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Best Tent Camping near Bismarck, IL

349 Reviews

Tent campers seeking primitive sites near Bismarck, Illinois can find several options within an hour's drive across the Illinois-Indiana border. Lake Waveland Park in Waveland, Indiana offers extensive tent camping opportunities approximately 45 miles southeast of Bismarck. Attica Family Campground, located about 30 miles northeast in Attica, Indiana, provides additional tent camping options. The Covered Bridge State Forest Retreat, situated in western Indiana, rounds out the regional tent camping landscape with walk-in sites for those seeking a more secluded experience.

Primitive tent camping sites at Lake Waveland Park feature picnic tables and fire rings, though fire rings are not always present at every site. The primitive tent areas remain first-come, first-served with no reservations required. Sites are identified by the presence of picnic tables rather than formal markings or numbers. The campground maintains well-mowed grounds throughout the primitive camping areas. Lake Waveland operates seasonally from May 15 to October 15, with facilities including drinking water, showers, and toilets. Campers report that sites fill quickly, especially on weekends, making early arrival advisable.

The tent-only areas at Lake Waveland Park offer more spacious sites compared to many state parks in the region. According to reviews, "the primitive sites are very secluded and quiet," making them ideal for tent campers seeking solitude. The park's grounds crew "does a very good job keeping the property in order," with "endless opportunities to pitch a tent" throughout the expansive green spaces. Bird watching opportunities abound in the primitive camping areas. The park's location provides convenient access to nearby attractions including Sugar Creek, Turkey Run State Park, and Shades State Park. Fishing is popular on the lake, offering tent campers additional recreational opportunities. Walk-in tent sites provide greater seclusion than the drive-in options, with backcountry tent camping experiences available for those willing to venture farther from developed areas.

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Best Tent Sites Near Bismarck, Illinois (3)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bismarck, IL

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Tent Camping Reviews near Bismarck, IL

349 Reviews of 3 Bismarck Campgrounds

  • T
    Aug. 6, 2021

    Shades State Park Campground

    Wooded Sandstone canyon with primitive camping.

    Located north of turkey run state park shades offers all the hiking and scenic terrain with less amenities and less crowds. Sugar creek cuts through the ancient sandstone floor creating canyon walls. The park is connected to a nature preserve that dose allow backpacking but has designated camping within the park separate from the car camping sites, so you can’t set up camp on the trail. The car camping sites, labeled as family camping, are primitive only with vault toilets. There is a shower located in the campsite with flushing toilets. Campsites are close but most have trees separating them for privacy. Avoid sites next to toilets or dumpsters their practically in your site. There’s no cellular signal in the park so heads up. Ice and wood are located for sale at the entrance. If you have little ones there are a few playgrounds located in the park including one in the campsite which is located a short hike in the woods. This park is quite, shaded, rugged at times and the canyon/creek can be breathtaking. Although I would go early or late in the season to avoid Indiana’s humid muggy summer heat.

  • S
    Oct. 1, 2020

    Harry L Swartz Campground

    Pretty spot/small gravel campsites

    Il start this by saying: we prefer tent camping/primitive/atleast semi isolated spots. If you’re looking for RV camping, this is probably a decent spot so read no further!

    We drove in to the Middle Fork Forest Preserve looking for a place to camp same day on our way down to Giant City. We weren’t able to make a reservation less than 5 days in advance online so we tried to call. No one in the office except Th-Sunday and it was Wednesday so we couldn’t get in touch. All good. It happens and it did say that clearly on their website and on voicemail. We needed a place for the night so decided to risk driving over from I57 S. Rolled in around 5 and all the campsites were marked reserved but there were about 3 people set up to camp there. We didn’t end up camping the night 1. Because we didn’t want to be jerks about the reservations although it seemed like no one else would be arriving until at the earliest the next day and 2. All of the campsites were pretty tight together and surfaced with gravel. That’s a personal preference thing. We always look for primitive/walk-in/hike in sites to set up tents/hammocks. This spot was mostly set up for RVs.

