Best Tent Camping near Pomona, IL

Tent campgrounds near Pomona, Illinois include several established sites within Shawnee National Forest, such as Ferne Clyffe State Park's Backpack Campground and Turkey Ridge Campground. These areas provide walk-in tent sites set among forested terrain with limestone bluffs, waterfalls, and hiking trails. Dutchman Lake Camp offers dispersed tent camping with more primitive conditions for those seeking a more remote experience.

Most tent sites at Ferne Clyffe provide access to drinking water and toilet facilities, though amenities vary between campgrounds. The Backpack Campground features walk-in and hike-in tent sites with basic facilities including toilets and trash service. Turkey Ridge offers more developed tent sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and access to showers. Fire regulations permit campfires at most locations, but firewood can be difficult to find locally according to camper reports. Sites typically do not require reservations at primitive areas, while more developed campgrounds may have reservation systems through Reserve America or ExploreMoreIL.

The tent camping experience in this region offers ample opportunities for hiking and exploring natural features. "Ferne Clyffe State Park has several limestone bluffs, great for climbing, naturally forested woodlands, cliff caves, and several small waterfalls," noted one camper. Sites are typically well-separated by trees, providing shade and privacy even during peak seasons. Trail systems connect directly to many tent camping areas, making them convenient base camps for day hiking. The primitive sites offer more seclusion, while established campgrounds provide easier access to amenities. Fall camping is particularly popular with cooler temperatures and colorful foliage views from the numerous bluffs and ridges. Campers report that even the more developed tent sites maintain a natural setting with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities.

Best Tent Sites Near Pomona, Illinois (16)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Pomona, IL

488 Reviews of 16 Pomona 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • Chelsea D.
    Apr. 23, 2020

    Pine Hills

    Beautiful new Picnic shelter, quiet campground

    This is a very basic campground with some shade. No hookups, really good for tent camping. The new picnic shelter is beautiful and there is seating around a fire pit. This forest does a great job of keeping restrooms very clean.

  • Jessica R.
    May. 18, 2020

    Shawnee Forest Campground

    Quiet

    The sites are nice and level. Quiet in the area. Picnic table and fire ring at every site. Park offers firewood. Pond for fishing so bring your poles. It's catch and release. Manager is very friendly and accommodates you as possible.

  • Brennan M.
    Jul. 26, 2020

    Deer Ridge Campground — Ferne Clyffe State Park

    Very RV heavy

    I actually didn't end up camping here because it looked like a rock site. I maybe saw two tents, everyone else in big RV's. If you are doing tent camping I would look elsewhere. I might've missed an area that was more tent friendly but I didn't see it. I would do primitive with a tent probably.


Guide to Pomona

Tent camping near Pomona, Illinois offers access to the limestone formations and hardwood forests of Shawnee National Forest. The region receives around 50 inches of rainfall annually, creating seasonal waterfalls and lush undergrowth throughout the camping areas. Summer temperatures typically range from 80-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions for tent campers seeking more comfortable hiking weather.

What to do

Kayaking on Lake Girardeau: Located about 60 miles from Pomona, this small lake provides peaceful paddling opportunities. "It is a good area for fishing, kayaking or canoeing. It is a no-wake lake," notes a camper at Lake Girardeau Conservation Area.

Cave exploration: Many campsites provide access to unique cave systems within walking distance. "Our favorite is Hawk's Cave Trail. It's an easy hike and the kids explored the caves for hours," shares a camper from Turkey Ridge Campground.

Fishing at multiple locations: Several lakes in the area offer good fishing, particularly during early morning hours. "Great little spot right off the interstate. Lots of nice scenery and decent fishing," reports a camper at Dutchman Lake Camp.

Rock climbing: The limestone bluffs throughout the region provide natural climbing opportunities of varying difficulty. Most climbing areas require a short hike from established campgrounds, with routes suitable for beginners through experienced climbers.

Swimming at Rend Lake: This large lake about 70 miles north of Pomona offers clean swimming areas. "The beach is also tidy and free of alot of trash, perfect for the youngsters to play in," according to a visitor at North Marcum Day Use Area.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the natural buffers between tent areas. "The walk up primitive sites are secluded, wooded, and within a pit toilet and water source," explains a reviewer at Backpack Campground.

Trail access: The direct connections between camping areas and hiking networks rank highly with visitors. "There are lots of well maintained trails to hike... hikes that include bluffs, caves, creeks, etc," shares a Turkey Ridge Campground camper.

Wildlife viewing: The diverse habitats support abundant wildlife observation opportunities. "The lake surface had a lot of bug activity - no thanks! We pulled in around midnight and left at 8 am. Very peaceful!" reports a visitor to Dutchman Lake Camp.

Ease of access: Some primitive sites offer surprisingly convenient entry points. "We chose a grassy space next to the curve in the road. Very peaceful! No bugs," notes another Dutchman Lake Camp visitor.

Fall colors: Many campers specifically mention September and October as ideal months for viewing foliage. The higher elevation ridges throughout Shawnee National Forest provide panoramic views of the changing colors.

What you should know

Outhouses vary in quality: The vault toilet facilities receive mixed reviews across campgrounds. "There are 'out houses' close by. Although they were pretty bad my buddy said 'storm of flies came shooting out the hole like a tornado,'" warns a Turkey Ridge Campground visitor.

Firewood availability: Several campers mention challenges finding adequate firewood. "Only issue I found at all was firewood is surprisingly difficult to come by," notes a Backpack Campground visitor.

Road conditions to remote sites: Some access roads require careful navigation, especially after rain. "The road is deceptively smooth. Ruts and water crossings appear suddenly," cautions a camper attempting to visit Buck Ridge Campground.

Seasonal closures: Several campgrounds in the area operate on limited schedules, typically March through December. Always verify current operating status before planning remote camping trips.

Cell service: Coverage varies widely throughout the region, with higher ridges typically offering better connectivity. "Beautiful Verizon works well," notes a Dutchman Lake visitor regarding signal strength.

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites with amenities: For camping with children, prioritize campgrounds with reliable facilities. "The campground is wonderful! There are lots of well maintained trails to hike... hikes that include bluffs, caves, creeks, etc," recommends a Willow Springs Campground visitor.

Plan for insects: The humid environment supports active insect populations, particularly after rainfall. Pack appropriate repellents and consider tent sites away from standing water sources.

Check trail difficulty ratings: Many trails feature rough terrain or significant elevation changes. "Rebman trail is good for anyone including little kids," advises a Turkey Ridge Campground camper regarding family-friendly hiking options.

Visit waterfalls after rain: Seasonal waterfalls throughout the area flow most impressively following rainfall. Plan visits accordingly, but be aware of potentially slippery conditions on trails leading to falls.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup availability: Most campgrounds near Pomona offer primarily tent camping with minimal RV amenities. "We camped at the primitive area spot 11. Spots are pretty dam close to each other," notes a Turkey Ridge camper about the limited space.

Site selection matters: When RV camping is available, careful site selection improves the experience. "Stayed here 3 nights in travel trailer. Water available to fill your holding tank and in couple of locations in campground. #35 is a nice location. Large yard and not super close to other campers," advises a Turkey Ridge Campground visitor.

Bring leveling equipment: Many sites throughout the region feature uneven terrain. "It's a level spot with gravel, so it's a 'clean' place in damp weather," notes a visitor to Apple Creek Conservation Area about one of the better-maintained sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pomona, 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 Pomona, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Pomona, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.