Best Tent Camping: Illinois

John Schirle was raised in central Illinois and has been back in his home state since 1993. Since his college days he has loved getting away in the outdoors: camping, hiking, canoeing, and, more recently, caving. As a result he’s spent countless hours scouring the region for the ideal tent-camping getaways. He’s had a personal goal for some years of visiting every single state park in Illinois (which he hasn’t yet achieved, although he’s a lot closer now!). Over the years he’s been a Bible translator in central Africa, a college professor, camp program director, and is currently a children’s librarian in his hometown of Decatur, Illinois.

• Table of ContentsOverview MapBest Illinois CampgroundsAcknowledgmentsPrefaceAbout the AuthorIntroductionNorthern IllinoisApple River Canyon State ParkJohnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation AreaLake Le-Aqua-Na State ParkLoud Thunder Forest PreserveMarengo Ridge Conservation AreaPecatonica River Forest PreserveSugar River Forest PreserveWoodford State Fish & Wildlife AreaCentral IllinoisArgyle Lake State ParkBeaver Dam State ParkCOMLARA ParkEagle Creek State Recreation AreaForest Glen County PreserveFriends Creek Conservation AreaJim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife AreaKickapoo State Recreation AreaLincoln Trail State ParkLodge ParkMcCully Heritage ProjectMoraine View State Recreation AreaRamsey Lake State Recreation AreaSam Parr State Fish & Wildlife AreaSand Ridge State ForestSiloam Springs State ParkSpring Lake State Fish & Wildlife AreaWalnut Point State ParkWeldon Springs State ParkSouthern IllinoisBeall Woods State ParkCamp CadizCave-in-Rock State ParkDevils Kitchen CampgroundDixon Springs State ParkFerne Clyffe State ParkGiant City State ParkHamilton County State Fish & Wildlife AreaLake Murphysboro State ParkPere Marquette State ParkPharaoh CampgroundPine Hills CampgroundPine Ridge CampgroundPyramid State ParkRandolph County State Fish & Wildlife AreaRed Bud CampgroundSaline County State Fish & Wildlife AreaSam Dale Lake State Fish & Wildlife AreaStephen A. Forbes State Recreation AreaTrail of Tears State ForestTurkey Bayou CampgroundWashington County State Recreation AreaWayne Fitzgerrell State ParkAppendixes and IndexAppendix A: Camping Equipment ChecklistAppendix B: Sources of InformationIndexMap Legend