Best Tent Camping near Golconda, IL

Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Golconda? The Dyrt helps you find campsites with tent camping near Golconda. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.

Best Tent Sites Near Golconda, Illinois (27)

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Showing results 1-10 of 27 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews near Golconda, Illinois

725 Reviews of 27 Golconda Campgrounds


  • Michael M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Giant City State Park Campground
    Oct. 23, 2017

    Giant City State Park Campground

    Campground Improving in 2017

    There are currently 25 equestrian camp sites in this park in a different area than the normal RV and Tent campground. The campground is being upgraded this year in which I belive they are adding 50 amp full service to many of the electric only sites. There is currently walk in only unless you are reserving a horse camp. There are fantastic hiking trails and equestrian trails here and you would think you are in the mountains here. The geology is much like the Missouri area near the other bank of the Mississippi river. I have tent camped here and camped in a pop-up camper in the fall both times. Hiking is the best activity here unless you ride horses and that is great here too. This one and Wolf Creek on Lake Shelbyville are the best parks in Illinois for horse trails.

  • Staci R.
    Camper-submitted photo from Hurricane Creek
    Jul. 30, 2017

    Hurricane Creek

    More like a river than a creek!

    Hurricane Creek Campground is small and intimate while still being close too many amenities. There are adequate RV campsites, and tent sites. Some RV sites require some serious driving skill to back your RV into and we better suited for tents. The tent sites are ample for tents, and two of the five tent sites have Trees close enough together for Hammock Camping.Tent site 11 has two trees that are not too big in diameter for hammocking. Parking for tent sites is above in a lot, and RV's are directly behind you 25-30 feet. I would recommend tenting on an RV site if you want your vehicle close to your site.

  • Benjamin C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Cravens Bay - LBL Lake Access
    Jul. 17, 2020

    Cravens Bay - LBL Lake Access

    Very secluded!

    We stayed here in the middle of July in 2019! Wow was it hot! It also had a bit of flooding, how ever it made it easier for our girls to launch their kayaks and swim. Great spot for kayaking and tent camping. We were the only ones there so it was perfect! Highly recommend for tent camping.

  • John
    Camper-submitted photo from Fern Lake Campground and RV Park
    Sep. 9, 2020

    Fern Lake Campground and RV Park

    Beautiful place, very convenient!

    This place is right off the highway close to most things. It’s a cute little place with RV sites and tent sites. The tent sites are located on the lake and have power available. The price was very reasonable and the people here were very friendly and accommodating. The only down fall is the highway noise. Definitely would stay here again given the chance!

  • Tim D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Energy Lake Campground
    Aug. 9, 2018

    Energy Lake Campground

    Great family campground.

    Great family campground where you can do anything from camp in a tent to rent a bunkhouse.

    Energy lake is at land between the lakes but you pay for your site at the gate. You can choose a primitive site, a camper site with utilities, or a bunk house with heat and a/c. You can also rent a canoe or a kayak for the day. There is a private beach and great fishing.

    I would recommend energy lake to any type of camper.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground
    Oct. 1, 2016

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    Garden of the Gods

    Primative camping at its best. This is heavily used in the summer and early fall. Picnic tables and fire rings, vault toilets. Go in the off season and you will have plenty of privacy. Fairly level tent sites , some with nice trees for hammocks. Close to Little Grand Canyon, a really neat natural bridge, and Illinois wineries.

  • Brennan M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
    Jul. 26, 2020

    Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    Very RV heavy

    I actually didn't end up camping here because it looked like a rock site. I maybe saw two tents, everyone else in big RV's. If you are doing tent camping I would look elsewhere. I might've missed an area that was more tent friendly but I didn't see it. I would do primitive with a tent probably.

