Best Tent Camping near Tinley Park, IL

Tent camping near Tinley Park, Illinois provides access to several walk-in tent sites and primitive campgrounds within a 30-40 mile radius. The area features tent-only options like Channahon State Park Campground, McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove, and the Illinois and Michigan Canal backpacking sites. Camp Shabbona Woods in South Holland offers tent campsites in a more developed setting, while Davis Creek Campground at Kankakee River State Park provides walk-in tent sites approximately 25 miles south of Tinley Park.

Most tent campgrounds in the region require reservations, particularly during peak summer months. Walk-in tent sites at Channahon State Park and McKinley Woods feature vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, though amenities vary by location. Water access differs significantly between sites - McKinley Woods provides drinking water via an old-fashioned pump (though water may appear cloudy), while other primitive tent camping areas require bringing your own water supply. Park closing times affect tent campers, with McKinley Woods closing at 8 PM during summer months and earlier in off-season. The camping season generally runs April through October, though Channahon State Park offers year-round tent camping opportunities.

The tent camping experience near Tinley Park features several waterside options and trail-accessible sites. Channahon State Park provides shaded tent sites surrounded by trees with direct access to the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail, making it popular with bicycle tourists. According to reviews, "This is a nice, shady place to stop along the I&M Canal Trail." McKinley Woods offers more spacious walk-in tent sites with varying levels of shade and seclusion. One camper noted, "The sites are far apart, #1 is the shadiest and most secluded but uneven." Tent campers should be prepared for potential flooding during heavy rains at some sites, particularly at McKinley Woods. Backcountry tent camping enthusiasts will appreciate the Illinois and Michigan Canal sites, which require hiking in with all necessary supplies.

Best Tent Sites Near Tinley Park, Illinois (10)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Tinley Park, IL

505 Reviews of 10 Tinley Park Campgrounds


  • H. K.
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Camp Bullfrog Lake

    Nice but very little shade

    We stayed in the primitive tent area near the back of the park. It is walk in.

    There was a pole for a lantern, a picnic table, a fire ring and tent pad. There is one clean flush toilet and shower per each gender (the shower stall was spacious with plenty of hooks and benches). There were also vault toilets not too far away. The water spigot was pretty far away though. There were plenty of garbage cans.

    There were a few small trees but very little shade. On hot days I think a pop up shade shelter would be necessary to make it bearable.

    Overall it was pretty quiet.

    The last night we were there a large group of people with their tents showed up. There were not enough tent pads or picnic tables for all of them. I don't know if it was the park that booked so many people or if it was the group that overbooked.

  • H
    May. 26, 2022

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Great stay, come ready

    We stayed two nights in mid-May, at site number 72. Area was gorgeous, well maintained, shady and quiet. Tons of hiking trails in very close proximity to the campground! There is electricity on site, but no water or sewage at each site. However there is a water fill station and a dump station. So just come prepared. Also, they have a very strict no alcohol policy. Not that that stopped people, but don't go walking around with a beer bottle! We would definitely return.

  • D
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Paul Wolff Campground

    No showers

    We would gladly stay here again!

    Great campsite with the best staff ever! The sites are clean and very well maintained. We loved the staff patrolling the grounds. The trail system is great for walking the dogs. And I even grew to like the no alcohol in the preserve rule.

    The vault toilets are clean but smell like vault toilets at 95 degrees. There is one very clean flush toilet building but no showers. They don't advertise showers, but this is the newest and nicest campsite I have seen without showers. There is some shade, but you have to search for it.

