Campsite reservations open now for sites in solar eclipse zone

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, IDNR, announced on Sept. 26, that campsite reservations are now available at Southern Illinois State Parks and the World Shooting and Recreational Complex for visitors making plans to view the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017. 

Reservations can be made for dates within the window of Aug. 14 through 27, 2017.

IDNR sites normally can be reserved no more than six months in advance. The new reservation window has been created for portions of Southern Illinois. To reserve a campsite, visit www.ReserveAmerica.com.

More than 1,600 campsites are available to be reserved in advance. Some sites also allow group campgrounds and picnic shelters to be reserved. Additional campsites are available for walk-up campers on a first-come, first-served basis.

The World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta is home to 1,001 campsites. The Complex also has great stargazing and eclipse viewing opportunities with open spaces, plenty of parking and paved walkways.

The following IDNR sites are within the portion of the state that will experience a total eclipse. Those with campsites that can be reserved have that number in parenthesis:

Cave-in-Rock State Park.

Randolph County State Recreation Area (51 with electric hookups).

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area.

Dixon Springs State Park (12 with electric, two cabins, eight tent campsites).

Ferne Clyffe State Park (34 with electric hookup).

Giant City State Park (105 with electric hookup, 28 without electric).

Fort Massac State Park (45 with electric hookup).

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area.

Lake Murphysboro State Park: (53 with electric hookup, 20 without electric).

Pyramid State Recreation Area.

Trail of Tears State Forest (14 without electric).

World Shooting and Recreational Complex (1,001 with electric hookups).

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area (247 with electric hookups).

For more information, including a clickable map of sites within the zone where the eclipse will be total, visit www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/Pages/TotalSolarEclipse.aspx.