Top Tent Camping near Apple River, IL
Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Apple River? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. Search nearby tent campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Tent Sites Near Apple River, IL (12)
1. New Glarus Woods State Park
16 Reviews•31 Photos•48 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
$15 - $25 / night
2. Blackhawk Memorial Park
4 Reviews•4 Photos•17 Saves- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Tent Cabin
3. Governor Dodge State Park Backpack Campsites — Governor Dodge State Park
4 Reviews•3 Photos•6 SavesThere are six backpack campsites near Hickory Ridge. All sites are about 0.5 miles from the parking lot. Water and pit toilets are near the parking lot. Please note that coordinates listed on The Dyrt are for the entry to the State Park. Please call to gather detailed instructions on how to access these walk-in sites.
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
4. Hickory Ridge Group Camp — Governor Dodge State Park
2 Reviews•10 Photos•2 SavesThere are 8 campsites that can accommodate groups of 15 to 40 persons per site in the Hickory Ridge Group Camp. Only tents are allowed. Each group site has a tent area, picnic tables, a large fire ring and a set of pit toilets. Drinking water is available at the shower building located near group site B and across from the backpack sites parking lot near group sites E, F, G and H.
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Picnic Table
7. Goatland
Be the first to review!•9 Photos•9 SavesIt's not a huge place, but the goats, sheep, and a very bossy donkey will keep you company as you bake in the sun, or read under a tree by the creek. Close hwy access, but far enough from that, and in most cases the house, to afford privacy. This is a working farm.
I have several locations for campers based upon multiple factors like weather, phase of hay growth, whether you have kids, want sun or shade, or animals in your space. I limit the number of people here at one time - there is only one bathroom.
We're happy to have you, to answer any questions you may have, and to introduce you to the animals. We mind our own business unless you need something. If you require a lot of attention, manicured lawns, electrical service at your site, a grill at your disposal, and parking at your tent, you probably wouldn't be happy here, but if you like animals, quiet, and open space, we may be just what you're looking for.
Reasonable driving distance to Le-Aqua-Na, Apple River Canyon, Krape and Read Parks, Cadiz Springs, Pecatonica Forest Preserve, and Head Gates Park. About an hour from the Mississippi to the southwest, Galena to the west. There's also a popular walking/biking trail less than 5 mins away.
We are a safe space for LGBTQ+ folks.
Lambs are born in March. Kids are born in April or May. Most are gone, or mature enough to be less fun, by Oct.
Contact me with any inquiries, or questions.
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Trash
- Firewood Available
$35 - $55 / night
8. Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area
1 Review•9 Photos•10 SavesThe 273-acre area is located along the South Fork of the Maquoketa River. The unique beauty of Northeast Iowa is very evident here with limestone rock outcroppings, upland timber, flood plain, wildlife, and panoramic scenery. Wildlife food plots are planted throughout the area to help wildlife survive harsh winters. Primitive camping is available by the river with restroom facilities nearby. This area is a convenient stop for canoeists traveling down the Maquoketa River.
primitive camping (walk-in or paddle-in, tent only) pit toilets
- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Toilets
- Alcohol
9. Joinerville County Park
1 Review•3 Photos•2 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Alcohol
10. Scheidegger Forest (Dane County Parks)
Be the first to review!•3 SavesScheidegger Forest is nearly 80 acres and offers a mile of loop of hiking trails, a reservable shelter, and restroom. The area has been restored from a former Dane County Sheriff shooting range to a managed forest of primarily oak and hickory. The shelter, kiosk, and bathroom were all built from wood harvested on-site. Water is not available at this site When this Group Camp is reserved, the Shelter is not available to be reserved by another party(and vice versa). Located~ 100 feet east of loop parking lot, just beyond the restroom No potable water at this time. Vault(pit) toilet. Campfire ring. No electricity. 20’ x 30’ shelter– picnic tables. Vehicle parking in parking lot * Reserve a campsite online here: https://web2.myvscloud.com/wbwsc/widanectywt.wsc/splash.html * Check opening and closing dates here: https://www.danecountyparks.com/about/Parks-Opening-Closing-Schedule * See campground rules here: https://www.danecountyparks.com/about/rules
- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
$65 / night
Showing results 1-10 of 12 campgrounds
Recent Tent Reviews In Apple River
461 Reviews of 12 Apple River Campgrounds
Linda N.
Traveler
Sweet Minnihaha Campground
music fest
I originally went to this campground a couple years ago for a music festival, but I discovered how much fun it was. the people were incredible. the staff was really awesome so I continue to make it back at least once a year
James M.
