1 campground with availability next weekend
Tent camping near Richmond, Illinois ranges from affordable primitive tent sites to backpacking campsites across the state border. MacQueen Forest Preserve stands out as a primitive tent-focused campground with nine secluded sites spread across both wooded and meadow settings. The Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles northeast, offers backpacking tent sites like Shelter 1 that provide a more remote wilderness experience for tent campers.
MacQueen Forest Preserve tent sites feature basic amenities including fire pits and picnic tables, with campsites spaced approximately 50 yards apart for privacy. Sites require a walk-in approach on gravel paths or across meadows, with the campground providing wagons and dollies to transport gear. Vault toilets are available, but non-potable water is the only water source on site. A review mentioned, "This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs." The self-service check-in system and $4-5 per night fee make this an affordable option for tent campers seeking solitude.
The tent sites at MacQueen Forest Preserve are positioned to maximize privacy, with some located in wooded settings while others overlook an open meadow ideal for stargazing. Areas farther from the parking lot offer deeper seclusion, with sites 1, 2, and 8 being fully forested and site 8 providing river views. A camper wrote that the sites are "very private and secluded" with no visual contact between neighboring sites. The campground experiences occasional train noise at night and limited cell service. Most tent sites remain available on a first-come, first-served basis, even during peak summer weekends. Trash disposal is available in dumpsters near the parking area, but campers should pack in their own drinking water as on-site water sources are not potable.
from $74 - $100 / night
"You can rent backpacking shelters, at the ranger station in Eagle. The shelter is basically a barn without a front door. It comes with a fire ring, table, and an outhouse!"
"Reservable backpacking sites about 45-60min away from nearest parking. Fire pit, shelter, and picnic table at site.
Really enjoyed the hike through forest to get to this site."
from $21 / night
"This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs. There is one wheelchair accessible tent site on a blacktop path in the forest canopy."
"You can't see the campsite next to you, and they all have a picnic table and a fire ring. You do have to walk into all of them, but they do have one wagon and a dolly you can use to tote things in."
"Great backpack camp site. Decent walk and terrain to get to the site. There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside."
"If your family's perfect camping trip includes saddling up and exploring miles of wooded trails together, the Equestrian Campground at Rock Cut State Park offers a wonderfully peaceful place to spend a"
from $19 / night
TravelerWe got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
ScoutBlackwell has clean bathrooms, offers hiking trails, boating (kayak rentals) or bring your own, fishing, archery, cycling. The gate locks at 7pm but you just call the night guard and he will let you in. They’re only open on Friday, Saturday and holidays. Would definitely stay again. Be aware Winfield Road has a lot of traffic so sites further away from that road are best. Heard coyotes about 3 am both mornings. Rangers were exceptional.
ScoutThe park is beautiful. The water is beautiful. They say it's a gated community, but it's open to the public 9 to 5 daily. At twenty five dollars per person. And then on friday and saturday night, the locals that park here for the summer start their party central including karaoke at the camper next door, and several others. I've never had a camcround with that loud of parties. And it's a weekend event. I like hearing and seeing people having fun but when the manager extends the curfew for the parties she's at (they kind of party hop), it starts to affect the enjoyment of the park. If we had to stay, we'd stay in the S## sites in the back, where you don't hear so much of the partying. And then during the day, the rules began. Kind of like the soup nazi.
TravelerThere’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.
LegendThere’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees. One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.
GuideWe are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
TravelerSimple campsite. We should have brought some leveling blocks, But otherwise my wife and I enjoyed the site for our rental RV. Short 10 minute walk to Lake Michigan. The camp store is fairly robust with friendly people working there. I appreciate that there are 2 lanes for dump/fill stations. My wife and I would absolutely stay here again.
LegendWe had a truly enjoyable stay and would’ve stayed an extra day if our travel schedule would’ve allowed. David was a wonderful host. Greeted us with a smile and escorted us to our site. We had our choice of 2 spots, both lovely. Picnic table and plenty of FREE firewood to keep us cozy. Wild turkeys roamed the grounds as well as the friendly ducks. All in all, a very peaceful evening and a special place.
GuideFor a primitive campground, this was a nice-enough experience.
Pros:
- The sites we stayed in and the others that we noticed seemed sizeable and had nice tree-cover
- Having access to the Ice Age Trail was really neat
- Lake access nearby
Cons:
- On the continuum of vault toilet quality, these were on the less-desirable end. We joked about whether it was scarier to visit them when they were dark or when the lights were on. If you love having fly friends keep you company when nature calls, then these are the bathrooms for you! The bathrooms did get cleaned on Sunday morning, but this didn't help the situation very much.
