Best Tent Camping near Brussels, IL

Tent camping options near Brussels, Illinois include established campgrounds within a 40-mile radius that cater to tent campers seeking natural settings. McCully Heritage Project in Kampsville offers tent camping with basic amenities in a natural conservation area setting. While closer to St. Louis, Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park provides tent sites with more facilities, though requires a slightly longer drive from Brussels.

Tent sites at McCully Heritage Project feature picnic tables and fire rings, with drinking water and toilets available on the property. Access is primarily drive-in, though some walk-in sites exist for those seeking more seclusion. The campground allows fires and provides firewood for campers. Basic toilet facilities are available, and the park charges a modest fee rather than being free. Most tent campgrounds in the region operate year-round, though spring and fall typically offer the best camping conditions with fewer insects and moderate temperatures.

The tent camping experience at McCully Heritage Project provides good opportunities for hiking on maintained trails with various difficulty levels. The area offers a peaceful atmosphere away from urban settings with space between campsites for privacy. Tent campers particularly appreciate the natural setting and proximity to fishing opportunities. The property features ponds suitable for paddleboarding and kayaking, adding recreational options beyond hiking. A review on The Dyrt described it as "a small and not crowded place to camp with all you need and hospitality. Great for tent camping and hiking."

Best Tent Sites Near Brussels, Illinois (12)

    1. Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground

    27 Reviews
    Wildwood, MO
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (636) 458-3813

    "We loved our stay at Babler, aside from the snow & wind - the park is great! Review below ⬇️ S I T E R E V I E W ⛺️

    📍 Dr. Edmund A."

    "Nice state park close to St Louis. Good, if short, trails. The campground is used a lot by RV and campers, not so much by tenters. Lots of campsites had electric."

    2. Klondike Park

    14 Reviews
    Augusta, MO
    28 miles
    Website

    $10 - $65 / night

    "There is hiking trails which was wonderful. There is a winery nearby. My campsite was amazing, it was clean and wasn't too far from the restrooms. There is picnic tables and fire rings."

    "A few drive up sites and lots of hike in spots around a quarry turned lake. Beautiful and clean setting. We stayed in site 24. There were picnic tables and a fire pit at our site."

    3. McCully Heritage Project

    5 Reviews
    Kampsville, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 653-4687

    $20 - $100 / night

    "Super inexpensive for the space that you get. Free firewood. We have only stayed at the largest site as it has good fishing and a place for us to launch our paddleboards and kayaks."

    "Great for tent camping and hiking."

    4. St. Charles County Klondike Park

    5 Reviews
    Augusta, MO
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (636) 949-7535

    "Stayed at a walk-in site for a night and enjoyed it. Some sites are closer to the highway and cars flying down the road can make it hard to sleep but after midnight, they stopped."

    "The campground is located in a gym of a park located along the Missouri River. Reservations are required and the sites are in high demand. Tent camping only. There is water available in the park."

    5. William R. Logan Conservation Area

    2 Reviews
    Silex, MO
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (636) 441-4554

    "Plenty of tent spots with tree cover and fire pits. Lighting bugs came out at night."

    6. Indian Camp Creek Park

    Be the first to review!
    Foristell, MO
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (636) 949-7535

    8. Little Lost Creek Conservation Area

    1 Review
    Warrenton, MO
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (636) 456-3368

    "There are single campsites on both the north and south ends of the conservation area, and none of them have any amenities- no water, no vault toilet or outhouse, no firewood for sale."

    9. Countryside Escape

    2 Reviews
    Edwardsville, IL
    36 miles

    $15 - $16 / night

    10. Old Cove

    1 Review
    Robertsville, MO
    42 miles
    Website

    $50 - $75 / night

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Tent Camping Reviews near Brussels, IL

293 Reviews of 12 Brussels Campgrounds


  • Jessica B.
    Apr. 4, 2022

    Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground

    Our 1st Trip In Our Camper!

