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Best Tent Camping near Le Roy, IL

189 Reviews

Tent campers visiting the Le Roy area in central Illinois will find several established campgrounds within driving distance. Hickory Hill Campground in Secor offers tent sites alongside RV spots from April through October, though reviews indicate it caters primarily to RV camping. The Edward Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area and Spitler Woods State Natural Area provide more primitive tent camping options for those seeking a more natural setting.

Most tent sites near Le Roy feature minimal amenities, with primitive camping areas offering little beyond the basics. Hickory Hill provides more facilities including drinking water, showers, toilets, and picnic tables—amenities not typically found at the state-managed areas. Tent campers at Edward Madigan and Spitler Woods should prepare to be self-sufficient with their own water supply and waste disposal plan. Sites are generally accessible by vehicle, though some areas may require short walks to reach suitable tent locations. The central Illinois climate allows for camping through spring, summer, and fall, with the region's pronounced seasons affecting site conditions.

Areas farther from developed campgrounds provide deeper seclusion for backcountry tent camping enthusiasts. The state-managed natural areas offer quieter experiences without the recreational facilities found at commercial campgrounds. Walk-in tent sites at these locations can provide more privacy and natural surroundings compared to the developed campgrounds. Tent campers should note the lack of dedicated amenities at these more primitive locations and prepare accordingly with proper equipment for backcountry camping. A reviewer of Hickory Hill noted: "This place is a massive RV enclave with various different neighborhoods and haunts to choose from, but if you're a tent camper, you will be hard-pressed at this location to find a suitable spot to set up for the night." For those seeking authentic tent camping experiences, the state natural areas may better serve primitive camping preferences.

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Best Tent Sites Near Le Roy, Illinois (3)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Le Roy, IL

189 Reviews of 3 Le Roy Campgrounds

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 26, 2024

    Carl Spindler Campground

    Waterfront Camping Bliss with City View

    This waterfront campground is perfect for anglers and particularly boaters who want to have their vessels close at hand, tied up at the marina, providing quick and EZ access to a fresh body of water that is formed where Upper Lake Peoria meets the Illinois River. For campers who want to get away from it all, while still being within close driving distance to civilization, Carl Spindler offers the convenience of a nearby major city (Peoria) while still providing a decent escape for some rest & relaxation within a fairly decent vicinity to nature. The best part about this lakefront getaway – apart from the incredibly cheap prices for an overnight stay – was hands down, the very friendly staff who offer up everyone a very strong dose of Midwestern hospitality.

    This pet-friendly CG offers a lot of amenities including: FHUs featuring electric, water and sewage as well as playground, community fire pit, restroom and shower facility that are in pretty good (not pristine) condition, laundry, fresh tap water, boat launch, 2 dump stations, WiFi (although very poor connection) and a beachhead. All sites are very level here and come with a picnic table, fire ring and electric, while a good number of the RV slots have a combination of electric amp options in addition to water and sewage hook-ups. At the marina, you can purchase ice, small sundries and camping supplies and / or simply use this spot to launch your boat, kayak or canoe from. There’s also options to rent a slip, store your boat and / or trailer for the winter. There’s even a deluxe cabin to rent in case you don’t have a tent or RV.

    While most of Carl Spindler is designed more for the RV-driving or 5th Wheel toting kind – and to be honest, some of these look like longer-term residents and / or traveling professionals – offering up some 55 individual slots (some of which I would definitely describe as ‘very snug’), this outfit does provide 2 different options for decent camp sites with me tent pitchin’ bredren in mind, both of which sit right in front of the Illinois River. In these areas, and actually for the entire campground, there’s not much (if any) shade, tree cover or brush that contributes to an overall lack of privacy – so whatever your activities might be, you and your camping brood will be on full display to the rest of the campground. At least if you chose to set up your tent over in the primitive camping area, this area is still pretty underdeveloped (for now), so over in these parts, you’ll have a greater feeling of solitude, peace & quiet.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’d like to knock some pins down while slurping some delicious local cold brew, head on over to Landmark Bowling Center; (2) Should you be looking for some decent trails to hike check out nearby Powerton Lake State Park; (3) You will want to time your sundowners correctly, because if you do, you’ll be sipping Mai Tais leaning back in your camp chair listening to some Amy Winehouse watching the sun set in the west over the Illinois River as the twinkling stars come out to shine their brightest all with a crackling bonfire keeping you warm and lit on a gorgeous Midwestern night; (4) While I always pack a long 100 foot electrical cord for all of my electricity needs, I’ve never had to use it, except here, where the electrical outlet in the primitive tent camping area is shared by all 4 sites and ours was the furthest away – so we got lucky; and (5) In the event that you grow weary of conjuring up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or onboard mini-fridge and want to check out some local flavor, there’s a handful of options, but all will require a bit of a drive, of which I highly recommend Avanti’s Ristorante for their excellent pizza and Italian subs, the Blue Duck BBQ Tavern for outstanding smoked brisket and Obed & Issacs Microbewery for the finest local taps as well as their signature dish, Kitchen Sink Pie (don’t ask, just order).

