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Best Tent Camping near Centralia, IL

323 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near Centralia, Illinois include sites at North Marcum Day Use Area on Rend Lake and World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, approximately 35 miles west of Centralia. North Marcum offers tent sites with water and electric hookups in a lakeside setting, while World Shooting Complex provides a more open camping environment with fewer amenities specifically for tent campers.

Tent sites at North Marcum feature picnic tables and access to drinking water, with fires permitted in designated areas. Showers and toilets are available for campers, making this location suitable for those seeking basic comforts while tent camping. The area is reservable and allows pets, though alcohol is prohibited. World Shooting Complex offers more limited facilities for tent campers, with electric hookups available but fewer tent-specific amenities. Both locations allow drive-in access to camping areas, though the terrain and site conditions vary between locations.

Rend Lake provides an attractive backdrop for tent camping at North Marcum, with opportunities for swimming, boating, and wildlife observation. One camper noted that the area is "just beautiful" with "very clean" facilities maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. Tent campers at World Shooting Complex will find a quieter experience, particularly outside of major shooting events. The complex includes a lake for fishing and paddling opportunities. According to one visitor, "We camp here every summer. Huge campground with a lake to boat, kayak or fish from the bank. Quiet but can be dry and hot in the summer." Late summer and early fall often provide less crowded conditions at these tent campgrounds, with weekdays offering the best chance for solitude.

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Best Tent Sites Near Centralia, Illinois (3)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Centralia, IL

323 Reviews of 3 Centralia Campgrounds

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2024

    Dam East - Mcnair Campground

    Location Great for Travel

    McNair ACE: Tate 4 for cleanliness and stopover location for travels on nearby highway. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4 Price 2024: $ 9w interagency pass Security: no Usage during visit: 1/3 Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: no Site Spacing: closer Pad surface: blacktop Reservations: Required Campground Noise: No Outside Road Noise: no Through Traffic in campground: no Electric Hookup: yes Sewer Hookup: no Dump Station: yes Potable Water Available: At site Bathroom: Nice flush Showers: small private Cell Service (AT&T): 2-3 bars Setting: near lake Recent Weather: 80s Insects: no Host: yes Rig Size: large Sites: Outside sites are by far the best. 16,17,18 are favorites .

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2024

    Dam East Recreation Area

    GREAT LOCATION for STOPOVER

    East Dam ACE, IL: Not an interesting view from here, but well maintained campground . Quiet.
    (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4 for cleanliness and location for travels on nearby highway. Spillway is not particularly pretty. Price 2024: $9 w interagency pass Security: No gate Usage during visit: 60% during the week Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: No Site Spacing: Good Pad surface: Blacktop Reservations: Required. Can be made upon arrival through rec.gov Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: No Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: At nearby ACE campground Potable Water Available: At site Bathroom: In adjacent day use area Showers: No. Nearby - check w host. Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: along Kaskasia River/ spillway Recent Weather: 80s Insects: no Host: yes Rig Size: large Sites: Some sites are along the spillway.

  • AC
    May. 16, 2021

    Washington County State Recreation Area

    Shady Rest campground

    Really great campground. Good mix of tents and RVs. Bath house was very well kept and clean. Showers ran cold at first but after a few mins it gets warmer! There were plenty of pit toliets through out the campground and trash cans. My tent site was clean, good flat spot for tent, picnic table and fire pit with attached grill.

    The Concession building in the park is closing. No boat rentals, selling everything he has on the shelf.

    Caught a few bass and and good amount of hiking. Large trail around the whole lake, smaller trails lead to sites around the different campgrounds.

  • Dawn W.
    Jun. 10, 2024

    Okaw Valley Kampground

    Nice clean and convenient

    Family owned with a nice little fishing area (no license required catch and release) paddle boats and camp store. A nice pool with a big covered pavilion, clean restrooms and showers with hot water. We had a level pull thru gravel site with a picnic table and small fire ring and didn’t have to unhook for our overnight. Walking/hiking wooded trails 2 cabins available- several seasonal folks. We were there on a Sunday evening and didn’t really see anyone. Little bit of road noise but so convenient! Thanks Barb!

  • Phil W.
    Apr. 12, 2021

    COE Rend Lake North Sandusky Recreation Area

    Nice site with a great view

    This campground has a great view of the lake. It’s well-kept and the site has nice spacing in between. The shower house and rest rooms were clean and well-kept. There’s a biking trail the we also used as a walking trail. Beautiful scenery along the way. Most sites are level but ours (#90) had a drop off between the drive way and the picnic table/fire ring. We had to use blocks so our camper stairs would reach the ground. We suggested they build that up.

  • heather S.
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Dam West Spillway

    Great for Families

    Big, spacious campsites with really pretty, big trees for lots of shade. The bathroom and shower facilities are FABULOUS, and super clean. They smell like the laundry facilities as well, so great all around there. Rangers are walking/driving around, and really friendly. Marina and beach are close, and the most of the drive up sites are concrete or at least rocked. Fire rings/grates are provided and next to the picnic table.

  • C
    Oct. 6, 2019

    Gun Creek

    So beautiful

    There’s not a bad campsite here. There are sites with electric, water, and sewer. Several sites are right on Rend Lake. Most sites have concrete picnic tables and fire rings. The bath houses are really nice, they are individual shower houses that are clean and well lit. The grounds are very well maintained. The park was full while we stayed there, but was really quiet. You can tent camp or use a camper.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 1, 2021

    South Sandusky Campground

    Another great Corps of Engineers campground

    Sites/Facilities: Sites are spaced well apart. Each site has a generous sized paved pad plus an additional paved space for a second vehicle. Each site has a large metal picnic table, fire grate, electric hookup, water, and lantern hook. Site 172 has no visible neighbors to the north and has a filtered water view through the trees. In my opinion, the best sites in the Pine Tree Loop are 172 and 173 plus 183-186; all of these have filtered water views. 

    Bathhouse: The bathrooms are VERY small and basic (no soap, no hooks) – one tiny sink and two stalls (no showers) but clean. Campers were encouraged to use the facilities in their RVs but we don’t have that option. 

    Activities/Amenities: There are a nice playground and a nearby beach/boat launch area, which is separate from the campground. There is also a paved bicycle path that appeared to connect the beach area to the campground, but I didn’t access it so cannot verify this. 

    Conclusion: We arrived late, just missing checking in(booth closed at 6 pm but check-in is not until 5 pm?) and departed by 10 am the next morning so we could not take advantage of the bike path or other potential amenities but for the price ($10 seniors), it is a very good value; the only thing keeping this from a five-star review is the TINY bathroom and I did not see a dumpster to get rid of our garbage (might have missed it). We would definitely return.

  • J
    Jul. 27, 2019

    Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground

    Wonderful location

    Stayed at site 6. Had full hookups, plenty of space, lots of shade, and a wonderful view. The site is level and also has a picnic table and fire ring. Overlooks the marina so you can watch boats come and go. Would definitely stay again.

Guide to Centralia

Tent camping near Centralia, Illinois offers a refreshing escape into nature, with several well-reviewed spots that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • The North Marcum Day Use Area features electric hookups, drinking water, and clean facilities, making it a comfortable choice for tent campers.

Tent campers should check out swimming and bird watching

  • At the North Marcum Day Use Area, visitors can enjoy a beautiful beach on Rend Lake, perfect for swimming and bird watching, thanks to its status as an important bird habitat.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • The Keyesport Rec. Area is ideal for a hot day dip, providing a refreshing man-made lake experience just a short drive from St. Louis.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Centralia, IL is North Marcum Day Use Area with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Centralia, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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