Best Tent Camping near Bonnie, IL
Tent campers visiting the Bonnie, Illinois area have several established options within a short drive, including North Marcum Day Use Area at Rend Lake and Turkey Ridge Campground at Ferne Clyffe State Park. The surrounding Shawnee National Forest region offers both developed tent sites with amenities and more secluded walk-in tent camping areas that provide a wilderness experience while remaining accessible to most campers.
Most tent sites feature dirt or gravel pads with varying degrees of tree cover. The Turkey Ridge Campground provides spacious tent sites with cooking grates and fire rings, while the Backpack Campground at Ferne Clyffe offers more secluded, wooded primitive sites. A camper noted, "The walk-up primitive sites are secluded, wooded, and within a pit toilet and water source." Water access varies significantly—some locations like Turkey Ridge have potable water available at hydrants scattered throughout the campground, while primitive tent areas may require carrying in all water. Vault toilets are common at established tent campgrounds, though maintenance quality varies seasonally.
Tent campers at Ferne Clyffe State Park benefit from well-separated sites providing privacy among shady trees. The area offers exceptional hiking opportunities with trails leading to limestone bluffs, cliff caves, and seasonal waterfalls—making it a perfect basecamp for day hiking adventures. In the warmer months, tent sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. A recent review pointed out that "sites are large and include a cooking grate. It was easy to find firewood without having to go very far, but be careful of poison ivy." For those seeking more seclusion, the walk-in tent sites at Backpack Campground provide a more immersive forest experience while still maintaining access to basic facilities. Dutchman Lake Camp offers dispersed tent camping options with fewer amenities but typically less crowded conditions for campers seeking solitude.