    We loved our stay at Babler, aside from the snow & wind - the park is great! Review below ⬇️

    ⛺️ S I T E R E V I E W ⛺️

    📍 Dr. Edmund A. Babler State Park Wildwood, MO

    💰 $12-$21/night

    🗓 Feb 19-21, 2022

    Site 48 ⚡️💧

    🦮 Pets Welcome (on leash at all times)

    ➕Concrete Pads, Quiet, Close to Interstate 40, Paved Roads, Easy to Access, Gated Overnight with access code

    ➖Small/Close Sites, No Water in Off Season, Only Vault Toilets - No Showers in Off Season

    📶 AT&T Service 4 out of 5

    🚮 Dump Station located behind bathhouse. NO WATER during off season!

    🚻AMENITIES •Playground •Hiking, Biking & Equestrian Trails •Wood & Ice •Interpretive Programs •Visitor Center •Special Use Area •Laundry, Flush Toilets & Showers ON SEASON ONLY!

    🏕SITES Reservable 12 Months-FCFS in off season 72 Reservable 8 Accessible sites Basic - Electric Concrete Back In Lantern Hook, Picnic Table & Fire Ring

    ⏰ HOURS/DATES April - October 7:am - 9:pm Nov - March 7:am - 6:pm

    🔺Park Office 8:30am - 4:pm M-F

    🔺Visitor Center April - Oct 9:am - 4:30pm W - Sun Nov - March 9:am - 4:pm - Sat-Sun Dec - Feb CLOSED

  • k
    Jun. 28, 2016

    Klondike Park

    Klondlike county

    Really nice place when you get into the woods. There is hiking trails which was wonderful. There is a winery nearby. My campsite was amazing, it was clean and wasn't too far from the restrooms. There is picnic tables and fire rings. I usually bring my own firewood because i believe in the leave no trace rule. I would definitly come back to this site

  • R
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Cherokee Lakes Campground

    Secluded and spacious tent camping sites

    I spent a night here camping while on a road trip. The check-in was quick and easy. The host showed me the tent campsites, which are secluded and private from the RV sites. The sites are outfitted with a picnic table and brick fire rings. Some have water spickets. There's a central covered picnic area. Lots of shade and tall trees. You'll want to check them for dead limbs before setting up your site. I didn't ask if hammock camping is allowed. There are at least two sites that would work nicely for a hammock. A portable toilet is available to keep the area sanitary for urgent needs; the flush toilets, laundry, and fitness center at the main entrance are also available for a longer walk or short drive.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2020

    Daniel Boone Conservation Area

    Quiet and out of the way

    There are 10 or so primitive tent sites and an area that will accommodate about a dozen RV’s. There are no services here and no hook ups, but it’s free. The primitive tent sites are spread out along the main road through the conservation area, which means that in the daytime you will get road noise and dust, but its pretty quiet at night. Only a couple have picnic tables, but all seemed to have at least a level spot for the tent and a fire ring. I noticed some sites had a bit of trash in the fire rings, probably from day use or partiers. There is no trash service, so plan to pack out your trash. The best site (already taken, too bad) was set on the edge of the woods next to a fishing pond. The campers that were there let me take some pics of their site since it was so pretty. The only downside to that site was its proximity to the RV lot and their generators. There are some nice hiking trails here to explore.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2020

    Little Lost Creek Conservation Area

    Great hiking, choose your site carefully

    There are single campsites on both the north and south ends of the conservation area, and none of them have any amenities- no water, no vault toilet or outhouse, no firewood for sale. But what the sites are lacking is made up for with scenery and hiking, and it is free. The conservation area is closed to camping during various hunting seasons(I ran into a hunter scoping out his turkey hunting spot for the following week’s hunt). There is a great hike down into a valley with the actual Lost Creek at the bottom, completely worth the hard hike back up out of the valley. The campsite has room for a couple tents(no RV’s here), some great trees for hammocks, a primitive fire ring, and a picnic table. Since you are right next to the parking lot, you will see some traffic during the day with hikers, birders, and others, and there is no privacy for your campsite. Bring everything, including a cat hole shovel, and pack everything out.

