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Best Tent Camping near Ramsey, IL

378 Reviews

Tent campsites near Ramsey, Illinois cluster around several established campgrounds that cater specifically to tent campers seeking access to local waterways and natural areas. Spillway Campground, located near the Lake Shelbyville Dam, offers approximately 20 primitive tent sites alongside full-hookup options. Nearby Kaskaskia River Camp provides basic tent camping facilities with river access. Shady Grove Campground in Hidden Springs State Forest, about 15 miles southeast of Ramsey, offers drive-in tent sites in a forested setting. These locations form a triangle of tent camping options within a 30-minute drive of Ramsey.

Most tent-only sites in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Spillway Campground provides drinking water, picnic tables, showers, and toilets for tent campers at approximately $10 per night for primitive sites. Sites are typically set on level ground with minimal improvements. Walk-in tent sites are available at Spillway, offering slightly more seclusion than drive-up locations. Campers should check seasonal availability, as some facilities operate with limited services during winter months. Most campgrounds permit fires in designated rings when no burn bans are in effect, and many provide firewood for purchase on-site.

According to reviews, Spillway Campground offers a peaceful experience even when located relatively close to town. One camper noted that "even in October it was pretty empty" and described the location as peaceful despite proximity to urban areas. The campground's position along the Kaskaskia River after it leaves Lake Shelbyville provides tent campers with excellent fishing opportunities and water access. Tent campers frequently use these sites as bases for fishing, canoeing, and exploring nearby bike trails. Sullivan Marina and Campgrounds Resort maintains stricter hours, requiring campers to call for entry after 10 PM, but offers clean facilities for tent camping. Primitive tent camping in this region generally provides good access to water recreation with moderate privacy between sites.

Best Tent Sites Near Ramsey, Illinois (7)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Ramsey, IL

378 Reviews of 7 Ramsey Campgrounds

  • Aaron B.
    Jun. 16, 2019

    Eagle Creek State Park Campground

    Wooded Solitude / Family Friendly

    Review of Drive In Tent Camping Site 2. Showed up on a Thursday night and had our pick of all the drive in and walk in sites. We decided on site 2 in the drive in area. Previous reviews and a book by John Schirle on Tent Camping in Illinois helped us with this decision as well. Decent maintained sites with some older picnic tables and fire rings, but let's be honest this stuff sits outside 24/7. Site 2 seemed to sit back the farthest with site 1 a close second. Both wooded sites that made for great shade and helped some when it was raining. Any two families looking for two sites could certainly set up and share the experience. Nice little cove behind them to try fishing. Just watch the hike down the path or ravine. Dog friendly, fresh water supply (hint put the handle all the way up and wait a few seconds), ability to store stuff in the car close by, outhouse toilets visible at the walk in parking lot, and helpful host for easy check in who even sells fire wood made for a great few days ($5 a bundle). Rated B/S site at a cost of $10 a night.

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 2, 2017

    Eagle Creek State Park Campground

    Great Lakeside Camping

    I have camped here in the past and enjoy primitive tent camping so I stayed Friday September 29th and Saturday September 30th in the tent camping drive up site #2. There is also a tent camping walk in area with 2 lake front sites that are about 150 yards from the parking area and about eight other sites in between. There is a building with men's and women's flush toilets here for both primitive campgrounds. These are cheaper campsites than in the RV area where you have the shower house, nicer bathrooms and electric hookups. There are lots of nice shaded sites in these campgrounds and all have fire ring grates, lantern posts, picnic tables and some have pole mounted campstove tables as well. The camp hosts do a great job keeping this place clean, maintaining a quiet campground and supplying firewood for the campers. The park has a boat ramp, playground areas, the Chief Illini trail plus a couple short trails. There is a golf course and a run down lodge / hotel that has been closed for several years. There is tons of deer and other animals to watch and watch out that they don't steal your food while you are sleeping. The wild life is great for photography and makes for some good fireside stories.

    This is my second favorite place to camp on the lake, although not as peaceful as Lone Point it does have the Chief Illini trailhead here and makes for nice round trip hiking camping adventures.

    This park is open year round so the fantastic camping in spring and fall are available. You should watch out for hunters in the area when bow season starts October 1st.

  • Susan L.
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

    5 stars with a caveat

    This is a beautiful state park, but hopefully you won’t have the same experience I did with the electric hookup. I stayed here right after the fourth of July and because of the heat over this holiday weekend and a completely full campground, the electricity couldn’t meet the demand and a transformer blew. By the time I arrived the transformer was repaired, however the pedestals in the section I was supposed to stay in had a problem. I was supposed to stay in site 27, but after 3 attempts to get power at 3 different sites, number 24 was the winner and this was a great site! The campground hosts were fantastic in resolving the situation as well.

    Site 24 is huge and level with a picnic table and fire ring. Electric but no water at site. The site is totally private on one side because of a lake inlet and there’s a large back area right on the lake. The gravel pad is located right near a large, old bald cypress. 

