Top Tent Camping near Cutler, IL

Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Cutler? The Dyrt is an easy way to find tent camping spots near Cutler. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.

Best Tent Sites Near Cutler, IL (10)

    Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
    Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    1. Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    16 Reviews
    47 Photos
    9 Saves

    Turkey Ridge is for campers who want a serene outdoor experience. It is a Class C walk-in campground that includes camp pads, picnic tables, cooking grills and showers. Drinking water and toilets are located near the parking lots.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Trash

    $18 / night

    Camper-submitted photo from North Marcum Day Use Area

    2. North Marcum Day Use Area

    2 Reviews
    1 Photo
    11 Saves

    Overview

    Congratulations! Youve just discovered the perfect place to enjoy a wide variety of activities, events and nature at its best. Even a short visit to Rend Lake will impress you with the versatility of this magnificent area. Whether youre looking for high adventure, a peaceful retreat, or something in between, youll find it here.

    Natural Features:

    North Marcum Day Use Area sits along the banks of Rend Lake in the heart of Southern Illinois. Plenty of shade and a large sandy boat in are, make this day use area desirable for a day on scenic Rend Lake. Rend Lake is made up of 18,900 acres of water and 20,000 acres of land.

    Wildlife in the area includes white tailed deer, wild turkey, fox, raccoon, opossum, waterfowl, and others as seasons change throughout the year.

    Recreation:

    Take a leisurely morning stroll, ski or sail lake waters, spend the afternoon viewing inspiring art exhibits and end your day by the warm glow of a campfire under starry night skies. The fields, forests and waters of Rend Lake provide a natural haven for wildlife and an outdoor wonderland for you. Boat, hike, fish, hunt, swim, and explore at your leisure. If you prefer a little less nature, visit one of the resorts around the lake and delight in superb lodging and dining. Just minutes away youll find golf, trap and skeet, arts, antiques, museums, wineries, and more.

    Facilities:

    North Marcum Day Use Area features two large picnic shelters with tables, grills, and drinking water. The shelters can accommodate up to 75 guests each, and the area has a boat ramp, playground, and dock all within walking distance.

    • Pets
    • Electric Hookups
    • Reservable
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Showers
    • No image available

      3. Blue Heron Campground & Marina

      1 Review
      8 Saves
      • Electric Hookups
      • ADA Access
      • Tents
      • Standard (Tent/RV)
      • Showers
      • Toilets

      $15 - $20 / night

      • No image available

        4. Apple Creek Conservation Area

        1 Review
        1 Save

        Apple Creek Conservation Area is located in northeast Cape Girardeau County, three miles east of New Wells on Route CC. The Missouri Department of Conservation created Apple Creek Conservation Area in 1986 with the purchase of 2,100 acres from several landowners. Steep hills and narrow valleys characterize this area, and approximately 2.5 miles of Apple Creek stream frontage forms its northern border. The Conservation Department has created watering ponds and planted food plots and agricultural crops within the forest to provide additional food sources for wildlife.

        • Pets
        • Fires
        • Tents
        • Equestrian
        • Standard (Tent/RV)
        • Trash
        Camper-submitted photo from Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
        Camper-submitted photo from Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
        Camper-submitted photo from Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
        Camper-submitted photo from Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
        Camper-submitted photo from Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
        Camper-submitted photo from Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

        5. Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

        3 Reviews
        10 Photos
        2 Saves

        Backpackers enjoying their commune with nature will appreciate the solitude of the individual campsites in the Class C Backpack campground. Located a half-mile from the Turkey Ridge primitive campground parking lot, these woodland sites have cooking grills, toilets and showers. Water and trash receptacles are available at the Turkey Ridge parking lot. You're reminded to be careful with your fires and to pack out what you pack in.

