Best Tent Camping near Durand, IL

Several tent campgrounds are accessible near Durand, Illinois, with options ranging from primitive forest sites to more developed state park facilities. MacQueen Forest Preserve offers secluded tent camping with sites spread at least 50 yards apart across meadows and wooded areas. New Glarus State Park Campground, located approximately 45 minutes northwest in Wisconsin, provides both drive-in and walk-in tent sites set within a wooded environment.

Tent sites at MacQueen Forest Preserve require a short walk on gravel paths or across a meadow to reach camping locations. Each site includes a fire pit and picnic table, with vault toilets available but no potable water. Campers must bring their own drinking water and pack out all trash. The preserve charges only $4 per night for individual primitive sites, making it an affordable option for tent campers seeking basic accommodations. Sites are first-come, first-served with self-registration at the parking area.

The walk-in tent sites at New Glarus State Park offer more privacy than the drive-in options, with varying distances from the parking area. A visitor commented that "sites are pretty spread out" at MacQueen Forest Preserve, with some situated in forested areas and others around a large open field ideal for stargazing. Tent campers should be prepared for occasional train noise at MacQueen, particularly at night, while New Glarus sites experience some highway noise. Both locations feature well-maintained trails for hiking, with MacQueen providing access to the Kishwaukee River and New Glarus connecting to local bike paths. Tent campers appreciate the seclusion of these areas compared to more developed campgrounds, with one camper noting MacQueen as a "beautiful primitive campground" worth visiting.

Best Tent Sites Near Durand, Illinois (12)

    1. New Glarus State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    New Glarus, WI
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 527-2335

    $15 - $25 / night

    "We have camped at several of the walk-in sites."

    "The sites are clean, each with a fire ring and a table. Some have gravel, some dont. Some are deep enough that you forget where you are once in the tent for the night."

    2. Goatland

    Be the first to review!
    Orangeville, IL
    16 miles
    +1 (815) 206-8292

    $35 - $55 / night

    3. MacQueen Forest Preserve

    6 Reviews
    Kirkland, IL
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 522-6254

    "This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs. There is one wheelchair accessible tent site on a blacktop path in the forest canopy."

    "You can't see the campsite next to you, and they all have a picnic table and a fire ring. You do have to walk into all of them, but they do have one wagon and a dolly you can use to tote things in."

    4. Castle Rock State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Oregon, IL
    33 miles
    Website

    $6 / night

    "Located about 100 miles West of Chicago, Castle Rock State Park features one of the ONLY campgrounds that I've visited this close to the city in which I was completely alone."

    "Site selection is first come, first serve and the registration and payment is done on the honor system, and they do have rangers that monitor."

    5. Blackhawk Memorial Park

    4 Reviews
    Blanchardville, WI
    32 miles
    Website

    "Pit toilets/shelter/playground near the entrance.

    Two boat launches.

    Variable availability for firewood; the Cenex on the west end of Argyle reliably sells it if there isn't any at the park."

    6. Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center

    1 Review
    Oregon, IL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 732-2220

    "Sometimes there are family retreats planned where you can bring your tent or trailer and camp in designated campsites in a tranquil meadow."

    7. Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake

    6 Reviews
    Delavan, WI
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 883-6999

    $15 - $45 / night

    "This is primarily an RV/mobile home campground, but there are some nicely tucked away tent camp sites that I'll recommend later in this review. "

    "Wanted someplace close to home. Familiar with the Delavan area so was excited to find Snug Harbor. Set up went well, didn’t blow anything up! Yea! Staff was great, helped me back in."

    9. Franklin Creek State Natural Area Equestrian Campground

    1 Review
    Nachusa, IL
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 456-2878

    $4 - $8 / night

    "are one of those primitive campers who want to take their noble steed(s) with them for the night in order to gallup along some pretty amazing horse-friendly trails."

    10. Sandhill Station State Campground — Lake Mills Wildlife Area

    2 Reviews
    Lake Mills, WI
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (920) 648-8774

    "Sandill Station is right outside Lake Mills, WI, right off the Glacial Drumlin bike trail. It features 15 campsites and 1 group campsite in an oak savanna, with varying degrees of shade."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Durand, IL

