Best Tent Camping near Lyons, WI

Tent campsites near Lyons, Wisconsin range from primitive backcountry sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities. KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site offers secluded tent camping accessed via hiking trails, while Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake provides lakefront tent sites with more developed facilities. MacQueen Forest Preserve, though slightly farther in Illinois, offers tent-specific sites in a natural setting with walk-in access.

Most tent camping areas around Lyons feature basic amenities with varying levels of accessibility. Primitive sites like KMSF Shelter 1 require hikers to carry in all gear along terrain that can be challenging after rain. Sites typically include fire pits and picnic tables, though potable water is limited at most locations. Campsites at Sandhill Station State Campground require a carry-in approach, with distances ranging from 100-500 yards from parking areas. Vault toilets are common at most primitive sites, while facilities like Snug Harbor offer more amenities including showers and drinking water for tent campers.

Tent camping experiences in this region offer privacy and natural surroundings not available at RV-focused destinations. The walk-in sites at MacQueen Forest Preserve are particularly spacious, with sites spread at least 50 yards apart, providing exceptional seclusion for tent campers. Several locations offer water proximity, with sites near Turtle Lake or the Kishwaukee River providing scenic tent camping opportunities. Weather considerations include mosquito activity near water sources during summer months. A camper noted about MacQueen Forest Preserve: "This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs. There are only 9 sites total. VERY private and secluded." Fall camping tends to offer more comfortable temperatures and fewer insects for tent campers throughout the region.

Best Tent Sites Near Lyons, Wisconsin (8)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lyons, WI

6 Photos of 8 Lyons Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Lyons, WI

709 Reviews of 8 Lyons 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.

  • Meg
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    Beautiful View (site 20), serious slope

    We LOVE site 20 as does everyone else who books this one up quick. Literally the only downside is that you have no flat spots anywhere on the site, which killed our backs sleeping in tents.

    Pros - lake view, but a safe distance down the hill so no worries about the kids at the campsite.

    On the end with tons of privacy, full row of trees and a ton of space until the next site. It’s like your own mini oasis.

    Lake is also fabulous. We decided to rent instead of hauling our own kayak and they were clean, affordable and quick process.

    Cons - lol that hill is no joke. Pit toilets I wouldn’t touch with a 10ft pole, but that’s pretty typical.

  • 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.

  • S
    Oct. 2, 2020

    Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    Good Tent Sites

    We visited this spot last summer as a place to stay for 1 night on our way farther north.

    We really enjoy tent camping and prefer walk-in/hike in sites so we can have some privacy away from other campers. The campsites were decently dispersed and the ground was nice and grassy so it was pretty comfortable.

    We always want more space between campsites, but I think the privacy level was fine. The tent sites are right off the parking lot where the boat ramp is so maybe on a busy weekend it would be a little loud, but overall a nice night for us!

    We left in the morning to continue our drive so we didn’t spend much time checking out the hiking trails.

    We did however go checkout the beach which wasn’t much to write home about. If I remember correctly, we had to pay a fee to enter. Always happy to support a state park. We just figured since we were already paying to camp there, it wouldn’t cost extra. I’m pretty sure we paid an admission fee and didn’t stay for long. It was across the way and requires a drive instead of a hike to get there.

  • 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.

  • Kristy G.
    Oct. 26, 2020

    Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    Close proximity to Chicago, beautiful lake, nice trails

    We stayed on tent-only site 009 which gave us a small view of the lake through the trees, a direct trail to the lake to sit with our morning coffee, and plenty of space between sites so we couldn't see or hear any neighbors. It's a short walk in to the site from the parking area in that section (maybe 50 ft total) and parking is easy and plentiful in the lot. We brought our own potty so I can't speak on the cleanliness of the facilities, but I can say they store their firewood indoors which was excellent for nice dry wood that was easy to start and burned hot.

