across the campground; tap a site to open it in Roam.
Layers
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Questions
Which sites at South Marcum Campground are the shadiest?
Nearly all of them. 144 of 160 sites at South Marcum Campground have good shade from the trees, including from the hot afternoon sun.
See the tree canopy in RoamWhich sites at South Marcum Campground get the most sun?
Only a few. 8 of 160 sites are truly sunny and 12 more get some sun; the rest are shaded.
See the tree canopy in RoamWill Starlink work at South Marcum Campground?
Only at a few. About 23 of 160 sites have a clear gap in the trees for Starlink and 34 a partial one; most sit under tall trees. Satellite texting on a phone needs less open sky, but still works best from the most open spot you can find. This is our estimate from tree heights — check with the Starlink app's obstruction check when you arrive.
See the tree canopy in RoamWhich sites at South Marcum Campground are the most level?
19 of 160 sites are flat, and 34 more have a gentle slope most RVs can level with blocks; 107 are steeper, better for tents. Sites that take RVs or trailers fit rigs up to 79 ft.
See the slope at each site in RoamDoes South Marcum Campground have cell service?
Yes. T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T all report coverage at every site at South Marcum Campground. That's the coverage each carrier reports to the FCC, not a measured signal, so under trees or below a ridge it can be weaker.
See the coverage map in RoamWhen is the best time to see fall color at South Marcum Campground?
October. In a typical year the leaves around South Marcum Campground are at their best in mid to late October, though any one fall can run a week or two early or late. Roam’s fall foliage map shows how far the color has come this week, free every September through November.
See this week’s fall color in RoamWhat’s the weather like at South Marcum Campground in October?
In October, expect highs around 69°F and lows around 46°F, with about 3.6 inches of rain over the month. Every month’s averages are in Roam Premium.
Open South Marcum in RoamCampground facts
- Sites
- 160 in 6 loops
- Kinds
- 146 for RVs or trailers · 14 tent-only
- Hookups
- 146 with electric
- Longest rig
- 79 ft
- Accessible
- 6 sites
- Elevation
- 408–452 ft
- Amenities
- Water spigots
- Every site
- Fire ring · Pets allowed · Check-in 5 PM, check-out 4 PM
- Managed by
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- Booking
- Reserve on Recreation.gov
How we know Sources and limits
Shade, sun and Starlink are our estimates from Meta and the World Resources Institute’s canopy-height model (about 2 m pixels, from satellite imagery calibrated with space lidar; CC BY 4.0). From 2 m above each site we trace 72 lines out to 60 m and note the tallest tree in each direction. Shade counts trees overhead, the canopy within 30 m and how much of the afternoon sky is blocked. Sun counts how open the southern sky is. Starlink needs open sky above 35°, with the northern half counted twice because US dishes tilt north, and we keep the best spot within 8 m of the site’s post. The model sees tree heights only, not trunks, buildings or hills, so check with the Starlink app when you arrive.
Slope is the ground at each site’s post over about 4 m, from USGS 3DEP 1 m lidar: level under 2%, gentle to 4% (most rigs level on blocks), sloped to 8% (fine for a tent), steep beyond.
Cell coverage is from the FCC Broadband Data Collection (carrier filings as downloaded May 2026): each site is tested against each carrier’s modelled outdoor 4G/5G coverage. It is what the carriers report, not a measured signal.
Fall color is the typical peak from NASA’s MODIS satellite record of when leaves change (2001–2023), limited to deciduous and mixed forest with USGS land cover (NLCD), calibrated to the USA National Phenology Network’s ground reports of colored leaves (CC BY 4.0). It is an average of many autumns, so the page gives a window, not a date.
Weather is NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for the campground. Sites and facts are from Recreation.gov’s open data (July 2026). Map imagery: USGS The National Map. Photos: Recreation.gov.
From the campground’s Recreation.gov listing: “South Marcum Campground offers 158 reservable campsites each equipped with a picnic table and a firepit. Electric hookups are provided at all sites, excluding tent sites. The campground offers a dump station, hot showers, flush toilets, and drinking water to provide a comfortable camping experience for guests. A playground is also conveniently located within the Whispering Pines camping loop near the shower house. The fields, forests, and waters of Rend Lake provide a natural haven for wildlife and an outdoor wonderland for you. Woodland areas are made up of hickory, oak, and beautiful maples providing habitat to white-tail deer, turkeys, racoons, and many more native species. The shorelines are an excellent viewing area for waterfowl, shorebirds, and bank fishing the known crappie population.”
Page data as of October 15, 2026. Full source notes are in each layer’s info in the app.