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Best Tent Camping near Yorkville, IL

572 Reviews

State parks and forest preserves surrounding Yorkville, Illinois offer several tent-only camping options within an hour's drive. Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area, located directly in Yorkville, provides walk-in tent sites in a natural setting. For those willing to travel slightly farther, McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove (operating April through October) and Channahon State Park Campground (open year-round) offer tent campsites with basic amenities about 15 miles southeast of Yorkville. These areas provide access to the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail system, making them popular with hikers and cyclists exploring the region.

Most tent campgrounds in the Yorkville area feature unpaved sites on natural surfaces that may include dirt, grass, or forest floor. Walk-in sites typically require carrying gear short distances from parking areas, with some locations providing wagons or carts to assist with transport. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at most locations, though potable water availability varies significantly between sites. Vault toilets are common, but shower facilities are rare at these primitive campgrounds. Weather considerations are important, as some sites in low-lying areas near rivers may experience flooding after heavy rains, particularly at McKinley Woods.

In early spring and late fall, tent campers often find these areas less crowded and more peaceful. According to reviews, MacQueen Forest Preserve (about 30 miles northwest of Yorkville) offers exceptional privacy with "campsites spread out at least 50 yards apart" where "you can't see the campsite next to you." One camper noted that Buffalo Rock State Park Campground provides secluded sites that are "only accessible by walking or biking," making them ideal for those seeking solitude. The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail connects several of these campgrounds, with Channahon State Park described as "a nice, shady place to stop along the I&M Canal Trail" that's particularly convenient for bicycle tourists. Most primitive tent camping areas maintain a 14-day maximum stay limit and require self-registration at entrance kiosks.

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Best Tent Sites Near Yorkville, Illinois (15)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Yorkville, IL

32 Photos of 15 Yorkville Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Yorkville, IL

572 Reviews of 15 Yorkville 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.

  • Kim L.
    Sep. 2, 2019

    Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    Convenient campground for nearby hiking

    The campground is pretty basic. For $25-35 per night, you can get a site with electrical hookup. The east loop has better tree coverage and more privacy. The west loop has more site in a large open space, maybe better for groups. I give 3 stars because there is not much to do at the campground itself. You have to get in your car and drive to any hiking at Starved Rock State park, just 10 min away, and battle the crowds for parking. The campground has just 2 real bathrooms, one for each loop. Each has 2 flush toilets and 2 showers. Showers were pretty rough, no temp control and spraying everywhere but your body. Some portapotties are scattered around, but pretty ripe by the end of August. Use the woods. There are 2 small playgrounds, but one is just a swing set. So if you have kiddos, there is not much for them to entertain themselves with at the campground- no hiking trails, no pond or fishing or swimming, no DNR programs, etc. Park has posted signed that there is ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL allowed, so keep it private and quiet. that being said, the hiking in the general area is awesome!!! Lots of canyons, bluffs, and overlooks. Just be prepared to drive. A very basic “store” open after 3pm, just had fire starters, marshmallows, bug spray, ice cream, and pop. Some little souvenirs. No milk or eggs. For a 30 ft travel trailer, our campsite has just enough room for our slide out and awning. The fire pit was well placed and had a grate for cooking. Electrical was confusing- our site was listed at 50A only. It really was 50/30/20A(see pictures). Easy to back in to, mostly level site for quick set up. Our campsite, 85, had nice shade and lots of trees. You can see and hear your neighbors but there is decent separation. We had space to hang a hammock and have a fire, with a full picnic table as well. There are a few sites for fresh water fill, and a dump station. Took about 45 min for us to dump being 5th in line at 10:30am. Book early- reservations open online 6 months in advance and book up quickly. Most summer weekends are completely full. Spring and fall camping is great here- waterfalls are rain fed and often dry in summer. Sites 96 and 97 would be my picks if I could choose: both are private and have large camping pad areas. Avoid the sites by water spouts and roads, there is no privacy when everyone is cutting through your site! Overall, a basic campground with what you need for camping, no frills, no activities or recreation, but close to the hiking at Starved Rock State Park about 10 min away by car. Biking nearby would be an extreme sport, the roads are very narrow with extreme drop offs and no shoulder. Not for kids.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2019

    Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    Great Privacy in Great Park

    I set up in site 110 for the night at this nicely wooded campground. My site was very private, set back in the trees and very clean. I had large and small trees and underbrush making it impossible to see the site next to me in one direction, and no one occupying the site on the other side. With the car in the drive blocking the road, I had complete privacy. There was a short walk to porta potties and a nice walk to the modern, clean bath house. The site had the usual picnic table and fire pit and plenty of space to put my tent. There were some sites that sat in a meadow that completely lacked privacy, but with tons of space for kids to play. There is a camp store near the entrance to the campground, but I didn’t go in so I’m not sure what it’s stocked with (besides the ice in the cooler outside). Campers who like to imbibe beware: NO alcohol is permitted at this campground. There are some GREAT trails for hiking in the park, but be prepared for lots of stairs on the boardwalks that take you in and out of the canyons/ravines. I didn’t hike up to the actual “Starved Rock”, but you can observe it from the river bank.

