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Best Tent Camping near Joliet, IL

482 Reviews

State parks and forest preserves surrounding Joliet, Illinois offer several tent-only camping options along waterways and wooded areas. McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove provides walk-in tent sites with access to the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail, while Channahon State Park Campground features tent sites surrounded by trees just a short walk from parking areas. The Illinois and Michigan Canal Backpack Camp in Joliet offers primitive tent camping for hikers, and Kayak Morris in nearby Morris provides riverfront tent campsites with water access for paddlers. These locations combine natural settings with varying levels of amenities for tent campers seeking outdoor experiences within 30 miles of Joliet.

Most tent campgrounds in the area require walk-in access, with parking typically located 100 yards or less from campsites. McKinley Woods features four widely-spaced sites, two with ADA-accessible concrete pads. Vault toilets or portable facilities are standard at most locations, though Buffalo Rock State Park's sites lack restrooms. Fire rings are provided at most campgrounds, with firewood available for purchase at some locations or gathering permitted at others. Water sources vary significantly, from drinking fountains to hand pumps producing cloudy but potable water. Park closing times can be restrictive, with McKinley Woods closing at 8 PM in summer and earlier in other seasons. Seasonal flooding can affect low-lying sites, particularly after heavy rain.

Tent campers frequently use these locations as bases for exploring the extensive trail networks. According to reviews, Channahon State Park is "a nice, shady place to stop along the I & M Canal Trail" and particularly convenient for cyclists. At McKinley Woods, sites are described as "far apart" with site #1 being "the shadiest and most secluded but uneven." Primitive tent camping at Buffalo Rock State Park offers exceptional privacy, with one visitor noting, "If you're looking for privacy this is it." Wildlife viewing opportunities include owls at night, though early risers should be prepared for motorboat noise beginning around 6 AM at some riverfront locations. Kayak Morris allows campers to launch directly from their tent sites, creating an integrated paddling and backcountry tent camping experience.

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Best Tent Sites Near Joliet, Illinois (13)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Joliet, IL

28 Photos of 13 Joliet Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Joliet, IL

482 Reviews of 13 Joliet 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.

  • Kim L.
    Sep. 2, 2019

    Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    Convenient campground for nearby hiking

    The campground is pretty basic. For $25-35 per night, you can get a site with electrical hookup. The east loop has better tree coverage and more privacy. The west loop has more site in a large open space, maybe better for groups. I give 3 stars because there is not much to do at the campground itself. You have to get in your car and drive to any hiking at Starved Rock State park, just 10 min away, and battle the crowds for parking. The campground has just 2 real bathrooms, one for each loop. Each has 2 flush toilets and 2 showers. Showers were pretty rough, no temp control and spraying everywhere but your body. Some portapotties are scattered around, but pretty ripe by the end of August. Use the woods. There are 2 small playgrounds, but one is just a swing set. So if you have kiddos, there is not much for them to entertain themselves with at the campground- no hiking trails, no pond or fishing or swimming, no DNR programs, etc. Park has posted signed that there is ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL allowed, so keep it private and quiet. that being said, the hiking in the general area is awesome!!! Lots of canyons, bluffs, and overlooks. Just be prepared to drive. A very basic “store” open after 3pm, just had fire starters, marshmallows, bug spray, ice cream, and pop. Some little souvenirs. No milk or eggs. For a 30 ft travel trailer, our campsite has just enough room for our slide out and awning. The fire pit was well placed and had a grate for cooking. Electrical was confusing- our site was listed at 50A only. It really was 50/30/20A(see pictures). Easy to back in to, mostly level site for quick set up. Our campsite, 85, had nice shade and lots of trees. You can see and hear your neighbors but there is decent separation. We had space to hang a hammock and have a fire, with a full picnic table as well. There are a few sites for fresh water fill, and a dump station. Took about 45 min for us to dump being 5th in line at 10:30am. Book early- reservations open online 6 months in advance and book up quickly. Most summer weekends are completely full. Spring and fall camping is great here- waterfalls are rain fed and often dry in summer. Sites 96 and 97 would be my picks if I could choose: both are private and have large camping pad areas. Avoid the sites by water spouts and roads, there is no privacy when everyone is cutting through your site! Overall, a basic campground with what you need for camping, no frills, no activities or recreation, but close to the hiking at Starved Rock State Park about 10 min away by car. Biking nearby would be an extreme sport, the roads are very narrow with extreme drop offs and no shoulder. Not for kids.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2019

    Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    Great Privacy in Great Park

    I set up in site 110 for the night at this nicely wooded campground. My site was very private, set back in the trees and very clean. I had large and small trees and underbrush making it impossible to see the site next to me in one direction, and no one occupying the site on the other side. With the car in the drive blocking the road, I had complete privacy. There was a short walk to porta potties and a nice walk to the modern, clean bath house. The site had the usual picnic table and fire pit and plenty of space to put my tent. There were some sites that sat in a meadow that completely lacked privacy, but with tons of space for kids to play. There is a camp store near the entrance to the campground, but I didn’t go in so I’m not sure what it’s stocked with (besides the ice in the cooler outside). Campers who like to imbibe beware: NO alcohol is permitted at this campground. There are some GREAT trails for hiking in the park, but be prepared for lots of stairs on the boardwalks that take you in and out of the canyons/ravines. I didn’t hike up to the actual “Starved Rock”, but you can observe it from the river bank.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 27, 2021

    Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    Beautiful Popular Park

    This park is popular, has plenty of space, though can use updates and better Leave No Trace practices (litter). During our time, park and cg was busy, full at times. Hiking was great with geological aspects. Has Lodge, CG store, lots of history.

  • Hatie P.
    Jan. 8, 2018

    Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    Beautiful but busy!

    I've been to this lovely campsite three times - once in the fall and twice during different summers. The campground and park are packed during the late fall as everyone around comes to see the colors. Find a campsite that's a little ways away from others if you want a more private experience - they're very close together but you can find ones with better tree cover.

    Starved Rock is great because you can walk a mile or two in a loop or do the full "mega hike" which is 13.4 miles through 18 canyons. The park features lots of elevation with many sets of stairs so make sure you bring water, sunscreen and snacks.

Guide to Joliet

Tent campsites near Joliet, Illinois sit within the prairie and woodland ecosystems of northeastern Illinois, where the landscape features gentle hills and river valleys with elevations ranging from 500-650 feet. The camping season typically runs April through October, with July temperatures averaging 84°F and potential for thunderstorms during summer months. Winter camping remains limited with most facilities closing after the first frost.

What to do

Fishing at multiple rivers: The confluence of waterways near Kayak Morris creates excellent fishing 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 camper Sam Murphy M.

Paddling the canal system: The Illinois and Michigan Canal offers a unique paddling experience through historic waterways. At Kayak Starved Rock Campground, "The calm, clear water is suitable for both beginners and experienced kayakers. There's something deeply therapeutic about paddling along the tranquil water, surrounded by the raw beauty of nature," according to Tracy E.

Cycling the towpath: The crushed gravel trail along the historic canal provides excellent cycling opportunities through natural areas. Art S. notes that Channahon State Park Campground is "perfect for cyclists along the canal trail... It's a nice stopping distance if you are riding from Chicago to Starved Rock."

What campers like

Easy water access: Many campsites allow direct launching from your site. Amanda W. describes Kayak Morris: "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."

Scenic riverfront views: Camp Shabbona Woods and other nearby campgrounds offer views of waterways despite urban proximity. "Definitely felt the urban community close by with ambulances and firetrucks noises in the background. They close the gates after 10pm was weird but overall ok," writes Jeffrey L.