  • Christopher R.
    Feb. 26, 2025

    Sugar River Forest Preserve

    Beautiful Place to Camp

    We had a great time in this hidden gem.  It is run by the county and was much more than we expected from a county run facility.  We had a very nice cam site that allowed us to pull through with our pop up.  There are very tall trees around the entire campground giving you some respite from the sun and the heat.  The bath house is easily within walking distance from anywhere in the campground.  Many people that we met have been coming back for years (this was our first time there).  They have fire rings and picnic tables and firewood for sale at the entrance.  They allow dogs and the ranger is frequently visible throughout the day.  You are a short distance from the river and the surroundings are wonderful.  You are 20 minutes away from stores and restaurants if you happen to need them and also a short drive to Wisconsin.


Guide to Lyons

Tent campsites near Lyons, Wisconsin offer diverse backcountry experiences across varied terrain elevations ranging from 750 to 1,000 feet above sea level. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes, with spring and fall providing more moderate temperatures than the sometimes humid summer conditions. Primitive sites in the area typically require carrying gear distances ranging from 100 yards to half a mile, depending on specific campground regulations.

What to do

Riverfront exploration: Along the Kishwaukee River at MacQueen Forest Preserve, campers can fish, wade, or try tubing. "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," notes Marisa A.

Winter camping options: For cold-weather enthusiasts, several sites remain open year-round. "Great time minus the winter squall that rolled through our first night," reports Nick C. about his winter experience at MacQueen Forest Preserve.

Lakefront relaxation: Snug Harbor Inn Campground offers boat rentals and lake access with tiered camping areas. "Great three tiered camping spot. Full hookup, and great views. Has a pub/restaurant with good food. Lots to do!" writes Alix M.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: The spacing between tent sites is frequently mentioned as a major benefit. "The sites are all very remote; no onsite rangers or anything like that," explains Tawnie T. about Sandhill Station State Campground.

Self-service simplicity: Many campers appreciate the straightforward registration process at some locations. "Self service check-in. You have to walk up to the sites. There's a wagon and a dolly to take your things," explains Marcus D. about his experience at MacQueen Forest Preserve.

Affordable rates: Budget-friendly camping is widely available. "The very best part? You're in the middle of the country, with gorgeous sunsets, and the primitive camping is only $4," notes Amy G. about her stay at a primitive site.

What you should know

Carry-in requirements: Most tent sites require gear transportation from parking areas. At KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site, "Decent walk and terrain to get to the site. There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside," according to Erin Z.

Seasonal challenges: Consider weather conditions when planning your trip. "I wouldn't go in the middle of summer, due to the limited shade, but it was very nice in early fall," advises Jimmy P. regarding Sandhill Station.

Varying bathroom facilities: Toilet access ranges from primitive to more developed. "There are showers/flush toilets at the nearby Glacial Drumlin office in Lake Mills, but none on site, only pit toilets," notes Jimmy P., while Erin Z. cautions about KMSF: "There is an outhouse, but I wouldn't recommend using it."

Tips for camping with families

Pack light for walk-in sites: Family camping requires strategic packing at many locations. "Beautiful walk in sites, no carts to haul gear so pack light!" advises Tawnie T. regarding Sandhill Station State Campground.

Consider shoulder seasons: For families concerned about insects, timing matters significantly. "The sites are really near some stagnant water, though, so WAY too many mosquitoes, even with the really intense bug spray," reports Tawnie T., suggesting fall or spring visits instead.

Campsite selection strategy: Choose sites based on access needs and privacy preferences. "Well maintained bathrooms, great secluded sites. Super easy no registration its first come first serve. I will be going again with my family," shares Darshon J. about MacQueen Forest Preserve.

Tips from RVers

Tiered viewing options: At Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake, the layout accommodates various vehicle types with strategic placement. "Like the design of 3 levels so everyone gets a view. Nice place in the country but close enough to town to grab all those things we forgot," explains James W.

Limited RV access at primitive sites: Many tent-focused campgrounds cannot accommodate larger vehicles. "This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs. There are only 9 sites total," notes Marisa A., highlighting the tent-only nature of some preserves.

Consider proximity to amenities: First-time RVers appreciate locations with nearby services. "Staff was great, helped me back in. Nice Bar/Restaurant on site. Met 2 nice couples which helped with any questions," shares James W. about his maiden RV voyage at Snug Harbor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lyons, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lyons, WI is KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lyons, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Lyons, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.