North Sandusky Day-use

North Sandusky: Shelter 3 (Front)
North Sandusky Fish Cleaning Station

About North Sandusky Day-use

North 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.

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round
Kayaking

Kayaking

Spring Summer Fall
Swimming

Swimming

Summer

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Campground Amenities

Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Missing information?

Reviews (9)

What Guests Are Saying

North Sandusky Day-use offers a clean and well-maintained environment with ample amenities, including picnic tables, grills, and plenty of green space for activities. Shelter #4 is particularly praised for its beautiful fireplace, power access, and suitability for family gatherings. Visitors appreciate the professional service and clean facilities, making it an ideal spot for events and outings.

Review Summary

4.4
9 reviews
5
66.7%
6
4
22.2%
2
3
0.0%
0
2
11.1%
1
1
0.0%
0

Marilyn H

July 4, 2026

4

Love the spot. Looking at reservation for next year. Only thing that was wrong was mother nature. Yet still enjoyed our outing.

Jenny O

May 19, 2026

5

Shelter was clean, on a concrete pad. Plenty of parking. Plenty of picnic tables. Large grill. Close to the water. Plenty of green space for kids to play.

Lois M

May 10, 2026

5

Shelter #4 is a very nice, clean place

Grigoriy M

July 12, 2025

5

Absolutely the best experience I've ever had. Very professional service and will come back.

Krista K

September 3, 2024

5

We love renting the shelters for family get togethers. Our favorite is Shelter 4. there is a gorgeous fireplace, a fire pit and tons of shade! Power and lighting make for easy party planning! We have had a gender reveal, a 4th of July BBQ and one of our grandson's 1st birthdays! The ground is flat to have water tables and ball pits for little ones, the shelter is big enough for family gatherings to eat at and there is Frisby golf and a playground close. The bathrooms are always clean, and they do have running water which is great! Area is big enough to have washers and a game of bags going. I highly recommend renting one for your next gathering!

Michelle D

June 4, 2022

5

This area is great for our of group 20 + people. There are plenty of tables and room to spread out, easy access to the lake, water fountain and spigot at the pavilion and restrooms just a short walk away. There is large BBQ grill, but we always bring our own charcoal grill or gas grills depending on what we plan to cook that day.

Allen A

July 17, 2021

4

The site was clean and mowed .

Martha B

July 17, 2020

2

I had reserved the shelter for the day. There was no sign posted that it was reserved and when we got there there was other people using it. They had their things on the table and they didnt leave until they were finished swimming. I was not happy.

Becki W

January 19, 2020

5

Plenty of shade, electric outlets and parking. Bring a water hose if you need water to clean up any dishes or wash anything off.

Location North Sandusky Day-use

Address:
Rend Lake Project Office
Benton, IL, 62812-9803
United States

Highway access

The campground is accessible from I-57 via exit 77, which connects to Route 154. Route 154 continues west for approximately 4.5 miles before turning onto Rend City Road.

Elevation: 127 feet

Distance to downtown

12 mi drive to downtown Benton (about 19 min)

Policies & Rules

General

  • Off-road vehicle use must have prior approval.
  • Daily fees apply for boat ramp use.
  • This is a day use facility. Camping is prohibited at this location.
  • See Park Information Guide for additional rules and regulations.
  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: August 24, 2026

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