Best Tent Camping near Shawnee National Forest
Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois offers several tent camping options ranging from established campgrounds to walk-in primitive sites. Ferne Clyffe State Park features two notable tent-friendly areas: Turkey Ridge Campground and Backpack Campground, both located near Goreville. Camp Cadiz Campground sits at the eastern edge of the forest and serves as a trailhead for the River to River Trail. Tower Rock Campground provides riverside tent camping near Elizabethtown with views of the Ohio River. These locations offer varying levels of amenities while maintaining the rustic character of the region.
Most tent campgrounds in Shawnee National Forest provide basic amenities including vault toilets, fire rings with cooking grates, and picnic tables. Water availability varies by location, with some sites offering potable water from spigots or pumps while others require campers to bring their own. Cell service is limited throughout the region, particularly at riverside or remote locations. The camping season generally runs from March through December, with some sites like Camp Cadiz and Saline County State Conservation Area remaining open year-round. Weather can be unpredictable, with potential for flooding near riverside campsites during spring.
Backcountry tent camping in Shawnee National Forest provides a more secluded experience with access to extensive trail systems. The Backpack Campground at Ferne Clyffe State Park features wooded primitive sites with relatively easy access to water and toilets. According to reviews, these walk-in tent sites are "secluded, wooded, and within a pit toilet and water source." Camp Cadiz offers spacious tent sites that accommodate multiple tents, with one camper noting it's "super quiet despite the gravel road nearby" and has "easy access to the River to River trail." Tower Rock Campground provides a no-frills tent camping experience where, as one visitor described, sites are "spread out well, most have fire ring with grill stand and table, firewood available to gather onsite."