    Happy Camping!

  • Marisa A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2020

    Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

    Busy Central Illinois Campground on a lake

    This is our go-to campground when visiting the U of I. It is a large campground with well spaced campsites for tents and rvs. Almost every site has plenty of shade with lots of tree cover. This also means in the dog days of summer the breeze is blocked by the trees so get an electric site even with a tent and bring a fan. They have a beach and a boat launch. The loops that allow alcohol can get a bit rowdy with weekend partiers, but the alcohol restricted loops can get loud from all the families. However, with full hook-up options there is no generator noise. The showers/bathrooms are kept up well given the massive amount of people served. If you own a boat and camp, this place is ideal for central Illinois.

  • Priscilla J.
    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.

  • S
    Oct. 1, 2020

    Harry L Swartz Campground

    Pretty spot/small gravel campsites

    Il start this by saying: we prefer tent camping/primitive/atleast semi isolated spots. If you’re looking for RV camping, this is probably a decent spot so read no further!

    We drove in to the Middle Fork Forest Preserve looking for a place to camp same day on our way down to Giant City. We weren’t able to make a reservation less than 5 days in advance online so we tried to call. No one in the office except Th-Sunday and it was Wednesday so we couldn’t get in touch. All good. It happens and it did say that clearly on their website and on voicemail. We needed a place for the night so decided to risk driving over from I57 S. Rolled in around 5 and all the campsites were marked reserved but there were about 3 people set up to camp there. We didn’t end up camping the night 1. Because we didn’t want to be jerks about the reservations although it seemed like no one else would be arriving until at the earliest the next day and 2. All of the campsites were pretty tight together and surfaced with gravel. That’s a personal preference thing. We always look for primitive/walk-in/hike in sites to set up tents/hammocks. This spot was mostly set up for RVs.

    The hiking looked pretty lovely and the grounds/facilities looked well kept! Just maybe not our preference.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 30, 2021

    Carl Spindler Campground

    Good for passing through

    General: City camping is generally challenging but this was a good place for us to land for the night as we were passing through. Very easy access as soon as you cross Peoria Lake to East Peoria. The flip side of this is that you will hear constant road noise and an occasional train. Reservations are made by phone and when I called to make mine, was told we would be in Site 33. Typical for us, we arrived after the office was closed and saw Site 33 was occupied. We took Site 36 and when I went to pay the following morning, I discovered this is where we had been moved to as site numbers are not supposed to be guaranteed. It appeared that there were many long-term campers staying here. The rate of $24 for an electric site was reasonable. Full hookup sites and a few tent sites are also available. 

    Site Quality: Site sizes are, for the most part, very generous and can accommodate a large RV and extra vehicle/s. Some are very close to each other (beach and overflow) and there is no physical separation between them. Each site has one (or two) picnic tables and a fire ring. Some sites have paved pads while the ones closest to the water are either gravel or sand. There are also several cabins.

    Bathhouse: Clean but the only downside is there is only one sink, and it is located in an awkward place (perpendicular to and close to one of the stalls). Showers were small and I did not use so cannot comment on how well they worked. Hot water was appreciated. 

    Activities/Amenities: If you are a boater, this is a great place for you as this is a marina! Small and outdated playground and a basketball stand but no basket or net. There is also a laundry room. 

    Conclusion: For us, passing through, this was an ideal place to land for the night but since we don’t have a boat, we wouldn’t stay longer than one night.

  • L
    Sep. 10, 2021

    Moraine View State Recreational Area

    Easy access from highway for quick stop at a nice campground

    Easy access from the highway. Drove in without reservations, mid-week, just before dark, for a quick overnight while on a cross country trip. The very nice hosts (father/daughter team) helped us with the process. Lots of good sites available with long, relatively level gravel pads with 30amp electric. Got water on the way in, by the dump station. Firewood bundles for $8. Lots of beautiful, tall trees. I imagine it would be nice on a summer day, with plenty of shade. Clean and basic bathroom, there were free showers but I didn’t use them. This was an excellent overnight stay for only $20.

  • Stephanie S.
    Apr. 24, 2022

    Comlara County Park

    Maiden Voyage Dream

    We may have set the bar too high with our first camping trip. Comlara is a beautifully laid out hidden gem in Illinois. Evergreen Lake is the perfect back drop to the campground. Although we don’t fish, we saw many people fishing from the shore line and enjoying the water in boats and canoes. There is a designated swimming area (beach), but it wasn’t open at this time. There are many hiking and walking trails within the park that are within driving distance of the campground. There is one main shower house and several single outhouse style men/women bathrooms scattered throughout. The showers were very adequate, nothing fancy, but serve their purpose. There are fire pits and picnic tables at each site along with 30 or 50 amp hookups. Some have shared water hookups nearby also. There is also a typical dump station and potable water by it.
    The camp sites are spread apart nicely with some moderate elevation change giving many great views of the lake. All campsite pads were gravel and the access roads were paved. Site 40 where we stayed was right by the lake and absolutely beautiful!

