Best Tent Camping near Frankfort, IL

Tent camping options near Frankfort, Illinois include several established campgrounds within 25 miles of the area. Camp Shabbona Woods in South Holland and McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove provide tent-specific sites with varying amenities and environments. Most locations are situated along rivers or canals, offering water-based recreation opportunities in addition to camping.

Many tent sites in the region require walk-in or hike-in access, with parking areas generally located 100-300 feet from actual campsites. Channahon State Park Campground features walk-in tent sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets but no showers. Tent campers should note that McKinley Woods sites can experience flooding during heavy rain events. Most campgrounds in the area prohibit alcohol, and several locations close gates at night, restricting late arrivals. Vault toilets are standard at most locations, though Kayak Morris offers only portable toilets.

The tent camping experience varies significantly by location, with some sites offering more seclusion than others. Tent-only areas at Camp Shabbona Woods provide an urban camping experience with limited shade as the area features young trees still establishing canopy cover. Sites along the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail, including those at Channahon, offer convenient access for cyclists and hikers using the trail network. Water-adjacent sites like those at Kayak Morris allow campers to launch directly from their campsite. According to one visitor, "McKinley Woods offers me a lot of nostalgia. Three of us biked in and two hiked. The spot is more secluded than the ones in the park proper, but it still receives a lot of visitors throughout the day."

Best Tent Sites Near Frankfort, Illinois (10)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Frankfort, IL

494 Reviews of 10 Frankfort Campgrounds


  • H. K.
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Camp Bullfrog Lake

    Nice but very little shade

    We stayed in the primitive tent area near the back of the park. It is walk in.

    There was a pole for a lantern, a picnic table, a fire ring and tent pad. There is one clean flush toilet and shower per each gender (the shower stall was spacious with plenty of hooks and benches). There were also vault toilets not too far away. The water spigot was pretty far away though. There were plenty of garbage cans.

    There were a few small trees but very little shade. On hot days I think a pop up shade shelter would be necessary to make it bearable.

    Overall it was pretty quiet.

    The last night we were there a large group of people with their tents showed up. There were not enough tent pads or picnic tables for all of them. I don't know if it was the park that booked so many people or if it was the group that overbooked.

  • H
    May. 26, 2022

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Great stay, come ready

    We stayed two nights in mid-May, at site number 72. Area was gorgeous, well maintained, shady and quiet. Tons of hiking trails in very close proximity to the campground! There is electricity on site, but no water or sewage at each site. However there is a water fill station and a dump station. So just come prepared. Also, they have a very strict no alcohol policy. Not that that stopped people, but don't go walking around with a beer bottle! We would definitely return.

  • D
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Paul Wolff Campground

    No showers

    We would gladly stay here again!

    Great campsite with the best staff ever! The sites are clean and very well maintained. We loved the staff patrolling the grounds. The trail system is great for walking the dogs. And I even grew to like the no alcohol in the preserve rule.

    The vault toilets are clean but smell like vault toilets at 95 degrees. There is one very clean flush toilet building but no showers. They don't advertise showers, but this is the newest and nicest campsite I have seen without showers. There is some shade, but you have to search for it.

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

    Paul Wolff Campground

    Great value Chicago suburb campsite

    I've camped here four different occasions this 2020 covid-19 year. The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms. It is a super clean campground with multiple hosts and forest preserve staff. There are a large number of RV pads overlooking the prairie and a few along a grove of trees. I was lucky once to see the equestrian area full of campers with their horses. There are 9 walk-in tent sites about 10-20 yards from parking (the two at the end p7 and p9 are connected for groups that know each other). There are multiple ada sites and two "walk-in/ie roll-in" site in the tent-only area. It's a good mix of young people, retired people, and families. I've seen weekends with mainly RVs and one weekend with a quarter of the drive-in sites being tents. The most shaded sites are p1,3,5,7 and 9. Many of the sites in the middle are wide open with little shade but nice summer breezes. Prices are a great deal if you live in Kane county but still worth the trip if you live in another county. Firewood is $7 for about .75 cu ft (what you can fit in a milk crate.) There are a few trails and I've seen lots of butterflies, gold finches, hawks, deer, flocks of giant sandhill cranes, rabbits, ground squirrels, and of course actual squirrels. Lots of people (including me) bring their leashed dogs. The other campers have been polite and friendly. I wish there was more distance between sites in the water/electrical loops for more privacy, but I'd go every weekend if I lived in Kane county because it would be worth the resident price even tho there are so many RVs. Because there is electrical it is a peaceful campground with no generator noise.

