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Hidden Gem- with the best view of Lake of Egypt! - Kayaks included/1 bed/1 bath!

Photo gallery for Hidden Gem- with the best view of Lake of Egypt! - Kayaks included/1 bed/1 bath!

A view from a room with a sliding glass door to an outdoor deck with a table and chairs, overlooking a lake and greenery.
A bedroom with a bed, a ceiling fan, a window, and a staircase.
A compact kitchen with a refrigerator, a dining table with two chairs, a ceiling fan, and a clock on the wall.
A bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower, a toilet, a sink with a mirror, and wooden cabinets.
A room with wooden walls, a ceiling fan, a grey sofa, and a white appliance.

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Highlights

  • Scenic water view
    Relax and unwind with top-rated water views, offering a scenic experience.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Shawnee National Forest

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Air conditioning
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Internet
  • Non smoking

Explore the area

View in a map
Creal Springs, IL
  • Place, Shawnee National Forest
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Lake of Egypt
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Southern Illinois University
    ‪39 min drive‬
  • Airport, Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA)
    ‪26 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Futon

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bidet · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Number of living rooms

Add dates for prices

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  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
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About the neighborhood

Creal Springs

Creal Springs is home to this vacation home. Kokopelli Golf Club and Blue Sky Vineyards are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Marion Cultural and Civic Center and Williamson County Fairgrounds.
View more Vacation Homes in Creal SpringsOpens in a new window
Map
Creal Springs, IL

What's nearby

  • Shawnee National Forest - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Lake of Egypt - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Marion Cultural and Civic Center - 24 min drive - 22.6 km
  • Giant City State Park - 35 min drive - 43.3 km
  • Southern Illinois University - 39 min drive - 53.2 km

Getting around

  • Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA) - 29 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Acee's Neighborhood Market & Deli - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Whiffle Boys Pizza - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Marion / Shawnee National Forest KOA - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬17 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Hidden Gem- with the best view of Lake of Egypt! - Kayaks included/1 bed/1 bath! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 20 lbs per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at Hidden Gem- with the best view of Lake of Egypt! - Kayaks included/1 bed/1 bath!?

As of Nov 9, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Hidden Gem- with the best view of Lake of Egypt! - Kayaks included/1 bed/1 bath! on Nov 16, 2026 start from $132, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at Hidden Gem- with the best view of Lake of Egypt! - Kayaks included/1 bed/1 bath!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Hidden Gem- with the best view of Lake of Egypt! - Kayaks included/1 bed/1 bath!?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Hidden Gem- with the best view of Lake of Egypt! - Kayaks included/1 bed/1 bath! located?

Situated in Creal Springs, this vacation home is steps from Shawnee National Forest and Lake of Egypt. Marion Carnegie Library and Goreville City Hall are also within 12 mi (20 km).

Reviews

8.4

Very Good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 25 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 25 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 25 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 25 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 25 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
One of the relaxing stays I've ever had!!!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sweet little place

Loved the view, had everything we needed, perfect spot for a great getaway.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice lake view

Good place clean
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 30, 2025
Thank you for choosing our properties. We hope to earn your stay again at one of our 10 Lake of Egypt lakefront properties again. Safe travels
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

We had a great stay at this place. It was very small but overall it was a good time. Wonderful view!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Feb 1, 2024
Great - glad you enjoyed your stay and hope to have you back!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House was clean and pleasant. As other reviews have said, the spiral staircase would likely be difficult for guests with mobility issues, but we didn’t have a problem with it. We quite enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Nov 2, 2025
Thank you for choosing one of our 9 lake properties. Safe travels and hope to host you again soon.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location in quaint location

We enjoyed our visit so much! The view of Lake Egypt was gorgeous. The home was small, clean and had everything we needed for a weekend stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 8, 2024
Thank you for staying with us!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Clean home
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Nov 7, 2025
Thank you for choosing one of our 9 lake properties. We hope to host you again soon.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gone with the weekend

Friendly helpful host. Great stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 8, 2024
Thank you for staying with us.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hunting trip with brother

Great property dock was good for fishing
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Get away weekend

Only bad thing was bathroom on 2nd floor bedroom on first .enjoyed stay would stay again
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic customer service!