579 Reviews of 12 Durand Campgrounds


  • Marisa A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2020

    MacQueen Forest Preserve

    Secluded Hike-in Tent Campsites on the Kish

    This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs. There is one wheelchair accessible tent site on a blacktop path in the forest canopy. This is a very primative campground with 1 set of Vault toilets. The other campsites require a walk/hike along a gravel path for completely wooded sites or cross a football sized meadow for open air sites. There are several well-water pumps "not for drinking." Each campsite has a fire pit and a picnic table. Pack out your garbage for the dumpster in the parking lot. There are only 9 sites total. VERY private and secluded. Tents only! Massive forest preserve area for excellent hiking. Some fellow campers were doing a diy tubing right to the campground. (About a 2 hr lazy river tube from Kingston or 5hrs from Genoa on the slow moving S. Branch of the Kishwaukee River which can be pretty deep in places.) Absolutely NO ALCOHOL. Cost for tent sites is only $4 per tent or tent-like structure. There are primitive cabins for rent and a large lodge if you rented the structure for an event here. By their facebook page, it looks like there have been beautiful weddings here. This is a former scout camp flanked by more forest preserves. The ranger is very nice and the entrance is locked from sunset to sunrise. I hesitated even posting this tent-camping primitive heaven, because I almost want to keep it for myself and the locals. Please practice leave no trace and follow the rules if you go so this place stays open. Dog friendly, but must be leashed all of time or a $50 fine. My dog loved the trails and river crossings! Gorgeous hidden gem about an hour into cornfield country from Chicago NW suburbs like Woodfield Mall. I had cell service at one spot in the parking lot, but it was fleeting with T-mobile. A fellow camper had the best private spot (#2) which other than the ada site was the best because it was closest to the parking lot, yet she still had a festival/yard cart to pull her gear up a gravel path. Make sure you bring yours or are outfitted with backpacking gear. Like anywhere, prevent insect deforestation and don't bring firewood, it's fine, they have plenty.

  • Stacie H.
    May. 29, 2022

    White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    Lovely natural scenery; campground leaves something to be desired

    Let's start with the good stuff:

    • The park is beautiful. Lovely trees, lots of shade, the hiking trails are nice, well marked, and they even have an accessible trail for those with disabilities!
    • There is a restaurant and gift shop on site. Gift shop sells wood if you run low or forget.
    • The bathrooms and shower house are relatively clean and well kept.

    Now for the not so great stuff:

    • Many of the campsites are sloped and some are sloped A LOT. This isn't obvious from the booking page.

    • The campground is absolutely jammed with camp sites- it's ridiculous. I've never been to a campground where the sites were so on top of one another.

    • We stayed in the Sunny Crest loop and the drinking water well was broken so we had to travel to other parts of the campground for water. When carrying a 10 gallon jug full of water back, that really sucked.

    • The sites that are marked as "hike in" aren't secluded and away from other sites at all, as one might expect. They are jammed in with all the others but there just isn't any parking nearby.

    • It had rained the day before was went and so the road to the campgrounds was blocked off (presumably because the creek was running too high), but there was NO SIGNAGE telling us how to get there another way. There was no one in the park office or in the camping registration station to ask. We finally figured out that we had to take an emergency road/auxiliary road to get to the campground, but that was after about 30 minutes of confusion.

    • The breakfast buffet at the restaurant is mid but very pricey- $50 for 2 of us.

    • The quiet hours and no alcohol policy are not enforced at all. While we were there, there was a very loud group playing beer pong into the wee hours of the morning.

    • About half of the fire rings don't have grill grates so bring your own or bring a camp stove (See pic). Also, when you book your site, there is no way to know if your fire ring will have a grill grate or note.

  • Meg
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    Beautiful View (site 20), serious slope

    We LOVE site 20 as does everyone else who books this one up quick. Literally the only downside is that you have no flat spots anywhere on the site, which killed our backs sleeping in tents.

    Pros - lake view, but a safe distance down the hill so no worries about the kids at the campsite.

    On the end with tons of privacy, full row of trees and a ton of space until the next site. It’s like your own mini oasis.

    Lake is also fabulous. We decided to rent instead of hauling our own kayak and they were clean, affordable and quick process.

    Cons - lol that hill is no joke. Pit toilets I wouldn’t touch with a 10ft pole, but that’s pretty typical.

  • Alex H.
    Sep. 26, 2022

    Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

    No Flat Spots

    Very nice park. Well marked and maintained trails. A large lake with boat launch and beach area. Separate pet area.

    We spent the weekend at site 101, which is a tent site. I wouldn't recommend this site. based on a quick walkaround, it seemed a bit smaller than other sites. That's not really a deal-breaker, but it didn't really have any flat spots to pitch the tent. We ended up pitching it up on the parking area, but it was still a bit slanted and we could feel the tire divot a little through the air mattresses. Aside from that, it was great. The site had a picnic table and fire ring that we used a lot. It was secluded from the surrounding sites.

    We hiked the Windy Ridge trail and the Prairie Loop trail. both were well maintained and enjoyable trails. We also spent some time on the beach.

  • Cristina S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Blue Mound State Park Campground

    Clean and Modern

    Campsites, trails and facilities were immaculate. Staff was friendly. drive in and hike in sites available. great for families; trails have info markers to educate hikers on geology and flora of area. Drive in campsites had fire rings and picnic tables, vault toilets available.

  • Sarah B.
    Jul. 19, 2024

    Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

    Def do not recommend for summer 2024!

    I wanted so badly to love this campground experience, but just didn't. Site 19 was an easy walk-in that theoretically had nearby vault toilets, parking, and water.

    Each site only had space for one car to park before walking in. Not a huge deal, but annoying as there were 2 of us who drove separate and we had to problem solve. When we got to the site I was shocked to see that what was labeled as a tent site had literally NO flat space to actually set up a tent. Spacious site, but fully sloped.

    Also, what I would have loved to know, is that the vault toilets are closed because they are doing construction to build something new in that space. Construction that starts loudly each day at 7am. Honestly every site from about #35 down was affected by the noise because the construction is happening in the middle of the loop (and actually blocking some of the one-way road as well).