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2020

    Beaver Dam State Park Campground

    Saw no Beaver

    Beaver Dam State Park, Il

    We did an overnighter here. We arrived in time to get a hike in before dinner meal.

    The trail map is very basic and not totally accurate. The trails are poorly marked but with basic knowledge of your compass points you can figure them out. Staff may be limited due to Corona , so the trail maintenance may have suffered, it is overgrown in several areas. The overlook to the marsh is pretty cool. I found no mileage for the trails , there may be a purchasable map with more information or of course a trail App. The lake is picturesque and busy. Lotsa fisher people here. The trail goes all the way around the lake with several fishing spots. Theres a boat ramp near the parking area and several docks to use across the lake. A nice feature is located next to the boat ramp, a fish cleaning pavilion complete with pull down hoses.

    The campground had an interesting set up. The sites in the loops are gravel and you have room but not a lot of privacy. I was in site 26 and you have to back between the two other sites into this one. Not difficult in my van but it could get interesting with a camper. I don’t think you would have the room to pull in and circle out. Electric at these sites , no water. There were hydrants spaces throughout for your water needs. The fire “rings” were interesting, with a flat “platform” to set your coals/fire on. Nice campground, I felt like somewhat of an outsider here, the occupants were possibly locals who obviously use the entire 14 day stay limit. Otherwise nice, basic, water activity centered campground. I did not see any swimming areas.

  • Hannah W.
    Jul. 15, 2021

    Cuivre River State Park Campground

    Beautiful campground and warm showers

    The campsites and grounds are well-maintained. However, the campsites did not have designated gravel tent pads. Given that we had to set up in/right after a rain, our tarp was sitting in grass and mud. I never knew how much I appreciated a designated gravel tent pad until then. Having never camped here, we had reserved site 25 and had the whole loop to ourselves (it was a Monday night, though). Our site, though, was the smallest in the loop, tucked away in the weeds, and the only area to pitch our tent was on a slight slope. After walking the loop, I noticed that sites 26 and 29, offered more room and were better maintained. We probably could’ve changed sites had we not arrived so late and in the rain.

    Firewood is available for $5. We saw a nice playground at the entrance. There were plenty of showers (water was nice and hot!) and flush toilets in the bathhouse. The bathhouse could use some TLC, but the warm water made up for it. There are laundry facilities, though we didn’t use them.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground

    Horseshoe Lake Recreation Area

    Nice little campground close to down town St Louis (when the leaves are down I bet you can see the Arch). Campsites are nice and flat with the standard picnic tables and fire rings. No showers, but decent toilets. The nice thing is the campground is staffed by rangers in the day, and at night they sometimes take a security swing through the campground. Nice lake for fishing and boating.

  • Maria E.
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Cuivre River State Park Campground

    Immersed in Nature

    Campground is beautiful and very woodsy. We saw bunnies hopping around and when we first arrived to our site a deer was grazing nearby, such a bonus! No electricity but water was conveniently located right across from our site to do dishes and whatnot. Staking the tent wasn’t difficult at all. Our site was fairly spacious and a not super close to others which we liked. The sites by the vault toilet looked closer together so I could see that being a cool spot for multiple families or friend groups. Don’t leave anything out at night or raccoons will scavenge, we accidentally left our trash bag hanging (ugh!) but that was our fault. We stayed only one night passing through on a road trip but would stay again if we end up in the area.


