Free and paid camping in Illinois
54 camps in Illinois: 9 free, 45 charge a fee. Every camp that charges is marked fee in the list below — or press Free only to hide them.
Every camp we have found on public land in Illinois, grouped by the unit that manages them — that is who sets the stay limit and the fire rules. See them on the map →
How high, and when it opens
Elevation decides the season out here. Pick a band to filter the list.
Shawnee National Forest26 camps
- Camp Cadiz
- Dixon Springs State Park - Tent Camping Area
- Duck Bay - Lake Glendale
- Johnson Creek - Primitive
- Johnson Creek Cg
- Lake Of Egypt - Buck Ridge
- Oak Point - Lake Glendale
- Pharaoh-Garden Of The Gods
- Pine Hills Campground
- Pine Ridge-Pounds Hollow
- Pope County
- Redbud - Bell Smith Springs
- Tower Rock Cg
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 1
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 10
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 11
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 12
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 2
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 3
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 4
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 5
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 6
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 7
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 8
- Trail of Tears State Forest - Campsite 9
- Turkey Bayou Campground
Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources25 camps
- Castle Rock State Park - River Access Only Campground
- Channahon State Park Campground
- Eagle Creek State Park - Walk-in Tent Camping
- Gebhard Woods State Park Campground
- Hennepin Canal State Trail - Lock 11 Campground
- Hennepin Canal State Trail - Lock 21 Campground
- Hennepin Canal State Trail - Lock 6 Campground
- Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA - Primitive Shelter Camp
- Mississippi Palisades State Park - Primitive Camping
- Rock Island Trail State Park - Kickapoo Creek Campground
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 1
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 10
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 11
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 12
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 2
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 3
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 4
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 5
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 6
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 7
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 8
- Sand Ridge State Forest - Backcountry Site 9
- Siloam Springs State Park - Backpack Campground
- Wayne Fitzgerrell SRA - Primitive Camping Area
- Wolf Creek State Park - Walk-in Tent Camping