11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Shawnee National Forest surrounds Equality, Illinois with several tent camping options that range from primitive to established sites. Camp Cadiz Campground, located at the eastern edge of Shawnee, offers eight basic tent campsites with fire rings and cooking grates. Tower Rock Campground, situated along the Ohio River near Elizabethtown, provides riverside tent camping with simple amenities. Saline County State Conservation Area in Equality itself features tent campsites with lake views and more developed facilities. For backcountry tent camping experiences, Ferne Clyffe State Park's Backpack Campground, though farther away near Goreville, offers secluded walk-in tent sites accessible by short hikes.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal site preparation. Primitive tent camping areas typically include basic vault toilets and fire rings, while more established sites may offer potable water from spigots. Cell service remains spotty throughout the region, particularly at riverside and lower-elevation tent sites. Campers should bring paper maps as GPS directions can be unreliable on rural roads. Seasonal considerations affect tent camping access, with Tower Rock occasionally closing during Ohio River flooding (May-December season). During turkey hunting season in spring, some campgrounds like Camp Cadiz fill quickly with hunters.
Walk-in tent sites at Ferne Clyffe State Park provide more seclusion than drive-up options. According to reviews, Camp Cadiz offers particularly quiet tent camping despite its proximity to a gravel road. One camper noted, "The sites are large but there isn't any foliage between them," recommending sites farthest from the road to avoid dust. At Tower Rock, a visitor reported that the campground is "basically a mowed area in the woods close to the river" with "plenty of room for a group gathering." Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for hiking, with trails directly accessible from several campgrounds. The River to River Trail can be accessed from Camp Cadiz, making it popular with backpackers preparing for multi-day treks through Shawnee National Forest.
"There is a dump station and potable water at the entrance to the campground. There are also some water spigots sprinkled throughout the campground."
"This was a great campground with fantastic views of the lake. We also hiked Garden of the Gods and Burden Falls in the Shawnee National Forest. The hikes were great."
from $8 / night
Check Availability"Campground is smaller but the sites are spread out well, most have fire ring with grill stand and table, firewood available to gather onsite when I was there, vault toilets, right on the river so may be"
"There is a pit toilet, but no water. "
"The tent pads are right by the water, offering stunning lake views. Each site comes equipped with a fire ring, picnic table, and access to toilets—everything you need for a comfortable stay."
"Lake mauzy is very quiet. No hookups but if you want to boondocks this is a great place."
"There are a lot of hiking trails and we really enjoyed them all! The tent camping accommodations were less than stellar, simply because of the “outhouses “."
"It was easy to find firewood with out having to go very far, becareful there is a good amount of poison ivy. The only trail I hiked was Happy Hollow."
from $18 / night
Check Availability"We pulled in around midnight and left at 8 am."
"It’s off the highway down Amish/Dutch country. It has a maintained gravel road beautiful lake and in June it’s covered with lightening bugs. Lots of wild flowers and the sunset- WOW!"
"Not a lot of tent sites, but enough. Nice wooded primitive sites with easy access to water and toilets. Had my pups with, and no problems at all. Nice trails for different hiking skill sets."
"Ferne Clyffe State Park is in the Shawnee National Forrest near Goreville, IL., south of Carbondale."
from $6 - $16 / night
Check Availability"This is an beautiful little beach on Rend lake. The lake is an important bird habitat making it a great place for my fellow bord watchers to go!"
GuideQuiet clean campground, 8 sites, one water spigot, pit toilets, hiking and biking, 9 miles to Garden of the Gods. Campground is right next to road. Local traffic is minimal, most sites will accommodate 30ft trailer or motor home.
TravelerI’m not sure where the good reviews come from. Ive tried to find another Fern Lake to make sure I was at the correct one. Bath facilities have half doors so you are shitting in public. Your kids get the nice look over by any of the weird full timers living junk squaller. The power poles are only standing by the shear strength of all the cobbled together wires and electric tape. It’s not safe. It’s fucking dangerous. Most the fire “pits” are shitty rings from 60 years ago at least. There is zero maintenance here. It’s very loud next to the freeway. Sites are small and on top of each other. Lots are small. Not level. And little gravel. The cinder blocks keep you from backing in too far. Most of the water posts are “shared” because others don’t work. Picnic tables are a fucking joke. Rotten. Lead paint and worthless. The water retaining POND has a grass path around it so you can admire what recycled concrete can create where there was once no POND. One star is extremely generous. Just like the generous $10 a bundle for wood. Keep on trucking. It’s not far to go to find something worthwhile. This is a 100% pass. Before you think I’m some kind of pre Madonna, I will say we are a minimalist family that camps in unimproved spots and boondocks all the time. This place is gross. And disturbing that anyone reviews it for more than a 1 star. Most of the reviews are flat out lies. One talks about the clean bathrooms, hot showers, and one mentions a fucking pool! Wtf? Shitting in your own fire ring is more private. Pictures sooooo under tell the story of what a shot hole this place is. It’s off the freeway very close. And there is a Mexican restaurant across the street and a Casey’s essentially attached. If that’s what you like. Have fun. But any great reviews are from either someone who came and went in the dark. Or are from the owners.
GuideGreat campsite very large easy to get in and additional parking for your truck right next to your trailer
GuideWhat started as a one-night camping trip quickly turned into a three-night stay—I just didn't want to leave! Most of the campsites feature beautiful lake views and are well-shaded by tall trees. Each spot is equipped with an electric hookup, a fire pit, and a picnic table, plus having access to hot showers made the stay super comfortable. To top it off, our cats loved taking walks with us around the campground!
