Best Tent Camping near Ottawa, IL
Several tent campgrounds near Ottawa, Illinois offer riverfront locations and access to hiking trails within state parks. Buffalo Rock State Park Campground provides primitive walk-in tent sites along the I&M Canal Tow Path with proximity to the Illinois River. Kayak Starved Rock Campground features nearly 50 riverfront tent sites with views of Starved Rock across the water, while the Youth Campground at Starved Rock State Park accommodates group tent camping in open meadows.
Most tent sites in the area are rustic with minimal amenities. Buffalo Rock's walk-in sites have fire rings with grills but lack picnic tables at most locations except the group site. According to a reviewer, "The largest site is the group site which is the only site with a picnic table and shelter." Many campgrounds offer vault toilets rather than flush facilities, with drinking water available at some locations but not all. Kayak Starved Rock Campground provides fire rings and pull-down BBQ grills but no running water for drinking. Sites at these campgrounds are typically on grassy areas with varying degrees of shade from surrounding trees.
The Ottawa area tent campgrounds provide excellent access to outdoor recreation opportunities. The I&M Canal Trail runs alongside several campgrounds, making them popular with bicycle campers. "Just down the street from Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park is the much smaller (and less crowded) Buffalo Rock State Park," noted one camper who appreciated the hiking options. Hennepin Canal campgrounds offer tent campers access to water recreation with boat launches for kayaks and canoes. Kayak Starved Rock's riverside location gives tent campers unique views of the state park's iconic rock formations from across the water. Most campers report peaceful experiences, though sites at Kayak Starved Rock have limited privacy between neighboring tents. Many tent campgrounds in the area operate on a first-come, first-served basis rather than by reservation, particularly those along the Hennepin Canal.