    The hiking looked pretty lovely and the grounds/facilities looked well kept! Just maybe not our preference.

  • Mike V.
    Jul. 23, 2016

    Lake Waveland Park

    Waveland Lake and Park, near Waveland, Indiana

    Nice clean park in west-central Indiana that has a lake and a large number of camping sites along with restrooms and showers. The primitive tent camping sites don't require reservations, and each have a picnic table. There are modern campsites that have water and electrical hook-ups, and there are some small cabins that can be rented. The bath house was clean, and the grounds crew does a great job keeping the grass cut. Camp sites seem more spread out here compared to most state parks. Location is fairly close to Sugar Creek and other parks such as Turkey Run and Shades State Park. The lake is popular for fishing.

  • Terri D.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2017

    Turkey Run State Park Campground

    Nice Big Sites

    I have to say it is always nice to stay at a state park in the off season. There are a couple hundred sites in this park and we were one of about 12 occupants. Even if this park had been full, the sites offer nice space. Sites vary from full shade to wide open out in the sun. Bathrooms are clean, but they are pretty spread out. Most sites offer electricity, but no water or sewer hook-up for RV. Water spigots are pretty spread out too. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. I didn't see any camp hosts that sold firewood when office is closed. Park is located right across the street from the local high school, I thought this was sort of odd.

    We were just passing through for a nights stay, but it looked like there were some nice trails for hiking. The children playgrounds looked nice as well.

  • H
    Jun. 23, 2023

    Shades State Park Campground

    Awesome Backpack Camp!

    Took my son on his first backpacking trip this week and felt like Shades would be a perfect trial run for us together. I don’t think this camp gets enough love as it’s a relatively short hike for most seasoned backpackers. Great for trial runs and gear testing. The trail was (recently) well maintained in sections, but there are spots that are a little weedy. That’s to be expected I think with a park that doesn’t see as much traffic as another well known park in the area (that doesn’t offer a backpack camp). The camp itself was fantastic. It doesn’t boast great views or any scenic points, but it is fabulously maintained and well thought out. Several awesome sites to choose from and we had our pick as the only campers there. Every site had a fire ring and picnic table, with paths heading to the bathroom and water. The bathrooms were pretty much immaculate and the water was great. We didn’t hike in early enough to take the path to play at Sugar Creek, but I won’t make that mistake again. Next time, because there will be a next time, we’ll go earlier for more downtime around camp. So glad we’re close enough we can make this trip again soon! Park entry: $7 Camping fee: $12 With tax our total was $19.84. If you have an IN state park card you can avoid the entry fee.

  • Janet B.
    May. 9, 2023

    Vermilion County Park Forest Glen Preserve

    East Camp (backpacking site)

    First backpacking trip in the Midwest and this was a surprisingly scenic place with a great backpacking sites! We did forest glen river ridge trail; started from the staff parking lot and walked about 8 miles to the east camp. We had a big group and took sites 3 and 5 because they were on a flatter ground. All sites were well shaded and there was even an OUTHOUSE!!! The rangers told us the water from the Vermilion River was safe to drink with filtration but note that you do have to walk down to the river and up to the campsites. Both sites came with a picnic table and a fire ring. Had a lovely time even with the thunderstorm.

  • D
    Jan. 29, 2021

    Kickapoo State Recreation Area

    My 'home' campsite.

    I live about 30 minutes from Kickapoo SP and anytime I feel I need to camp I head over. Great little campground in Central Illinois. Some pretty trails overlooking, beside, and sometimes through water. The RV sites are great for either rv, van, or tent camping with a lot of level ground at most sites. There are some real diamonds of a campsite hidden here that you can basically be in the woods with clear ground for a level tent. I love this simple campground and have brought a handful of friends here who also enjoyed it.

  • n
    Jun. 8, 2018

    Ross Camp

    Lafayette Parks and Rec

    Nice sites. Awesome shower house! close to Ross Park. A little chapel. This is a relax campground for those not into all the hiking if you just want to sit by your fire. A few primitive sites. No alcohol allowed. We rent a site here instead of hotels.