  • H
    May. 22, 2025

    Whitetail Campground — Illini State Park

    Place felt abandoned, needed weed-whacker

    I camped there the week before Memorial day weekend--not exactly peak season, but not exactly off-season either.  I arrived at about a quarter to five on a Sunday, and surprisingly the office was closed.  So was the camp store, where I'd hoped to buy local firewood.

    I was left to find my campsite on my own, which was easier said than done. One sign pointed the way to Whitetail Campground--but below it said "Closed for the Season." This made no sense as I'd made the reservation via the Illinois DNR website. The signage in other parts of the park was so minimal that I spent about 20 minutes wandering the grounds until I finally found my site.  A couple of signs were missing letters, and some of the site number signs were angled in such a way that they couldn't be read from the road..

    At one point I tried calling the number listed for Illini State Park on the DNR website. I didn't even hear ringing--I just heard a strange tone, even though the name "Illini State Park" appeared on my phone confirming I had the right number.

    I'd reserved a site with electrical hookups, but the hookups were actually on the site net door, which, luckily, wasn't occupied.  But my 25 foot power cord was insufficient to reach the hookups.  I had to drive an hour round-trip to the Menard's in Morris to pick up a 50 foot cord.

    The site was so overgrown with weeds that I couldn't find a place to put up my tent that was also a safe distance from the firepit.  The neighboring firepit was just about 10-15 feet from our picnic bench--had the next site been occupied, our privacy would have been a joke even in this wooded area. So perhaps it was just as well that I couldn't find firewood.

    The potable water pump about 150 feet from the site didn't seem to work--I tried pumping it, opening and closing the handle, but no water. So I had to rely on the ginger ale packed in my cooler for liquid refreshment--it was either that, or go back to town again.

    I was hearing reports that there might be as much as three inches of rain in the area falling in the next 24 hours so I went to the office at about 11 am the next morning. This time the office was actually open.  I told them about the water pump and they were a bit confused because they heard reports that the other water pump at Whitetail was broken too.  I asked them what the likelihood was that my site could turn into a lake of mud with such rain and they said it was possible so I decided to depart early. As I drove back to my site, I noticed that the staff person managed to get the water pump going--he explained to me that after pulling the handle back, it needed to be pulled back an extra notch further.  It would have been nice for there to have been a sign telling people that, as I had not intended to finish a six-pack of ginger ale in one night.

    There's a difference between a "primitive" site (which, as I paid extra for electrical hookups, this was not) and one that just simply isn't maintained. I wonder if there's even any security at the park at night.  The campground has rules, such as no alcohol, which is valid given the way people act when they have a few drinks within them. But I wondered who would be there to enforce the rules.

  • Elizabeth G.
    Oct. 5, 2021

    Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    Pleasant and quiet

    Stayed in site 43 of the Douglas loop. Douglas loop is all non electric.

    Our site was big enough for our tents, a picnic table and fire ring. The bathrooms/showers are really close by which is nice but you do get the lights from the bathroom facing site 43. Not a big deal but if you’re looking for more darkness then definitely choose one of the other sites around 43.

    All parking sites are paved for camper vans/trailers but no water or power hookups. All sites have nice huge tent pads that are nice and level. Only noise we heard was the train every now and then.

    The showers are individual rooms separate from the bathrooms. And there’s a gas station and liquor store near the entrance of the campground for fire wood and beer.

    I didn’t get to stay in the walk in campsites but they are very nice and close-ish to the showers.

  • J
    Sep. 18, 2019

    Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park

    Woods near the river

    Went tent camping here and reserved our spot in advance. We bought fire wood from a locals front lawn at the entrance to the state park. Put 5$ in the bin and take a bundle. Its 30 mins away from Starved Rock and Matthiesson State Park. Good hiking. The river spots are all booked by large RVs and the tent spots have grills over the fire pits and picnic tables. lots of tree cover which came in handy when it rained in the morning. Otherwise great weather and not buggy. Dogs allowed.

  • Chris M.
    Nov. 26, 2020

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Clean & Spacious

    We pulled in around 4:30 in the evening. The sight was spacious with plenty of room in between sites. Since the weather was cooler , it was pretty sparse with other campers. We stayed 2 nights over the weekend. You are within walking distance to the beach within the park. The buildings have great architecture. The sight had 50 amp electric hook ups but no water or sewer connections, and we knew that going in. We had a back in sight #69. There was plenty of space on all sides. We have a 37’ motorhome and pulled a Jeep behind it. There was plenty of room to maneuver around. The sight also had a wood picnic table and fire ring for a wood fire pit. We will definitely be back! I wish I had taken more photos from the beach and beach pavilion.