  • Heather M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Hurricane Creek
    Jul. 31, 2020

    Hurricane Creek

    Our favorite local campground

    Our family has been camping here for 20 years now. We love it! Very peaceful and clean. Tent sites are right next to the beach so kids can go back and forth easily. Bathhouse is very clean and kept up. Sites can be on an incline but if you are from here you know that terrain near the lake area is very hilly! If you need a flat site be sure to scope out before hand:) only con for us is having to walk through the rv sites to get to the tent sites. Makes it a little awkward. But the view and atmosphere is worth it. Very good prices as well!

  • Jason W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground
    Apr. 12, 2021

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    Very nice hilltop camp.

    Not big by any means but we'll kept and cozy. Primitive with water and restrooms. Worth the stay for thise wanting a small area and tent camp.

    Plenty of hiking trails with a lot of information about the area. Pretty close to convenience stores for your needs.

  • Chad K.
    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowhead Lake Campground
    Aug. 31, 2016

    Arrowhead Lake Campground

    Average

    We stayed here on our way to St. Louis and found it to be average. The campground was clean and run of the mill. The tent sites were adequate and semi level.

  • Rachel C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs
    Feb. 3, 2021

    Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs

    Good tent camping experience

    We found this little gem at a last minute camping adventure on the way home from out of town.  It was one of our first tent camping experiences.  Nothing fancy, but the pit toilet and water supply worked just fine for us and our kids.  We found some beautiful hiking and water holes.

  • John W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Fern Lake Campground and RV Park
    May. 13, 2022

    Fern Lake Campground and RV Park

    Took me in late

    I called ahead The owner took me in "after hours" walked me to my site and showed me around. Tent camped there, there was room for me- lots of RVs and lots of space for more RVs. Right off the highway, noise was manageable inside my tent- RVs wouldn't hear any highway noise. The showers were clean and had hot water. Had everything I needed

  • Gina J.
    Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
    Jul. 15, 2018

    Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    Great Hiking

    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 “. There was a ton of wildlife though and it was really neat to listen to all the different species throughout the night. Overall the grounds are quite nice.

  • Kirstin A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Little Grassy Lake Campground
    Apr. 30, 2022

    Little Grassy Lake Campground

    Beautiful lake area!

    Great views and lots of waterfront sites. Stayed with family members who have a camper, some sites are on a hill so it makes it difficult to park an RV of camper. Tent sites around too. Lots of boats and fishing.

  • Lori W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Arrowhead Lake Campground
    Sep. 20, 2021

    Arrowhead Lake Campground

    Arrowhead Campground

    Very clean, level sites, large lake with a well maintained walking trail. Lake side sites, wooded sites and regular sites in the middle. Water, 30 and 50 amp, shower house, small laundry facility. Wifi fiber being installed, boat ramp, primitive cabin, tent camping, large childrens playground. Very nice, quiet, clean. We come here often. $25.00/night.

  • B
    Camper-submitted photo from Sugar Bay Campground
    Apr. 13, 2021

    Sugar Bay Campground

    Can’t beat LBL

    We love all the bays and coves at LBL. We prefer less crowed camp areas and that is what sugar bay offers. Right on the water with access to several other things close by. Spots are in the grass and nothing fancy but perfect for us that love to Tent camp and enjoy natural comforts over amenities.

  • Tye K.
    Camper-submitted photo from Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
    Aug. 8, 2020

    Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    Just an easy going stay

    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. Only issue I found at all was firewood is surprisingly difficult to come by.

  • Michael B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Oak Point - Lake Glendale
    Apr. 5, 2022

    Oak Point - Lake Glendale

    Great base for exploring Shawnee NF

    CG offers sites with electric and water and then sites with no hook-ups. The electric/water sites were much better than the “tent” sites. Tent sites were closer together and not very level. The “RV” sites, however, we’re pretty level and well spaced out. We’d recommend sites 20-24 for their lake views. There were two bathroom buildings both with flush toilets and showers. We only used the smaller one. They were pretty clean. CG sold firewood for $4 a bundle or 3 for $10 and 22 lbs ice bags for $5. Staff were friendly. $22/night is a great price though I wish they’d take reservations. We went during Spring Break for a long weekend and CG didn’t fill up, still a bit chilly to camp for some I guess! Roads in the Glendale Recreation area are in need of repair. Trail around the lake was a nice 3mi hike and is easily accessed directly from a number of the sites, including ours. This CG provides a great base to explore the surrounding area’s many natural wonders.

