Best Tent Camping near Augusta, IL
Tent camping options near Augusta, Illinois include several primitive sites along the Mississippi River watershed. Bear Creek COE at Lock and Dam 21 in Riverside, Illinois offers year-round tent camping with basic amenities. Approximately 30 miles southwest, Dupont Reservation Conservation Area in Louisiana, Missouri provides riverside tent campsites with views of the Mississippi. Both locations cater specifically to tent campers seeking natural settings without developed infrastructure.
Primitive tent camping in this region requires self-sufficiency and preparation. Most sites lack potable water, with campers needing to bring their own supplies. Bear Creek offers minimal facilities with no electric hookups, no reservable sites, and no sanitary dump stations. Sites typically feature natural surfaces with limited grading. At Dupont Reservation, campers will find basic vault toilets and permission for campfires, but should note the absence of picnic tables at most sites. The region experiences seasonal flooding, particularly in spring, which can temporarily close riverside tent campgrounds.
Campers report that Dupont Reservation Conservation Area provides excellent river access with most tent sites directly fronting the Mississippi. According to reviews, the area includes approximately 10-12 primitive tent sites, most with simple fire rings and gravel parking spots. One visitor noted that "pretty much every site has great views of the Mighty Mississippi," allowing campers to watch boat traffic from their sites. Summer visitors should prepare for insects due to the adjacent wetlands. The area experiences occasional noise from both river barges and a nearby train track. Spring Lake Campground in Burlington, Iowa, though farther from Augusta, offers more amenities for tent campers including drinking water, showers, and reservable sites that fill quickly during peak season.
