Best Tent Camping near Herod, IL

The Shawnee National Forest area surrounding Herod, Illinois offers tent campers a range of primitive sites nestled among rugged terrain and forested landscapes. Camp Cadiz Campground provides tent campsites with stone fireplaces, while sites at Tower Rock Campground offer riverside camping with views of the Ohio River. Backpack Campground at Ferne Clyffe State Park presents tent-only sites accessible via hiking trails, designed specifically for backcountry tent campers seeking more solitude.

Most tent campgrounds feature basic amenities with fire rings or cooking grates, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Surface types vary from compacted gravel to natural forest floor, with minimal site grading. Tent campers at Camp Cadiz and Tower Rock have access to drinking water via spigots or pumps, while primitive backcountry sites typically require campers to carry in their own water. According to one visitor, "Camp Cadiz has potable water from a spigot and lots of kindling around to get fires going." Most campgrounds enforce 14-day stay limits, though enforcement varies across locations. Seasonal closures affect some areas, particularly Tower Rock Campground which operates from May through mid-December and may close during Ohio River flooding.

Tent sites throughout the Shawnee region offer varying levels of seclusion and privacy. Areas farther from main roads provide deeper seclusion, particularly at walk-in tent sites. A camper noted that Camp Cadiz "is a very cool little basic campground with two stone fireplaces and several other sites with shade." Sites at Tower Rock Campground provide direct access to both river activities and hiking opportunities, while Backpack Campground connects to numerous trails within Ferne Clyffe State Park. Turkey Ridge offers tent campers spacious sites with convenient access to hiking trails featuring limestone bluffs and waterfalls. Tent campers frequently mention the abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly at night when various species become active. Weekday camping typically ensures greater solitude, while holiday weekends see increased activity at most tent campgrounds in the region.

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Best Tent Sites Near Herod, Illinois (21)

    1. Camp Cadiz Campground

    6 Reviews
    Karbers Ridge, IL
    11 miles
    Website

    "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. "

    "There was potable water from a spigot and lots of kindling around to get fires going. No showers. Over all a nice site. I would stay there again."

    2. Saline County State Conservation Area

    2 Reviews
    Equality, IL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 276-4405

    $8 / night

    "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."

    3. Tower Rock Campground

    6 Reviews
    Cave-In-Rock, IL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    "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. "

    4. Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    16 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    $18 / night

    "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."

    5. Dutchman Lake Camp

    3 Reviews
    Buncombe, IL
    27 miles

    "Beautiful spot with easy access and not far off the highway"

    6. Buck Ridge - Lake Of Egypt

    2 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 658-2111

    "Lake Egypt so peaceful and relaxing ."

    7. Buck Ridge Campground

    2 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 253-7114

    8. Camp Ondessonk

    Be the first to review!
    Ozark, IL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 695-2489

    $6 - $16 / night

    9. Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    3 Reviews
    Goreville, IL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 995-2411

    "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."

    10. Lake Mauzy East

    3 Reviews
    Morganfield, KY
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (270) 389-3580

    "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."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Herod, IL

699 Reviews of 21 Herod Campgrounds


  • S
    Oct. 7, 2020

    Giant City State Park Campground

    No privacy at tent camp, hike amazing!

    So first of all- I think it’s fair to state before I leave a review that my husband and I prefer primitive and private camping. The fewer people we see while we’re out, the better. We live in a city so when we camp, we want the opposite. If you enjoy RV camping or don’t mind not so Private spots, this is a decent spot to spend the night. If you like primitive/private camping- il fill you in below!

    We do tent camping and Saw there were walk-in sites and hike in sites at this campground. Usually walk-in sites are pretty private and dispersed well - atleast where we’ve been before. The 14 “primitive” camping sites were right next to eachothwr with little to no privacy at all. Good tree cover for shade but otherwise you’re basically setting up your tent and area in an open field. That was a little disappointing to us because it wasn’t what we thought we would find. The RV spots also seem super close together but again- we like things spread out so maybe it would be an OK place for some.

    The vault toilets near the tent sites were...as clean as vault toilets get! And we did not use tje shower facilities so can’t speak on that.

