Best Tent Camping near Murphysboro, IL
Looking for the best options for tent camping near Murphysboro? Find the best tent camping sites near Murphysboro. Search nearby tent campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Tent Sites Near Murphysboro, IL (13)
1. Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
Goreville, Illinois16 Reviews•47 Photos•9 SavesTurkey Ridge is for campers who want a serene outdoor experience. It is a Class C walk-in campground that includes camp pads, picnic tables, cooking grills and showers. Drinking water and toilets are located near the parking lots.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Trash
$18 / night
2. Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park
Goreville, Illinois3 Reviews•10 Photos•2 SavesBackpackers enjoying their commune with nature will appreciate the solitude of the individual campsites in the Class C Backpack campground. Located a half-mile from the Turkey Ridge primitive campground parking lot, these woodland sites have cooking grills, toilets and showers. Water and trash receptacles are available at the Turkey Ridge parking lot. You're reminded to be careful with your fires and to pack out what you pack in.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Trash
- Drinking Water
3. Dutchman Lake Camp
Buncombe, Illinois3 Reviews•6 Photos•45 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
4. North Marcum Day Use Area
Rend Lake, Illinois2 Reviews•1 Photo•11 SavesOverview
Congratulations! Youve just discovered the perfect place to enjoy a wide variety of activities, events and nature at its best. Even a short visit to Rend Lake will impress you with the versatility of this magnificent area. Whether youre looking for high adventure, a peaceful retreat, or something in between, youll find it here.
Natural Features:
North Marcum Day Use Area sits along the banks of Rend Lake in the heart of Southern Illinois. Plenty of shade and a large sandy boat in are, make this day use area desirable for a day on scenic Rend Lake. Rend Lake is made up of 18,900 acres of water and 20,000 acres of land.
Wildlife in the area includes white tailed deer, wild turkey, fox, raccoon, opossum, waterfowl, and others as seasons change throughout the year.
Recreation:
Take a leisurely morning stroll, ski or sail lake waters, spend the afternoon viewing inspiring art exhibits and end your day by the warm glow of a campfire under starry night skies. The fields, forests and waters of Rend Lake provide a natural haven for wildlife and an outdoor wonderland for you. Boat, hike, fish, hunt, swim, and explore at your leisure. If you prefer a little less nature, visit one of the resorts around the lake and delight in superb lodging and dining. Just minutes away youll find golf, trap and skeet, arts, antiques, museums, wineries, and more.
Facilities:
North Marcum Day Use Area features two large picnic shelters with tables, grills, and drinking water. The shelters can accommodate up to 75 guests each, and the area has a boat ramp, playground, and dock all within walking distance.
- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
5. Apple Creek Conservation Area
Altenburg, Missouri1 Review•1 SaveApple Creek Conservation Area is located in northeast Cape Girardeau County, three miles east of New Wells on Route CC. The Missouri Department of Conservation created Apple Creek Conservation Area in 1986 with the purchase of 2,100 acres from several landowners.
Steep hills and narrow valleys characterize this area, and approximately 2.5 miles of Apple Creek stream frontage forms its northern border.
The Conservation Department has created watering ponds and planted food plots and agricultural crops within the forest to provide additional food sources for wildlife.
- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Equestrian
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
6. Buck Ridge - Lake Of Egypt
Goreville, Illinois2 Reviews•1 Photo•8 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Trash
9. Willow Springs Campground
McClure, Illinois1 Review•4 Photos•2 SavesPrivate property sunken into the Shawnee National Forest.
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Showers
$20 - $125 / night
10. Lake Girardeau Conservation Area
Whitewater, Missouri2 Reviews•11 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Recent Tent Reviews in Murphysboro
491 Reviews of 13 Murphysboro Campgrounds
MickandKarla W.
Legend
Shawnee Forest Campground
Built on an Old Golf Course
We’d seen signs for Shawnee Forest Campground (CG) many times as we headed out and back from our St. Louis home base and wanted to check this CG out. We followed our GPS to the clearly marked CG entrance but our GPS showed we still had about a half mile to go. We checked in at the little office and were given the choice of pull through sites with FHUs 12 or 21. We chose site 21. The gravel roads are slightly narrow with some trees but we did not have any issues getting to site 21. The water and electric(50/30/20 AMP) are at the back of the gravel pad. There are two sewer hookups, which was nice. The water pressure was good around 50 psi. Their WiFi was very good. There are mature trees here and there in the CG, so satellite should not be an issue. We got two bars on Verizon. Each of the bath houses have a washer and dryer. Our site was not level and with all the rain we had, there were water puddles at the steps. There are some nice sites in this CG but we were not offered one of the better ones even though there were plenty of sites open in the upper 26- 50 site area. If we come back, we’ll know where to ask for a site. They have a small lake and two ponds for fishing. There's no formal dog area, but there are paved trails around the large CG area, which made it nice to walk our dogs.