- No showers
Tent camping near Richmond, Illinois includes options beyond established sites within forest preserves and state parks. Most campgrounds in this area open seasonally from May through October due to the northern Illinois climate, with average summer temperatures in the 80s and periodic thunderstorms. Campers should prepare for occasional overnight temperatures in the 50s even during summer months, especially at higher elevation sites like those in Kettle Moraine.
Fishing access points: MacQueen Forest Preserve offers riverside camping opportunities, with site #8 providing direct views of the Kishwaukee River. A camper noted that "site #8 is by far the best spot on the grounds. Great remote location overlooking the river," though other reviewers mentioned the fishing access points weren't ideal for beginners.
Tubing adventures: The South Branch of the Kishwaukee River provides natural recreation near the campgrounds. Campers have created self-organized tubing routes that end at MacQueen Forest Preserve. According to a review, some "fellow campers were doing a diy tubing right to the campground. About a 2 hr lazy river tube from Kingston or 5hrs from Genoa on the slow moving S. Branch of the Kishwaukee River."
Stargazing opportunities: Several tent sites at MacQueen Forest Preserve are positioned in open meadows specifically suitable for night sky viewing. A reviewer explained that "about half of the campsites are in a meadow at the back end of the campground. It would be beautiful for stargazing!"
Well-maintained facilities: Despite being primitive sites, campers consistently mention the upkeep at local campgrounds. A reviewer at MacQueen noted, "The campsite looked very well maintained, like it had been freshly mowed around the edges... There's vault toilets and the one I used wasn't terrible, but it is primitive. There's even a light switch inside with a functioning light!"
Budget-friendly pricing: Tent camping near Richmond offers exceptional value. KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site is free to use while MacQueen Forest Preserve charges minimal fees. A camper mentioned, "The very best part? You're in the middle of the country, with gorgeous sunsets, and the primitive camping is only $4."
Privacy between sites: The spacing between campsites is frequently highlighted as a major advantage. At MacQueen, a reviewer observed, "There are eight primitive campsites here, and they're spread out at least 50 yards apart. That's right, at least 50 yards. You can't see the campsite next to you."
Transportation considerations: Many campgrounds require walking to reach sites. At Snug Harbor Inn Campground, tent sites are specifically positioned on upper terraces. A visitor explained, "The property is basically terraced along a slope down to the lake, with the RV and mobile home sites closer to the lake. The tent sites are above it all with decent views of the lake below."
Water availability: Non-potable water is common at primitive sites. One MacQueen camper cautioned, "There is water, but it is not, I repeat is not, potable," while another advised to "pack out your garbage for the dumpster in the parking lot."
Overnight noise factors: Train noise affects several campgrounds in the area. A MacQueen camper warned, "if you cannot sleep to the sound of trains at night, this is not the campground for you. I don't mind them at all, and rather enjoy the sound, but there were probably three of them that went by in the middle of the night rather close to the campground."
Group site layouts: For families camping together, Snug Harbor Inn Campground offers clustered sites. A reviewer pointed out that "Snapper 4, 5, 6 and 7 would be nice for group camping because they are all very close to one another and a bit more private, set away from the rest of the campsites."
Accessible options: Families with mobility concerns can find dedicated sites. At MacQueen Forest Preserve, "There is one wheelchair accessible tent site on a blacktop path in the forest canopy," and the campground provides equipment to help transport gear, as "they do have one wagon and a dolly you can use to tote things in."
Weather preparedness: Northern Illinois weather can change quickly. One winter camper at MacQueen reported having a "Great time minus the winter squall that rolled through our first night," emphasizing the importance of proper gear and weather monitoring even during typical camping seasons.
Three-tiered camping layouts: Snug Harbor Inn Campground offers a unique terraced design for both RVs and tents. A camper described it as a "Great three tiered camping spot. Full hookup, and great views. Has a pub/restaurant with good food."
On-site amenities: For RVers seeking more developed facilities, Snug Harbor provides services not found at primitive sites. A reviewer appreciated that "The campground sells ice, firewood and rents boats," and another noted their "first time" experience was positive because "Staff was great, helped me back in. Nice Bar/Restaurant on site. Met 2 nice couples which helped with any questions."
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