Best Tent Camping near Maywood, IL
Tent campgrounds near Maywood, Illinois cluster within the surrounding counties, ranging from urban-adjacent sites to more secluded wooded areas along waterways. Camp Shabbona Woods in South Holland offers tent camping in a developing forest setting, while Channahon State Park Campground provides year-round tent sites along the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail. McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove features walk-in tent sites with easy access to both the canal and Des Plaines River for paddling opportunities.
Most tent camping areas near Maywood require walk-in access from parking areas, with vehicles typically kept a short distance from campsites. At Camp Shabbona Woods, campers cannot keep vehicles close to tent sites, though bathrooms are reported to be well-maintained. Sites at McKinley Woods feature oversized picnic tables with wheelchair-accessible cutouts, and two of the four sites are paved for ADA accessibility. Water access varies significantly; McKinley Woods provides pump water that is described as "drinkable but cloudy," while many other tent locations lack potable water entirely. A visitor commented about McKinley Woods: "The sites are far apart, with #1 being the shadiest and most secluded but uneven."
Tent camping areas in the region offer varied natural settings despite their proximity to urban areas. Sites along the I&M Canal Trail are particularly popular with cyclists using tent camping as overnight stops during longer journeys. At Channahon State Park, the walk-in tent sites are surrounded by trees, creating shaded respite for summer camping. A camper noted that "at night, you can hear owls and distant trains, but motorboats and jet-skis begin around 6:AM" at McKinley Woods sites. Primitive tent campsites at Illinois and Michigan Canal Backpack Camp require hiking in and offer no amenities beyond fire rings, making them suitable for experienced backcountry tent campers seeking more isolation. Seasonal considerations are important, as several reviewers mentioned flooding issues at lower-elevation tent sites following heavy rains.