- JJeff F.
Traveler
Gun Creek
Beautiful Sunsets over the Lake
What a beautiful campground, it’s our second time here. Some spots do have a fairly good slope to them
- EEthan B.Traveler
Turkey Bayou Campground
Great location
Plenty of space and nicely maintained Porto potty
Scott G.
Scout
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Devil's Kitchen Group Campground
Supposed too
Be free camp sites listings for state parks
Tabitha R.Scout
Johnson Creek
Nice!
This campground provides large spots, drinking water, vault toliets, dumpsters, picnic table, lantern hook, fire ring, and contactless check in. I also appreciate the value of these sites. It really is a reasonable rate for forest camping.
Rodarius S.Traveler
Dispersed Campsite Shawnee National Forest
Nice spots on the highway
Love this spot! It's easily accessible by all rig types. Backs up to the open forest and you pull right back onto the highway.
Greg D.
Guide
Hilltop Campground
Decent overnight stop
Hosts were friendly, but didn’t brief us on information such as where is the trash bin, what is the WiFi password. Restroom was old but relatively clean. There’s only one valve in the showers so all you get is lukewarm water. Not good on a cool or cold day. Some of the long term people have too many dogs, one had 6 little yippers, kind of annoying. And I’m not against dogs
Jonathan H.Scout
Dutchman Lake Camp
Weeke d at the lake
Great little spot right off the interstate. Lots of nice scenery and decent fishing.
CeciliaScoutPine Hills
Very nice
Very quiet and secluded. Campsites are roomy and some firewood is supplied.
- JJohn R.Legend
Trail of Tears State Park Campground
Train Lovers.
Large park with not many large RV sites. Lots of tent and dispersed camping. Disappointing store. Equestrian area. Beach and boat launch.
Twan M.
Ranger
Oak Point - Lake Glendale
Stellar Illinois
This is a little gem of a refuge within the Shawnee NF - about 30min from Marion, down a beautiful country road before nestling among the trees around the lake. The drive is paved/gravel the whole way, so very easily drivable for anyone in anything. Plenty of camp sites, both with electric and non-electric, double and single. Bring bug spray - horseflies and ticks. Beautiful lake, beautiful biking trails, etc. Firepits w/ grates are spacious and nice, fees are online. 1 bar verizon at camp, can get up to 3 bars within the area.
- Jordan A.Guide
Turkey Bayou Campground
Empty
Nobody here. Bring a fishing pole. No services except a porta potty.
Scott B.RangerHilltop Campground
Nice stop
Stopped here for the night driving through the area. Nice campground, clean, safe, and right off the interstate.
Kevin C.Ranger
Bean Ridge Pond Campground
Nice private locationl
There are only two camp site at this location and they are very close to each other. The camp sites are also very narrow. We camped in the lower site and had a difficult time getting everything out of the road.
On the positive side, the site was clean, there was nobody there over the weekend and there was a humming bird. The pond had lots of frogs and and a few fish.
- Angie A.Ranger
Washington County State Recreation Area
Nice stop
Easy to find. Affordable overnight stay with electric. Beautiful lake. Friendly campers and hosts. Pit toilets. Spotty Verizon.
- EEric W.Scout
Shawnee Forest Campground
Great place to camp!
We stayed 4 days and had a great time. The camp was clean and well maintained. The staff are very friendly and helpful and was more than happy to offer places to visit in the area, places to eat and provide assistance as needed. The trails are paved so we had a nice area to walk (twice around the lake from our site was 3 miles). :) We plan to visit again!
Matthew Z.TravelerDutchman Lake Camp
Road trip break
Beautiful spot with easy access and not far off the highway
- Wil V.Scout
Benton KOA
Loud
1 side is directly on the freeway VERY loud, the other is in between the sewer treatment plant and municipal airport. If you're a light sleeper might want to stay away Full video review on YouTube https://youtu.be/QpuNpA7UVZI
Brian F.ScoutShawnee Forest Campground
Great and clean!
Great little stop, everything is clean and a fresh shower was refreshing.
- JJames N.Traveler
South Marcum Campground
Great Campground
Only $26 a night for full-hookups is amazing. Cell service for AT&T is marginal at 2 bars LTE. Only issue that I have is that site 49 is very hard to get level in, make sure that you bring extra leveling blocks if possible
Lucy P.Ranger
Crab Orchard Lake Campground
Probably nice in a big rig, sucks otherwise
This campground was essentially an RV park. Only big rigs, some sites well spaced physically but no privacy in between so feels like everyone staring at each other. Some of the waterfront sites okay privacy-wise, but not most. Hookups work well, but bathrooms in terrible condition - especially showers.
