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Best Tent Camping near Winfield, IL

505 Reviews

Tent camping options near Winfield, Illinois include several primitive sites within a short drive. MacQueen Forest Preserve offers secluded tent sites with walk-in access along gravel paths and mowed trails. Channahon State Park Campground provides tent-only sites with hike-in or walk-in access. Kayak Morris features riverfront tent camping with water access, while McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove has walk-in tent sites available from April through October.

Most tent campgrounds in the area require campers to walk in from parking areas. MacQueen Forest Preserve features nine primitive tent sites spaced approximately 50 yards apart, providing privacy uncommon in the region. Sites typically include fire pits and picnic tables, with vault toilets available but limited drinking water. Campers should bring their own potable water, as many locations have pumps marked "not for drinking." Several campgrounds maintain self-check-in systems with payment boxes in parking areas. Primitive tent sites at MacQueen Forest Preserve cost only $4-5 per night, making them affordable options for tent campers.

"This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs," wrote one camper about MacQueen Forest Preserve. The primitive tent sites offer varying experiences, with some located in wooded areas and others in open meadows ideal for stargazing. Several campgrounds provide access to water features, with Kayak Morris offering direct river access for fishing and paddling. Tent campers frequently mention the privacy between sites at MacQueen, with another reviewer noting it's "so awesome, you really don't want to tell people about it." Some locations experience train noise at night, which may affect light sleepers. Most tent sites in the area are well-maintained with freshly mowed areas and clean facilities, though amenities remain basic and aligned with primitive tent camping expectations.

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Best Tent Sites Near Winfield, Illinois (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Winfield, IL

17 Photos of 10 Winfield Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Winfield, IL

505 Reviews of 10 Winfield Campgrounds

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

    MacQueen Forest Preserve

    Secluded Hike-in Tent Campsites on the Kish

    This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs. There is one wheelchair accessible tent site on a blacktop path in the forest canopy. This is a very primative campground with 1 set of Vault toilets. The other campsites require a walk/hike along a gravel path for completely wooded sites or cross a football sized meadow for open air sites. There are several well-water pumps "not for drinking." Each campsite has a fire pit and a picnic table. Pack out your garbage for the dumpster in the parking lot. There are only 9 sites total. VERY private and secluded. Tents only! Massive forest preserve area for excellent hiking. Some fellow campers were doing a diy tubing right to the campground. (About a 2 hr lazy river tube from Kingston or 5hrs from Genoa on the slow moving S. Branch of the Kishwaukee River which can be pretty deep in places.) Absolutely NO ALCOHOL. Cost for tent sites is only $4 per tent or tent-like structure. There are primitive cabins for rent and a large lodge if you rented the structure for an event here. By their facebook page, it looks like there have been beautiful weddings here. This is a former scout camp flanked by more forest preserves. The ranger is very nice and the entrance is locked from sunset to sunrise. I hesitated even posting this tent-camping primitive heaven, because I almost want to keep it for myself and the locals. Please practice leave no trace and follow the rules if you go so this place stays open. Dog friendly, but must be leashed all of time or a $50 fine. My dog loved the trails and river crossings! Gorgeous hidden gem about an hour into cornfield country from Chicago NW suburbs like Woodfield Mall. I had cell service at one spot in the parking lot, but it was fleeting with T-mobile. A fellow camper had the best private spot (#2) which other than the ada site was the best because it was closest to the parking lot, yet she still had a festival/yard cart to pull her gear up a gravel path. Make sure you bring yours or are outfitted with backpacking gear. Like anywhere, prevent insect deforestation and don't bring firewood, it's fine, they have plenty.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • H
    May. 22, 2025

    Whitetail Campground — Illini State Park

    Place felt abandoned, needed weed-whacker

    I camped there the week before Memorial day weekend--not exactly peak season, but not exactly off-season either.  I arrived at about a quarter to five on a Sunday, and surprisingly the office was closed.  So was the camp store, where I'd hoped to buy local firewood.

