Best Tent Camping near Springfield, IL
Tent camping options around Springfield, Illinois include several established campgrounds within a 50-mile radius. Waverly Lake City Park offers secluded tent sites with lake access and minimal development. Spitler Woods State Natural Area provides tent camping in a more natural setting, while Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area features tent sites in an open field hillside environment surrounded by forest.
Most tent campsites in the Springfield area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Waverly Lake provides portable toilets but no running water, requiring campers to bring their own supply. Spring Lake offers walk-in tent camping adjacent to parking areas, with vault toilets located uphill from the camping area. Several campgrounds permit fires with established fire rings, though Spitler Woods prohibits open fires. A visitor commented, "It's quiet and peaceful, however there's not much to do. As far as I know there's no running water." Portable toilets at Waverly Lake are kept clean, and the campground enforces a 4-consecutive-day per month limit.
The tent camping experience near Springfield offers opportunities for fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation. Spring Lake State Conservation Area provides access to the Deer Run hiking trail directly from the campground, and the shallow Spring Lake offers numerous fishing opportunities both from shore and boats. Reviews on The Dyrt note that Spring Lake's camping area sits in an open field with forest surroundings, allowing campers to choose sites under trees for shade. Campers should prepare for insects during warmer months, particularly at Waverly Lake, where one camper advised being "mindful of field roaches and raccoons at night" and warned that "mosquitoes are BRUTAL." Most campgrounds remain relatively quiet, with visitors reporting few other campers even during peak seasons, creating a peaceful tent camping experience.