Best Tent Camping near Virginia, IL

Tent campers seeking places to camp near Virginia, Illinois have several options within a 30-mile radius. Waverly Lake City Park offers peaceful tent camping with sites spread out for privacy. Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area provides tent-only walk-in sites in an open field bordered by forest, making it suitable for campers preferring a more primitive experience.

Most tent campgrounds in this region have limited amenities. Waverly Lake features portable toilets that are regularly maintained but no running water. Campers should pack in all necessary water and supplies. Spring Lake provides vault toilets and garbage cans but minimal other facilities. Fire rings are available at several locations, with fires permitted at Waverly Lake and Spring Lake. Hidden Ridge allows campfires and provides firewood on site. A 4-day consecutive stay limit applies at Waverly Lake, typical of other area campgrounds that implement similar restrictions to prevent extended stays.

The tent camping experience near Virginia offers quieter alternatives to more developed campgrounds. Sites at Waverly Lake remain relatively uncrowded, with one camper noting, "I've stayed here a couple times now. Each time there has only been one other person. It's quiet and peaceful." Spring Lake's tent sites sit on an open field hillside with surrounding forest providing some shade options. The Deer Run hiking trail is accessible directly from the campground. Campers at Spring Lake should be prepared for "a long slow drive in to the campground," according to site reviews. Wildlife encounters are common throughout area campgrounds, with reports of deer sightings at Spring Lake and warnings about raccoons and insects at Waverly Lake. Tent campers should come prepared with proper food storage containers and insect repellent, particularly during summer months when mosquitoes can be problematic.

Best Tent Sites Near Virginia, Illinois (5)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Virginia, IL

5 Photos of 5 Virginia Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Virginia, IL

191 Reviews of 5 Virginia Campgrounds


  • Susan L.
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

    5 stars with a caveat

    This is a beautiful state park, but hopefully you won’t have the same experience I did with the electric hookup. I stayed here right after the fourth of July and because of the heat over this holiday weekend and a completely full campground, the electricity couldn’t meet the demand and a transformer blew. By the time I arrived the transformer was repaired, however the pedestals in the section I was supposed to stay in had a problem. I was supposed to stay in site 27, but after 3 attempts to get power at 3 different sites, number 24 was the winner and this was a great site! The campground hosts were fantastic in resolving the situation as well.

    Site 24 is huge and level with a picnic table and fire ring. Electric but no water at site. The site is totally private on one side because of a lake inlet and there’s a large back area right on the lake. The gravel pad is located right near a large, old bald cypress. 

    This park has multiple public use areas, 2 campgrounds, boat launches, fishing piers and a beach. I didn’t use the public restrooms because they were closed due to Covid-19. I was able to get internet with Verizon. 

    This state park felt like it was dropped into the middle of cornfields and made for a fun drive. The sunset views and stars were awesome!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2020

    Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

    Lovely Primitive Campground

    Stayed one night in July. We tent camped in site 1 of the primitive campground. There are 7 sites well spaced with a picnic table, fire ring, trash can and three sided shelter in each site. Pit toilets are in the middle. Each site is along the tree line with plenty of shade. These are walk in sites ranging from 0.10 miles to 0.50 miles from the parking lot. Just $6 a night. Hiking trails, kayaking and fishing are available but we didn’t get a chance to take advantage of those things. Very friendly and helpful campground host drove over from the RV campground to register us and even offered to take our stuff to our site. Great experience. Only 3 sites in use on a Friday night.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2019

    Oak Campground — Sand Ridge State Forest

    Group camping in open area with prickly pear

    This is a group only campground. You also need to reserve this- it’s not one you just show up to. There is a big open field with 2 covered picnic table areas. Each one has 2 tables in it. A standout feature might be the 2 huge fit pits. They each have a nice wood ring that is perfect to sit on for some evening storytelling. One set of vault toilets is off to the side. 

    One drawback is the amount of prickly pear cacti. It is everywhere! There are some free areas to set up a tent but definitely watch where you walk. This camp is also in a clearing so there’s no shade except by the edges. 

    Another option is Pine Campground which is just down the road. There are also individual back country sites that you can backpack to. 

    The natural area has some great hiking (the ranger recommends the green trail). There is also hunting and fishing here. A horse campground around the bend means you might encounter some on the trails. 

    This is a nice area set aside from all other campers but it’s in the open and those cacti are a pain.

  • L
    Oct. 30, 2023

    Siloam Springs State Park Campground

    Hidden Gem of Illinois...