This property is cozy - perfect for 2 people. Beautiful view of the lake! We had to extend our stay due to car trouble and the property management company was very helpful!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake trip

Beautiful place could use a little more cleaning but overall pretty nice
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on May 28, 2024
Great guest
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

fall getaway

Very nice unit with patio overlooking the lake. Great area with lots of outdoor activities with nearby national forests, wildlife refuges, etc. The host was very helpful with quick responses. Highly recommended!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Feb 1, 2024
Thank you!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spring Weekend in Shawnee

Took a long weekend stay here to do some hiking at various places in the Shawnee forest. The place itself was perfect for my needs - clean, good internet, and had all the items I needed. It was nice waking up to the morning view of the lake. Would stay again if I wanted to visit the western part of the forest.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake of Egypt

It is a great place right on the water. We did not realize that the only bathroom is up a narrow, winding staircase. We are both in our mid seventies, so we probably won’t rent this particular home again because of that. It would be perfect for someone younger! We may consider renting a different property near by though, because it is really beautiful.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely

It’s a beautiful area. The lake view from the balcony was very pretty. The space itself is very nice. But because of our age ( upper 60’s)we found the up and down of the winding staircase to be difficult. The bed being on the first floor with the bathroom and kitchen on the top floor made for interesting evenings. But it was very clean and had everything you need for a nice weekend.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Comfy bed, nice view...

Overall, this place was fine. Bed was comfortable and the view was nice. Could use some improvements for safety such as smoke alarm up instead of on top of frig and spiral staircase secured so it doesn't wobble. Dogs are allowed which we knew, but clean up better after they visit please. Loved the hiking and biking in the area. No condiments, spices, etc were provided.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Overall, this place has potential and could be really cute with a bit more attention to detail. The location near the water is definitely a plus and made the setting enjoyable.Unfortunately, our stay had several cleanliness and comfort issues. There was dog hair all over the furniture when we arrived, the floors didn’t appear to be swept, and some of the glasses in the kitchen were dirty. We also found towels and a bath mat left in the dryer, which made it seem like the cleaning process may have been rushed or incomplete.The bed was another challenge—it was extremely uncomfortable and noticeably sunk in, which made it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. We also expected there to be a grill outside based on the listing, but there wasn’t one available during our stay.With more thorough cleaning and some attention to the furnishings, this could be a really nice spot, especially given the location. Hopefully these issues can be addressed for future guests.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 16, 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the location by the water—it really is one of the highlights of the property. We sincerely apologize for the cleanliness issues you experienced on arrival. That’s not the standard we aim for, and we’re addressing this with our cleaning team to ensure the home is thoroughly checked and fully prepared before each guest arrives. The dog hair, un-swept floors, and items left in the dryer should not have been overlooked, and we appreciate you bringing it to our attention. We’re also sorry to hear the bed was uncomfortable. We’re currently reviewing the mattress and furnishings so we can make improvements to ensure a better night’s sleep for future guests. Regarding the grill, there actually is one provided, but unfortunately someone had moved it off the deck and taken it down near the water next to one of the neighboring properties before your stay. We weren’t aware it had been moved at the time, and we apologize for the inconvenience and confusion that caused during your visit. Thank you again for your thoughtful feedback. With some attention to these details, we agree the property can be a really great spot, and your comments help us make those improvements for future guests.
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Check-in, communication

Stairs from lower level to upper level…deal breaker

This small property has a lower level bedroom, no bathroom. You must traverse a very small, circular staircase to get the upper level and the bathroom. The circular staircase is extremely narrow and the climb is steep. It is a very difficult climb and return at anytime however that much more difficult in the middle of the night. It is not convenient at all. The property also did not have any hand soap in the bathroom. It is a good location to hiking and the lake. We left after one night of our two night planned stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Nov 11, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We genuinely appreciate your input, as it helps us improve our guests' experience. We understand that the spiral staircase may not have been to your liking, and we apologize if this aspect of the property did not meet your expectations. We do make every effort to provide accurate and detailed descriptions, as well as photos, in our property listing to ensure that guests have a clear understanding of what to expect. The spiral staircase is prominently featured in both the description and photos, as we want to be fully transparent about the layout of the home. We hope that, despite this, you were able to enjoy other aspects of your stay. If you have any further suggestions on how we can improve, please feel free to reach out directly. We truly value your feedback and hate that we deserved such a low star rating because you didn't pay attention to the property descriptions.
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

