Can you reserve a site at South Marcum Day Use?

Yes, South Marcum Day Use is reservable through Recreation.gov.

Are pets allowed at South Marcum Day Use?

Yes, pets are allowed at South Marcum Day Use.

South Marcum Day Use, Illinois — 1 site, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

South Marcum 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 Marcum Day Use Area features a picnic shelter with tables, grills, and drinking water. The shelter can accommodate up to 25 guests, and the area has a boat ramp and playground within walking distance.

Natural Features

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.

Nearby Attractions

Rend Lake Project Office/ Visitor Center

Rend Lake Spillway Recreation Area

Rend Lake Bike Trail

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (618) 724-2493.

The facts

1 bookable site
1 site for day use only
1 accessible site
Up to 25 people per site
Loops: PICNIC SHELTER 9

Site types

1 Group Shelter Electric

Amenities

Picnic tables
Grills
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits.

Book on Recreation.gov

1 campsite at South Marcum Day Use

Check-in 8:00 AM · Check-out 10:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
009	PICNIC SHELTER 9	Group Shelter Electric	—	—	—	25	♿ 🐾

Getting there

From I-57 take exit 71 and turn west onto Route 14. Continue for 3 miles, then turn north on Rend City Road, turn right on Rend Lake Dam Rd. The entrance is on the left after about 3 miles, just past the main dam.

38.03582, -88.94677 · 38°2'9.0"N 88°56'48.4"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 88°F in Jul, down to 41°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	41	44	55	67	76	85	88	87	81	68	55	44
Low °F	25	28	37	46	56	64	68	66	58	47	37	28
Precip in	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about South Marcum Day Use

Can you reserve a site at South Marcum Day Use?: Yes, South Marcum Day Use is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does South Marcum Day Use have?: 1 site.
Are pets allowed at South Marcum Day Use?: Yes, pets are allowed at South Marcum Day Use.

Camping near South Marcum Day Use

Dale Miller Youth 0.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
South Marcum Campground 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Spillway Group Area 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Marcum Day Use Area 1.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dam West Area (Day-Use) 2.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
South Sandusky Day Use 2.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Gun Creek 3.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
South Sandusky Campground 3.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Shagbark Group Area 3.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Sandusky Day-Use 3.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Sandusky Campground 4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Devils Kitchen Group Pavilion 28.5 mi · Campground · we watch it

Contact

Phone 618-724-2493
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-07-30.

South Marcum Day Use