Sitting roughly a mile southeast of the village of Big Rock, Illinois, this Kane County forest preserve campground spreads across open, mostly treeless terrain with close to 100 electric and water hookup sites. The trees on the property are young. As one reviewer put it, they "will be terrific in about 20 years," which means campers should expect full sun exposure and plan accordingly, especially in summer. The flat, grassy layout gives RVs plenty of room to maneuver, and the campground accommodates rigs up to 50 feet.
Site quality is consistently noted across reviews: spaces are level, well-maintained, and the comfort stations are kept clean. No showers are available, and toilet facilities include one flush toilet building and pit toilets. Cell coverage varies by carrier, with Verizon users reporting full bars and AT&T and T-Mobile users getting workable signal. Starlink and satellite dish setups have also worked well here given the open sightlines. One practical note that comes up repeatedly: the water hookups are positioned well behind most camping pads, so bringing 50 to 150 feet of hose is strongly advised.
Adjacent to the campground, Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area provides additional outdoor recreation nearby. Within the preserve itself, Siegler Lake and Big Rock Creek give campers a roughly five-mile walk with opportunities to spot deer, rabbits, and waterfowl. Some equestrian trails also run through the area.
Big Rock Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted. Rates run $18 to $35 per night, with non-Kane County residents paying a $10 surcharge. Campers exploring campgrounds near Big Rock will find the area is close to the Fox Valley corridor, though Google Maps directions have led some visitors to a south entrance that does not connect to the campground. Following the preserve's own directions is worth the extra step.
The campground makes the most sense for RV campers with full hookup setups who want a flat, accessible site within reach of the Chicago suburbs. Tent campers or those seeking tree cover and privacy will likely find the open field layout less satisfying.
Description
Big Rock Campground, part of Big Rock Forest Preserve, is located at 46W499 Granart Rd., Big Rock, IL. The campground is open seasonally, May - October 15, each year.
Camp sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted. Payment is accepted via cash, check and credit card. Check-out is at 2 p.m., each day.
The campground contains 109 camp sites including 96 improved, vehicle campsites complete with 50-amp electrical service, water access, parking pads and fire rings, 9 primitive, tent-only sites without electric access, and four equestrian camp sites.
Camp fees are as follows:
Improved camp site (with electric and water): Kane County residents: $20/day Nonresidents: $35/day
Primitive camp site: Kane County residents: $12/day Nonresidents: $18/day
Equestrian camp site (with electric and water): Kane County residents: $15/day Nonresidents: $25/day
Dump station (not registered): Kane County residents: $15 Nonresidents: $15
Firewood (available at Campground office): Bundle: $5
Note: Outside firewood is allowed to be brought into the campground, however, all firewood must either be completely burned or left on site. No firewood will be allowed to be taken off site, due to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine and restrictions by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Big Rock Campground opened in the summer of 2013. This project was partially funded by an IDNR OSLAD and Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant.
This campground/preserve includes a horseback riding area. Most horse trails are natural surface, mowed grass paths. Limestone screenings trails and asphalt bike trails are available in some of the preserves. These are multi-use trails shared with runners, bicyclists, dog walkers etc. Horse riders are required to stay on designated, forest preserve-maintained trails. Trail riding is not allowed in restricted natural areas, Illinois Nature Preserves, picnic areas or in farmed areas. To prevent trail damage during wet weather, trails may be temporarily closed. Individual forest preserves will post a sign at the entrance when horse trails are closed. Trails are currently OPEN for equestrian use at this campground/preserve.
Fee Info
Payment is accepted via cash, check — and as of May 1, 2022, we'll begin accepting credit cards, as well. We ask campers to be patient at check-in, as we transition to a new payment processing system.
Reservation Info
Reservations are not accepted.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsBig Rock Campground is located in Illinois near Big Rock
Coordinates
41.7573913 N
88.517811 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 9/8/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 9/8/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/6/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 9/8/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 9/8/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/6/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Equestrian
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 46 min from Chicago, IL
- 54 min from Rockford, IL
- 1 hr 21 min from Kenosha, WI
- 1 hr 22 min from Kankakee, IL
























