The Best Cabins in Shawnee National Forest for a Weekend Getaway

There are so many amazing cabins in Shawnee National Forest it can be a little bit difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, we have been to the area several times and we try to make a point of staying in a different cabin every time!

To make things easy on you, we’ve put together a list of our favorite cabins in Shawnee National Forest and broken them down into different categories so you can find just the right cabin for your trip.

So whether you’re looking for cabins near Garden of the Gods Illinois, Lake of Egypt or anything in-between keep reading!

Because no matter if it’s luxery cabins near shawnee national forest, a budget-friendly option, a treehouse, or any other type of Shawnee cabins you could imagine, we’ve found the very best ones!

Keep Reading For All Of The Best Cabins In Shawnee National Forest!

Best Cabins In Shawnee National Forest

Out of all of the cabins in Shawnee National Forest, this cabin is by far our favorite! It’s the perfect blend of rustic cabin outside and modern comfortable inside. It can sometimes be a little difficult to find a cabin that has the right combination of look and function and so after searching for a really long time we jumped when we saw this one!

We also really liked the location. It’s only a 15-minute walk to some beautiful wineries and hiking trails, so there’s no need to drive super far if you don’t want to. The cabin is right next to Lake of Egypt but also has a pond and a beach right outside your window!

There are two queen beds and one is up in the loft and so it’s a great option for families with kids, two younger couples, or a romantic getaway for two.

The cabin has extremely high ratings and honestly after our experience there I can see why. Everything was exactly what we were expecting and we would absolutely stay there again. It’s without a doubt one of the best cabins southern Illinois has to offer!

Budget Cabins In Shawnee National Forest

While some of the cabins in Shawnee National Forest can be a bit expensive, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to find a really nice place to stay. In fact, some of the best places to stay can actually be pretty reasonably priced they often just take a little bit more looking to find.

This beautiful cabin is not only easy on your budget but it has a lot more to offer than just that! For starters, it’s far more private than most other cabins in Shawnee National Forest. It sits on 40 acres of private property that actually connects to over 800 acres of Shawnee National Forest.

It’s also right in the middle over everything. Picking a place to stay in Shawnee National Forest can sometimes feel like you need to choose between staying close to Lake of Egypt or Garden of the Gods. But that’s not the case with this cabin. It’s located right in the middle of not only Lake of Egypt and Garden of the Gods, but also the Ohio River.

If you’re on the hunt for cabins in Shawnee National Forest that are secluded, yet only a short drive away from everything, and won’t cost you an arm and a leg then this is the cabin for you!

Luxury Cabins In Shawnee National Forest

Now if budget is a little bit less of a concern or you have a bigger group of people going on your trip then there are some amazing luxury cabins in Shawnee National forest that you have to check out!

This impressive log home is absolutely jaw-dropping! Don’t believe me? Well, this premier cabin has been featured in both Outdoor Living AND Log Home Living Magazines! And with those beautiful vaulted ceilings, tons of windows to bring in natural light, and the full stone fireplace that goes all the way up to the ceiling. It’s every nature lover’s dream!

But of course, experience means just as much as looks. Allison is a Premier Host and great to work with. So if there’s anything at all that you need during your stay she’s more than happy to take care of it for you.

The property is one of the newest cabins for rent in Illinois and so it doesn’t have a ton of reviews just yet, but everyone who has stayed had a wonderful experience. We have stayed in some rental homes before that were new and so they didn’t have a lot of reviews (sometimes none at all!) and I would have no problems staying here!

If fact we would recommend booking this cabin as soon as possible before the word gets out and it becomes so popular that it’s completely booked up. This is truly one of the most beautiful cabins Illinois has to offer!

Shawnee National Forest Cabins Near Garden Of The Gods

If you’re planning on doing some hiking in the Garden of the Gods area then you’re going to want to find a cabin close by so you can hit those trails early before they get too crowded. Fortunately, there are some really great options for Shawnee National Forest cabins near Garden of the Gods.

This one is actually one of our favorites because it’s really close to some of our favorite spots. This cabin is only a short distance from High Knob, Rim Rock as well as Garden of the Gods and so it’s a great place to stay if you’re looking to check out the whole area.

It’s an Amish-built cabin with a really cool clawfoot tub and shower making it a great combination of both rustic and luxury. Personally, I love when we find cabins that are able to pull that combination together seamlessly, and this is definitely one of the cabin rentals in Southern Illinois that does it well.

All things considered, it’s absolutely one of our favorite cabins in Shawnee National Forest in the Garden of the Gods area.

Fortunately, there’s more than one cabin in the Garden of the Gods area. The host, Elizabeth, actually runs several cabins in Shawnee National Forest that are near Garden of the Gods and so if you’re looking to stay in the same area but don’t need a cabin big enough for eight people then this smaller four-person cabin is a great option!

It’s a little bit less expensive since it’s not quite as big, but still has everything that the larger cabin has. Including the great location! Still only moments away from not only Garden of the Gods, but also other great hiking areas like High Knob and Rim Rock so you can enjoy all of the convenience without needing to pay for extra space that you don’t need.

