Best Tent Camping near Gridley, IL

Recent Tent Reviews near Gridley, IL

433 Reviews of 8 Gridley Campgrounds

• J

  Julie N.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 22, 2024

  Millpoint Park

  Beautiful and spacious!

  Met up with family to fit in one last night of tent camping for the year. They didn’t really take reservations and the pricing shifted on us (quoted $75 for 6 adults 4 kids over email, then $10 per person when we actually showed up) so that was a bit weird but I’m not too concerned bc it was still a great deal. This is basic campground—flush toilets/showers and 3 cabins available but no other amenities unless you include water/electric hookups. I couldnt tell where the primitive tent sites were bc the map online doesn’t quite line up with what we saw there. You’d come here to relax around the fire, play some outdoor games, maybe do a little walking, and that’s about it. It was just what we were looking for. Some people looked like they were going to try to fish but the water in the fishing area was low which makes me wonder if it gets really buggy in the summer. We were on 2 huge pull-thru sites with just our 2 tents and we were the only tent campers I saw—maybe 1/3 of other sites had RVs. Some seemed to be permanent so not sure if that is common? Views of the river were great, kindling was plentiful, and it was SO QUIET and peaceful at night! I usually don’t sleep the first night of camping because my brain has to tune in to the new noises but we got some good rest even with temps dipping down to 45. Would love to come back in the summer for longer.

• 

  James M.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 30, 2018

  Carl Spindler Campground

  Smaller campground on Illinois River, IL

  Stayed with daughter in tent site right on shore of Illinois River. Has marina adjacent, showers, host, and laundry. Inexpensive tent sites with access for fishing, paddling, wildlife and sunset viewing.

• 

  Kathie M.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 20, 2020

  Comlara County Park

  Nice county campground

  Camped here twice-once tent and once in new camper. Well kept campground. Nice lake-good fishing. RV sites fairly close together with not many/any trees for privacy. Tent sites a bit more spread apart however all traffic from campground routes by tent sites due to one way traffic. There are more hike in tent sites that would provide more rustic experience.

• 

  Kim N.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 17, 2018

  Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

  Great Hiking

  Tent-camped here with my husband and dog and loved it! Great site, very clean, very peaceful!

• 

  Beau C.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 8, 2023

  Hickory Lane Campground

  👍

  Small. Quiet. Pretty. Two small lakes with fountains. You can hear the fountains at night, it's nice. Excellent price for tent camping.

• 

  Kim M.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 15, 2018

  Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park

  Camping on the riverside

  Located right on the river. There are many tent sites available and at a great price. The bathrooms located near the electrical sites have showers and running water. The bathrooms that are in the tent site only area are more like port-o-potty style. So in the heat of summer there are a lot of flies and you should have something to wash your hands ie no running water. I’d stay there again and the hosts were very sweet.

• A

  Austin and Natasha S.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 17, 2021

  Jubilee College State Park Campground

  Regular camper…

  We typically tent camp here, but have car camped in one of the RV spots. Staff is always great, and facilities are clean. Hikes are always fun too!

• 

  Tony G.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 23, 2022

  Lasalle/Peru KOA

  This is no longer a koa

  It's now called nature's way campground, it's quite nice,they have several cabins,tent sites, and nice pull thru rv sites.

• L

  Layla R.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 5, 2022

  Livingston County 4-H Campground

  Great Place!

  We tent camped for one night the weekend of Independence Day. Very quiet campground. Clean and spacious camping areas with a nice bathroom and multiple shower stalls. Bring firewood with you. We plan to stop again on our next road trip!

• 

  Mike P.

  Scout

  

  May. 13, 2020

  Condits Ranch

  Family friendly. Great getaway.

  Condit’s Ranch is family friendly and away from it all. Sue and the staff could not be nicer. We did tent camping and the setup was perfect. Huge lot. Fire pit and electric. 

  The small fishing pond, the swimming hole and the clubhouse were great to mix in to keep the youngsters entertained.

• 

  Priscilla J.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 1, 2021

  Weldon Springs State Park Campground

  Loved the Hike-in Sites

  We came on Memorial Day weekend so the campground was very full. It didn't feel too crowded though except when playing on the playground there were lots of kids and its not a very big play area. But it was fun for the kids to play with other kids. 

  While I wish the tent are and comfort station were closer to one another, the walk really wasn't all that bad from our campsite. I loved that the tent sites (especially as you go further back (like to sites 6-10 probably) just had a secluded woodsy feeling to them. I loved how convenient our site was though being right by our car and the road to the restrooms. 

  Some of the tent sites are close together with some having a little more seclusion. There are a  lot of trees and plants with it being in the woods so this does help. But with the trail running right down the middle that cuts out a little of your privacy. But the seclusion is definitely better than the RV sites that we saw in the main big loop of the campground. 