        • Pets
        • Fires
        • Phone Service
        • Tents
        • Trash
        • Drinking Water
        Camper-submitted photo from Buck Ridge  -  Lake Of Egypt

        6. Buck Ridge - Lake Of Egypt

        2 Reviews
        1 Photo
        8 Saves
        • Pets
        • Fires
        • Phone Service
        • ADA Access
        • Tents
        • Trash
        • No image available

          7. Mandolin Grove

          1 Review
          • Pets
          • Fires
          • Phone Service
          • Reservable
          • Tents
          • Tent Cabin
          Camper-submitted photo from Spillway Group Area
          Camper-submitted photo from Spillway Group Area
          Camper-submitted photo from Spillway Group Area
          Camper-submitted photo from Spillway Group Area
          Camper-submitted photo from Spillway Group Area
          Camper-submitted photo from Spillway Group Area

          8. Spillway Group Area

          Be the first to review!
          8 Photos

          Overview

          Congratulations! Youve just discovered the perfect place to enjoy a wide variety of activities, events and nature at its best. Even a short visit to Rend Lake will impress you with the versatility of this magnificent area. Whether youre looking for high adventure, a peaceful retreat, or something in between, youll find it here.

          Natural Features:

          Spillway Group Area sits along the banks of Rend Lake in the heart of Southern Illinois. Situated to the North East side of the spillway, the spillway group area has one of the best views at Rend Lake. Rend Lake is made up of 18,900 acres of water and 20,000 acres of land.

          Wildlife in the area includes white tailed deer, wild turkey, fox, raccoon, opossum, waterfowl, and others as seasons change throughout the year.

          Recreation:

          Take a leisurely morning stroll, ski or sail lake waters, spend the afternoon viewing inspiring art exhibits and end your day by the warm glow of a campfire under starry night skies. The fields, forests and waters of Rend Lake provide a natural haven for wildlife and an outdoor wonderland for you. Boat, hike, fish, hunt, swim, and explore at your leisure. If you prefer a little less nature, visit one of the resorts around the lake and delight in superb lodging and dining. Just minutes away youll find golf, trap and skeet, arts, antiques, museums, wineries, and more.

          Facilities:

          Spillway Group Area offers 10 acres for company picnics, weddings, church gatherings, family reunions and many other outdoor events. The area includes a large shelter (250 capacity), an amphitheater (250 capacity), and a small shelter (30 capacity), a playground, and direct access to the Rend Lake Bike Trail. Electric hookups are provided, and the area offers a playground, picnic tables, flush toilets, and drinking water in order to provide a comfortable experience for guests.

          • Electric Hookups
          • Reservable
          • ADA Access
          • Tents
          • Group
          Camper-submitted photo from Buck Ridge Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Buck Ridge Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Buck Ridge Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Buck Ridge Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Buck Ridge Campground
          • No image available

            10. Sandstone Spring & Camp

            Be the first to review!
            7 Saves

            Tent only camping. Deep in 300 million years old Carboniverous sandstone spring bed valley with fossils. Place to relax & take in the nature of this hidden gem in the city of Belleville, IL. No restrooms. No showers. Swimming in areas of spring is limited to shallow pools. But it is enough to cool you off.

            • Pets
            • Fires
            • Electric Hookups
            • Phone Service
            • Reservable
            • Tents

            $28 - $38 / night


          Recent Tent Reviews In Cutler

          427 Reviews of 10 Cutler Campgrounds


          • Tabitha R.
            Camper-submitted photo from Johnson Creek
            Oct. 12, 2024

            Johnson Creek

            Nice!

            This campground provides large spots, drinking water, vault toliets, dumpsters, picnic table, lantern hook, fire ring, and contactless check in. I also appreciate the value of these sites. It really is a reasonable rate for forest camping.

          • Ben T.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
            Sep. 30, 2024

            Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area

            Wonderful campground

            Right next to a huge reserve for fishing and boating. Campsites are very spaced out. We had 30 amp electric but no water on the campsite. Wasn't a problem for us we just filled our water tank. Bathrooms and showers were very clean. Look forward to coming back

          • Carol B.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground
            Sep. 29, 2024

            Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground

            Nice sites on Carlyle Lake- great host

            Our site was on the shore and had good spacing from others. The bathrooms, showers, and laundry all close by. Good hot water in the showers. The host was friendly and helpful. I’d go back again!

          • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Dam East - Mcnair Campground
            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 .

          • Cecilia
            Camper-submitted photo from Pine Hills
            Aug. 15, 2024

            Pine Hills

            Very nice

            Very quiet and secluded. Campsites are roomy and some firewood is supplied.

          • JThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Trail Of Tears State Park
            Aug. 11, 2024

            Trail Of Tears State Park

            Train Lovers.

            Large park with not many large RV sites. Lots of tent and dispersed camping. Disappointing store. Equestrian area. Beach and boat launch.

          • Scott B.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Hilltop Campground
            Jul. 22, 2024

            Hilltop Campground

            Nice stop

            Stopped here for the night driving through the area. Nice campground, clean, safe, and right off the interstate.

          • Molly B.
            Camper-submitted photo from Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground
            Jun. 30, 2024

            Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground

            Great Community camp not too far off the highway

            My sister and I stopped here on our way to wisconsin, We were surprised how lovely it was! Birds everywhere and the lake was so huge. The camp sites were big and many of them, the bathrooms were always clean and had AC!

          • Alex D.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground
            Jun. 21, 2024

            Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground

            A beautiful little spot !

            First off, a bang for you buck compared to some surrounding camp sites. They have PLENTY of sites, most with some view of the water. They have a boat launch, bathrooms, and showers. We stayed here 3 nights. The shores are quite rocky so it can be difficult to access the water just to swim. Overall, it was great. My only complaint is there is only one trash located in the beginning on the park & it was full, full, full!!!

          • Wil V.
            Camper-submitted photo from Benton KOA
            May. 30, 2024

            Benton KOA

            Loud

            1 side is directly on the freeway VERY loud, the other is in between the sewer treatment plant and municipal airport. If you're a light sleeper might want to stay away Full video review on YouTube https://youtu.be/QpuNpA7UVZI

          • William  Y.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
            May. 30, 2024

            Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area

            Wonderful surprise

            Arrived just after a terrible storm so parts of the park were closed for clean up. The parts that were open were all cleaned up, spacious sites, easy access, with fantastic hosts. An absolutely beautiful evening in gorgeous surroundings…we’ll be back and so glad we stumbled upon this place. Didn’t use the showers so can’t report on the facilities….

          • JThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from South Marcum Campground
            May. 13, 2024

            South Marcum Campground

            Great Campground

            Only $26 a night for full-hookups is amazing. Cell service for AT&T is marginal at 2 bars LTE. Only issue that I have is that site 49 is very hard to get level in, make sure that you bring extra leveling blocks if possible

          • JThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Archway RV Park
            May. 8, 2024

            Archway RV Park

            Great campground

            Sites are nice, although all sites face each other meaning you will be 5-10 feet from your neighbors if you are sitting out front. Full-hookups with only a 50amp connection so if you are using 30 make sure you have a 50/30 adapter. Overall very nice campground, well maintained.

          • Barb N.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Gun Creek
            Apr. 30, 2024

            Gun Creek

            Blue Jay #49 Water site

            Love this state park! Clean, quiet, water views and lots of bike paths to ride.

          • Steve G.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Crab Orchard Lake Campground
            Apr. 24, 2024

            Crab Orchard Lake Campground

            Excellent Lakeside Campgrouind

            Getting there: Easy access off Illinois 13 East of Carbondale 

            Check in and staff: Campground is now under the egis of recreation.gov& reservations through them are a must. This is new& when planning the trip the website said“first come first serve” so we arrived on a Friday evening(4pm) with no reservation. The sign said RV sites all taken. The host was wonderful! He has been here 9 years and steered us to a nice site for the one night we will be here. The online experience with recreation.gov was not pleasant, impossible in fact. So I had to call. This took quite awhile. Once I got a real live person it was great, and we got our site with no problems. 