  • 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.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 27, 2021

    Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    Beautiful Popular Park

    This park is popular, has plenty of space, though can use updates and better Leave No Trace practices (litter). During our time, park and cg was busy, full at times. Hiking was great with geological aspects. Has Lodge, CG store, lots of history.

Guide to Yorkville

Tent camping near Yorkville, Illinois offers riverside and woodland options within a short drive from town. The Illinois River watershed creates a mix of wetland and forested camping environments, with elevations ranging from 500-700 feet above sea level. Spring brings higher water levels with occasional trail flooding, while summer conditions are typically humid with temperatures averaging 80-85°F during peak camping season.

What to do

Kayaking on calm waters: At Kayak Morris, the river provides excellent paddling conditions for beginners and experienced kayakers alike. "I have my own kayak and the river here is so calm its awesome. My friends rented the dual kayaks ant they loved them," notes camper Art P. The campground offers kayak rentals for those without their own equipment.

Fishing for stripers: The confluence of waterways creates productive fishing spots. "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. from Kayak Morris. Bring basic tackle and live bait for best results during morning hours.

Hiking canal trails: The historic Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail connects several campgrounds and provides a flat, crushed gravel surface ideal for day hikes. At Buffalo Rock State Park Campground, "There are a couple of overlooks that offer beautiful views of Illinois River," according to Scott N. The trail between campsites ranges from 0.5 to 3 miles, making it accessible for various fitness levels.

What campers like

Riverside camping spots: Kayak Starved Rock Campground offers sites directly on the water. "Our campsite was wonderful and was on a point on the river that has a 180 degree view of the river," shares Paul R. Sites typically include fire pits with cooking grates and picnic tables.

Privacy between sites: At MacQueen Forest Preserve, campers appreciate the distance between sites. "This is one of those places that's so awesome, you really don't want to tell people about it... There are eight primitive campsites here, and they're spread out at least 50 yards apart," writes Amy G. The preserve offers both meadow and forested sites.

Self-service simplicity: The straightforward self-registration system at many local campgrounds makes last-minute trips possible. "It's all self-checking, you just use the pay box in the parking lot," notes Amy G. about MacQueen Forest Preserve. Rates typically range from $4-15 per night depending on the location and amenities.

What you should know

Flood risk after rain: Low-lying campsites can quickly become unusable after heavy precipitation. At McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove, one camper reported, "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." Check weather forecasts before booking.

Train noise at night: Some campgrounds have nearby rail lines that create periodic noise disturbances. "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," notes Amy G. about MacQueen Forest Preserve.

Water quality issues: Potable water sources vary in quality across the region. At McKinley Woods, a camper observed, "Water is available by an old fashioned pump, and is drinkable, but cloudy." Consider bringing water filters or sufficient bottled water for your trip.

Tips for camping with families

Accessible sites for gear hauling: Several walk-in campgrounds provide equipment to help transport gear. At MacQueen Forest Preserve, "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," writes Amy G. Plan to pack efficiently or bring collapsible wagons.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Channahon State Park Campground and surrounding areas offer good wildlife spotting chances. "This campground is surrounded by trees," notes Art S. Early morning and dusk provide the best viewing times for local birds and mammals.

Basic campsite amenities: Most tent sites include minimal but functional features. At Kayak Morris, one camper mentions, "They sell firewood but also let you pick up sticks in the area that are small- we didn't need to buy firewood after gathering our own. Picnic table and firepit provided."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: Few primitive campgrounds near Yorkville accommodate RVs. Kayak Morris is one exception that allows both tents and RVs in a primitive setting. According to Eric R., "Camp sites are dotted next to the shore of the river... there's enough space for multiple tents on one site," though dedicated RV hookups aren't available.

Alternatives for larger vehicles: For full-hookup options, consider campgrounds further from Yorkville. At Kayak Starved Rock Campground, "There is no other campground that I know of within the vicinity of Starved Rock SP that ostensibly sits on the water's edge offering both a southernly view of absolute natural beauty," notes Stuart K., though RVers should note this is tent-focused camping with limited vehicle access.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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