    I was left to find my campsite on my own, which was easier said than done. One sign pointed the way to Whitetail Campground--but below it said "Closed for the Season." This made no sense as I'd made the reservation via the Illinois DNR website. The signage in other parts of the park was so minimal that I spent about 20 minutes wandering the grounds until I finally found my site.  A couple of signs were missing letters, and some of the site number signs were angled in such a way that they couldn't be read from the road..

    At one point I tried calling the number listed for Illini State Park on the DNR website. I didn't even hear ringing--I just heard a strange tone, even though the name "Illini State Park" appeared on my phone confirming I had the right number.

    I'd reserved a site with electrical hookups, but the hookups were actually on the site net door, which, luckily, wasn't occupied.  But my 25 foot power cord was insufficient to reach the hookups.  I had to drive an hour round-trip to the Menard's in Morris to pick up a 50 foot cord.

    The site was so overgrown with weeds that I couldn't find a place to put up my tent that was also a safe distance from the firepit.  The neighboring firepit was just about 10-15 feet from our picnic bench--had the next site been occupied, our privacy would have been a joke even in this wooded area. So perhaps it was just as well that I couldn't find firewood.

    The potable water pump about 150 feet from the site didn't seem to work--I tried pumping it, opening and closing the handle, but no water. So I had to rely on the ginger ale packed in my cooler for liquid refreshment--it was either that, or go back to town again.

    I was hearing reports that there might be as much as three inches of rain in the area falling in the next 24 hours so I went to the office at about 11 am the next morning. This time the office was actually open.  I told them about the water pump and they were a bit confused because they heard reports that the other water pump at Whitetail was broken too.  I asked them what the likelihood was that my site could turn into a lake of mud with such rain and they said it was possible so I decided to depart early. As I drove back to my site, I noticed that the staff person managed to get the water pump going--he explained to me that after pulling the handle back, it needed to be pulled back an extra notch further.  It would have been nice for there to have been a sign telling people that, as I had not intended to finish a six-pack of ginger ale in one night.

    There's a difference between a "primitive" site (which, as I paid extra for electrical hookups, this was not) and one that just simply isn't maintained. I wonder if there's even any security at the park at night.  The campground has rules, such as no alcohol, which is valid given the way people act when they have a few drinks within them. But I wondered who would be there to enforce the rules.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 12, 2020

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Well maintained and clean

    Very impressed with this state park! It was huge, almost 3 miles just to our site! The showers were clean. The spots were large and wooded with nice fire ring set ups. The staff was very helpful answering any questions and giving recommendations. We stayed on a primitive/wilderness site for $12 with no electric. They will allow anyone on these sites-we even saw huge RV'S and 5th wheels on primitive sites.

    There are amazing trails through park for people to hike, bike, or ride horse on.

    Spring Grove is a tiny town nearby with a little corner bar called “The Grove”. They serve amazing food with great service. Very clean! I recommend checking it out if you’re looking for some good food.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 15, 2021

    MacQueen Forest Preserve

    Beautiful primitive campground I almost don't want to tell anyone about

    $4 individual primitive site

    Note: if you cannot sleep to the sound of trains at night, this is not the campground for you. I don't mind them at all, and rather enjoy the sound, but there were probably three of them that went by in the middle of the night rather close to the campground. There's a little bit of road noise, but not disturbing at all in the middle of the night. There's also a river on one side of the campground, but it can only be heard if you were at one particular campsite.

    This is one of those places that's so awesome, you really don't want to tell people about it. It used to be an old boy scout camp, and now they let the public use it. There are eight primitive campsites here, and they're spread out at least 50 yards apart. That's right, at least 50 yards. You can't see the campsite next to you, and they all have a picnic table and a fire ring. You do have to walk into all of them, but they do have one wagon and a dolly you can use to tote things in. It's an easy walk, on a crushed gravel road and mowed trail, and they do have one space near the parking lot that's handicap accessible. About half of the campsites are in a meadow at the back end of the campground. It would be beautiful for stargazing! There's also a giant fire pit with benches. The perfect area for a small group camp (as long as each party paid for the campsite that's back there).

    There's vault toilets and the one I used wasn't terrible, but it is primitive. There's even a light switch inside with a functioning light! There is a ranger house at the very front, and I get the impression that there's the possibility that someone actually lives there. The campsite looked very well maintained, like it had been freshly mowed around the edges.

    Even if the rangers don't actually live here, they're here regularly and it's obvious.

    The very best part? You're in the middle of the country, with gorgeous sunsets, and the primitive camping is only $4.

    There is water, but it is not, I repeat is not, potable.

    There are trash cans and dumpsters. There's also a lodge and pavilion which can be rented out for separate cost.

    I'll definitely be back next time I'm through this area. It's all self-checking, you just use the pay box in the parking lot.

Guide to Winfield

Tent camping around Winfield, Illinois centers on several forest preserves and state parks located within a 30-mile radius of the suburb. The area features relatively flat terrain with elevations ranging from 600-750 feet and experiences humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Spring flooding affects low-lying campsites, particularly those near the Kishwaukee, Des Plaines, and Illinois rivers that run through the region.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Kayak Morris, campers report excellent fishing conditions at the river confluence. "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!" notes camper Sam Murphy M.

Paddling excursions: Kayaking is particularly popular on the calmer waterways. "I have my own kayak and the river here is so awesome. My friends rented the dual kayaks and they loved them," says Art P. about Kayak Morris. The outfitter offers nighttime paddling events, with one camper mentioning "had my first experience of a lit up kayak tour for fireworks."

Trail biking: The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail provides excellent cycling routes connecting several campgrounds. "The trail is crushed gravel and is a beautiful ride," notes Art S. about Channahon State Park Campground. The path serves as a convenient route for cyclists traveling longer distances between Chicago and western Illinois.

What campers like

Private campsites: MacQueen Forest Preserve stands out for its exceptionally spaced sites. "There are eight primitive campsites here, and they're spread out at least 50 yards apart. That's right, at least 50 yards. You can't see the campsite next to you," writes Amy G.

Affordability: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the reasonable fees at several preserves. Marcus D. notes about MacQueen Forest Preserve: "I will definitely be going back this year especially since it's close to me and it's only $5/night."

Direct water access: Waterfront camping provides immediate recreation options. One camper at Kayak Morris explains, "We brought our own kayaks and launched right from our campsite which was amazing but they rent kayaks for pretty cheap if you don't have your own."

What you should know

Transportation requirements: Most sites require carrying gear from parking areas. At McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove, campers note: "We didn't realize this was a walk-in campground, the details on the Will county site were vague... We have a small, motorcycle trailer so we ended up rolling down hill 100 yds. then back again after our 2 night stay."

Water availability: While some campgrounds have water sources, potability varies. Brian O. at McKinley Woods notes: "Water is available by an old fashioned pump, and is drinkable, but cloudy."

Train noise: Several campgrounds experience regular train disturbances. Amy G. warns: "If you cannot sleep to the sound of trains at night, this is not the campground for you. I don't mind them at all, and rather enjoy the sound, but there were probably three of them that went by in the middle of the night."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection strategy: Some campsites offer better family accommodations. At McKinley Woods, "All sites have enormous banquet sized picnic tables with cut-out in the bench for wheelchairs" according to Brian O., making them suitable for larger groups.

Weather preparation: Low-lying areas can flood during heavy rain. Camp Shabbona Woods camper Jeffrey L. notes camping conditions vary: "Definitely felt the urban community close by with ambulances and firetrucks noises in the background... No electric or water hook ups, can't keep your vehicle close to your campsite."

Accessibility considerations: Some campgrounds offer better accommodations for those with mobility needs. Scott M. mentions that Shabbona Woods is "set up very well for first time campers or new people interested in trying out camping" making it appropriate for families new to tent camping near Winfield.

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: Traditional RV camping is scarce around Winfield, with most sites accommodating only tents. For RV alternatives near the Winfield area, Eric R. notes that at Kayak Morris, "25 sites to choose from, they fill up fast on weekends so plan to make reservations early."

Glamping alternatives: Families wanting comfort without full RVs can find glamping options. Eric R. explains that at Kayak Morris, "the glampouts are a blast" and mentions "morning breakfast after the glampout night provided by the staff, good food and quite environment."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Winfield, IL is Kayak Morris with a 4.9-star rating from 11 reviews.

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

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