Legend
Horseshoe Pond
Nice smaller CG in City of Maquoketa, Iowa
CG offers gravel pads, tables, fire rings, electric, sump station, water, small pond with fishing, paddling, dog park. Close to stores for supplies, dining, fuel.
Brian O.Legend
Maquoketa Caves State Park
Nice campground, fun caves, older established state park
My mom remembers visiting this park in the 40's. Not a surprise since Grampa was a Geologist.
This is a small campground for such an old park, only 34 sites, walk-ins included. All sites are along one road with a turnaround at the end. There is only one building with toilets, showers and no pit toilets. These are clean and well maintained.
There is a playground near the entrance that is shared with the caves entrance area, a bit of a walk.
The caves themselves are down a long hill from the campground. There are facilities there too, and a concession stand with limited hours/ days. The caves are fun to explore, but not ADA accessible. Bring flashlights and in some areas watch your head.
The Visitor's center at the park entrance is staffed by volunteers and only open on weekends.
Once you've done the caves, there's not much else to see within the park. But visit the Hurstville interpretive center for a nice nature center and trails.
Ashley F.
Guide
Nelson Dewey State Park
Great place for a short trip
I’ll begin by saying this is by far the cleanest campground I have stayed at. The facilities were well kept including the vault toilet houses. We stayed in a walk to site and the views were incredible. Our tent pad was quite rocky so I would recommend sleeping pads or you will be very uncomfortable. Our site was also extremely dusty which wasn’t a problem at all just be prepared to be a little dirty. The campground was quiet except for the occasional train that rolled through those are quite loud due to how close they are to the campground. I would definitely come back to Nelson Dewey and stay again. There was not a ton to do in the area so a short weekend stay was perfect. A highlight is that the park provided cart to use to haul all your stuff to the walk to sites. There is 1 designated parking spot per walk to site as well. The walk to sites are small and only accommodated our one (6 person) tent which was not a problem for us as we knew this ahead of time.
Jeff and Linda L.Guide
Grant River Recreation Area
Feet from the Mississippi
The park is on the beautiful might Mississippi river. It’s 2 miles from Potosi, WI with a large brewery with good food as well. Army Corps so half price with America The Beautiful senior discount card. If you like trains you will see many, close and going fast.
- Jerry H.
Scout
Swiss Valley County Park
Very nice experience
Nice trails around. Camp was clean. Cool creek and bridge. Priced appropriately at $23 a night.
- CCharles E.Traveler
Mississippi Palisades State Park
Super cheap for what you get.
I got a primitive tent site in an area all to myself, with a shower house just down the road, in a beautiful and quiet campground for $10 cash. You really can’t beat that. Campground is separate from the park so you don’t have to pay a park entrance fee to stay here.
Brent A.Scout
Vel Terra
Wonderful Little Campground
We stayed at this campground over Labor Day. The owner intentionally doesn't fill all of the sites in order to give people more space- a great luxury over a holiday like this. The sites are pretty small and only one 'sleeping structure' is allowed on each site but we found that Jeff was very willing to let us put up two tents (one for my wife & I
+ one for the kids) because we were in the same family.
The bathrooms and showers were very neat and well maintained. We didn't use the showers because they were paid but our friends did and had good things to say about them.
The campground has a very nice playground (the favorite of the trip for one of my kids) and a lounge where anyone staying at the campground can rest with A/C, wifi, a phone charging area, and some board games.
The primary drawback is that there isn't a lot of outdoor activities to do in the area. All the land is private so there's not great hiking (a little in the state park about 20 min drive away), IL law allows waterways to be privately owned so you can't kayak the river, etc. Galena is nearby if you want to go shopping and we really enjoyed going to Terrapin Apple Orchard and picking some apples (if you're there in the Fall). But all in all I would say this is a great campground to rest and relax at- probably not ideal for outdoor adventures.
- WWayne K.Traveler
Riverview Ridge
Unique River and Trail Access Campground
Two hour float trips on the North Fork Maquoketa River are available directly from the campground. There is a mix of permanent and temporary campers. The tent sites, nearest the river, are well spaced with flush toilets. Apparently there are also good trails, as many of the campers have ATV’s parked at their sites. The shower house, under the office, was spacious and clean.