    This park has multiple public use areas, 2 campgrounds, boat launches, fishing piers and a beach. I didn’t use the public restrooms because they were closed due to Covid-19. I was able to get internet with Verizon. 

    This state park felt like it was dropped into the middle of cornfields and made for a fun drive. The sunset views and stars were awesome!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2020

    Beaver Dam State Park Campground

    Saw no Beaver

    Beaver Dam State Park, Il

    We did an overnighter here. We arrived in time to get a hike in before dinner meal.

    The trail map is very basic and not totally accurate. The trails are poorly marked but with basic knowledge of your compass points you can figure them out. Staff may be limited due to Corona , so the trail maintenance may have suffered, it is overgrown in several areas. The overlook to the marsh is pretty cool. I found no mileage for the trails , there may be a purchasable map with more information or of course a trail App. The lake is picturesque and busy. Lotsa fisher people here. The trail goes all the way around the lake with several fishing spots. Theres a boat ramp near the parking area and several docks to use across the lake. A nice feature is located next to the boat ramp, a fish cleaning pavilion complete with pull down hoses.

    The campground had an interesting set up. The sites in the loops are gravel and you have room but not a lot of privacy. I was in site 26 and you have to back between the two other sites into this one. Not difficult in my van but it could get interesting with a camper. I don’t think you would have the room to pull in and circle out. Electric at these sites , no water. There were hydrants spaces throughout for your water needs. The fire “rings” were interesting, with a flat “platform” to set your coals/fire on. Nice campground, I felt like somewhat of an outsider here, the occupants were possibly locals who obviously use the entire 14 day stay limit. Otherwise nice, basic, water activity centered campground. I did not see any swimming areas.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2024

    Dam East - Mcnair Campground

    Location Great for Travel

    McNair ACE: Tate 4 for cleanliness and stopover location for travels on nearby highway. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4 Price 2024: $ 9w interagency pass Security: no Usage during visit: 1/3 Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: no Site Spacing: closer Pad surface: blacktop Reservations: Required Campground Noise: No Outside Road Noise: no Through Traffic in campground: no Electric Hookup: yes Sewer Hookup: no Dump Station: yes Potable Water Available: At site Bathroom: Nice flush Showers: small private Cell Service (AT&T): 2-3 bars Setting: near lake Recent Weather: 80s Insects: no Host: yes Rig Size: large Sites: Outside sites are by far the best. 16,17,18 are favorites .

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2024

    Dam East Recreation Area

    GREAT LOCATION for STOPOVER

    East Dam ACE, IL: Not an interesting view from here, but well maintained campground . Quiet.
    (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4 for cleanliness and location for travels on nearby highway. Spillway is not particularly pretty. Price 2024: $9 w interagency pass Security: No gate Usage during visit: 60% during the week Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: No Site Spacing: Good Pad surface: Blacktop Reservations: Required. Can be made upon arrival through rec.gov Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: No Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: At nearby ACE campground Potable Water Available: At site Bathroom: In adjacent day use area Showers: No. Nearby - check w host. Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: along Kaskasia River/ spillway Recent Weather: 80s Insects: no Host: yes Rig Size: large Sites: Some sites are along the spillway.

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 20, 2017

    Coon Creek (IL)

    Big Campground with great lake access

    I have camped here in a motorhome with full hookups and tent camped as well.

    The camp sites are divided into many loops and have side pullin sites and backin sites. The RV and tent sites are grouped in the same loops and there are many that have trails from the site right to the lake and people leave the boat near the campsite but still on the water. The restrooms and shower houses are clean as all the Lake Shelbyville campgrounds are maintained by the Corps of Engineers. This campground is very busy in the prime camping season, but if you are camping with a group and have a boat this is the place to go. There are several buddy sites here that are set up very well for groups of RV's and tents camping together. There are a few isolated sites on corners of loops, but most are fairly close together. There is a swimming beach here and lots of boat traffic, but quiet hours are observed, so you can get a good night's sleep before an action packed day on the lake. The fishing is good if you have a boat, but there is very little bank fishing areas available. Part of the campground is open after Labor Day, but the main season is Memorial day to Labor day.

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 16, 2017

    Bo Wood

    Campground with all the comforts

    The Forest Bo Wood Recreation area has grown each year since I first camped there in 1979.

    In 2017 it has 150 camping sites, a boat ramp, fish cleaning station, several picnic areas and a bait shop at the entrance on Illinois Route 32 4 miles South of Sullivan. The camp sites all have parking space for a big rig and one vehicle. There are some tent only sites but most have been converted to at least 30 amp electric sites with water hookups near the site. Many lake side sites are available, some years back there was a problem with the bank, but that has been dealt with.