Guide to Brussels

Tent campsites near Brussels, Illinois provide access to the scenic confluence region where the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers meet. The area sits at elevations between 400-700 feet with limestone bluffs characterizing the landscape. Camping in this region often involves dealing with seasonal flooding concerns during spring months, with fall generally offering the most stable weather conditions.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At William R. Logan Conservation Area, campers can access stocked lakes near the primitive camping areas. "There are some larger stocked lakes with another primitive camping area but the road was temporarily closed, so I wasn't able to check those out," explains a camper.

Hiking diverse terrain: The Little Lost Creek Conservation Area offers challenging hiking trails with significant elevation changes. "There is a great hike down into a valley with the actual Lost Creek at the bottom, completely worth the hard hike back up out of the valley," notes one visitor who appreciated the scenic rewards despite the difficulty.

Winery access: Campsites at Klondike Park provide convenient access to local wine country. "Close enough to wineries to bike to," mentions Annie C., while another camper notes, "This Campground places you in the heart of Missouri Wine Country and there's a perfect base for visiting the wineries and restaurants along highway 94."

What campers like

Affordability: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the reasonable rates at some campgrounds. "Ten dollars a night helps maintain land and natural area, all donation, very family oriented," notes a visitor to McCully Heritage Project, highlighting the value compared to more expensive camping options.

Privacy options: While some campgrounds have closer sites, others offer more secluded options. At Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, "Sites 52-75 are much more treed and have a private feel to them. It seems this is where most of the tent campers like to be," according to Nancy W.

Water recreation: Multiple campgrounds offer ponds suitable for various water activities. "A friend discovered this gem a while back and we now frequent it. Super inexpensive for the space that you get. Free firewood. We have only stayed at the largest site as it has good fishing and a place for us to launch our paddleboards and kayaks," explains a camper at McCully Heritage Project.

What you should know

Seasonal closures: Some conservation areas restrict camping during hunting seasons. At Little Lost Creek Conservation Area, a camper reported, "The conservation area is closed to camping during various hunting seasons (I ran into a hunter scoping out his turkey hunting spot for the following week's hunt)."

Facility limitations: Many primitive sites lack amenities. "No frills camping at about 8-10 sites near the main entrance off Route RA, with most being in an open circle configuration with the main road cutting through the middle. The only vault toilet was closed and a porta potty was set next to that," reports a camper at William R. Logan Conservation Area.

Road noise concerns: Some campgrounds experience highway noise. At St. Charles County Klondike Park, "Some sites are closer to the highway and cars flying down the road can make it hard to sleep but after midnight, they stopped," according to Jake K.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Some campgrounds offer play equipment for children. At McCully Heritage Project, one visitor notes, "I just love the bridge across the pond. We had a picnic and the kids got to play on the playground equipment."

Trail difficulty considerations: Assess trail difficulty for younger hikers. At Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, a camper observes, "The trails are not too long but can be challenging for small kids or folks that are not used to hiking."

Wildlife awareness: Prepare for wildlife encounters at campsites. "Make sure to store your food securely overnight - the racoons are pretty thick and hungry at night," warns a camper at St. Charles County Klondike Park, highlighting the importance of proper food storage with children.

Tips from RVers

Site limitations: Many campgrounds near Brussels have limited RV accommodation. A visitor to Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park notes, "Not all sites are long enough for large RVs and the roads in some loops prevent you from turning around. The camp hosts we encountered are very helpful and have a list of site lengths and can tell you which ones are appropriate for large RVs."

Tent-focused environments: Most tent campsites in the region aren't designed for larger vehicles. "The campground is used a lot by RV and campers, not so much by tenters. Lots of campsites had electric. All had the standard pininic tables and fire rings, and the campground has a decent and clean shower house. You might end up pitching your tent on a parking pad as many tent sites don't have level grassy spots for your tent," explains Annie C. about Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park.

Utility limitations: Most primitive sites lack RV hookups. Even at developed campgrounds like Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, a visitor mentions, "If this campground had sewer and water, it would get 5 stars."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Brussels, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Brussels, IL is Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 27 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Brussels, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Brussels, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.