Best Tent Camping near Penfield, IL

Penfield, Illinois offers minimal established tent camping facilities, with most camping resources located across state lines. Attica Family Campground in Indiana lies approximately 25 miles southeast of Penfield and allows tent-specific camping, though with limited amenities. Covered Bridge State Forest Retreat, also in Indiana, provides tent camping with electric hookups about 45 miles south of Penfield. Both locations serve as the closest established tent campgrounds to the Penfield area, requiring campers to plan for interstate travel when seeking formal tent sites.

Tent campers at these locations should note the varying amenities and restrictions. Attica Family Campground provides basic tent sites but lacks many standard amenities - there is no drinking water, no fires permitted, no picnic tables, and no toilets or showers available. Covered Bridge State Forest Retreat offers slightly more developed facilities with electric hookups and allows both walk-in and drive-in access. This location accepts reservations and permits pets, making it more suitable for campers with animals. Neither location provides drinking water on-site, so campers must bring adequate water supplies for their stay.

The tent camping experience near Penfield requires self-sufficiency and proper preparation. Tent sites at both nearby locations offer different advantages - Covered Bridge provides electrical access unusual for tent-focused camping, while both campgrounds offer relative seclusion compared to larger, more developed campgrounds. The lack of standard amenities like showers, toilets, and drinking water creates a more primitive tent camping experience despite being at established campgrounds. Campers seeking places to tent camp near Penfield should prepare for minimal facilities and bring essential supplies including water, portable toilet solutions, and food storage. Those looking for primitive tent setups will find these locations meet basic needs while requiring campers to be largely self-sufficient.

Best Tent Sites Near Penfield, Illinois (2)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Penfield, IL

226 Reviews of 2 Penfield Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Terri D.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2017

    Turkey Run State Park Campground

    Nice Big Sites

    I have to say it is always nice to stay at a state park in the off season. There are a couple hundred sites in this park and we were one of about 12 occupants. Even if this park had been full, the sites offer nice space. Sites vary from full shade to wide open out in the sun. Bathrooms are clean, but they are pretty spread out. Most sites offer electricity, but no water or sewer hook-up for RV. Water spigots are pretty spread out too. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. I didn't see any camp hosts that sold firewood when office is closed. Park is located right across the street from the local high school, I thought this was sort of odd.

    We were just passing through for a nights stay, but it looked like there were some nice trails for hiking. The children playgrounds looked nice as well.

  • 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.

  • Janet B.
    May. 9, 2023

    Vermilion County Park Forest Glen Preserve

    East Camp (backpacking site)

    First backpacking trip in the Midwest and this was a surprisingly scenic place with a great backpacking sites! We did forest glen river ridge trail; started from the staff parking lot and walked about 8 miles to the east camp. We had a big group and took sites 3 and 5 because they were on a flatter ground. All sites were well shaded and there was even an OUTHOUSE!!! The rangers told us the water from the Vermilion River was safe to drink with filtration but note that you do have to walk down to the river and up to the campsites. Both sites came with a picnic table and a fire ring. Had a lovely time even with the thunderstorm.

  • D
    Jan. 29, 2021

    Kickapoo State Recreation Area

    My 'home' campsite.

    I live about 30 minutes from Kickapoo SP and anytime I feel I need to camp I head over. Great little campground in Central Illinois. Some pretty trails overlooking, beside, and sometimes through water. The RV sites are great for either rv, van, or tent camping with a lot of level ground at most sites. There are some real diamonds of a campsite hidden here that you can basically be in the woods with clear ground for a level tent. I love this simple campground and have brought a handful of friends here who also enjoyed it.

  • n
    Jun. 8, 2018

    Ross Camp

    Lafayette Parks and Rec

    Nice sites. Awesome shower house! close to Ross Park. A little chapel. This is a relax campground for those not into all the hiking if you just want to sit by your fire. A few primitive sites. No alcohol allowed. We rent a site here instead of hotels.

  • M
    Jul. 19, 2020

    Turkey Run State Park Campground

    Terrific campground and state park

    We stayed here this weekend and had a terrific time. The weather was very hot but there is a river to tube and canoe in to keep you cool. We stayed at site #35. It is in a very quiet, off the main road, in a circle, in full shade. It’s is very close to the restroom but a distance from the camp store and dumpster. The site was clean and well equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. The site is very uneven. It definitely sloops to the back corner. It’s was difficult to level our camper but we got it in the end. The site was huge but given the unevenness it would be difficult for tents. The campground is family friendly and was quiet at night. There is a lot to do at this state park. We hiked the #3 and #5 trails and it took us about 2 hours. It was very busy but everyone was very polite. It was a great stay all around.

  • 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 Penfield

Tent camping near Penfield, Illinois offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the comforts of well-equipped campgrounds. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a place to explore, there are options available that cater to tent campers.

Tent campers should check out Attica Family Campground

  • This campground provides a serene environment perfect for families looking to enjoy the outdoors together.

Local activities for tent campers

  • At Covered Bridge State Forest Retreat, you can engage in various outdoor activities, including hiking and exploring the scenic beauty of the forest.

Tent campers like these nearby features

  • Covered Bridge State Forest Retreat also offers electric hookups and pet-friendly accommodations, making it a convenient choice for those traveling with furry friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Penfield, IL is Attica Family Campground with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.