Best Tent Camping near Inverness, IL
Tent campsites near Inverness, Illinois include several secluded options for primitive camping experiences. MacQueen Forest Preserve stands out as a former Boy Scout camp offering eight widely spaced tent sites set at least 50 yards apart, providing exceptional privacy. The preserve features both forested sites and open meadow areas suitable for stargazing, with walk-in access required for most campsites.
Campers at MacQueen Forest Preserve must be prepared for primitive conditions, as the sites feature only basic amenities including fire pits and picnic tables. Water pumps are available but not potable, requiring visitors to bring their own drinking water. Access requires walking along gravel paths or mowed trails, with a wagon and dolly available to transport gear. The $4 per night fee is collected via self-registration at a pay box in the parking lot. Sites are first-come, first-served with no advance reservations available. Other options like Channahon State Park Campground offer walk-in tent sites with vault toilets and proximity to the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail.
The tent camping experience around Inverness provides opportunities for genuine seclusion, particularly at MacQueen Forest Preserve where sites are spread far apart in both wooded and open settings. The preserve includes access to hiking trails through surrounding forest areas and proximity to the Kishwaukee River for fishing or tubing opportunities. Sites vary from fully forested (#1, #2, and #8) to open meadow settings, with site #8 offering river views. Overnight tent campers should be prepared for occasional train noise, as tracks run near the preserve. A recent review noted, "This is one of those places that's so awesome, you really don't want to tell people about it... You can't see the campsite next to you, and they all have a picnic table and a fire ring."
