Best Tent Camping near Effingham, IL

The Kaskaskia River watershed near Effingham, Illinois offers several tent camping options with varying levels of amenities and seclusion. Spillway Campground, located near Lake Shelbyville Dam, provides approximately 20 primitive tent campsites at $10 per night alongside full hookup sites. Shady Grove Campground in Hidden Springs State Forest, about 20 miles southwest of Effingham, offers tent-only camping with basic amenities. Spitler Woods State Natural Area, situated northwest of Effingham, provides additional tent camping opportunities in a natural forest setting.

Most tent campgrounds in the Effingham region feature basic amenities like drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Spillway Campground includes access to showers and toilets, while Shady Grove offers more primitive facilities with vault toilets and drinking water. Sites typically have dirt or grass pads suitable for tent setup. Seasonal considerations affect camping conditions, with fall and spring offering more moderate temperatures. Fire restrictions may apply during dry summer months. Reservations are accepted at several locations, including Spillway and Shady Grove, though some sites may be available on a first-come basis.

Tent campers visiting Spillway enjoy direct access to the Kaskaskia River for fishing and water activities. According to reviews, October camping at Spillway provides peaceful conditions despite proximity to town. One visitor noted that "the fishing here and at the Spillway across the road are very good," highlighting the recreational opportunities. Sullivan Marina and Campgrounds Resort enforces strict hours, requiring campers to call for entry after 10 PM, but offers clean facilities for tent campers. Walk-in tent sites at some locations provide additional seclusion from drive-in areas. Spitler Woods receives high marks from tent campers, with one visitor describing it as their "favorite place to camp in Illinois" with "great sites" and "plenty to do."

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Best Tent Sites Near Effingham, Illinois (5)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Effingham, IL

1 Photos of 5 Effingham Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Effingham, IL

298 Reviews of 5 Effingham Campgrounds


  • Aaron B.
    Jun. 16, 2019

    Eagle Creek State Park Campground

    Wooded Solitude / Family Friendly

    Review of Drive In Tent Camping Site 2. Showed up on a Thursday night and had our pick of all the drive in and walk in sites. We decided on site 2 in the drive in area. Previous reviews and a book by John Schirle on Tent Camping in Illinois helped us with this decision as well. Decent maintained sites with some older picnic tables and fire rings, but let's be honest this stuff sits outside 24/7. Site 2 seemed to sit back the farthest with site 1 a close second. Both wooded sites that made for great shade and helped some when it was raining. Any two families looking for two sites could certainly set up and share the experience. Nice little cove behind them to try fishing. Just watch the hike down the path or ravine. Dog friendly, fresh water supply (hint put the handle all the way up and wait a few seconds), ability to store stuff in the car close by, outhouse toilets visible at the walk in parking lot, and helpful host for easy check in who even sells fire wood made for a great few days ($5 a bundle). Rated B/S site at a cost of $10 a night.

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 2, 2017

    Eagle Creek State Park Campground

    Great Lakeside Camping

    I have camped here in the past and enjoy primitive tent camping so I stayed Friday September 29th and Saturday September 30th in the tent camping drive up site #2. There is also a tent camping walk in area with 2 lake front sites that are about 150 yards from the parking area and about eight other sites in between. There is a building with men's and women's flush toilets here for both primitive campgrounds. These are cheaper campsites than in the RV area where you have the shower house, nicer bathrooms and electric hookups. There are lots of nice shaded sites in these campgrounds and all have fire ring grates, lantern posts, picnic tables and some have pole mounted campstove tables as well. The camp hosts do a great job keeping this place clean, maintaining a quiet campground and supplying firewood for the campers. The park has a boat ramp, playground areas, the Chief Illini trail plus a couple short trails. There is a golf course and a run down lodge / hotel that has been closed for several years. There is tons of deer and other animals to watch and watch out that they don't steal your food while you are sleeping. The wild life is great for photography and makes for some good fireside stories.

    This is my second favorite place to camp on the lake, although not as peaceful as Lone Point it does have the Chief Illini trailhead here and makes for nice round trip hiking camping adventures.

    This park is open year round so the fantastic camping in spring and fall are available. You should watch out for hunters in the area when bow season starts October 1st.