Dj Y.TravelerGrant River Recreation Area
Sandy and Gentleman worker=AMAZING
I was hitchhiking thru, was dropped off by a ride that said he was buying a $14 tent site for me, come to find out he never did, I just was honest with sandy and the gentleman worker and offered the only 8$ I had, no sir, they said please stay for free and just enjoy. WONDERFUL PPL THAT CARE ABOUT OTHERS!! THANKS YALL
Jenna R.Scout
Blue Mound State Park Campground
Great for families
Lots of playgrounds for kids age 2-10. Pit toilets smell- I’d avoid sites around them. Hot Showers by lot 30 and at pool. Pool is not heated as stated- definitely not 80 degrees. West tower is the best for sunsets. Site 75 was nice as it was a bit back from the road and you can’t see your neighbors.
Erin Z.Traveler
Governor Dodge State Park Backpack Campsites — Governor Dodge State Park
We will be back!!!
Great backpack base camp! Great views, plenty of privacy and an easy hike. We stayed at 806.
Renee R.Guide
Brigham Park
Nice spot for summer camping.
I've visited this campground twice and it's been a hit both times.
Pros:
- Scenic overlook is gorgeous.
- The dense tree cover and near-constant slight breeze help to both keep this campground cool and the mosquitos at bay.
- Well-kept vault toilets.
- Close to a many points of interest.
Cons:
- Some of the sites are strangely graded and situated. One site near ours had the fire pit at the very edge, making sitting around it virtually impossible. 14 was a pretty site but had a large tree in the middle of it.
- Using the County website to reserve the site was clunky and time consuming.
- Renee R.Guide
Tower Hill State Park
Cool spot, underwhelming experience.
I have stayed at this campground three times in the last decade or so.
Pros:
- Excellent location if you're looking to recreate on the Wisconsin River or visit the American Players Theater across the way.
- Interesting history about the Shot Tower on site.
- Nice little hiking trails.
Cons:
- Every time I've visited we've dealt with lots of mosquitos, but nothing comes close to our most recent visit! It was a mosquito massacre. So terrible that after coating ourselves in DEET and eating dinner there the first night, we actually booked another campsite about a half hour away (Brigham County Park - a gem!) and abandoned this site altogether.
- Vault toilets were fragrant.
- Christie B.Traveler
Blackhawk Memorial Park
Peaceful and serene!
Quiet , off the grid! Very pleasant !
Alex A.ScoutToms Campground
Great, friendly, affordable, convenient
We needed a place after visiting the House on the Rock and couldn't find anything with hookups nearby. We stumbled upon Tom's Campground hoping to find a site. We pulled in and Tom met us at our camper as soon as we got to the top of the hill and before we even got out. He was very friendly and informative. Showers were good enough but we aren't picky, 7 minutes for $0.25. The area was beautiful.
Sarah B.Guide
Yellowstone Lake State Park
Def do not recommend for summer 2024!
I wanted so badly to love this campground experience, but just didn't. Site 19 was an easy walk-in that theoretically had nearby vault toilets, parking, and water.
Each site only had space for one car to park before walking in. Not a huge deal, but annoying as there were 2 of us who drove separate and we had to problem solve. When we got to the site I was shocked to see that what was labeled as a tent site had literally NO flat space to actually set up a tent. Spacious site, but fully sloped.
Also, what I would have loved to know, is that the vault toilets are closed because they are doing construction to build something new in that space. Construction that starts loudly each day at 7am. Honestly every site from about #35 down was affected by the noise because the construction is happening in the middle of the loop (and actually blocking some of the one-way road as well).
The park in general was okay. Per the usual, the pet areas were lacking. No beach at all, just grass covered in goose poop and one cut out on the raised shore between tall grasses and foliage where a dog could potentially jump in. Certainly nowhere for a human to enjoy the water with their pups unfortunately.
- Jarrett G.Traveler
New Glarus Woods State Park
Cramped
Handful of sites, not very level. Lots of bugs, had raccoons fighting outside my tent. Was right across from the New Glarus brewery.
- Christie B.Traveler
Green County Fairgrounds
Ok but you have to work around the events going on because you have to leave when they are going on!
Nice quiet place no neighbors usually bothering you showers and toilets could be better but overall ok
- Charles M.
RangerMaquoketa Caves State Park
Beautiful State Park
This park is beautiful and perfect for an adventurous hike. The caves make this a unique place to visit but the hiking is rigorous. It proved to be tons of fun for me, my son and his friends. We would definitely go back.
- Charles M.Ranger
Bellevue State Park
Campsite Was Average at Best
I took my son and one of his friends campjng to Bellvue State Park, however, we did not visit the actual park itself. The camp sites were close to one another, many had almost no privacy from the other campsites. We were at campsite 40, which had a severe incline. Also, if you prefer to hammock camp you may not be able to do so. I was able to find one tree and hook the other side up to my vehicle.
