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Illinois Free Camping Rank and Rules

Illinois ranks #40 of 50 for free camping

Illinois ranks #40 of 50 for free camping, with 2.5 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Data as of

Illinois free camping in numbers

Illinois ranks #40 of 50 for free camping, with 2.5 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Rank
#40
Known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi
2.5
Known dispersed sites
139
Land area
55,519 sq mi
Developed campgrounds
345
State-land rule
Marked sites only
Forest restrictions tracked
1

Dispersed camping in Illinois

Can you camp on Illinois state land?

Marked sites only. Camping on state land is limited to marked sites. (17 Ill. Adm. Code §130) Every state, with the rule behind each answer: dispersed camping on state land, state by state.

Where is dispersed camping restricted in Illinois?

We track one National Forest restriction on dispersed camping in Illinois. Read it before you camp nearby.

  • Shawnee National Forest, Three named lakeshores and campground surrounds. Camping is banned along particular roads or around particular features, not across the whole forest.

Each restriction, cited and dated: where dispersed camping is restricted.

How the rank works

We divide the known dispersed campsites in a state by its land area, in square miles, and multiply by 1,000. The rules above sit beside the rank but never change it. The count includes only sites that public sources map, so mapping effort affects the result. Roadside camping corridors and the points we place inside state wildlife and forest areas are not counted.