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 20, 2017

    Coon Creek (IL)

    Big Campground with great lake access

    I have camped here in a motorhome with full hookups and tent camped as well.

    The camp sites are divided into many loops and have side pullin sites and backin sites. The RV and tent sites are grouped in the same loops and there are many that have trails from the site right to the lake and people leave the boat near the campsite but still on the water. The restrooms and shower houses are clean as all the Lake Shelbyville campgrounds are maintained by the Corps of Engineers. This campground is very busy in the prime camping season, but if you are camping with a group and have a boat this is the place to go. There are several buddy sites here that are set up very well for groups of RV's and tents camping together. There are a few isolated sites on corners of loops, but most are fairly close together. There is a swimming beach here and lots of boat traffic, but quiet hours are observed, so you can get a good night's sleep before an action packed day on the lake. The fishing is good if you have a boat, but there is very little bank fishing areas available. Part of the campground is open after Labor Day, but the main season is Memorial day to Labor day.

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 16, 2017

    Bo Wood

    Campground with all the comforts

    The Forest Bo Wood Recreation area has grown each year since I first camped there in 1979.

    In 2017 it has 150 camping sites, a boat ramp, fish cleaning station, several picnic areas and a bait shop at the entrance on Illinois Route 32 4 miles South of Sullivan. The camp sites all have parking space for a big rig and one vehicle. There are some tent only sites but most have been converted to at least 30 amp electric sites with water hookups near the site. Many lake side sites are available, some years back there was a problem with the bank, but that has been dealt with.

    Bath rooms and shower houses are very clean and there is good bank fishing near the pavilion at the turn around at the west end of the area. There is a marina just 1 mile South and across the bridge another ½ mile is the Sullivan beach. Just 1 more mile South is a Rosatti's pizza located in a gas station with a liquor store. Rossati's delivers pizza's to the 2 campgrounds that are this close to the business. People that love the comforts of home while camping love this campground, so it fills up in the spring and summer months.

    All sites are spacious and include a picnic table, lantern stand, fire pit with grill grate and some have added camp stove stands. I find that October camping at Bo Woods most agreeable with less people tent camping and less boat traffic on the lake. The fishing this time of year is also very good.

  • S
    Oct. 2, 2020

    Wolf Creek State Park Campground

    Beautiful/Quiet during week!

    We stopped in to Wolf Creek State Park later in the day on a Wednesday after trying to stop at a different campground that was closed. We were worried about finding a spot as the sun was going down so we called even though no one usually answers phones at state parks (esp during COVID). The woman that answered was SO nice and I was so happy to hear a voice on the other end. So that’s a huge plus. You can reserve spots online in advance but clearly we did not because we didn’t know we’d be headed there. Same day is first come first serve. We are tent people and love primitive camping in spots where we can really be away from everyone and at least pretend like we’re alone. Rolling in in the dark, we weren’t motivated to checkout the walk-in campsites. And it wasn’t necessary because the area - which if full would’ve been pretty cramped for our taste- was absolutely empty. So we were happy. Many many spots for RVs all next to one another but there was tree cover for some and the possibility of a little bit of privacy but not much in that area.

    We had an almost full moon, but otherwise I think the stars would’ve been pretty awesome. The next morning we woke up and took a little hike down to Shelby Resevoir to see what was around. We were at campsite 18 and it was about 10 min hike down over there. Beautiful and big! Maybe good swimming I would assume? Too late in the year for us.

    We will definitely be back to checkout more of the primitive/walk-in/hike in sites! Hiking trails look interesting and fun and Eagle Creek State Park is just across the water (that’s the bigger one). The 4 stars was because the sites are pretty close together which- even with RVs- I think people mind- but maybe not? We love to be back in the woods ans I do think there is an option for that. We just didn’t have time to check it out. Will update!

  • 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!

  • Michael M.
    Aug. 30, 2017

    Lone Point

    Lakeside wonder

    I tent camped in a large tent, car camping, Friday and Saturday night.

    I have camped here as well as all the Lake Shelbyville campgrounds many times before. Lone Point campground is actually 14 miles from my rural home in Shelbyville, IL. and is my favorite Lake Shelbyville campground.

