Best Tent Camping near Coffeen, IL
Tent campers near Coffeen, Illinois have access to several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. Spillway, located at Lake Shelbyville Dam, offers tent sites with electric hookups, drinking water, and picnic tables. Waverly Lake City Park provides more primitive tent camping with portable toilets but no running water, situated along a peaceful lake setting approximately 25 miles northwest of Coffeen.
Most tent sites in the Coffeen area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Spillway campground provides more developed options with showers, toilets, and trash disposal, making it suitable for those seeking some conveniences while tent camping. Sites typically have fire rings where fires are permitted, and several campgrounds like Spillway sell firewood on-site. Waverly Lake imposes a 4-day consecutive stay limit per month. Access to most sites is via drive-in or walk-in routes, with boat-in access available at some locations like Hidden Ridge and Waverly Lake.
Tent campers in the region often find these areas less crowded than larger state parks. One visitor noted that Waverly Lake is "quiet and peaceful, however there's not much to do." Areas around Lake Shelbyville offer good fishing opportunities, with Spillway providing direct access to the Kaskaskia River. Shady Grove Campground in Hidden Springs State Forest provides a more secluded forest setting for tent campers. Visitors should prepare for wildlife encounters, as one camper at Waverly Lake advised: "Be mindful of field roaches and raccoons at night" and warned that "mosquitoes are BRUTAL." Sites are generally spread out enough to provide reasonable privacy, making these locations suitable for tent campers seeking a quieter outdoor experience within central Illinois.