Kelsey G.ScoutWhitetail Bluff Campground LLC
Very clean,Well kept up, Lots of things for kids to do
This is a really nice and clean campground! The sites are very spacious and the food is good!! Really good Friday night fish fries! We will definitely be back!!
- AAC S.Scout
Governor Dodge State Park Backpack Campsites — Governor Dodge State Park
Group trip!
Huge park! This is a beautiful place to go camping, lots of things to do! Lots of access to pit toilets and water fountains from primary camping sites!
J H.Scout
Crazy Horse Campground
Used to be a great place to camp
Unfortunately, I can no longer say this is a great, affordable place to stay. The weekly rates increased by over $75 a week for the full hookup sites this season.
There was also a link to last years pricing still active until 4/16 that has since been deactivated when I asked to have my pricing adjusted to that amount. Seems deceptive to me, having 2 different prices in 2 different places on their site. They will not honor the price and told me if I don't like it I can find somewhere else to camp.
Also, they no longer offer kayaks, which was the big draw to the campground.
We may keep our reservation this year, but likely won't be back next season.
Leah M.Guide
Wisconsin Riverside Resort
Great place on the river
I’m a tent camper so tucked in the back was great. It’s a bit of a normal RV easy camping almost glamping with the amenities around.
- JJill B.Scout
Mississippi Palisades State Park
Mississippi Palisades State Park in Savanna, Illinois
This is a great campground! The trails are well kept, clean bathrooms, nice campsites sand the best camp hosts ever!!!
Barb N.RangerToms Campground
Clean and full hookups
Friendly and well kept.
Guide to Apple River
Camping near Apple River, Illinois, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a quiet getaway or a family-friendly adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
What to do:
- Hiking and Nature Walks: Explore the trails at Apple River Canyon. One camper mentioned, "The stars on a clear night is what keeps me coming back every year." The trails are well-maintained and provide a great way to enjoy the outdoors.
- Fishing and Water Activities: At Grant River Recreation Area, you can fish and enjoy views of the Mississippi River. A visitor noted, "Nice campground. Cement pads and blacktop roads. Clean shower houses."
- Kayaking and Canoeing: Many campgrounds, like Crazy Horse Campground, offer water activities. One review highlighted, "Crazy horse is a very clean and well-maintained campground with a lot of things to do like river tubing, kayaking, and canoeing."
What campers like:
- Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A review from Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area stated, "All sites are clean. They clean out fire pits after every weekend."
- Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds provide ample space between sites. A visitor at Rustic Barn Campground RV Park mentioned, "The sites are all clean and most all are level."
- Friendly Staff: Campers often rave about the helpfulness of the staff. One camper at Grant River Recreation Area said, "Wonderful PPL THAT CARE ABOUT OTHERS!! THANKS YALL."
What you should know:
- Bug Season: Be prepared for bugs, especially in warmer months. A camper at Apple River Canyon warned, "The bugs are no joke though. Mosquitoes, gnats, and other flying friends were definitely swarming."
- Train Noise: Some campgrounds, like Grant River Recreation Area, are near train tracks. A visitor noted, "The campground was neat and tidy... A railroad mainline ran along the campground."
- Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have stores or restaurants nearby. A review for Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground mentioned, "There is no store on site, they do sell wood but it is cash only."
Tips for camping with families:
- Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with amenities for kids. One camper at Crazy Horse Campground said, "They gave a lot of amenities for the kids like mini golf, jump pad, playgrounds, and a pool."
- Plan for Quiet Hours: Be mindful of noise levels, especially during quiet hours. A camper at Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park shared, "The vibe here wasn’t for us. Various sites had music playing loud enough for us to hear."
- Bring Bug Spray: With the potential for bugs, it's smart to pack bug spray. A visitor at Apple River Canyon advised, "The bugs are no joke though."
Tips from RVers:
- Check Site Dimensions: Make sure to verify the size of your RV site. A review for Twin Valley Campground — Governor Dodge State Park mentioned, "Pay attention to the drive-in dimensions posted. Bigger rigs will do better inner loop."
- Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer sites with full hookups. A camper at Rustic Barn Campground RV Park noted, "All sites are full hookup!"
- Be Prepared for Hills: Some campgrounds have steep roads. A visitor at Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park mentioned, "The road is hilly too. It’s not a problem in our vehicle but it would be tiring on a bicycle."
Camping near Apple River, Illinois, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Apple River, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Apple River, IL is New Glarus Woods State Park with a 3.6-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Apple River, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Apple River, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.