Fort Defiance
Fort Defiance, known as Camp Defiance during the American Civil War, is a former military fortification located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the city limits of Cairo, in Alexander County, Illinois. The pick nearby is Magnolia Manor, 2.6 mi off. Expect 70–82°F afternoons in the mildest months, April, May, September and October.
An ancient site inside Cairo
Charleston is the nearest base
Charleston is 11 miles southwest, with 8 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Sep and Oct
April, May, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 70–82°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Highs and lows by month
Use the months below to time a visit to Fort Defiance.
Fort Defiance
Fort Defiance, known as Camp Defiance during the American Civil War, is a former military fortification located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the city limits of Cairo, in Alexander County, Illinois. The strategic significance of the site has been known since prehistoric times with archaeological evidence of warfare dating to the Mississippian era. It is the southernmost park in the state of Illinois. At 279 feet (85 m) in elevation, Fort Defiance Point is also Illinois' lowest point.
Formerly a state park, it has been owned and maintained by the city of Cairo since the 1990s. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources assumed control of Fort Defiance on July 31, 2014, with the goal of returning it to state park status. The park is a satellite of Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area.
- Type
- Ancient site
- Wikipedia readers
- 6.6K a year
Overnight near Fort Defiance
Rooms are nearest in Charleston (8) and Paducah (41).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Fort Defiance | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | in town | — | 1 1 hotel | 1,515 | $32K | — |
| Charleston | 11 mi southwest | 15 min | 8 6 hotels · 1 motel · 1 campground | 4,731 | $124K | D |
| Paducah | 28 mi east | 40 min | 41 35 hotels · 2 motels · 4 inns & B&Bs | 26,730 | $165K | C− |
| Wickliffe | 4 mi east | 5 min | 2 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins | 647 | $68K | — |
| Miner | 22 mi west | 35 min | 13 9 hotels · 1 motel · 3 RV parks | 894 | $132K | — |
| Mound City | 7 mi north | 10 min | 1 1 inn or B&B | 477 | $56K | — |
| Metropolis | 28 mi northeast | 40 min | 10 5 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 5,727 | $86K | C+ |
| Ullin | 20 mi north | 30 min | 4 4 hotels | 457 | $59K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
While you are near Fort Defiance
All of these are within 64 miles.
45 mi LakeReelfoot Lake
13 mi MuseumMagnolia Manor
44 mi National forestShawnee National Forest
60 mi Park & preserveLand Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
37 mi Ancient siteKincaid Mounds State Historic Site60 mi Park & preserveGarden of the Gods Wilderness38 mi MuseumDiscovery Park of America
64 mi CaveCave-in-Rock State ParkPhoto credits
Reelfoot Lake: User:JeremyA, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Magnolia Manor: MuZemike, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Shawnee National Forest: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area: http://www.terraprints.com, CC BY 2.5 · Kincaid Mounds State Historic Site: Herb Roe, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Garden of the Gods Wilderness: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cave-in-Rock State Park: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Visiting Fort Defiance: the answers
Is Fort Defiance in Cairo?
Yes. It’s inside Cairo, IL.
When is the best time to visit Fort Defiance?
April, May, September and October, with highs of 70–82°.
What is the closest airport to Fort Defiance?
Barkley Regional (PAH), about 21 miles away. The nearest big hub is St. Louis Lambert (STL), about 139 miles.
Where should I stay near Fort Defiance?
Charleston (11 mi, 8 places to stay), Paducah (28 mi, 41 places to stay) and Miner (22 mi, 13 places to stay).
Cairo has the answers
People in Cairo have not posted tips yet; their Town Square is open.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.