Best Tent Camping near Eddyville, IL
The Shawnee National Forest region surrounding Eddyville, Illinois offers several tent camping options with varying levels of amenities and seclusion. Turkey Ridge Campground at Ferne Clyffe State Park provides established tent sites with fire rings and picnic tables, while the Backpack Campground in the same park offers more primitive walk-in tent sites. Camp Cadiz Campground and Tower Rock Campground provide additional tent camping opportunities within the forest, with most sites situated on compacted gravel or natural forest terrain.
Most tent campsites in the area feature basic amenities including fire rings with cooking grates and picnic tables. Vault toilets are available at most locations, though campers report varying levels of cleanliness. Camp Cadiz has potable water from a spigot, while other areas may require bringing your own water supply. Sites at Tower Rock Campground sit along the Ohio River but lack drinking water. A camper noted, "There are a handful of camp sites with fire rings and picnic tables, but no water available." Seasonal closures affect some areas, particularly Tower Rock, which may close during flood seasons and operates from May through mid-December.
Tent campers in the Eddyville region benefit from spacious sites with good separation between camping areas. The Backpack Campground at Ferne Clyffe offers secluded wooded tent sites within walking distance of water sources and toilets. One camper shared that "the walk-up primitive sites are secluded, wooded, and within a pit toilet and water source." Camp Cadiz provides large tent sites but with limited foliage between them, making it less private when busy. The area offers excellent access to hiking trails, including the River to River Trail which connects to Camp Cadiz. Many tent campsites throughout the region provide good shade coverage from mature trees, making summer camping more comfortable. Wildlife sightings are common, with several campers reporting encounters with local fauna during overnight stays.