With so many cabins in Shawnee National Forest to choose from, don’t miss the opportunity to grab one that’s super close to everything you’re going to want to see!

Shawnee National Forest Treehouse Cabins

Okay, how could you pass on the opportunity to stay in one of the Shawnee National Forest treehouse cabins! Not a cabin that has a tree. But a real-life honest-to-God treehouse! It’s like being four years old all over again!

Now before you go thinking that this is going to be some sort of shack in a tree, let me assure you that this cabin is anything but. It has a kitchen, bathroom, and even a shower! Have you ever taken a shower in a tree before?

It also has a beautiful deck, a hammock in the yard, and even a fire pit to relax by after a full day of hiking and exploring the Garden of the Gods area.

There are a ton of really great cabins in Shawnee National Forest that are all more or less the same thing. Don’t miss this opportunity for an experience that’s truly once in a lifetime in one of the coolest southern Illinois cabins!

Looking for bigger Shawnee National Forest treehouse cabins? Then this is the one for you! While the first cabin is a little newer this one is a little bigger if you want some extra space or if you’ll have more people.

It’s an absolutely gorgeous treehouse that sits over 20 feet in the air in a White Oak that’s over 200 years old! And just like the other treehouse, it has everything you need. A kitchen, a bathroom, and yes even a shower!

This treehouse actually has two decks where you can relax and enjoy the view. And while you’ll be surrounded by everything that the Garden of the Gods area has to offer, don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to spend the whole day soaking up every moment in your once-in-a-lifetime treehouse cabin!

Unique Cabins In Shawnee National Forest

One of the things that we really love about cabins in Shawnee National Forest is that they’re real! I can’t tell you how many times we’ve looked for a cabin or a cool place to stay and all we could find were houses that the host was calling a “cabin”.

Well, this cabin just outside of Giant City State Park is truly unique because it’s about as real as it gets and that’s why out of all of the Cabins in Shawnee National Forest is our number one pick!

It’s a handmade oak timber cabin and it’s everything we were hoping for when visiting Shawnee National Forest! And not only does it have that amazing log cabin look to it, but the inside also has all of the comforts you could possibly ask for.

It’s also in the perfect location. It’s only a short drive to Giant City Park, Pomona Natural Bridge, Panther’s Den and so many other great things to see in the area!

The Hosts Tim and Mary are Vrbo Premier Hosts and are available for anything that you might need. And the cabin has super high ratings and it’s not hard to see why.

Cabins In Shawness National Forest With A View

Part of picking one of the best cabins in Shawnee National Forest is making sure that you’re going to have an amazing view! While there are so many great areas in southern Illinois to choose from some of the best views are from the cabins around Lake of Egypt.

Cypress View is not only a beautiful comfortable cabin, but it also has an amazing view out over the lake right from the wrap-around deck.

You can easily walk right down to the lake and the cabin even has a dock which is great for kids to jump off of and play in the water. So whether you want to sit and relax on the porch and soak up the view, kayak around the lake, or fish right off the dock you really couldn’t ask for a better place to stay.

The host actually has three Illinois cabin rentals located all around Lake of Egypt and so if this one is unavailable for the weekend you would like to go, try sending them a message to ask about one of the other and I’m sure they’ll have just the right place with a gorgeous view for the perfect weekend getaway!

Cabins In Shawnee National Forest On The Ohio River

Since the park actually extends all the way down to the southern tip of Illinois, people forget sometimes that some of the best Shawnee National Forest cabin rentals actually have views of the Ohio River!

We looked at a ton of different cabins near Elizabethtown and this cabin is without a doubt one of the best. It has a ton of space and is super reasonably priced considering the fact that it can easily accommodate seven people.

It has a huge living room and even a pool table. The deck looks right out over the Ohio River and it’s walking distance to a restaurant on the river called E-Town. With a massive kitchen and the restaurant right there the only difficult choice to make is going to be whether you want to grill up something awesome for dinner or simply walk across the yard and enjoy a few drinks on the river while someone else cooks for you!

And if that wasn’t enough, the host is super friendly and so if there is anything at all that you need all you have to do is let him know and it’s taken care of right away!

Antique Cabins In Shawnee National Forest

There are only a handful of cabins in Shawnee National Forest (or really even cabins in Southern Illinois for that matter) that truly meet the definition of a rustic cabin in the woods. And so if you’re not looking for a fancy modern 21st-century cabin, but a truly rustic cabin in the woods, then this is the perfect cabin for you.

While it can be nice to hike all day and come back to a cabin that has all of the modern comforts of home, sometimes that’s not the point. Every once in a while we find ourselves looking for a cabin that lets us feel like we’re still out in nature even when we get back to the cabin. And when that time comes, this is exactly what we’re looking for.

This Antique Log Cabin is the kind of place you can really feel like you’re in a cabin. No clawfoot tubs or modern appliances, just a simple cabin where you can sip your morning coffee out of a tin cup and enjoy what’s around you.

Have A Great Shawnee National Forest Cabin Weekend!

So there you have it! The best cabins in Shawnee National Forest for a weekend out in nature. We absolutely love the southern Illinois area and with so many great hikes and beautiful lakes to choose from I don’t think we’ll ever stop visiting!

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