  • Marisa A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2020

    Paul Wolff Campground

    Great value Chicago suburb campsite

    I've camped here four different occasions this 2020 covid-19 year. The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms. It is a super clean campground with multiple hosts and forest preserve staff. There are a large number of RV pads overlooking the prairie and a few along a grove of trees. I was lucky once to see the equestrian area full of campers with their horses. There are 9 walk-in tent sites about 10-20 yards from parking (the two at the end p7 and p9 are connected for groups that know each other). There are multiple ada sites and two "walk-in/ie roll-in" site in the tent-only area. It's a good mix of young people, retired people, and families. I've seen weekends with mainly RVs and one weekend with a quarter of the drive-in sites being tents. The most shaded sites are p1,3,5,7 and 9. Many of the sites in the middle are wide open with little shade but nice summer breezes. Prices are a great deal if you live in Kane county but still worth the trip if you live in another county. Firewood is $7 for about .75 cu ft (what you can fit in a milk crate.) There are a few trails and I've seen lots of butterflies, gold finches, hawks, deer, flocks of giant sandhill cranes, rabbits, ground squirrels, and of course actual squirrels. Lots of people (including me) bring their leashed dogs. The other campers have been polite and friendly. I wish there was more distance between sites in the water/electrical loops for more privacy, but I'd go every weekend if I lived in Kane county because it would be worth the resident price even tho there are so many RVs. Because there is electrical it is a peaceful campground with no generator noise.

  • Elizabeth G.
    Oct. 5, 2021

    Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    Pleasant and quiet

    Stayed in site 43 of the Douglas loop. Douglas loop is all non electric.

    Our site was big enough for our tents, a picnic table and fire ring. The bathrooms/showers are really close by which is nice but you do get the lights from the bathroom facing site 43. Not a big deal but if you’re looking for more darkness then definitely choose one of the other sites around 43.

    All parking sites are paved for camper vans/trailers but no water or power hookups. All sites have nice huge tent pads that are nice and level. Only noise we heard was the train every now and then.

    The showers are individual rooms separate from the bathrooms. And there’s a gas station and liquor store near the entrance of the campground for fire wood and beer.

    I didn’t get to stay in the walk in campsites but they are very nice and close-ish to the showers.

  • J
    Sep. 18, 2019

    Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park

    Woods near the river

    Went tent camping here and reserved our spot in advance. We bought fire wood from a locals front lawn at the entrance to the state park. Put 5$ in the bin and take a bundle. Its 30 mins away from Starved Rock and Matthiesson State Park. Good hiking. The river spots are all booked by large RVs and the tent spots have grills over the fire pits and picnic tables. lots of tree cover which came in handy when it rained in the morning. Otherwise great weather and not buggy. Dogs allowed.

  • Chris M.
    Nov. 26, 2020

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Clean & Spacious

    We pulled in around 4:30 in the evening. The sight was spacious with plenty of room in between sites. Since the weather was cooler , it was pretty sparse with other campers. We stayed 2 nights over the weekend. You are within walking distance to the beach within the park. The buildings have great architecture. The sight had 50 amp electric hook ups but no water or sewer connections, and we knew that going in. We had a back in sight #69. There was plenty of space on all sides. We have a 37’ motorhome and pulled a Jeep behind it. There was plenty of room to maneuver around. The sight also had a wood picnic table and fire ring for a wood fire pit. We will definitely be back! I wish I had taken more photos from the beach and beach pavilion.

  • Emma H.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great for our 2 person campout!

    My fiancé and I stayed in the Hickory Loop spot 3. We are very new campers, so we just have a very basic tent setup. When we checked in with the host, there were bundles of firewood for $8 (either cash or cash app). The spots are not huge, and not super private (you have next door and across the street neighbors), but we didn’t mind that! There were two outlets available, and a small rectangular fire pit with a grate on top. There are a few water pumps and vault toilets within walking distance, but we were pretty close to the shower house, which had stalls for toilets and showers. The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!

    It rained a ton during our trip so we didn’t explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2022

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Outer Circle

    We reserved a spot in the outer circle. We like having woods on one side. Nice campground camping….parking pad, fire ring, picnic table. Good amount of space between spots. Nice bathrooms & showers. We have a rooftop tent and we’re very happy. Loved the hike over “Mt. Tom” to the gorgeous beach and warmish lake for a swim. We choose the State Park vs. National Park so we could hike to the beach.


