Giant City State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- YesAlso lodge or inn rooms
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(618) 457-4836
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Weather Park noticeSurvey: Tell us what you think! Did you know that Giant City State Park has a historic airstrip in the Park? This airstrip was operational through… (more)
Survey: Tell us what you think! Did you know that Giant City State Park has a historic airstrip in the Park? This airstrip was operational through the 1980s and was likely a part of the short-lived post World War II aviation boom. Giant City State Park is considering the feasibility of restoring the air strip to be a functional back-country fly-in air strip, with primitive camping opportunities. We would like to know your thoughts on this, and how to best serve multiuse outdoor recreational opportunities at the site. Thank you you for your participation! See map here
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
In Jackson County, about 9 miles south of Carbondale, Giant City State Park covers about 2,134 acres.
Roofed lodging includes lodge rooms.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. | — |
| Trails | Daily | 7 a.m. – sunset | — |
| Visitor center | Not stated | 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | — |
| Store — Lodge | Mon–Sat | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. | — |
| Mon–Sat | 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Park Hours: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Trail Hours: 7 a.m. - Dusk
Visitor Center Hours: 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Daily Phone: 618-457-4836
Lodge Hours: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Mon - Sat & 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday Lodge is open the first Friday in February - mid December
Phone: 618-457-4921
Horse Stables: Open from March 15 - November 15th
Phone: 618-529-4110
Visitor Center Hours:: 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Fees and passes
Free: 'The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) does not charge an Entrance Fee to any state owned or operated land.' Camping, cabins and shelters are fee-based.
Statewide fee rule from Illinois's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ExploreMoreIL (IDNR camping, cabins, group camps and shelters)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
Reserve Your Campsite
Giant City is a popular weekend retreat because of its varied and well-kept campground facilities. There are 85 campsites in the Class A Campground which provides water, electricity, showers, and sanitary facilities for tent and trailer camping. The shower building in the Class A site closes the day after the first shotgun deer season (weather-dependent) and re-opens April 1st. A separate Class A equestrian campground is located off the horse trail in the southwest corner of the park. Camping reservations may be made for Class A sites; visit the ExploreMoreIL™ website for reservations at ExploreMoreIL™. Campers without a reservation may register upon arrival with the "silent host" self-registration system.
Read more from the park
A Class C camping area is located at the south end of the campground and offers 14 walking sites for those who prefer a more primitive setting. Outdoor privies, fire rings and access to showers are provided. The trailhead to the Red Cedar trail is located nearby for those who wish to hike 6 miles to the primitive "Red Cedar Campsite". Pre-registration is required at the Visitor Center or with the camp host.
For those campers who arrive without a reservation, we ask that you choose an unoccupied site that does not have a reservation permit on the campsite post. Once a site has been selected, you may see the camp host, if on duty, for a site permit. If the host is not available, please complete the self-registration permit, located at the front of the campground, and deposit payment in the drop box.
Giant City Campground Map
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Trails
Hiking
Exploration of the picturesque natural wonders of Giant City State Park can be enjoyed along the Post Oak, Devil’s Standtable, Giant City, Stone Fort, Indian Creek, Trillium, and Arrow Wood trails. The Post Oak Trail has been designed for disabled visitors. The 12-mile Red Cedar Hiking Trail provides an invigorating challenge to the truly dedicated backpacker and offers an overnight campsite at the halfway point.
- Arrow Wood Trail Brochure
- Devil's Standable Trail Brochure
- Indian Creek Trail Brochure
- Giant City Trail Brochure
- Post Oak Trail Brochure
- Red Cedar Trail Brochure
- Stone Fort Trail Brochure
- Trillium Trail Brochure
Fishing
Fishing and Boating
Ponds are located throughout the park for bank fishing.
Fishing Map | Fishing Information Site
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Park or camp store
Lodging
- Lodge or inn rooms
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Accessibility at Giant City:
•
Lodge - The Giant City Lodge has a large asphalt parking lot with multiple accessible parking spots approximately 150' from the front door. There is a designated drop-off area at the rear of the lodge lobby with a compliant sidewalk within 50' of the dining room. Several of the cabins are available with ADA-compliant ramps within 100' of the asphalt parking lot.
•
Visitor Center - There is an asphalt parking lot with accessible parking spaces adjacent to the sidewalk. There are accessible restrooms and water fountains. There are benches available for sitting. The displays are not tactile, have braille, or audio commentary.
•
Stables - There is a limestone chat parking lot with designated concrete paved accessible parking space at the front of the building. There is an adjacent concrete sidewalk to access the stables and arena area. Access to the horses is provided through an ADA-compliant ramp and mechanical lift.
Read more from the park
•
Camping - The Giant City Campground has 5 accessible campsites. Each is paved with an adjacent concrete pad and a picnic table and grill. There are concrete sidewalks adjacent to the campsites to provide access to the shower house, shelter, and playground. There is an accessible campsite in the Equestrian Campground.
•
Hiking - The 1/3-mile Post Oak Trail is a wheelchair -accessibletrail. The other 8 designated hiking trails are not ADA accessible but do have asphalt parking lots and accessible parking spaces. The equestrian trail has a limestone rock surface with parking available for vehicles and trailers at the rear of the equestrian campground.
•
Hunting - All hunter parking lots are limestone chat.
•
Picnicking - There are 10 picnic areas with paved roadsides and accessible parking spaces throughout the site. There are 5 reservable shelters with accessible parking and a 50' distance to the sidewalk. An accessible vault toilet is available at these shelters.
•
Restrooms - There are accessible vault toilets throughout the park and accessible flush toilets in the Visitor Center and campground shower house.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 235 Giant City Road
Makanda, IL 62958 - Nearest town
- Carbondale — about 9 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.6020, -89.1890
- Phone
- (618) 457-4836
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Illinois State Parks (IDNR state parks and recreation areas) — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- IDNR All Parks list (AEM content-fragment list JSON) + each unit's landing page for official title, coordinates, address, phone
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Nature trail rockshelter at Giant City.jpg — Public domain (released by the author), Nyttend
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology