Best Tent Camping near Murphysboro, IL
Tent campgrounds near Murphysboro, Illinois offer varied options for wilderness camping experiences in the Shawnee National Forest region. Ferne Clyffe State Park provides multiple tent-specific campgrounds including Turkey Ridge Campground and Backpack Campground, both located in Goreville, approximately 30 miles southeast of Murphysboro. Dutchman Lake Camp offers dispersed tent camping with more primitive accommodations for those seeking a more remote experience.
Most tent sites at Ferne Clyffe State Park include basic amenities such as picnic tables, access to drinking water, and toilet facilities. Turkey Ridge Campground provides fire rings and trash collection, while the Backpack Campground requires a short hike to reach tent sites. Tent campers should note that the primitive areas typically have pit toilets rather than modern restrooms. Sites are situated on natural terrain with minimal development, providing an authentic outdoor experience. During peak seasons, particularly summer weekends and fall color periods, tent sites may fill quickly, especially at the more accessible campgrounds.
The tent camping experience in this area features heavily wooded sites with abundant shade from mature oak and sycamore trees. Hiking trails connect directly from most campgrounds, offering access to limestone bluffs, small waterfalls, and diverse forest ecosystems. The Backpack Campground offers more secluded tent sites with fewer neighbors and quieter surroundings. A visitor commented that "Ferne Clyffe State Park has several campgrounds: modern, primitive, youth groups, backpack or equestrian. The backpack sites are secluded, wooded, and within reach of a pit toilet and water source." Tent campers appreciate the relative isolation of these areas compared to the more developed campgrounds that accommodate RVs and other camping styles.