    There are many nice sites here along the lake and in the wooded areas around the lake. The sites have electricity and water near by. Fire rings with grates, lantern posts, picnic tables and level parking areas. Some sites have limited level areas for tents, but there are lots of sites to choose from. I like camping here because it is the least visited campground on the lake, so it can be quiet and you can get a site with a view. The bathrooms are clean and there is a shower house. There is a 12 mile trail from Lone Point to Eagle creek along the lake shore line, this trail is moderate to difficult hiking. I recommend this campground over all the others on Lake Shelbyville. The campgrounds and park are maintained by the US Army corps of engineers and reservations can be made online through recreation.gov.

    The main campground closes on Labor Day however there is a small section near the boat ramp open year round and this has nice sites in it with camp stove stands as well as grills and awesome fire pits. The trail Chief Illini trailhead is located in the parking area and the trail is fairly well maintained during the regular campground open season. The trail is open year round and can be hiked from one end to the other spending a night at either campground for return trip the next day.

    GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):

    39.45222, -88.74028

    39°27'8"N, 88°44'25"W

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 16, 2017

    Lithia Springs

    Great place for outdoors activities

    The Lithia Springs recreation area near Shelbyville, IL. On Lake Shelbyville has so many things to offer. This is one of my favorite places on the lake for boating, swimming and group camping. There are 105 campsites and they fill up with reservations in the spring and summer months, I would recommend reserving a site on line at: https://www.recreation.gov .

    The campground is run by the Corps of engineers, it is well cared for with clean shower houses and restrooms. There is a boat ramp, picnic areas, a small swimming beach and very nice lakeside campsites. Half the campsites have electric hookups and water near the sites, the other half now have full hookups and 50 amp service. It is recommended to fill your tanks as you enter so you won’t need to get water during your stay for the sites on the point, those do not have full hookups. I tent camp when I stay here now, but have camped here with a motorhome and filled up when I entered and dumped when I left for a long weekend.

    All sites have picnic tables, fire rings with grates and most also have a lantern stand. Most sites have a decent amount of room between them and there are some buddy sites where you share a large table cooking area and park facing each other. There are flat areas for tents and you can have two tents as well as an RV on each site.

    The marina here is great with boat gas, fishing equipment, bait, snacks and other items you might need in a pinch. They also rent fishing boats and pontoon boats so you can go on a boating excursion while camping here for a price.

    There are also cabins and motel rooms with a kitchen near the park entrance if you have a desire for that kind of lodging. See the links below for that.

    http://gregorysresortmotel.com/

    http://www.lithiaresort.com/

  • Fran S.
    Mar. 29, 2021

    Fox Ridge State Park Campground

    Looking for a respite in the middle of Lincoln country? Fox Ridge State Park Satisfied.

    We found out that the back loop was not available due to downed trees, but that didn't diminish the stay for us. (Back loop was no electric and normally first come, first serve.)

    We couldn't reserve a site because it was March and because of the time of year, and Covid I suppose, so it was first come, first served. You have to put your fee in the envelope provided when you enter the front loop. Reserved campsites were supposed to be posted on the board, but I didn't see a list.

    $18 for electric was very reasonable. The restroom near our site, #13, was open, but no lights and no shower. We almost needed it as a tornado shelter the evening we stayed, but the thunderstorms were all we had to deal with.

    There is a dump station. We didn't need it.


Guide to Effingham

Tent camping near Effingham, Illinois, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy outdoor activities. With well-reviewed campgrounds featuring essential amenities, it's an ideal destination for a weekend getaway.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Spillway (IL) provides drinking water, electric hookups, and showers, making it a comfortable choice for campers.
  • Sullivan Marina and Campgrounds Resort features clean facilities and a peaceful environment, perfect for those looking to relax.
  • Keyesport Rec. Area offers picnic tables and pet-friendly sites, ensuring a pleasant experience for families and furry friends.

Some prices for tent camping range from $10 to $20

Local attractions and activities

  • Fishing enthusiasts will love Spillway (IL), which is known for excellent fishing opportunities right by the river.
  • The Dam West (Day Use) area is perfect for picnicking and enjoying the scenic views of Lake Shelbyville.
  • For those who enjoy biking, Spillway (IL) is conveniently located near trails that cater to cyclists of all skill levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Effingham, IL is Spillway (IL) with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 5 tent camping locations near Effingham, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.