  • Emma H.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great for our 2 person campout!

    My fiancé and I stayed in the Hickory Loop spot 3. We are very new campers, so we just have a very basic tent setup. When we checked in with the host, there were bundles of firewood for $8 (either cash or cash app). The spots are not huge, and not super private (you have next door and across the street neighbors), but we didn’t mind that! There were two outlets available, and a small rectangular fire pit with a grate on top. There are a few water pumps and vault toilets within walking distance, but we were pretty close to the shower house, which had stalls for toilets and showers. The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!

    It rained a ton during our trip so we didn’t explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity.


Guide to Frankfort

Tent camping opportunities near Frankfort, Illinois are concentrated along river and canal corridors within 25 miles. Located in the northeastern Illinois prairie region at approximately 720 feet elevation, the area experiences humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with higher humidity, making spring and fall popular camping seasons.

What to do

Kayaking from campsites: At Kayak Morris, campers can launch directly from riverfront sites. "We brought our own kayaks and launched right from our campsite which was amazing but they rent kayaks for pretty cheap If you don't have your own," notes Amanda W.

Fishing at river confluences: Water junctions provide excellent angling opportunities. "Between me and my buddies we caught over 50 striper. I don't know if its the river convergence or the lake but they bite here hard!" reports Sam Murphy M. about Kayak Morris.

Cycling on canal trails: The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail connects multiple camping areas. "The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail passes right by camp. You can stop for a rest or stay the night. It's a nice stopping distance if you are riding from Chicago to Starved Rock," explains Art S. about Channahon State Park Campground.

What campers like

River access: Waterfront sites remain the most sought-after locations. "Camp sites are dotted next to the shore of the river, there's kayak rentals, and there's enough space for multiple tents on one site," reports Eric R. about Kayak Morris.

Secluded spots: Some areas offer more privacy than others. "The spot was clean. It's far enough off the trail that it provides plenty of privacy. The walk to the beach was not too long," says Don W. about Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Park.

Spacious sites: Many campsites accommodate multiple tents and groups. "The sites are far apart, #1 is the shadiest and most secluded but uneven. #2 is wide open and in the sun, #3 & 4 are shady and paved," describes Brian O. about McKinley Woods.

What you should know

Gate closures: Several parks restrict nighttime entry. "They close the gates after 10pm was weird but overall ok. No electric or water hook ups can't keep your vehicle close to your campsite," notes Jeffrey L. about Camp Shabbona Woods.

Flooding concerns: Low-lying sites may experience water issues after heavy rain. "Nothing was mentioned about this site being a flood zone. Our night went from on and off light rain to three hours of down pour rain. With that said our site was flooded once we woke up," warns Rita S.

Limited facilities: Most tent sites have basic amenities only. "The only bathrooms (port-a-potties) are at the entrance. They sell firewood but also let you pick up sticks in the area that are small- we didn't need to buy firewood after gathering our own," shares Amanda W.

Tips for camping with families

Early reservations: The best tent camping near Frankfort, Illinois fills quickly during peak season. "25 sites to choose from, they fill up fast on weekends so plan to make reservations early," advises Eric R.

Noise considerations: Some locations have more urban sounds than others. "Definitely felt the urban community close by with ambulances and firetrucks noises in the background," reports Jeffrey L. about Camp Shabbona Woods.

Picnic facilities: Many sites offer expanded eating areas. "All sites have enormous banquet sized picnic tables with cut-out in the bench for wheelchairs," notes Brian O. when describing McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove.

Tips from RVers

Walk-in preparations: Most tent camping areas near Frankfort require some distance between parking and sites. "We didn't realize this was a walk-in campground, the details on the Will county site were vague, and the satellite photo showed a paved road. The road is a path, so the sites are ADA accessible," shares Brian O.

Limited hookups: RV campers should expect primitive accommodations at most locations. "We have a small, motorcycle trailer so we ended up rolling down hill 100 yds. then back again after our 2 night stay, a bit of a hassle, but not a problem. Just be aware of it," warns Brian O. about tent camping logistics.

Early-morning activities: Water recreation starts early near many camping areas. "At night, you can hear owls and distant trains, but motorboats and jet-skis begin around 6:AM," notes Brian O. about riverside camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Frankfort, IL is Camp Shabbona Woods with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Frankfort, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.