Lake Murphysboro State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(618) 684-2867
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Weather Park noticeUpdate: The Hiking Trail is now open!
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Lake Murphysboro State Park is a 948-acre park in Jackson County, about 3 miles west of Murphysboro.
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.
Pets
See the park’s wording
* Pets must be kept on leashes at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Reserve Your Campsite
Well-equipped campsites located in scenic areas of the park provide the perfect opportunity to extend your stay at Lake Murphysboro. Campers who want to truly experience nature will appreciate the 20 tent sites.
Those who love nature, but like the comfort of home, will prefer the 54 trailer sites that are equipped with electricity. Three Class A handicapped sites and one Class B/S handicapped site are available. A sanitary disposal station is located near the trailer area. All campers must obtain a permit from the site office. Reservations can be made at ExploreMoreIL™.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Trails
Hiking
A 2 mile designated trail offers hikers the opportunity to enjoy the plant, animal, and bird life of the park. For those who prefer to explore nature on their own, several paths criss-cross through the park's wooded hills.
Fishing
Fishing and Boating
With its gentle hills and shady shores, Lake Murphysboro is a popular retreat for bank fishing. No matter what form of fishing one prefers, anglers will appreciate the variety of fish available: largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, and crappie.
An accessible fishing pier and boat transfer station are available.
Boaters can bring their own boat to the boat launch. All boats with a motor over 10 H.P. must observe the no-wake restriction. Bank and boat fishing also are available on Little Lake, but no motors are allowed.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
✓ 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 Lake Murphysboro:
The park can be accessed off Highway 149 from Lake Access Road; just follow the signs to the main entrance. Please call 618-684-2867 for assistance.
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Parking - The park office has a paved parking lot with adjacent concrete sidewalks. The office is at ground level. The concession parking lot is paved and has several accessible parking spaces. The adjacent concrete sidewalks can be somewhat uneven in places.
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Restrooms - Accessible flush toilets are available in the concession boat ramp area and in the campground shower house. Accessible vault toilets are available in the Big Oak Campground and the East Shelter. There are paved parking lots and adjacent concrete sidewalks to the toilets.
Read more from the park
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Camping - The Big Oak Campground has three accessible campsites. They are sites 41, 47, and 51, and they have concrete pads, wheelchair-accessible picnic tables, and grills. To make a reservation, please visit ExploreMoreIL™
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Picnicking - There are two shelters available at Lake Murphysboro; both have wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and grills.
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Fishing - From the Concession Boat Ramp Area, there is a composite wheelchair-accessible fishing dock as well as a wooden fishing pier. A wheelchair-accessible boat loading ramp; however, the wooden dock can be slippery when wet or icy.
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Service animals are welcome in the park, and outdoor water hydrants are available in the Big Oak Campground and concession area.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 492 Lake Access Road
Murphysboro, IL 62966 - Nearest town
- Murphysboro — about 3 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.7730, -89.3790
- Phone
- (618) 684-2867
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)
“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