    The park in general was okay. Per the usual, the pet areas were lacking. No beach at all, just grass covered in goose poop and one cut out on the raised shore between tall grasses and foliage where a dog could potentially jump in. Certainly nowhere for a human to enjoy the water with their pups unfortunately.

  • Josh F.
    Sep. 21, 2020

    Blue Mound State Park Campground

    Close to Madison, near Military Ridge Trail, Some sites are Far, Far Away

    I spent two nights in the campground at Blue Mound State Park. Overall, the park has well-maintained hiking and MTB biking trails, extraordinarily clean and well-kept vault toilets, and ample access to drinking water. Both tent and RV/camper sites are on a typical one-way road pattern with a couple of loops there are plenty of sites with and without electricity. At the time I was there, the camp host sold high-quality hard wood for $5/bundle from a trailer on the honor system, so if you run out in the middle of the night, wood was easy to replenish. One of the park's highlights are lookout towers with views above the treetops, Unfortunately in 2020 both were closed, presumably because it would be difficult to keep a safe distance from others when on the stairs or while at the top. Pity, it'll be a reason to return. Still, there are several observation areas that are maintained well enough to keep the undergrowth from blocking the view of the Wisconsin River Valley nearly 15 miles to the north. This is where the "Blue Mound" name must come from, the hills at that distance did have a bluish cast to them.

    If you've read any of my other reviews you know what's next, my list of the best campsites. While I've visited several parks now that have "walk in" sites, with cars parked a minute or two from the campsite, about a dozen sites in Blue Mound State Park take "walk in" to a new level. Cars can drive to a barrier across the road, and the sites are a 10-15 minute walk downhill, The park provides ONE medium-sized cart (250 lb weight limit, 20-minute use limit) that I guess would be in high demand during load in and load out. (NOTE TO SELF, camp Thursday through Monday if going here, or arrive EARLY to get a cart). Most of these sites are quite sunny; 105 is nice and shady and private, 106 slightly shaded 109 and 110 are shaded, very close to one another and would be good for a group camp setup 111 is quite shady. There's water and toilets in the walk-in camp ground. You'd want to sip wood for campfires and cooking, the nearest source is a 15-minute walk uphill and back, and then if using the cart, you have to return it for another round trip.

    Back in the family campground where mortals and RVs park, I think the following are the nicest in terms of shade, level, size and privacy.

    42, 45, 47, 51, 64, 66, 69, 71, 73

  • S
    Oct. 2, 2020

    Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    Good Tent Sites

    We visited this spot last summer as a place to stay for 1 night on our way farther north.

    We really enjoy tent camping and prefer walk-in/hike in sites so we can have some privacy away from other campers. The campsites were decently dispersed and the ground was nice and grassy so it was pretty comfortable.

    We always want more space between campsites, but I think the privacy level was fine. The tent sites are right off the parking lot where the boat ramp is so maybe on a busy weekend it would be a little loud, but overall a nice night for us!

    We left in the morning to continue our drive so we didn’t spend much time checking out the hiking trails.

    We did however go checkout the beach which wasn’t much to write home about. If I remember correctly, we had to pay a fee to enter. Always happy to support a state park. We just figured since we were already paying to camp there, it wouldn’t cost extra. I’m pretty sure we paid an admission fee and didn’t stay for long. It was across the way and requires a drive instead of a hike to get there.

  • Becca Z.
    Aug. 30, 2020

    Lowden State Park Campground

    Great camping spot!

    We were so happy with the size of the tent camping sites. They were mostly all flat, plenty of space and gave privacy from the neighbors. We were at site 28 which had both sun and shade. Right across from the pit toilets which I wouldn’t pick next time. There was no shower house or running water in the loop we were at. Across the street were the electric rv sites and a few tent sites. Only compliant is even from the middle of the campground we could hear the road noise. Otherwise great!


Guide to Durand

Tent camping near Durand, Illinois offers a variety of unique experiences, from serene natural settings to engaging activities for all ages.

Tent campers should check out Goatland

  • Goatland provides a charming atmosphere with friendly animals, making it a delightful spot for families looking to experience farm life.
  • This campground allows campfires and offers drinking water, ensuring a comfortable stay while enjoying the outdoors.
  • With only four sites available, Goatland offers a more intimate camping experience, perfect for those seeking tranquility.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities at New Glarus State Park Campground

  • This well-reviewed campground features spacious sites with picnic tables and fire pits, ideal for enjoying meals outdoors.
  • New Glarus State Park Campground is pet-friendly, allowing you to bring your furry friends along for the adventure.
  • The campground is equipped with showers and toilets, providing essential comforts for a pleasant camping experience.

Some prices for tent camping range from $4 to $10

  • At MacQueen Forest Preserve, tent sites are available for just $4 per night, making it an economical choice for budget-conscious campers.
  • Blackhawk Memorial Park offers a first-come, first-served pricing structure, with weekday nights costing around $5 and weekends at $10.
  • The Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center provides a peaceful setting with affordable rates, perfect for families looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Durand, IL is New Glarus State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 18 reviews.

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

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