STAY AWAY

The steps to go to the second floor were not steady, they felt flimsy. Dog hair on the couch and kitchen counter tops and the bed was very uninviting. We went in climbed the steps my husband sat down on the couch n had dog hair on his clothes. We went back down the steps and I laid on the bed it it was not firm. I texted the property manager and said we will not be staying at your location due to the steps, I’m up at least 4 times at night and would be afraid of falling down the steps. I asked if he would consider a partial refund and he never responded. Would have been nice to at least got our cleaning and dog charge back. When getting verbo make sure to read the reviews I wish I had not been in a rush and read them. I would of never rented.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 22, 2025
We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet your expectations. However, the listing clearly stated that this was a split-level unit with the bathroom located on the main level upstairs. The photos and description accurately reflect the layout. Additionally, we were never contacted during your stay. We would have been more than happy to accommodate a move to one of our 9 other nearby locations had you reached out before checking out. Upon inspection after your departure, we noticed significant dog hair throughout the unit, which appears to have come from your pet. We always strive to provide accurate listings and responsive support, and we encourage all guests to communicate any concerns during their stay so we can promptly assist.
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location

Lovely view and location but lacking otherwise

This is in a beautiful location, but it really needs some updates to the basics. The plan was for my husband and I to have a romantic getaway. The primary queen size bed was so flimsy that only one person could sleep in it. We thought we would try fold out couch in hopes we could sleep together, again mattress was extremely thin so we had to have one sleep on bed and one on couch. No working light bulbs in outside lights and in night light which made maneuvering in and outdoor staircases more difficult. Also need to upgrade locks as simple key with some doors that automatically lock behind one, left us outside for over 2 hours with no way to get in (which sounds like a common problem). It appears the manager may be doing the best he can, and the owners need to invest a little more money into their properties. It is too bad as we really loved the locale.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 28, 2024
Thank you for your feedback, we take all reviews serious and address them as soon as possible. We are also very sorry you locked yourself out of the unit.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great eclipse location

We did enjoy the stay immensely. It was perfect location for the eclipse and proximity to the water. The washer and drier were great and the BBQ (although we did not use it). A few suggested improvements: I do think that the statement "fully stocked" kitchen was a bit overstated. I would add to the supplies--a colander to drain pasta,, salad tongs, wine glasses and maybe more than 1 small glass. I would also clearly state: Bring your own hair drier. Plus: Note: bathroom is on a separate level from the bed. Also, I would suggest you remount the paper towel holder. Having screws protruding thru the shelf not only limited the storage but, was an accident waiting to happen with someone cutting their hands. And finally, for a $400/nite rental, I would expect a more comfortable bed and not covered with a plastic cover (this was very hot). I would highly recommend your rental to others once the improvements were made. Thanks again for your prompt response to a pot with a lid
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, very beautiful

We had a great time with our family of 5 exploring the area. They were wonderful about answering questions, so I was prepared to bring what we needed to make this lightly stocked rental work. We were glad we brought sheets for the futon, and they had sheets for the hide-a-bed. They had a breakfast nook with 4 stools, so we brought in a bag chair from home to use, although it was harder to play boardgames from a short chair. If I were coming back and planning board games, I might bring a card table--or bring another stool! There were 4 chairs and a table out on the balcony with a beautiful view, so we ate together out there. They were very accommodating about getting us access to kayaks for our whole group, since they own the houses immediately around what we rented, so we shared with them. It was close quarters with the neighbors and a shared backyard, so we had some nice chats and shared some s'mores over the fire pit! We had a wonderful time. The lake was warm, there were great hikes close by, and we loved being able to hop on the kayaks whenever we wanted. I think they are just starting out at this property, and I think an information sheet would have been helpful--the questions that they were so gracious to answer probably would have been included in an info sheet, including wifi password, which kayaks were we allowed to use, where the sheets were for the hide-a-bed, etc. We brought disposable plates, cups, etc, since we were a larger group, and that was good.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great communication. Small incident upon check in and they immediately made it right, and even better. The view was beautiful. Kayaked for hours. Fished off the dock. - YES you can get Walmart deliveries if needed. House was clean. Even with the check in mishap, we had ZERO complaints.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 22, 2026
Thank you for choosing one of our 9 lake front properties. We hope to host you again soon and get a returning guest discount.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Dec 3, 2025
Thank you for choosing one of our lake properties, we hate that it was only a 3 star review as we didnt hear from you for any issues. We have on site staff to handle any issues that may arise and really encourage our guest to take advantage of that during their stay. We hope to hoat you again and try to earn that 5 star review.
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