  • Morgan L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Taylor Bay Campground
    May. 31, 2021

    Taylor Bay Campground

    Okay ONLY if it’s not busy!!

    We’ve gone when there was nobody (it was fall and pretty cold) and got to tent camp by the water and LOVED it. We went back on a weekend in June and it was awful. Packed, and RVs were loud and honestly rude. No tent only sites and RVs won’t hesitate to park next to a tent rather than by an RV. Bathroom was stocked but rancid and had no water. The site would be great if it were less busy so scope it out before hand.

  • Taylor W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Canal - Lake Barkley
    Aug. 23, 2020

    Canal - Lake Barkley

    Good campsite for travel stops

    I stopped here on my way back home splitting up a 14 hour drive. The campsite was clean and had a good size. Each campsite has fire pit, tent pad and picnic table.

    The bathrooms were clean. Most of this campsite is for RVs but tent campsite was still nice. However there are tons of golf carts.

  • T
    Camper-submitted photo from Hillman Ferry Campground
    May. 27, 2018

    Hillman Ferry Campground

    family friendl

    we got a tent last year and the same day we hit up Hillmans Ferry. it’s been years since I’ve been camping with my parents and it was fun. so we decided to take the kids and boy was it fun it was quiet where we were located at and next to the water too. it was the end of September the weather was nice and a chance to relax. the campground was very clean cheap to tent camp no power and just a nice experience. the spaces were pretty good size and spread out.

  • Joy H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Giant City State Park Campground
    Oct. 9, 2017

    Giant City State Park Campground

    Great experience!

    Camped here for a weekend and was not disappointed! There are multiple easy to get to "primitive" campsites for tent camping but all are within an easy walk of the outhouse, water hydrant, and parking lot. There are several easy hikes within a short drive to other areas of the park. The park also has a 6 mile hike-in campsite for backpacking and a lot of electrical hookups for RV camping. The trails are over cliffs and through gorgeous boulders.

  • Dusti M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs
    Aug. 20, 2022

    Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs

    Just ok

    Only stayed here for 1 night. Pit toilets were dirty even for pit toilets. Decent primitive sites, not very level though. Good for tent camping or small camper. Unfortunately some other “campers” showed up late in the evening, played music, yelled and partied until around 3am. It seems to be an ongoing problem at that campground. The only plus is the amazing rock formations, good trail system and great little swimming hole. Great place to spend the day and maybe the night if you can sleep though all the commotion.

  • E
    Camper-submitted photo from Hillman Ferry Campground
    Feb. 6, 2020

    Hillman Ferry Campground

    Big Fun on the Lake

    This huge campground has the best tent sites near the water on loop B that aren't reservable, so you'll likely get a good one just showing up on a weeknight in the summer or less busy weekend. The kids had a great time at the beach/swimming area and there's a nice store and not too much traffic for riding bikes. Firewood was dry and reasonably priced. Definitely a favorite family campground at LBL!

  • Debra G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Fern Lake Campground and RV Park
    Jul. 7, 2018

    Fern Lake Campground and RV Park

    Camping Quilter

    Located on the edge of Paducah, Kentucky this is the perfect place to stay if you are going to the quilt shows or visiting the National Quilt Museum. Supplies are just walking distance away and there is a good 24 hour restaurant across the street.

    There are shady pull through sites with full hook ups or tent sites. There is a small stocked lake to fish in. The bathrooms are clean, as is the entire well maintained park.


Guide to Golconda

Tent camping near Golconda, Illinois, offers a serene escape into nature, with various campgrounds providing unique amenities and activities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $30

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Local attractions to explore while tent camping

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Golconda, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Golconda, IL is Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 16 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Golconda, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.