Free & dispersed camping in Illinois
We currently track 80 dispersed and free-camping locations in Illinois, drawn from public OpenStreetMap data and cross-referenced against mixed federal, state trust, and county land. Illinois sits in the United States and offers some of the most generous public-land access in the country for self-reliant campers. Unlike the reservation-driven world of state-park and KOA-style campgrounds, the sites listed here are largely first-come, first-served, with minimal infrastructure and a 14-day stay limit on most federal parcels. Expect dirt roads, no hookups, and zero cell service — that's the appeal. The trade-off is that you carry the responsibility for water, waste, fire safety, and respectful land use. Browse the directory below by name, then click into any listing for facility detail, GPS coordinates, and field notes specific to that pitch.
All documented campsites in Illinois
Sorted alphabetically. Tap any row for facilities, GPS coordinates, and a 300+ word field-grounded write-up.
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Aonnetta
Fee: unspecified -
Back Country 4
Fee: unspecified -
Bay Area
Fee: unspecified -
Bear Branch Horse Resort
Fee: unspecified -
Beaver Dam
Fee: unspecified -
Big Oak Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Blackwell Youth Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Blue Heron
Fee: unspecified -
Bonanza Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Bond Christian Service Camp
Fee: unspecified -
Boulder Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Brebeuf Flats-tents
Fee: unspecified -
Brown Bat
Fee: unspecified -
Buck Ridge
Fee: unspecified -
Bullfrog
Fee: unspecified -
Bur Oaks Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Camp Baden Powell (Defunct)
Fee: unspecified -
Camp Carew
Fee: unspecified -
Camp Chic-a-Gama
Fee: unspecified -
Camp Ondessonk
Fee: unspecified -
Camp Reinberg
Fee: yes -
Camp Shabbona Woods
Fee: unspecified -
Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Camping Fever Campground and Hunt Club
Fee: unspecified -
Camping at Baell Woods
Fee: unspecified -
Cash Island
Fee: unspecified -
Catfish Bay camp area
Fee: yes -
Chipmunk
Fee: unspecified -
Cotton Tail
Fee: unspecified -
Davis Creek Group Camp
Fee: unspecified -
Devil's Kitchen Campground
Fee: yes -
Duncan Hill Youth Camp
Fee: unspecified -
Francis City Park
Fee: yes -
Garnier
Fee: unspecified -
Goupil
Fee: unspecified -
Gray Squirrel Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Group
Fee: unspecified -
Hickory
Fee: unspecified -
Hike In
Fee: unspecified -
Hononegah Forest Preserve Campground
Fee: yes -
Horse Camp Site
Fee: unspecified -
Indian Grove Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Kings Camp
Fee: unspecified -
Lakeview
Fee: unspecified -
LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve Youth Camping Area
Fee: unspecified -
Litha Springs
Fee: unspecified -
Night Hawk
Fee: unspecified -
North Sandy Court
Fee: unspecified -
Oak Ridge Group Camp
Fee: unspecified -
Optimist
Fee: unspecified -
Overflow
Fee: unspecified -
Owl's Roost
Fee: unspecified -
Paddler's Pass
Free -
Pearcy Camp
Fee: unspecified -
Pine Camp
Fee: unspecified -
Pine Ridge Campground
Fee: yes -
Pintail
Fee: unspecified -
Primitive North Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Primitive Trail Site 2
Fee: unspecified -
Racoon
Fee: unspecified -
Raganeau
Fee: unspecified -
Rainmaker Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Red Bud Campground
Fee: yes -
Redbud
Fee: unspecified -
Ringneck
Fee: unspecified -
Shady Rest
Fee: unspecified -
South Macom Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Sugar River Forest Preserve - Pine Tree
Fee: yes -
Sugar River Forest Preserve - Riverfront
Fee: yes -
Sweet Gum
Fee: unspecified -
Tekakwitha
Fee: unspecified -
Tent Camping
Fee: unspecified -
Tent Camping (Class B)
Fee: unspecified -
Tomahawk Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Turkey Ridge Tent Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Water Lily Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Wesley Area Little Grassy United Methodist Camp
Fee: unspecified -
Whittington Woods Campground
Fee: unspecified -
Youth
Fee: unspecified -
ski club campground
Fee: unspecified