  We walked a couple trails and they were lots of fun for us and the kids/dogs. 

  There is a STRICT no alcohol rule in the tent sites. A sign said coolers are subject to inspection, but from our experience and the vibe of the place, I don't see this really being an issue unless your group gets kind of rowdy ;) 

  All in all a great experience.

• 

  Sara W.

  Scout

  

  May. 27, 2018

  Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

  Great as campgrounds go!

  Our family has been camping here for years. Starved Rock State Park and nearby Matthiessen State Park offer beautiful hiking, canyons, and waterfalls along the Illinois Michigan River.

  Regarding the campground: There are several options for tent camping, RVing and trailers. I definitely recommend making reservations in advance as it tends to fill up quick!

  Showers and toilets are… well… camping showers and toilets… nothing special but do the job.

  There is a small town close by with lovely little cafes, shops, and gas station.

  There is also a Grizzly Jacks Grand Bear Resort that has an indoor water park and amusement park.

• 

  Ben E.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 12, 2022

  Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park

  Inexpensive stop along I-80

  Stopped into Illini State Park on a Saturday night and was pleased to see plenty of spots open to roll into. Primitive tent sites were plentiful in the woods, and some RV sites along the water were open as well. It wasn’t the best park in the world, but for $10, it was a fine place to stop.

• 

  Ashley C.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 31, 2021

  Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

  Clean and Quiet

  I got here after dark and paid for a walk-up reservation. They don’t differentiate tent and RV sites, so I picked one that looked like it wouldn’t be near other RVs since I’m tent camping. Registration was easy although a bit confusing about credit card options. Everyone was quiet and the bathrooms were clean.

  A dog ran up to my tent and scared the crap out of me at like 11pm, but he quickly apologized. I’m not sure if he was unleashed or on a long leash, but there were a lot of dogs.

• J

  Joe K.

  Guide

  

  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.

• 

  Amanda W.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 17, 2018

  Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

  Amazing hiking

  Starved rock has so much to offer. trails that lead to caves, waterfalls, lakes and beautiful scenery all around. great for kids too. I have a two and 10 year old and they both do great on all the trails. the campground is pretty but a typical Midwest campground. Some spots are more secluded than others. Some are wooded others are open. Clean bathrooms, RV and tent camping. Firepits. close to the park so you can get up and hike!

• B

  B S.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 22, 2022

  Moraine View State Recreational Area

  Overnight stay only

  First stop on a cross county trip. We were directed to Catfish Bay for tent camping. It was lightly drizzling and on an overcast day most of the tree-covered campsites were dark. There are some nice sites right on the water (be prepared to walk your gear in from parking lot). Site #21 was private, with more open sky and a shorter walk to parking/outhouse. The outhouse was in really rough shape--looked like it hadn't been swept out or hosed down for awhile. Won't be back.

• 

  Barry G.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 13, 2022

  Comlara County Park

  Great hidden gem

  What a great little hidden gem.  I don't get the four star reviews.   I have stayed a lots of campgrounds in my years, if you are tent camping or even Pop-Up or RV it is a five star for sure.  If you are a big RV'r looking for cement pads, this is not the place for you, but for what it is, it is a five in my book.    Facilities are very clean and the park is kept very clean.   Fishing, boating, hiking, biking, camping.   Enjoyed it completely.  Maybe on the high side price wise, but loved it anyway.

• C

  Chris S.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 29, 2019

  Lasalle/Peru KOA

  Just what we needed after a day on the road

  Beautiful spot for our single overnight. Staff were great; friendly and helpful. Park was well kept, with lots of green around RV and tent sites. Nice pool, dog park, store, and even a stream system that wanders through the park (no swimming in the stream). Also close to Starved Rock State Park for some neat scenery and hiking. The only downside side is that some of the RV sites are a little close together - didn’t impact our stay though. Two thumbs up! :)

• B

  Bea

  Guide

  

  May. 17, 2022

  Glenwood RV Resort

  Good and Bad

  We stayed here for several months while working in the area. We chose it because they have “winter water”, which was great to have. Most of this large campground is for seasonal membership campers so we were in the East area with other traveling workers and vacationers. There is a reasonable amount of space between sites, and large grassy areas for tent camping. What we didn’t like is the powdery gravel sites (muddy when wet) that were not very level, and the long road in is very rough. We did make it okay with our big 5th wheel - no overhead branches etc.

• 

  Alan F.

  Traveler

  

  May. 11, 2023

  Starved Rock Family Campground

  Solid camping close to the state parks

  Staff were great and the campground layout was solid. We stayed at one of the primitive tent sites which had a sense of privacy. Shower house was cleaner and nicer than some and the addition of a port-a-potty closer to the sites was nice.