    If we had been just the 2 of us, we would’ve hiked in to do our camping along one of the hiking paths but we were meeting two other friends and were unsure if they would want to hike miles to a spot so we opted for the tent spots just after the RV campground. If you want more privacy for an evening of camping, you’ll need to come with your gear packed up decently enough to hike it out atleast a mile onto the trails. There is camping allowed along the trails as long as you are 100 ft from the trail so that was an option, but in certain spots along the trail it’s challenging to find a clearing (hammocks would be great along the trail). There is also an official primitive camping site halfway through the 12 mile loop of the Red Ceder Trail. We day hiked almost the whole loop but made a Weird little detour so we didn’t get to check these spots out.

    We were hoping to find a campsite that- as get as difficulty of accessibility level- was in between a 6 mile hike and the tent spots in the field but there isn’t any official spot like that even tho there’s tons of space and potential for it. Rant over about the campground. Let’s talk about the hiking! The hiking was truly awesome and felt like it balanced out my disappointment with the campground. Doing the whole 12 mile loop of tje Red Cedar Trail was a challenge for us! We really enjoyed it. In some spots, the trail markers are a little confusing, but overall it’s decently marked and the map is somewhat helpful just to kindve know vaguely where you are. The 2nd day, we went back and did about half rhe loop and also checked out the more popular section of the trails back there that include Giant City Nature Trail, Devils Stand Table, and a few others. Very cool rock formations. Pretty busy in the weekend over there but the test of the trails away from that area with those big landmarks was completely deserted and there are some super cool rock formations not on the map at all.

    Over all, this was a fun 4 days. We would return and plan on hiking out into the trails to camp for our evenings. If you like privacy around your campfire at night, I can’t recommend the campground.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 13, 2020

    Redbud Campground at Bell Smith Springs

    Fun swimming holes and good hiking

    21 campsites with a fire ring/barrel, lantern post and picnic table. A couple of the campsites had damaged fire rings. Most sites should be able to fit medium size trailers, other sites have trees in the way. Vault toilets and a water station. Very quiet, clean and peaceful. Trail system is about 8 miles and has great views. Don’t forget to bring your swimming suit!

  • Richy R.
    Apr. 2, 2025

    Lake Mauzy East

    Harris-Dickerson WMA (Free) – A Hidden Gem on the Lake!

    This is an amazing spot for free camping! 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. Despite its remote feel, Walmart is just a 12-minute drive away for any last-minute supplies. We would have loved to stay longer, but incoming storms cut our trip short. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and scenic getaway! No electricity or showers!

  • Abby M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 29, 2020

    Cravens Bay Campground

    Secluded and beautiful

    Arrived on a late Saturday afternoon expecting other campers, and not a single one! Stayed two nights right on the water. All spots have fire rings and concrete picnic tables. No host, I assume, during winter hours. All spots are clean looking and $12/night. You pay at the pay station and no permit required for this camping site. Be sure to pay, had a ranger swing by Sunday morning to confirm our stub #. Did have some hunters driving by daily, heading further back along the lake but no other campers. Lots of down wood to use for fires. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip, no close towns for restock. Has very clean vault toilets and a water pump, but unknown if potable or not. Cell service varies between 2-3 LTE for AT&T. Cold winter nights but boy, that sunset is beautiful. Would definitely stay here again!

  • Joel H.
    Sep. 25, 2020

    Nickell Branch Campground

    Great time

    Nickell is the northernmost campground in LBL. It is a self-service campground with 11 designated sites. The access road FR-102 is gravel and in pretty good shape aside from some large potholes. There is a large loop with a big open grassy area once you get to the pay station. From there, 3 short offshoots A, B & C - A is the boat ramp area and site #1; B is where the single vault toilet is located and sites #2 & #3; C loop has the remaining sites #4 - #8 which are for small to medium RVs, and sites #9 - #11 are grass tent sites. There are picnic tables and very nice fire rings at each site. Besides the toilet, boat ramp, and a new dumpster, those are the only amenities.