Wildlife observation: Early mornings provide opportunities to spot river wildlife. "Morning breakfast after the glampout night provided by the staff, good food and quite environment," shares Eric R. about his experience at Kayak Morris, highlighting the peaceful morning atmosphere.

What you should know

Seasonal closures and restrictions: Many parks have limited hours, especially in non-summer months. Brian O. warns about McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove: "The park closes early, 8PM in summer, and earlier still off season. Check the fine print on your reservation!"

Flooding concerns: Low-lying sites near rivers frequently flood after rain. Rita S. reports: "I'm from out of town and was unaware of the campsites lay out and relied on the information given by the forest preserve. Nothing was mentioned about this site being a flood zone... Our site was flooded once we woke up. We had three inches up the the fire pit."

Toilet facilities vary widely: From portable units to vault toilets, facilities differ between sites. Brian O. notes at McKinley Woods: "Water is available by an old fashioned pump, and is drinkable, but cloudy. There's only one pit toilet."

Tips for camping with families

Reserve early for weekend stays: Popular sites fill quickly, especially those with water access. At Kayak Starved Rock Campground, Eric R. advises, "25 sites to choose from, they fill up fast on weekends so plan to make reservations early."

Consider distance from parking: Most tent sites require some walking from parking areas. Scott M. mentions that Camp Shabbona Woods "is set up very well for first time campers or new people interested in trying out camping. The campgrounds do not have a lot of shade as new saplings are still growing."

Plan for variable shade conditions: Tree cover varies significantly between campgrounds. Brian O. explains at McKinley Woods: "site #1 is the shadiest and most secluded but uneven. #2 is wide open and in the sun, #3 & 4 are shady and paved."

Tips from RVers

Limited options for larger vehicles: Most campgrounds near Joliet focus on tent camping with few RV accommodations. At Mac Finn's Landing, Raven Rock S. notes it's "one of the best no wake zones and fishing banks on the Kankakee River" but RV facilities are minimal.

Consider accessibility needs: Some campgrounds offer concrete pads for improved accessibility. Scott N. describes McKinley Woods: "In McKinley Woods proper there is a large camping area and two of the sites have concrete pads for ADA accessibility."

Check water and electric availability: Most tent campsites near Joliet lack hookups. Jeffrey L. points out at Camp Shabbona Woods: "No electric or water hook ups can't keep your vehicle close to your campsite. The good the bathroom are in good shape and the staff was friendly."

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time for tent camping in the Joliet area?

Late spring through early fall (May-September) offers the best conditions for tent camping near Joliet, with summer being peak season. Channahon State Park Campground is ideal for warm-weather camping, providing accessibility via both car and bicycle along the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail. For those seeking fewer crowds, consider camping in May or September when temperatures remain pleasant but campgrounds like McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove are less busy. Always check weather forecasts before your trip, as Illinois summers can occasionally bring thunderstorms and humidity.

Where are the best tent camping sites in Joliet, IL?

Camp Shabbona Woods offers a welcoming environment for tent campers, particularly those new to camping, with well-designed sites despite some urban background noise. The gates close at 10pm, so plan arrivals accordingly. For those seeking a more natural experience, Kayak Morris provides spacious tent sites with the bonus of being able to launch kayaks directly from your campsite. The Illinois and Michigan Canal also offers tent camping opportunities with convenient access to the trail system, making it perfect for bicycle tourists or hikers looking for a more secluded experience.

What amenities are available at tent campgrounds near Joliet?

Tent campgrounds near Joliet offer varying levels of amenities. Buffalo Rock State Park Campground provides basic facilities, trails, a playground, and proximity to the I&M Canal Tow Path. For primitive camping experiences, Starved Rock State Park - Youth Campground offers a more rustic setting that's popular with scout troops and youth groups. Some campgrounds like Kayak Starved Rock Campground offer kayak rentals and water access. Most facilities provide restrooms, though availability of showers, electricity, and potable water varies significantly between sites, so it's advisable to check specific campground amenities before your visit.

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