  Unfortunately, our site wasn’t level which made tent placement interesting. It wasn’t bad enough to request a change, but if we’d stay there longer we’d definitely move.

  Lastly, the fire pits are not the typical metal rings with grates. They were nice, but we had to adjust a little to cook.

• 

  Ranko K.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 13, 2020

  Millpoint Park

  Quiet; Deep Shade by the River

  If you’re looking to stay close to Peoria and enjoy beautiful sunsets and the water this place has it. Big trees, deep shade and it’s right on the Peoria Lake on the Illinois River. The place could use some TLC but the owner is super nice and the the location and shaded spots are well worth it. Took my son out fishing and had him practice casting! He is 4. If you’re looking to escape, be in nature, close to the water with nice sites, this place is it. If you’re looking for super clean and lots of amenities this is not it. Most sites are full hook up with some that are for tent camping. Plenty of room and easy to get a site. Our family enjoyed a little time in the breeze and shade by the river away from the scorching summer heat! We really loved our site!

• 

  Ryan M.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 18, 2020

  Moraine View State Recreational Area

  Different areas of campsites vary widely

  We went here with a group of tent campers sight unseen, so that’s always rolling the dice. We stayed until the main part where you could reserve online through reserve America. Would not recommend that area to anyone. Sites are right on top of each other in every direction. Not sure who would seek this out or agree to it after seeing it.

  Upon finding the rustic tent sites, we’d wished we’d known about that area before going. Those were still a little close together but were at least wooded and you could walk from your car.

  The dispersed camping sites were the closest to what I’d been used to coming from New Hampshire, but it was more of a hike than I would be looking for.

• 

  Amanda W.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 17, 2018

  Pleasant Creek Campground

  Nice Campground

  This campground is nice, but not our favorite. It’s really expensive. Most sites have no privacy at all. the kids loved going to the playground and they do have an arcade but other that that there’s not much to do. A little creek runs through the campground and you can walk along that. They sell firewood and the bathrooms are really nice. The staff is also very nice and live on site so are there to help whenever you need. RV and tent sites. fire pit and picnic table provided. Close to the state parks where they have tons of amazing hiking. Overall good campground just a little expensive.

• 

  Annie C.

  Legend

  

  May. 1, 2019

  Pleasant Creek Campground

  Illinois Berkshire Feel

  This is an amazing full service type private campground. Everything you could want is here: there is a creek with tent sites along it, there are RV sites with full hookups, there are cute little cabins, and there are even yurts! There is a general store where you check in, and if you get there after it closes, they leave directions on the door for reserved sites and info on how to get a non reserved site. There is a nice pavilion, a game room/club house, basketball court, fishing pond, firewood for sale, and a few short trails. I felt like I was in the Berkshires instead of northern Illinois since most of the buildings down by the creek were whitewashed with green trim. Even though sites are close together, it still felt a bit private at the tent only sites on the creek. Up top it was more open with kids running around and playing everywhere. The rates are somewhat pricey ($28 for primitive sites), but include showers in the super clean (looks brand new!) bath house.

• 

  Kathie M.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 7, 2023

  Comlara County Park

  Nice county campground

  County campground with good rates. Nice no wake lake for fishing, kayaking. 4 RV sites with lake view, 2-3 tent sites with view. A lot of sites in wide open areas with few trees and privacy. Fire pits need work-many sinking. Shower house adequate but nothing to rave about. In general area nice picnic pavilions and play area. Firewood and ice for sale. Could use more than a single dump station-I waited in line for 1.5 hours during the week. Site 16 during heavy rain becomes a river of mud. They give discounts for longer stays, veterans and county residents. Site 30 level and with shade tree. On cul-de-sac so less traffic. Backs up to pond.

• 

  William S.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 11, 2021

  Whitetail Campground — Illini State Park

  Fall is here

  And about an hour and a half from central Chicago is Illini State Park, a comfortable slice of wilderness. Offering RV sites with electric and water hook-ups, as well as drive-in tent camping, the camp portion is divided into two different areas, with the Whitetail partially abutting a lock and dam. Each individual site features at least one picnic table and iron grill (fires only allowed in the grill)

  For $10 a night I got a semi-secluded spot for my tent (the RV sites by the Army Corp of Engineers lock and dam was much more crowded), and for $6 a bundle at the nearby ice cream store I got firewood. 

  After reserving the site with the camp host (cash or check only) and picking up my wood (cash or card), I settled in for the night, enjoying the beginning of fall, which lots of color on the ground, the cicadas singing their last, and squads of migrating geese bedding down for the night. Also a little traffic noise from the nearby highway, but c'est la vie.