The whole place also smells like dead fish. We saw a raccoon go right through our campsite so be careful what you leave out, also tons of geese and saw two baby copperheads.
The lake is at least really pretty and there’s a small beach area.
Dante V.GuideOak Point - Lake Glendale
Solar Eclipse Crossroads
We camped here during the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse and it was also the overflow site which at that time was the side of the camp entrance road. Fast forward to April 7,8 & 9 2024 We are again on overflow campground where this time was their group camping site which was much better than the side of the road. The overflow site has 4 unisex bathrooms but no showers (showers are at the main campground) there is dining (open) pavilion with a fireplace and a filtered well water system. We had a blast watching the Total Solar Eclipse.
- JJames N.Traveler
Archway RV Park
Great campground
Sites are nice, although all sites face each other meaning you will be 5-10 feet from your neighbors if you are sitting out front. Full-hookups with only a 50amp connection so if you are using 30 make sure you have a 50/30 adapter. Overall very nice campground, well maintained.
Jon H.Scout
Oak Point Campground
Nice national park campground
Location is everything and this is well in the middle of a great area in Shawnee National Forest. Garden of the gods, Bell Smith springs, Ferne State park, and on and on. You can spend a week here and not see everything.
There are primitive and electric (with water) sites. There are no sites with sewer hookup. There is a dump station at the entrance.Sites are generally level and well kept. Very large rigs (35+) will be challenging, but I've seen them - more towards the front. There are some lake front spots that can be had. Sites are first come and there are no reservations taken. During the week, no problem. Weekends would be iffy.
Large lake with swimming, fishing, kayaking. Also has a bike trail around it - maybe 2 miles.
Shower houses are kept clean, but as of this posting, they need some maintenance work.
All in all, this is a must stop if you want to enjoy what the area has to offer.
Barb N.RangerGun Creek
Blue Jay #49 Water site
Love this state park! Clean, quiet, water views and lots of bike paths to ride.
Steve G.LegendCrab Orchard Lake Campground
Excellent Lakeside Campgrouind
Getting there: Easy access off Illinois 13 East of Carbondale
Check in and staff: Campground is now under the egis of recreation.gov& reservations through them are a must. This is new& when planning the trip the website said“first come first serve” so we arrived on a Friday evening(4pm) with no reservation. The sign said RV sites all taken. The host was wonderful! He has been here 9 years and steered us to a nice site for the one night we will be here. The online experience with recreation.gov was not pleasant, impossible in fact. So I had to call. This took quite awhile. Once I got a real live person it was great, and we got our site with no problems.
Amenities: Bathrooms: clean, paper towels& air dryers.
Site: A-35. In the middle of the A loop and therefore not on the water. Still, very nice. After all, beggars can’t be choosers! Sites are somewhat spacious, but not terribly private.
Michelle K.Scout
Sharp Rock Falls Recreation
Longbranch Shooting House And Saloon
You're welcome to at longbranch! Please make your reservations.
Only 16 spots left!Ava Illinois +1 618-318-6734 Text your name and number of people on your campsite to reserve your spot.
The Solar Eclipse Event "PARK @ THE MOON"
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Guide to Murphysboro
Tent camping near Murphysboro, Illinois offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure and relaxation.
Tent campers like these nearby activities
- Enjoy hiking and exploring the stunning trails at Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park, where you can discover beautiful bluffs and waterfalls.
- Experience the thrill of rock climbing and backpacking in the scenic surroundings of Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park, known for its limestone bluffs and natural beauty.
- For a peaceful retreat, visit Buck Ridge - Lake Of Egypt, where you can fish and enjoy the tranquility of the lake.
Some prices for tent camping range from $10 to $25
- At Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park, sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a modest fee for camping.
- The Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park offers affordable primitive camping options, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature without breaking the bank.
- Camping at Dutchman Lake Camp is budget-friendly, providing a great spot for those seeking a simple and scenic camping experience.
Specific local attractions
- Explore the breathtaking views and diverse wildlife at Turkey Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park, which is ideal for star-gazing and nature photography.
- Take a short hike to discover hidden waterfalls and caves near Backpack Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park, making it a perfect spot for adventure seekers.
- Visit North Marcum Day Use Area for a day of swimming and bird watching, with well-maintained facilities and beautiful surroundings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Murphysboro, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Murphysboro, 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 Murphysboro, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Murphysboro, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.