            Amenities: Bathrooms: clean, paper towels& air dryers. 

            Site: A-35. In the middle of the A loop and therefore not on the water. Still, very nice. After all, beggars can’t be choosers! Sites are somewhat spacious, but not terribly private.

          • Michelle K.
            Camper-submitted photo from Sharp Rock Falls Recreation
            Apr. 4, 2024

            Sharp Rock Falls Recreation

            Longbranch Shooting House And Saloon

            You're welcome to at longbranch! Please make your reservations.
            Only 16 spots left!

            Ava Illinois +1 618-318-6734 Text your name and number of people on your campsite to reserve your spot.

            The Solar Eclipse Event "PARK @ THE MOON"

            Extended or early arrivals welcome. Just simply request more information in the text. We will get ahold of asap with a more information and a confirmation number.

            #ShareThisPost #solareclipse2024

          • Logan W.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Giant City State Park
            Feb. 23, 2024

            Giant City State Park

            Great trails and well kept campsites

            We stayed at Giant City in February on a very cold weekend. It was still a fantastic trip! The campsites, fire pits and pit toilets were well maintained. The shorter trails in the park were beautiful even in the winter. The Lodge also had excellent food and a very cozy feel. Definitely visit the Lodge!!

          • Logan W.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Pyramid State Park
            Feb. 4, 2024

            Pyramid State Park

            Nice campsites and lots of lakes

            We stayed at the campground on the north end of Pyramid. The campsites were close together but we visited in February so we were the only campers. The fire pits were a little run down but the sites were nice and level with a table. No lantern posts. Pit toilets that were decent. The park office is a pretty long drive from the north end campground. The hiking is limited but the campground was peaceful and close to the lakes. Probably covered in bugs in the summer. Overall pretty nice stay

          • David F.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
            Nov. 30, 2023

            Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

            Southern Illinois getaway

            Great campground away from roads and noise. Goreville is small local town with grocery store and service station for supplies. South LOOP sites 1-23 are first come sites. NORTH LOOP SITES 24 - 59 Reservable at https://camp.exploremoreil.com/ Some 50 amp sites (4, 6, 18, 32, 36, 38, 47, 48) rest have 30 amp. See map in photos. WATER potable at Dump Station also 5 hydrants scattered amongst camp sites. TENT and Equestrian camps take road to the south west of lake.

          • Stuart O.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
            Nov. 14, 2023

            Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

            Quiet in November

            We do most of our RV travel in the early spring and late fall.  Ferne Clyffe does not take reservations after November 1, so its first come first served.  Payment is deposited in a kiosk near the black water dump site.  This was not well explained on the signage or websites, but, at least in mid-November, there were enough experienced campers around to explain things. 

            Otherwise, Ferne Clyffe is gorgeous. Great for star-gazing. Lots of mature oak and sycamore trees that I'm sure provide nice shade in summer.  In mid-November, there's lots of deer hunters, which means it gets quiet early in the evening.  Spaces are of moderate size on the interior, and are more spread out on the perimteter.

          • Matthew L.
            Camper-submitted photo from Little Grassy Lake Campground
            Oct. 5, 2023

            Little Grassy Lake Campground

            Great location, good facilities, a little cramped

            We loved the location of this campground. It's really close to Giant City State Park and other local attractions. It's not even too far from Cave-in-Rock State Park and Garden of the Gods. I agree with the other reviewer who said this is a great base camp for exploring the area.

            The restrooms and showers are pretty centrally located. They were clean but basic. No complaints, but not exactly a standout in that regard.

            The sites are kind of close together in my opinion, and most don't have trees or other dividing features between them. Not so great if you want privacy, but fantastic if you like a sense of community.

            The staff was very friendly and helpful. Boat rentals are available on site, along with other items in a small general store at the camp office.

            We're planning to come back in April of 2024 for the eclipse. Hoping for clear skies and a great view!