    Bath rooms and shower houses are very clean and there is good bank fishing near the pavilion at the turn around at the west end of the area. There is a marina just 1 mile South and across the bridge another ½ mile is the Sullivan beach. Just 1 more mile South is a Rosatti's pizza located in a gas station with a liquor store. Rossati's delivers pizza's to the 2 campgrounds that are this close to the business. People that love the comforts of home while camping love this campground, so it fills up in the spring and summer months.

    All sites are spacious and include a picnic table, lantern stand, fire pit with grill grate and some have added camp stove stands. I find that October camping at Bo Woods most agreeable with less people tent camping and less boat traffic on the lake. The fishing this time of year is also very good.

  • Aaron B.
    Sep. 6, 2024

    Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

    Lakeside Relaxation

    These walk in sites check all the boxes.  At the western part of the RV loop, is a peninsula of primitive tent camping spots to choose from.  About half the sites were filled by the second day we were there.  We settled on 62, which is spacious and provides access to the path from the front and behind where you can walk into site 64 as well.  A parking area with a single spot for each camp site is well marked and by two vault toilets.  Park staff and host were great.  A decent fishing spot is just in front of site 64.  $8 for IL residents is hard to beat, if you don't need an RV spot with electric.  A water source is also by the parking spots.  The weekend we were there the weather had cooled some and a great breeze was coming off the lake.  Springfield being so close is a bonus.

    The only negative is like any spot and how previous people leave the camp looking before you are there.  Some garbage in the fire pit and random spots are par for the course in any state park.  Pick up the trash and dump it in the dumpster by the parking lot.  Leave the site better than you found it is our motto.

Guide to Ramsey

Tent camping near Ramsey, Illinois offers options ranging from riverside sites to forest campgrounds within a 25-mile radius. The region experiences hot summers with average July temperatures around 87°F and moderate rainfall of approximately 40 inches annually. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 500-600 feet above sea level, providing flat terrain ideal for tent setup.

What to do

Fishing access: Spillway Campground provides direct access to the Kaskaskia River with opportunities for catching catfish, bass, and crappie. A camper noted, "The campground is the only one with full access to the river after it leaves Lake Shelbyville. The fishing here and at the Spillway across the road are very good."

Biking trails: Explore the network of trails accessible from Spillway Campground where visitors have mentioned year-round opportunities. According to one review: "Small campground next to water to fish and bike trails. Great all year."

Water recreation: Bring canoes or rent them on-site at campgrounds along Lake Shelbyville. Sullivan Marina and Campgrounds Resort provides lake access though campers should note the operating schedule: "They have very strict hours, and after 10 PM you have to call to get in the gates. They're very nice about it, though!"

What campers like

Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom and shower facilities despite their rustic settings. At Sullivan Marina, one visitor reported, "This was a great campground with clean facilities."

Year-round accessibility: Unlike some seasonal campgrounds, Spitler Woods State Natural Area maintains campsites throughout different seasons. A regular visitor shared: "Great sites. Plenty to do. Favorite place to camp in Illinois."

Peaceful atmosphere: Even campgrounds relatively close to towns offer quiet experiences. At Spillway Campground, a camper observed that "I camped here in October and it was pretty empty, so even though you are close to town it is peaceful."

What you should know

Campsite verification: Some listings in camping apps may not be accurate. Countryside Escape has been reported as potentially misleading by multiple campers. One reviewer warned: "Didn't find a campground, only someone's home. I didn't approach to ask, since it looks like a private home."

Gate hours: Sullivan Marina enforces strict entry times. A camper advised: "After 10 PM you have to call to get in the gates." Plan arrivals before evening or contact campgrounds about late check-in procedures.

Seasonal variations: Spillway Campground has different occupancy levels depending on the season. "I camped here in October and it was pretty empty," noted one visitor, suggesting off-season camping might offer more solitude.

Tips for camping with families

Activity options: Choose campgrounds with multiple recreation possibilities to keep children engaged. At Spitler Woods, a family camper mentioned: "Plenty to do. Favorite place to camp in Illinois."

Water safety: When camping near Kaskaskia River at Shady Grove Campground, supervise children closely as the current can be unpredictable after rain. Life jackets are recommended for all water activities regardless of swimming ability.

Facility considerations: Select campgrounds with reliable restroom access for families with young children. Sullivan Marina maintains "clean facilities" according to reviews, making it suitable for families needing dependable bathroom access.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Although primarily tent-focused, some campsites accommodate small trailers. At Hidden Ridge, look for sites with suitable clearance for pop-ups or small trailers, but be aware most tent camping areas aren't big-rig friendly.

Amenities access: For tent campers wanting partial RV amenities, Spillway provides "16 full hookup and about 20 overnight primitive campsites at $10 a night," giving options for tent campers who might want to use electrical hookups for charging devices.

Access limitations: Most tent camping areas near Ramsey have restrictions for larger vehicles. Check campground specifications about drive-in access, as some locations require walk-in tent camping from parking areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ramsey, IL is Spillway (IL) with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Ramsey, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Ramsey, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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