For some nature lovers, camping in an RV just isn't "real" camping. Illinois provides plenty of full-service RV parks with all the comforts of home, but if you like your camping to be a bit more rustic, the state is also home to some truly outstanding tent campgrounds. From the natural beauty of Ferne Clyffe State Park to the quiet seclusion of Sandy Ridge State Forest, the best tent campgrounds in Illinois give you a wide range of camping options.
When it comes to scenery, Ferne Clyffe State Park is hard to beat. Eighteen hiking trails provide access to a diverse landscape of rushing waterfalls, geological formations, rugged bluffs, dense forests and shady fern groves. The park spans more than 2,400 acres, including the 53-acre Round Bluff Nature Preserve, which is home to a unique plant community of trillium, trout lily and Dutchman's breeches. Campers can choose between modern electric campsites for tents and RVs, and primitive walk-in sites that are restricted to tents only. Camping pads, picnic tables and cooking grills are located at each site, and all campers have access to drinking water, showers and toilets. The park entrance is on Illinois Route 37, about a mile south of Goreville.
Numerous activities make Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area one of the best family tent camping spots in Illinois. There's plenty to keep the whole family busy, including an outdoor swimming pool, miles of hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, tennis courts, picnic areas, boat launch facilities and fishing access on the shore of Rend Lake. If you plan to stay overnight in a tent, Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area has 17 primitive tent sites, along with more than 200 modern campsites that can accommodate both tents and RVs. Showers and restrooms are open to all campers. The recreation area is 6 miles north of Benton on Illinois Route 154.
Sand Ridge State Forest is the perfect place if you want to really get away from it all, with only the birds and the sounds of the forest to keep you company. This 7,200-acre wilderness is largely undeveloped, with primitive tents-only campsites that have no amenities other than fire rings, picnic tables, drinking water and pit toilets. If you want to head even farther into the wild, pitch a tent overnight at any of 12 backcountry tent sites that lie scattered along more than 50 miles of hiking and backpacking trails. No facilities are provided at the backcountry sites, so campers are responsible for carrying all necessary supplies with them -- including food and water -- and leaving no trace of their presence when they leave. Mason County Road 2300N leads directly into the forest.
There's not much chance of running out of things to do at Loud Thunder Forest Preserve. Hikers can explore several trails, including the 12-mile Sac-Fox Trail loop, while cyclists can meander along the Illinois Great River Road National Scenic Byway. You can canoe or kayak on the quiet waters of Lake George, where there's also excellent fishing for bass, bluegill and other species. Additional activities in the preserve include horseback riding, snowshoeing, hunting and cross-country skiing. Three shady campgrounds provide spacious nonelectric tent sites with access to modern restrooms and shower buildings. A modern RV campground and an equestrian campground are also available. Loud Thunder Forest Preserve overlooks the banks of the Mississippi River on Loud Thunder Road, just outside Illinois City.