  • M
    Jul. 19, 2020

    Turkey Run State Park Campground

    Terrific campground and state park

    We stayed here this weekend and had a terrific time. The weather was very hot but there is a river to tube and canoe in to keep you cool. We stayed at site #35. It is in a very quiet, off the main road, in a circle, in full shade. It’s is very close to the restroom but a distance from the camp store and dumpster. The site was clean and well equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. The site is very uneven. It definitely sloops to the back corner. It’s was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end. The site was huge but given the unevenness it would be difficult for tents. The campground is family friendly and was quiet at night. There is a lot to do at this state park. We hiked the #3 and #5 trails and it took us about 2 hours. It was very busy but everyone was very polite. It was a great stay all around.

Guide to Bismarck

Tent camping near Bismarck, Illinois offers opportunities in the west-central Indiana region, with sites situated in rolling terrain characterized by elevations ranging from 500-700 feet. The camping season typically runs from April through October, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak months. Most primitive sites in this area don't require advance reservations, operating on a first-come basis throughout the camping season.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Lake Waveland Park provides a significant fishing destination for campers, with largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish available. "If fishing is your way of relaxing, you should have a good time here," notes Randy A. about Lake Waveland Park.

Beach access: The lake at Lake Waveland includes a swimming beach area open during summer months. According to nicole B., "They do have a beach" that provides a cooling option when temperatures rise in July and August.

Seasonal events: Family-oriented holiday activities occur throughout the camping season. As nicole B. mentions, Lake Waveland hosts "Fireworks in July and Halloween for the whole family in October," making it worth planning trips around these special events.

What campers like

Spacious campsites: The tent camping areas provide more room between sites than many other facilities. Randy A. notes that at Lake Waveland Park, "The majority of electric sites are well shaded and there are endless opportunities to pitch a tent."

Wildlife viewing: Primitive camping areas offer excellent bird watching opportunities. William David S. describes Lake Waveland as "a lovely space with lots of birds to observe," making it ideal for nature enthusiasts.

Maintenance quality: The grounds at Lake Waveland receive regular care. Katie R. simply states the park has "Really well maintained grounds," while Mike V. adds that "the grounds crew does a great job keeping the grass cut."

What you should know

Site identification: Primitive sites at Lake Waveland lack formal markings or numbering systems. William David S. explains that "The sites aren't marked, but are indicated by picnic table and fire ring, though fire rings are not always present."

Facility conditions: Some campgrounds in the area would benefit from updates. William David S. notes about Covered Bridge State Forest Retreat, "Not fancy, some updating of infrastructure is due. I would keep this on list as decent stop."

Arrival timing: Competition for primitive sites can be intense during peak periods. Kevin T. advises, "The site fills up pretty fast so come early. No need to pay because it is first come first serve."

Tips for camping with families

Cabin alternatives: For families seeking shelter options beyond tents, some campgrounds provide cabin rentals. Nicole B. mentions that Lake Waveland has "A few cabins for rent" for those wanting more structured accommodations.

Proximity to attractions: The camping areas provide convenient access to regional recreation spots. Sydni T. notes that Attica Family Campground "is located within close proximity of both Turkey Run and Shades State Park."

Peaceful atmosphere: Smaller campgrounds in the area offer quieter environments suitable for families. Douglas W. describes Lake Waveland as a "Small but peaceful campground. Well worth the time spent here."

Tips from RVers

Site limitations: RV campers should be aware of size restrictions at certain campgrounds. Nicole B. observes that Lake Waveland has "lots of pop up size sites" but "they need more spots for those long campers."

Tree management: Overhead branches can cause issues for larger RVs in some camping areas. Nicole B. notes that at Lake Waveland Park, "Trees need cut or maintained," which could present challenges for taller vehicles.

Hookup availability: Many sites offer both water and electrical connections. As nicole B. points out about the modern sites, "the best part is sites include water and electric," providing essential services for RV campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bismarck, IL is Attica Family Campground with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

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