  • Scott N.
    Jul. 14, 2020

    Comlara County Park

    Beautiful lake side camping

    I really enjoyed my stay at Evergreen Lake.  The rustic tent sites are located on the opposite side of the lake from the RV's in an area called White Oak. These sites are the way to go for privacy.  It was roughly a quarter-mile hike to site 14, where I stayed. It initially took me longer to find the site since there are no signs along the way. I eventually found site 12 then 11. I turned around and made my way to 14.  

    Site 14 is very spacious like it could be used as a group site. I was surprised to see three picnic tables. It also had a fire ring with grill and a separate grill. There was always shade and two pairs of trees that are perfect for a hammock. The best part was the view of the lake. There was a spot that a person could get a kayak or canoe into the water but I opted to use the dock. The dock was just a short walk away. It’s very cool that the folks at Comlara put that dock there for the tent campers to use.

    One thing to be aware of is the trash point is at the parking lot. Also, keep in mind that sound travels across a lake very easily. I could hear other campers that were a few sites over very clear as well as people fishing on the lake.

    My Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D\_ZlAXbMLGY&t=3s

    My Website:  https://www.lost13.com/camping/2020/6/18/comlara-park

  • B
    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.

Guide to Le Roy

Tent camping near Le Roy, Illinois offers primitive and developed options within a 30-mile radius of central Illinois farmland. The camping season typically runs April through October, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak months. Many locations close during winter months due to freezing conditions and limited maintenance, while state-managed areas may restrict camping during hunting seasons.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Edward Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area provides access to stocked fishing ponds where tent campers can spend the day. "Awesome place. Would take my family back!" notes Sarra W., highlighting the family-friendly nature of this primitive camping area.

Mini golf and recreation: Hickory Hill Campground offers activities beyond camping with facilities including mini golf, basketball courts, shuffleboard, and pool tables. Kevin T. mentions it's "great for a weekend getaway. Clean, quiet, and plenty of shade."

Outdoor exploration: Tent campers seeking hiking can visit Spitler Woods State Natural Area, which provides natural terrain for day hikes from primitive camping sites. Thomas F. notes it has "great sites. Plenty to do. Favorite place to camp in Illinois."

What campers like

Shaded sites: Tent campers appreciate the tree cover at many locations near Le Roy, particularly important during hot summer months. At Hickory Hill Campground, Fred VA noted the campground is "very nice" with "plenty of shade" and "friendly staff and other campers."

Swimming access: The in-ground pool at Hickory Hill Campground operates between Memorial Day and Labor Day, providing summer heat relief. "Lots of nice amenities for families," reports Deb B., who secured "a full hook up, pull through spot" with an afternoon phone call.

Community atmosphere: Some campgrounds near Le Roy foster social environments. Bill P. observed that Hickory Hill seems to be "more of a full time camping location" with "lots of kids and activities for them" and a "nice pool," though sites are "kind of tight."

What you should know

Limited tent options: Dedicated tent camping can be difficult to find at some commercial campgrounds near Le Roy. Stuart K. warns that at Hickory Hill Campground, "if you're a tent camper, you will be hard-pressed at this location to find a suitable spot to set up for the night as Hickory Hills is definitely designed for the RV and 5th Wheeler crowd."

Supply planning: The rural location of most camping areas requires advance preparation. Stuart K. advises about Hickory Hill: "This campground is pretty isolated, clear out in the boondocks... you better bring everything you need because while it's a short drive into the nearest town here, which is El Paso, to be honest, there's not a lot there either."

Seasonal accessibility: Many campgrounds near Le Roy operate seasonally, with limited winter access. Hickory Hill specifically operates from April 1 to October 31, with swimming facilities available only during peak summer months.

Tips for camping with families

Recreation center access: Families camping near Le Roy should consider locations with dedicated facilities for children. Stuart K. notes that Hickory Hill provides "an in-ground pool opened between Memorial Day and Labor Day... basketball court, mini golf, shuffleboard, pool table, ping pong and various soda and snack vending machines and games in the recreation center."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Edward Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area offers tent camping with opportunities for nature observation, particularly birds and small mammals native to central Illinois. The primitive setting requires families to bring all necessary supplies.

Water access considerations: Families should confirm water availability before arrival. Most state-managed camping areas near Le Roy lack potable water access, requiring campers to bring their own supply for drinking and cleaning.

Tips from RVers

Site spacing concerns: RV campers report varied experiences with site dimensions. Bill P. found that at Hickory Hill, "the sites are kind of tight. Gravel sites but mostly level," suggesting larger rigs may have positioning challenges.

Seasonal residency: Many RV parks near Le Roy function as long-term communities rather than short-stay campgrounds. Stuart K. observed Hickory Hill is "a massive RV enclave with various different neighborhoods" where "a very fair number of folks make Hickory Hills their year-round outdoor destination."

Golf cart culture: RVers visiting certain campgrounds should note the prevalence of personal transport. According to Bill P., at Hickory Hill "golf carts seem to be the most common mode of travel as there are plentiful," indicating the size and layout of the grounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Le Roy, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Le Roy, IL is Hickory Hill Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Le Roy, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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