          • S F.
            Camper-submitted photo from Crab Orchard Lake Campground
            Sep. 17, 2023

            Crab Orchard Lake Campground

            LOVED!

            Visited crab orchard campground for the first time ever for labor day weekend. We had a pretty good size spot with a few trees where we hung our hammocks! We did a tent site right on the water. It was absolutely gorgeous. Very quiet area too. Quiet time starts at 10 or 11pm but actually you don't hear anything after 830pm. Very friendly. Bathrooms and shower were decent for what it was. It was nice to have it then not. Only 1 spider in the shower otherwise clean and good water. If you hate bugs I reccomend bringing an electric bug zapper as there is ALOT. Esp being by the water. Also keep in mind there's many spiders if you pick a spot with trees. But they're only out from 2am-5am.

          • B
            Camper-submitted photo from Hawn State Park
            Sep. 5, 2023

            Hawn State Park

            Not for Holiday Weekends

            The sites are in close proximity to one another so it gets crowded during Holiday weekends. Aside from that, the park is peaceful, very clean, and full of surprises.



          Guide to Cutler

          Camping near Cutler, Illinois, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are several campgrounds that cater to different needs.

          What to do:

          • Hiking: Explore the trails at Giant City State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "The shorter trails in the park were beautiful even in the winter," making it a great spot year-round.
          • Fishing: Head to Gun Creek for some fishing fun. A reviewer noted, "Excellent park but many sights aren’t flat. Not all have water, septic," so be prepared for some site variations.
          • Wineries: Enjoy a day of wine tasting near South Sandusky Campground. One visitor shared, "There are many wineries within a short drive of the camp, which made for a fun afternoon."

          What campers like:

          • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Washington County State Recreation Area. One review stated, "Friendly campers and hosts. Pit toilets. Spotty Verizon," highlighting the welcoming atmosphere.
          • Spacious sites: Many enjoy the roomy sites at South Marcum Campground. A camper remarked, "We love this campground as it is on the water, quiet and the people... are very friendly."
          • Family-friendly activities: Benton KOA is noted for its kid-friendly environment. A visitor mentioned, "Great store. Decorated for Halloween and very kid friendly."

          What you should know:

          • Reservation systems: Some campgrounds, like Crab Orchard Lake Campground, require reservations through recreation.gov. One camper shared, "The online experience with recreation.gov was not pleasant, impossible in fact."
          • Noise levels: Campers at Benton KOA have noted noise issues. One reviewer said, "1 side is directly on the freeway VERY loud," so choose your site wisely.
          • Wildlife: Be prepared for wildlife encounters, especially at Crab Orchard Lake Campground. A camper warned, "We saw a raccoon go right through our campsite... tons of geese and saw two baby copperheads."

          Tips for camping with families:

          • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds, like South Sandusky Campground. A family shared, "It was very safe and had close restrooms and playgrounds."
          • Short trails: Choose campgrounds with easy hiking trails for kids, such as Giant City State Park Campground. One parent noted, "We found several short but gorgeous hiking trails, which was perfect for our young children."
          • Kid-friendly dining: Plan meals at nearby lodges or restaurants. A family enjoyed, "We ate a great dinner at the lodge, which has beautiful panoramic views and the food was tasty too."

          Tips from RVers:

          • Level sites: Check for level sites at campgrounds like Gun Creek. A reviewer mentioned, "Not all sites are very level. We got a great water view site, but lacked afternoon shade."
          • Hookups: Look for campgrounds with full hookups, such as South Marcum Campground. One camper said, "Only $26 a night for full-hookups is amazing."
          • Dump stations: Ensure the campground has a dump station, like Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park Campground. A visitor noted, "There is a dump station, hot showers, flush toilets, and drinking."

          Camping near Cutler, Illinois, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure!

          Frequently Asked Questions

          • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cutler, IL?

            According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cutler, IL is Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 16 reviews.

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

            TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Cutler, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.