Best Tent Camping near Bull Valley, IL
MacQueen Forest Preserve provides secluded tent sites within an hour of Bull Valley, Illinois, offering one of the few primitive tent camping areas in this region dominated by private land. This former Boy Scout camp features nine well-spaced tent sites, some in wooded areas and others in an open meadow setting. The preserve sits along the Kishwaukee River, with sites spaced at least 50 yards apart for privacy.
The tent sites require a short walk-in from the parking area on crushed gravel paths and mowed trails. Campground facilities include vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables at each site, with non-potable well water pumps available throughout the grounds. Most tent sites cost $4 per night with self-service check-in at the pay box. The campground locks its entrance from sunset to sunrise, and rangers maintain the grounds regularly. A visitor noted, "There are eight primitive campsites here, and they're spread out at least 50 yards apart. You can't see the campsite next to you."
Tent campers seeking more seclusion should consider site #8, which reviews highlight as "the best spot on the grounds" with a location overlooking the river. For those interested in backpacking options, KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site in Wisconsin offers more remote tent camping with an open shelter structure. The campground's meadow area provides opportunities for stargazing, while the wooded sites offer more shade and privacy. Campers should note that train noise is audible at night, with several passing nearby. MacQueen's tent-only design distinguishes it from most campgrounds in the region, as one camper stated, "This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs."