Tent camping near Enfield, Illinois offers multiple backcountry options within the Shawnee National Forest region. Located in southern Illinois at approximately 400 feet elevation, this area experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F and mild winters with occasional snow. Cell service becomes increasingly limited as campers venture deeper into the forest, with reception particularly spotty near water features and in valleys.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Mauzy East provides excellent bank fishing with tent pads positioned right by the water. "Absolutely beautiful! Been traveling 150 days, 23 states plus DC...THE most pretty state! Super quiet, tons of birds, and we saw snake mounds but not yet seen one," reports camper Adrianne.
Hiking access: At Camp Cadiz Campground, the eastern trailhead for the River to River trail starts right from the campground. One camper notes, "This is the Eastern trailhead for the River to River trail, there is also a shorter trail, Beaver. Good one to practice your backpacking skills on."
Scenic drives: Routes through Shawnee National Forest pass through small towns with local character. A visitor to Tower Rock mentioned, "We drove in through Shawnee national forest. The road went through some small towns with gas and food but not much else. Farms surround the area. We enjoyed the creative decorations - especially the bikes people used as sculptures."
What campers like
Large, spacious sites: Saline County State Conservation Area features generous campsites with flexibility for setup. "We stayed here for 1 week in October. There weren't that many sites that were taken so there were a lot of good sites to choose from! Even on the weekend there were only a handful of sites," reported one camper.
Peace and quiet: Many campers value the solitude at Tower Rock Campground. A visitor noted, "I have camped there 2-3 times. It has been a while now, but I believe there are 4 sites with tables and fire pits. There is a pit toilet, but no water."
Natural surroundings: For the best tent camping near Enfield, Illinois, the natural setting stands out. One Camp Cadiz visitor shared, "This camp ground is only about 10 min from Garden Of The Gods. The spaces are wide open and big for multiple tents. There is well water, a bathroom for pit and picnic table at each site. No heavy traffic on the gravel road so it's very quiet."
What you should know
Seasonal conditions: Many campgrounds close or experience limited access during high water seasons. At Buck Ridge Campground, one visitor noted, "The road is deceptively smooth. Ruts and water crossings appear suddenly. The creek looks like it overflowed."
Self-registration process: Most tent sites require you to choose your spot first then register. For Saline County, a camper explained, "In order to get a spot you will need to look around and choose a site then put your tent or RV on it to save it. Then you go to the campground host to pay and he will put your ticket on your reserve post."
Water supply limitations: Water access varies significantly between campgrounds. At Tower Rock, a camper advised, "There is a pit toilet, but no water. But if you drive a few miles North East there is a Illinois State Park, Cave in the Rock I think, and you can refill your water jugs/bladders there by the showers/bathrooms."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming: North Marcum Day Use Area offers clean beach access. One visitor shared, "This is an beautiful little beach on Rend lake. The lake is an important bird habitat making it a great place for my fellow bird watchers to go! The beach is also tidy and free of alot of trash, perfect for the youngsters to play in."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds provide wildlife spotting chances for children. At Lake Mauzy East, a camper experienced "tons of birds, and we saw snake mounds but not yet seen one...birds and butterflies and owls."
Supply planning: Stock up before arriving as stores are limited. For Camp Cadiz, one camper advised, "On a gravel road, in the back country like most everything else on this side of Illinois, fill your gas tank up and your food locker or you will be driving back out a ways to refill."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for dust control: When RV camping at Camp Cadiz, position carefully. "We had site choices that ended up being along the gravel forest road that goes by camp. Every vehicle that went by generated dust which then coated everything in our camp. If you come here, we suggest taking the site that is furthest from the road."
RV-friendly options: Not all tent camping areas accommodate larger vehicles. For Saline County, an RVer advised, "My wife, 2 grandkids and our dogs and were at site 22 from 10/10/21- 10/1/21 camping in a Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 TB. This was a great campground with fantastic views of the lake."
Internet connectivity planning: Cell service requires strategic positioning. One Saline County camper noted, "We were able to get cell signal on the campsites up the hill but not in any down by the water, which is why we stayed up the hill."
