Park listing
Washington County State Recreation Area
18500 Conservation Drive, Nashville, IL 62263
Wildlife abounds in the Washington County State Recreation Area, located four miles south of Nashville in southern Illinois.
Trip starter
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Washington County State Recreation Area
This listing is currently using verified trip data while licensed photography is being finalized.
Drive time
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Bathrooms
Showers and restrooms
Trailer fit
34 trailer-capable sites, max listed vehicle length 40ft, driveway mix: 1 pull-through, 33 back-in
Weather
Monthly weather notes pending
Why this park
Facilities
Showers and restrooms are surfaced in the current listing data.
Trailer fit
34 trailer-capable sites, max listed vehicle length 40ft, driveway mix: 1 pull-through, 33 back-in
Activity mix
9 named routes are surfaced for hiking and activity planning.
About this park
Wildlife abounds in the Washington County State Recreation Area, located four miles south of Nashville in southern Illinois. Visitors will marvel at the sight of rabbit, quail, squirrel, dove, deer and woodcock among the stands of pines, brushy draws and fallow fields.
Read full park description
Wildlife abounds in the Washington County State Recreation Area, located four miles south of Nashville in southern Illinois. Visitors will marvel at the sight of rabbit, quail, squirrel, dove, deer and woodcock among the stands of pines, brushy draws and fallow fields. Shady Rest campground offers 51 class A electric campsites and two rustic cabins. Primitive camping is available at Lonely Oaks and Little Bears area on a first-come, first-serve basis. Six picnic shelters are available for day-use for a family picnic or gathering. The scenic Washington County Lake makes this site a special place for relaxing or fishing. The lake is a no wake lake for boats over 10hp pursuant to title 70 part 110.40 a. No swimming is permitted in the lake. Whether fishing on its 248 acres or hiking its 13-mile shoreline, the lake offers a perfect opportunity for family fun. This natural area has more than 900 acres for hunting, making it a paradise for nature lovers and hunters. Whether camping, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking or picnicking, you will find Washington County State Recreation Area has many amenities to offer. Got-a-Bite concessions, located in the park, is open April through October from 8am until 8pm daily with the kitchen closing at 7:30pm. The store offers a variety of food items, camping supplies, bait, fishing tackle, and those odds and ends you forgot. Got-a-Bite is known for their daily lunch specials and freshly-made sandwiches in addition to offering breakfast, lunch and dinner options. They also have kayak, paddleboat, Jon boat and boat slip rentals. For more details, please contact Got-a-Bite at 618-314-1748 or check them out on Facebook for their daily specials.
Campsite fit
Group-designated sites listed in park data: 0. Verify current group pricing, vehicle maximums, and campground rules on the official reservation page.
Group-site signal
No special group limitations surfaced in the current listing metadata.
Trailer and rig access
34 trailer-capable sites, max listed vehicle length 40ft, driveway mix: 1 pull-through, 33 back-in
Fire rules
Campfires allowed in designated fire pits only. Firewood must be sourced within 50 miles or USDA certified; no out-of-state wood.
Bathrooms and facilities
Trails and activities
9 named trail routes are surfaced here from 12 mapped source segments. Start with the featured routes, then expand the full list if this park stays on your shortlist.
Washington County Lake Trail
6.9 miles total • 2 mapped segments • unpaved • path
Dandelion Road
3.3 miles total • track
Perry County Line Road
0.7 miles total • track
View all trail routes
Howell Cemetery Road
0.6 miles total • track
Cleveland Road
0.6 miles total • track
County Road 2025 North
0.5 miles total • track
County Road 050 East
0.3 miles total • track
East Park Lane
0.1 miles total • foot trail
Maryland Road
0.1 miles total • 3 mapped segments • track
Weather context
Weather note
weather normals unavailable for selected park/month
Safety and rules
No active alerts surfaced for the selected dates.
Campfires allowed in designated fire pits only. Firewood must be sourced within 50 miles or USDA certified; no out-of-state wood.
Key rules and on-site notes
Start with the highest-signal rules below, then expand the full park policy list only if this park stays in contention.
Directions
From I-64 (Exit 50) go south on Illinois Rt.127 approximately 8 miles to Conservation Drive (look for Washington County State Recreation Area sign). Go left on Conservation Drive for 1 mile to the park entrance. Park signage at the entrance offers guidance to various areas throughout the park. Note: If your GPS gives direction to turn on Connecticut Road to Lake Road, do not follow those directions. There is no access to the campground or lake from there.
Contact
(618) 327-3137
Fire policy
Campfires allowed in designated fire pits only. Firewood must be sourced within 50 miles or USDA certified; no out-of-state wood.
View all park rules
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