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Best Tent Camping near Makanda, IL

576 Reviews

Tent campsites throughout the Shawnee National Forest region near Makanda, Illinois offer a variety of accommodations for outdoor enthusiasts. Ferne Clyffe State Park provides two primary tent camping options: Backpack Campground with hike-in and walk-in sites, and Turkey Ridge Campground with established tent sites. Dutchman Lake Camp offers more secluded dispersed camping options approximately 10 miles from Makanda with drive-in and walk-in tent access.

Most tent camping areas feature basic amenities, with facilities varying significantly between established and primitive sites. Backpack Campground provides access to drinking water and vault toilets but lacks shower facilities or reservations. According to one visitor, "Ferne Clyffe State Park has several limestone bluffs, great for climbing, naturally forested woodlands, cliff caves, and several small waterfalls." Turkey Ridge offers more developed options with reservable sites, picnic tables, showers, and potable water available at multiple hydrants throughout the campground.

The heavily forested terrain creates well-shaded tent sites across most campgrounds, particularly valued during summer months. Trails connect directly from most tent camping areas to broader hiking networks within Shawnee National Forest. The primitive tent sites at Backpack Campground provide a secluded experience with widely spaced campsites. A recent review noted that the "walk-up primitive sites are secluded, wooded, and within a pit toilet and water source." For those seeking a more rustic experience, Dutchman Lake Camp offers dispersed tent sites with fewer amenities but greater privacy. Campgrounds generally fill on weekends during peak season (April-October), with mid-week camping offering quieter experiences. Tent campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, including raccoons that have been observed at some campground facilities.

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Best Tent Sites Near Makanda, Illinois (17)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Makanda, IL

6 Photos of 17 Makanda Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Makanda, IL

576 Reviews of 17 Makanda 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.

  • Napunani
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Trail of Tears State Park Campground

    Back-up to the Mississippi River

    PRO 

    Senior discount saving $6 

    Able to reserve on-line 365 days prior to arriving 

    Very friendly and helpful camp host 

    Unobstructed view of the Mississippi River 

    Great dark sky viewing 

    No highway/road noise, but... 

    Asphalt parking pad surrounded by grass 

    Metal fire pit with cooking grate 

    One hook lantern pole 

    Moveable wooden picnic table in the grass 

    Toilet/shower building.35 miles from campground very nice and very clean with ample TP and hand soap 

    Firewood for sale by camp host $5 

    Mississippi River Scenic Overlook was very nice V

    Visitor Center has small museum (no admission fee) on the Trail of Tears Native American tribal migration 

    Coin-operated laundromat on South Hope Street Jackson after the roundabout 12 miles from campground 

    Tractors Restaurant Main Street Jackson very good diner type restaurant 

    CONS

    $8.50 reservation fee for online self made reservation 

    Sites that back to the river very close to each other. We stepped out our door onto the neighbors stinky slinky. Insufficient space to deploy awning. 

    Electrical utility connection is on passenger side of the campsite#6 

    Sewer connection was high above ground so drainage was up hill. Camp host warned us upon arrival we may need to use dump station to get tanks totally drained. 

    Site 6 not level side-to-side 

    Lots of trains, day and night with train horn blaring due to road crossing at campground Lots of river barge noise 

    Only one single unisex pit toilet in campground 

    No park headquarters or entrance gate office for check-in. Sign in campground informing how to conduct virtual check in. 

    No security gate closed overnight 

    No ranger patrolling campground

    No WiFi 

    2 bars Verizon LTE

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • AC
    May. 16, 2021

    Washington County State Recreation Area

    Shady Rest campground

    Really great campground. Good mix of tents and RVs. Bath house was very well kept and clean. Showers ran cold at first but after a few mins it gets warmer! There were plenty of pit toliets through out the campground and trash cans. My tent site was clean, good flat spot for tent, picnic table and fire pit with attached grill.

    The Concession building in the park is closing. No boat rentals, selling everything he has on the shelf.

    Caught a few bass and and good amount of hiking. Large trail around the whole lake, smaller trails lead to sites around the different campgrounds.

  • Cameron
    Oct. 1, 2020

    Bean Ridge Pond Campground

    Free, primitive campground, loud partiers

    Got here on a Saturday night in late September and both of the campsites were available. Campsites consist of a clearing with a fire pit and a picnic table. No litter. No toilets. Very slow and spotty AT&T service: I was able to text but not access the Internet. The area is very pretty. Soft ground for staking a tent. Bugs were alright, no need for bug spray. There’s water access at the pond, but it’s obviously stagnant and very brackish. Big downside was a convoy of Jeeps full of partiers rolled down to the pond at 12:30am and hung out down there blasting music for an hour, which is a real sleep ruiner. This might be a local party spot, so be aware and maybe pack earplugs if you’re coming on a weekend. Upside is that it’s in a National Forest, so if both sites are taken, you can always dispersed camp

  • Katie B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Dutchman Lake Camp

    Great stop for the night

    We pulled in around midnight and left at 8 am. There’s a large turnaround that could fit many vehicles, but someone was already parked there and we didn’t want to disturb them and also wanted our privacy. There a space for a vehicle to pull off and walk around some boulders to set up a camp, complete with a fire ring. Some bike-packers were already set up there. Close to the lake there is another spot for one or two vehicles. The lake surface had a lot of bug activity - no thanks! We ended up choosing a grassy space next to the curve in the road in between our neighbors. Very peaceful! No bugs.