    This site was so much better than what I was expecting! My friend, Kari, her 3 Doodles, my Beagle, and I camped out the first night in the group section, because there's hardly anyone there and we got there too late in the day to actually start hiking. In the morning, we loaded up our packs, put the little packs on the dogs (they have to carry their own food and water), and headed up the Red Oak Backpacking Trail. I don't know if we started at the beginning or not, but we parked by a little wooden bridge and the hill to start off our adventure kinda kicked my ass a little bit. After we made it up the initial incline, the landscape was beautiful and varied from flat areas to valleys and some creeks (which I was very thankful for after a few hours in 90° and 25 lbs on my back). We ended up setting up camp at a spot we thought was nice just before it got dark, because we didn't know where or how much further the primitive hike-in campsites were. The next day, we figured it out, but we wouldn't have made it there before dark. Towards the end, there were stairs built into the earth that were way too difficult to manage when your legs are jelly and your pack is heavy, so it was almost easier trying to take the side of the stairs and make your own little path, so just a heads up there. We had so much fun the whole time and I can't wait to go back for some snow camping later this year (they are open year round)!!!

  • Aaron B.
    Sep. 6, 2024

    Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

    Lakeside Relaxation

    These walk in sites check all the boxes.  At the western part of the RV loop, is a peninsula of primitive tent camping spots to choose from.  About half the sites were filled by the second day we were there.  We settled on 62, which is spacious and provides access to the path from the front and behind where you can walk into site 64 as well.  A parking area with a single spot for each camp site is well marked and by two vault toilets.  Park staff and host were great.  A decent fishing spot is just in front of site 64.  $8 for IL residents is hard to beat, if you don't need an RV spot with electric.  A water source is also by the parking spots.  The weekend we were there the weather had cooled some and a great breeze was coming off the lake.  Springfield being so close is a bonus.

    The only negative is like any spot and how previous people leave the camp looking before you are there.  Some garbage in the fire pit and random spots are par for the course in any state park.  Pick up the trash and dump it in the dumpster by the parking lot.  Leave the site better than you found it is our motto.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 4, 2020

    Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

    Open field hillside camping near a fishing lake

    This campground has walk-in only camping but it’s right next to where you park. It’s a quiet place in an open field surrounded by forest. Choose a campsite under some trees if you like. Vault toilets are up the hill. Garbage cans are plentiful. 

    Deer run hiking trail is right in camp and gets you a bit of a hike. 

    There is lots of fishing opportunity here. Spring lake is long and shallow. They allow pole fishing. We saw people fishing from boats as well as from nicely designed pullouts along the road. 

    Be ready for a long slow drive in to the campground. Follow signs that direct you to the camp office. That’s where the camping is.

  • James D.
    Oct. 1, 2016

    Fulton County Rec Area

    Getting to see the wildlife made this place worth it

    My wife loves birds, and if it weren't for all of the geese on the lake we wouldn't have enjoyed our stay here. There are plenty of sites for tent camping but the one we got wasn't level so we kept sliding our bags off our sleeping pad. There are shower houses but they weren't the best maintained. Being able to bring our dogs was a plus. There wasn't a boat ramp that we saw but you can kayak on the water. Fishing was really just to kill some time because the park itself was pretty boring. Maybe we were just in a funk, or maybe this place was funky. Being around all the water was this places only saving grace.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2022

    Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

    Great Friendly, Family Park

    We certainly didn’t expect the Prairie Lake Campground to be full in late October! Both loops were full, but there was just enough space for us to squeeze in for 2 nights! (A few spaces seemed to be filled with deer hunters who were up and out quite early.) Site has electricity with water centrally located in the center of the loop. We needed a 100 ft fresh water hose to fill up. Luckily a friendly neighbor had one for us to borrow! Nice warm bath house had push button showers with locks on the stalls with a dry space to dress inside the stall. Lake has boat dock with about 6 slips. The point on the lake was a beautiful setting for a fall wedding on Saturday! Lots of families with kids riding bikes around the loop and some playing wiffle ball in the open field. Each spot had a picnic table and fire ring. Our spot, #78 sat under a tree with great shade. Bagged ice is available at 1st host site for $4 and a bundle of firewood for $6

  • John H.
    Sep. 12, 2024

    Waverly Lake City Park

    Nice little lake and camp ground

    I've stayed here a couple times now. Each time there has only been one other person. It's quiet and peaceful, however there's not much to do. As far as I know there's no running water. There are portable toilets that are kept clean. There's also a 4 consecutive day per month limit.


Guide to Virginia

Tent camping near Virginia, Illinois offers a serene escape into nature, with several well-reviewed spots that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $20

Local activities for outdoor enthusiasts

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Virginia, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Virginia, IL is Waverly Lake City Park with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 5 tent camping locations near Virginia, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.