    The 11-mile Canal Loop Trail crosses the road just before the pay station for hiking and biking (it connects to the North-South Trail). The campground is near the Barkley Canal that connects the two lakes making for lots of boating and paddling options. The North Welcome Center has fresh water and a dump station just a few miles away.

    The cell reception is great - I got download speeds of 18-34 Mbps. Also, several OTA TV channels. These sites are all situated in the woods near the water so none are particularly good for solar. But otherwise, for the price this is pretty sweet dry camping.

  • Lane M.
    Jun. 6, 2019

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    Great little spot!

    This camping spot is just down the road from Southern IL’s Garden Of the Gods. There were 12 camping areas. Plenty of room and trees for tents and hammocks. Also, there is a good amount of shade so if you tent in the right spot you don’t wake up roasting from the sun. The campsites have a lot of room so your neighbors don’t seem like they are on top of your site. The spots include a picnic table, hanging poles for trash or lantern, and a fire pit with movable built-in grill. The area is very wooded so unless the ground is wet you can find lots of firewood. There is a drinking water pump at the entrance of the campsite but it’s pretty chlorinated. There is no shower or running water and the toilets are pit style; but there are toilets. I don’t know if other sites had this but ours had 2 trails leading right out of the woods. Great for close to home hiking.

    P.S. Beware of tailless raccoon at site 12 that likes to steal Doritos.

  • Staci R.
    Jul. 29, 2017

    Smith Bay Campground

    Back Country hideaway primarily for lake access

    Land Between the Lakes tends to be very back country, there is very often not any cell service, and you have to travel at least 20 miles to a small town if you need anything (but every small town in western Kentucky has a Dollar General!) so you need to pack in everything you need, to include drinking, cooking and cleaning water. Smith Bay is very primitive, with a vault ("pit") toilet and a boat ramp readily available. Smith Bay is popular for tent camping and often used for launching small water craft like kayaks. It is accessable by paved road with the camp ground roads being gravel and compacted rock, making it available to small RVs and campers too. The campground slots run the perimeter of the area, and are spaced far enough apart to give privacy without being too far from the water front. Some areas are wooded and well shaded, others are in direct sun without shade. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring, are first come first serve, and require a back country camping pass (available at either LBL Welcome Station or Corps of Engineers campground) or you may pay a daily fee.

  • W
    Aug. 20, 2022

    Cravens Bay Campground

    Fun Night

    Chose Cravens Bay over some of the others in the area because of the on site water and a flushing toilet. We live about an hour away and got a later start than I wanted. Arrived at about 5pm and talked with the Resident Attendant who let us go set up and ended up coming to us so we could pay and fill out the envelope. The site we chose (19) had a path shared with the next site over both of which were just on the other side of the gravel road from the lake. Plenty of fire wood to gather and a clean concrete picnic table. The fire pit was full of trash so we had to clean that out. Besides the gravel there’s no other place to set up a tent make sure to have a heavy tarp. The gravel road had a couple truck go by pulling boats and a ranger went by as the sun was going down. We let the kids run free and kept our German Shepard on a lead. It was completely quiet all night minus the skunk that got in the trash. Clean up was easy on the way out we hit the dumpster. Will definitely be back again.


Guide to Herod

Tent camping near Herod, Illinois offers a blend of serene landscapes and outdoor adventures, perfect for nature enthusiasts looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy the scenic views and tranquility at Tower Rock Campground, where you can hike to the historic Tower Rock overlooking the Ohio River.
  • Experience the peacefulness of Camp Cadiz Campground, which is surrounded by beautiful hiking trails and offers a remote camping experience.
  • Explore the picturesque landscapes at Saline County State Conservation Area, where you can fish and enjoy various water activities right from your campsite.

Amenities that enhance your camping experience

Tent campers should check out local attractions

  • Visit the stunning Garden of the Gods, just a short drive from Camp Cadiz Campground, where breathtaking rock formations and hiking trails await.
  • Take a ferry ride across the Ohio River near Tower Rock Campground for a unique experience and beautiful views of the surrounding area.
  • Explore the hiking trails at Ferne Clyffe State Park, known for its limestone bluffs and waterfalls, ideal for both hiking and rock climbing enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Herod, IL is Camp Cadiz Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Herod, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.