ScoutThe site would not let us book a reservation. I called and spoke to someone in the main office. She said Tent sites were available and since the site was not working to check in with security when we got there. I asked how late they would be there, she said all night. We got there at 5 pm. No one was camping office. Plenty of tent sites available. We called explained the call from earlier. The lady transferred us to the security line. I then reexplained everything. The security officer told us to come back tomorrow when the office opened there was nothing we could do tonight. He told us we couldn’t stay the night even though we were told earlier we could. Very disappointed by the management of this place.
ScoutRend Lake, in Whittington, Il is just a great place to camp. From primitive to full hook ups they have what you need for a Corps of Engineers campground.
GuideVery small, maybe 10-12 sites that are first come first serve. $10 per night as of September 2026. Solid Verizon cell coverage. Very quiet.
GuideI stayed at a walk-to tent site for which the price was $8 per night. Pretty solid Verizon cell signal. Clean showers and well kept. The place did sound pretty loud as far as older partiers, though around 9pm, it was near silent. I'd definitely stay here again.
GuideCampground was quiet and peaceful when I was there. Numerous trails within the park and I had them to myself while out hiking.
Tent campers near Equality, Illinois encounter varied terrain spanning from low-lying river valleys to elevated ridge campsites at elevations between 350-750 feet. The region's clay-heavy soil creates challenging conditions during spring rains, when many primitive sites become muddy. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-92°F with high humidity, making water access critical for campers.
Fishing access: Saline County State Conservation Area offers lake fishing with multiple shoreline access points. One camper noted, "You can fish here and even put in a boat or other water toys if you own one!" The lake contains bass, crappie and catfish, with fishing particularly productive in early morning hours.
Turkey hunting: During spring season, many campgrounds fill with hunters. At Camp Cadiz Campground, one visitor observed, "Camp filled up with hunters who started generators at 3 in the morning to get ready to head out for turkey." Hunting licenses must be obtained in advance through the Illinois DNR.
Mushroom foraging: Spring brings morel mushroom season to the Shawnee National Forest. A Camp Cadiz visitor commented, "It was also morel mushroom time so some people were hunting for them." Best hunting occurs in April after several days of rain when soil temperatures reach about 55°F.
Quiet weekday camping: Mid-week visits provide the most solitude. At Backpack Campground in Ferne Clyffe State Park, a visitor mentioned, "The walk up primitive sites are secluded, wooded, and within a pit toilet and water source." Weekdays typically see less than 20% occupancy even during peak season.
Dark skies: The area offers exceptional stargazing due to minimal light pollution. A camper at Lake Mauzy East described it as "God's country! Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful! Super quiet, tons of birds, and we saw snake mounds but not yet seen one...birds and butterflies and owls." For best viewing, avoid weekends with full moon.
Historical features: CCC-era stonework can be found throughout the area. At Tower Rock Campground, a visitor noted, "A short walk from the campground is Tower Rock that was an old CCC path and over look of the Ohio River... It is a rock cliff that is, I don't know 100 feet above the river." Many structures date to the 1930s and include stairs, walls, and overlooks.
Limited cell coverage: Prepare for communication gaps in most camping areas. At Tower Rock Campground, a visitor warned, "No or spotty signal in this area so have your directions on paper." Signal is typically better at higher elevations.
Flooding closures: Riverside campgrounds often close during high water. One Tower Rock visitor reported, "We drove down to camp here and found this campground closed. We walked in past the locked gate to scout it out and there was a line of debris left behind from when the river was higher." Always check current conditions before traveling.
Vault toilet conditions: Toilet facilities vary widely in cleanliness. At Turkey Ridge Campground, a camper warned about the outhouses, saying "a storm of flies came shooting out the hole like a tornado." Most remote sites have minimal maintenance schedules.
Dust issues: Gravel road proximity affects some sites. A Camp Cadiz visitor cautioned, "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."
Kid-friendly trails: Short hiking options suit younger children. At Dutchman Lake Camp, visitors enjoy "lots of nice scenery and decent fishing" with easy access from Interstate 24. Most trails under 1 mile are suitable for children as young as 4-5 years old.
Cave explorations: Several areas feature small caves that fascinate children. A Ferne Clyffe State Park visitor shared, "There are lots of well maintained trails to hike... hikes that include bluffs, caves, creeks, etc. Our favorite is Hawk's Cave Trail. It's an easy hike and the kids explored the caves for hours!"
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk offer prime wildlife watching opportunities. One Lake Mauzy East camper reported seeing "birds and butterflies and owls." Spring and fall migration periods bring the greatest variety of bird species.
Limited hookup options: Most sites in the region lack electric service. At Buck Ridge - Lake Of Egypt, campers need to be self-sufficient. A visitor mentioned, "Very disappointed people r confused drove from herrin 2 the lake 2 different occasions" because of unclear information about facilities and access.
Site leveling challenges: Many Equality area campgrounds require leveling equipment. At Saline County State Conservation Area, an RVer mentioned camping "in a Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 TB. This was a great campground with fantastic views of the lake." Bring extra leveling blocks for the uneven terrain.
Water access points: Fill tanks at designated locations before setting up. One Saline County camper noted, "There is a dump station and potable water at the entrance to the campground. There are also some water spigots sprinkled throughout the campground." Most primitive areas have no water hookups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Equality, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Equality, IL is Saline County State Conservation Area with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Equality, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Equality, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