  • Abby M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 7, 2021

    Pharoah - Garden of the Gods Rec Area Campground

    Nice little campground

    I arrived on Friday around 2:30pm hoping to get a spot but unfortunately, all spots were already taken (about 10-12). The vault toilet looked decently clean and all sites had a nice fire ring, picnic table and hanging hooks. Some sites were closer together than others but would work for a night or two to enjoy the beauty around! Little picnic area just around the corner and about .5 from several awesome hikes!

Guide to Makanda

Tent camping near Makanda, Illinois offers sites within the Shawnee National Forest region where summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F from June through August. Winter camping remains available at most locations with temperatures averaging 25-40°F during December through February. The region sits at approximately 400-600 feet elevation with moderate humidity throughout most seasons, creating conditions where properly waterproofed tents are essential during spring and fall rainy periods.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Dutchman Lake Camp provides access to a small fishing lake about 10 miles from Makanda. "Great little spot right off the interstate. Lots of nice scenery and decent fishing," notes camper Jonathan H. about Dutchman Lake Camp.

Trail exploration: Multiple interconnected trail systems range from easy to moderate difficulty levels. "There are several hiking trails that looked pretty, but we didn't get a chance to walk them. Overall, this is a nice and quiet campground," according to Joel H. who visited Turkey Ridge Campground.

Cave exploration: The region features limestone formations with accessible cave systems for exploration. "Hawk's Cave Trail is an easy hike and the kids explored the caves for hours," shares Dani B., who found this activity particularly engaging for families at Turkey Ridge Campground.

What campers like

Privacy of primitive sites: The backpack camping area offers secluded sites with basic amenities. "The walk up primitive sites are secluded, wooded, and within a pit toilet and water source," explains Merry L. about Backpack Campground.

Wildlife viewing: The forest environment supports diverse wildlife observation opportunities. "There was a ton of wildlife though and it was really neat to listen to all the different species throughout the night," reports Gina J. who enjoyed this aspect of camping at Turkey Ridge.

Waterfall access: Seasonal waterfalls provide natural attractions throughout the region. "Make sure you take time to explore the waterfall and other short trails nearby," recommends Merry L. who found this to be a highlight at Backpack Campground.

What you should know

Campsite spacing: Site proximity varies significantly between campgrounds. "Turkey Ridge campsite #35 is a nice location. Large yard and not super close to other campers. #53 is smaller but very private," notes David H. about Buck Ridge - Lake Of Egypt.

Facility maintenance: Restroom cleanliness can be inconsistent across locations. "There are 'outhouses' close by. Although they were pretty bad my buddy said 'storm of flies came shooting out the hole like a tornado,'" reports TJ V. who experienced this at Turkey Ridge Campground.

Firewood availability: Local sources may be limited in some areas. "Nice wooded primitive sites with easy access to water and toilets. Only issue I found at all was firewood is surprisingly difficult to come by," warns Tye K. who camped at Backpack Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly trails: Certain paths offer appropriate terrain for younger hikers. "Rebman trail is good for anyone including little kids," suggests David H. from his experience at Turkey Ridge.

Cave exploration opportunities: Natural formations provide engaging activities for children. "The kids explored the caves for hours," shares Dani B. about Willow Springs Campground.

Beach access options: Water recreation areas offer additional activities. "This is a beautiful little beach on Rend lake. The beach is also tidy and free of a lot of trash, perfect for the youngsters to play in," reports Jill R. about North Marcum.

Tips from RVers

Water fill options: Potable water access points allow for tank filling. "Water available to fill your holding tank in a couple of locations in campground," notes David H. about his stay at North Marcum Day Use Area.

Site selection for privacy: Specific site numbers provide better experiences. "We stayed 3 nights in travel trailer. #35 is a nice location. Large yard and not super close to other campers. #53 is smaller but very private," advises David H.

Electrical reliability: Some sites may have intermittent power issues. "On arrival, the electric wouldn't work. Apparently a breaker was involved. Camp host fixed it," reports Debra B. about her experience at Turkey Ridge Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Makanda, IL is Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 16 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Makanda, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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