Guide to Tinley Park

Tent camping near Tinley Park, Illinois offers several waterfront options within a 25-40 mile radius. The region features a mix of walk-in sites, boat-accessible campgrounds, and primitive camping areas that typically operate from April through October, though some sites remain open year-round. Several locations require advance booking, particularly on summer weekends, with some parks implementing early closure times between 8-10 PM.

What to do

Kayaking river confluences: At Kayak Morris, campers can paddle at the meeting point of major waterways. "Between me and my buddies we caught over 50 striper. I don't know if its the river convergence or the lake but they bite here hard!" reports Sam Murphy M.

Fishing the Kankakee River: Mac Finn's Landing provides excellent angling opportunities with calm waters. "One of the best no wake zones and fishing banks on the Kankakee River imo! Lots of access to great fishing holes up the Kankakee and Iroqouis Rivers," notes Raven Rock S.

Cycling the canal trail: The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail connects several campgrounds in the region, making it ideal for bike touring. "The trail is crushed gravel and is a beautiful ride," reports Art S., who found it "a nice stopping distance if you are riding from Chicago to Starved Rock."

What campers like

Waterfront proximity: Kayak Morris offers sites directly on the Illinois River. "We stayed when there were not many people there so we had plenty of space but could see it getting crowded when it's full. We brought our own kayaks and launched right from our campsite," explains Amanda W.

Privacy between sites: At Central Avenue Walk-in Sites in Indiana Dunes National Park, campers appreciate the seclusion. "The spot was clean. It's far enough off the trail that it provides plenty of privacy. The walk to the beach was not too long," shares Don W.

Accessibility features: Some locations offer ADA-compliant facilities. "In McKinley Woods proper there is a large camping area and two of the sites have concrete pads for ADA accessibility," notes Scott N., who particularly enjoyed the connecting trail system.

What you should know

Weather and flooding risks: Some sites experience flooding during heavy rain. "Nothing was mentioned about this site being a flood zone. Our night went from on and off light rain to three hours of down pour rain. With that said our site was flooded once we woke up. We had three inches up the the fire pit," cautions Rita S.

Urban proximity effects: Camp Shabbona Woods in South Holland reminds campers they're near civilization. "Definitely felt the urban community close by with ambulances and firetrucks noises in the background. They close the gates after 10pm was weird but overall ok," reports Jeffrey L.

Park closure times: Several parks enforce strict closing hours that affect access. "The park closes early, 8PM in summer, and earlier still off season. Check the fine print on your reservation!" advises Brian O.

Tips for camping with families

First-timer friendly sites: Camp Shabbona Woods offers an approachable introduction to camping. "Camp suite is set up very well for first time campers or new people interested in trying out camping. The campgrounds do not have a lot of shade as new saplings are still growing," notes Scott M.

Educational opportunities: Several locations offer nature programming. "Caretakers were very helpful and did a great job keeping the campground clean," adds Scott M., highlighting the supportive staff environment.

Special events access: Some campgrounds organize unique experiences for families. "Had my first experience of a lit up kayak tour for fireworks," shares Eric R., describing one of the organized activities available at certain locations.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most tent-oriented campgrounds near Tinley Park have minimal RV amenities. "No electric or water hook ups can't keep your vehicle close to your campsite," notes Jeffrey L.

Alternative accommodations: For those without equipment, rentals might be available. "Camp sites are dotted next to the shore of the river, there's kayak rentals, and there's enough space for multiple tents on one site. If you forgot your tent they rent them out as well," explains Eric R.

Organized gatherings: Some locations host special events for groups. "The glampouts are a blast," mentions Eric R., adding that "morning breakfast after the glampout night provided by the staff, good food and quite environment" makes for a memorable experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Tinley Park, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Tinley Park, IL is Camp Shabbona Woods with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Tinley Park, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.