Hononegah Forest Preserve, near Rockton, Illinois, is a solid choice for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This campground offers a mix of primitive and electric sites, making it suitable for both tent campers and RV enthusiasts.

Visitors rave about the natural beauty surrounding the area, with over 200 acres of land to explore and scenic trails that wind through the woods. The campground is right next to the Rock River, providing opportunities for kayaking and fishing, which many campers have enjoyed. One reviewer mentioned, “Kayaking and fishing off the river” as a highlight of their stay.

Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, and a few oversized shelters with electric outlets. While there are no showers, the restrooms are conveniently located near the shelters, and you can grab firewood on-site for a cozy campfire. Campers appreciate the spacious sites, with some noting that they had the whole place to themselves during their visit.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat after a day of outdoor activities, local spots like Poison Ivy Pub and Dairyhäus are just a short drive away. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Hononegah Forest Preserve offers a peaceful retreat with plenty of opportunities to connect with nature.

Hononegah is FPWC’s oldest preserve and one of its most popular. Purchased in 1924, the preserve is located on the north bank of the Rock River and bisected by Dry Run Creek. The preserve was once a camping area of Stephen Mack, the county’s first European settler, and Hononegah, his Native American wife. Upon entering the preserve, visitors will enjoy the drive over the Rainbow Bridge and up into the cool maple grove. The campground has campsites interspersed in a mature stand of white oaks and hickories. A launch for fishing boat access to the Rock River is available. Hononegah’s majestic woods make it a popular spot to enjoy fall color displays and woodland wildflowers in spring. There will be limited sites available with electric at Hononegah Campground for the 2021 season. No reservations available at this time. Campsites at Hononegah Campground are on a first-come first-served basis (please register with the campground host or in the absence of a host, please use the self-registration station). Cash or Check Only at Campground

Hononegah Forest Preserve

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Rockton, IL has a lot to offer. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Rockton campgrounds just for you. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Rockton camping trip.

Rockton

The Best Camping Near Rockton, Illinois

A place I would go to with my friends I have family gatherings with everyone when family comes into town. And recently I got introduced to this place to my husband

Childhood campsite

Know that out of County visitors are charged $10 extra.  If you are OK with that, you will not be disappointed with your stay.  Sites are available with privacy, and with neighbor-friendly proportions.  There is a shelter house along the river a short hike from the campground.  If you bring your bike, there is an easy trail in to Rockton, where the Dairyhäus is a must stop.  It is home made ice cream, and the charm of the limestone building is picture worthy.  There are good places to eat in Rockton, and for those not wanting to cook, a trip east on the bike path to Jessica's restaurant will yield a great breakfast.

$31 for pit toilets

Local park with five minutes access to everything from great ice cream, antiques and groceries. Pit toilets, no showers

Grab a site on the bluff!

weve stayed there 3 times this summer, little ways from interstate and town.

lots of spaces

Conveniently nestled in the hills (a term not to be used loosely in the otherwise completely flat state of Illinois) butting up right against an angling elbow of the Rock River, Hononegah Forest Preserve, which is named after the Native American wife of one of the earliest European settlers to reach the state, is a real find for my primitive camping tribe of peeps. You’ll find sanctuary from the franchised camping outfits and the concrete paved RV parking lots here in one of the oldest forest preserves in all of Illinois on a patch of land that has much to offer those carrying a fishing pole, toting a kayak, packing 2 flints for a natural made fire and searching for a remote, undisturbed piece of land to call home for a night or two. 

  

In all, there’s 57 campground sites here and all are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The bulk of the primitive campsites are located on the western side of the campground near the river’s edge, while those sites offering up electric and closer access to running water are located mostly on the eastern side, but co-mingled with primitive campsites. There’s a single bin of firewood that can be accessed at the southernmost area of the park, while you’ll find 3 sets of restrooms that are generally near the 3 shelters that exist and are located on the SE, NW and far NE (in the loop) of the campground. You’ll also find either a hand pump or running water near these 3 principle areas, although I would still recommend you bring your own water. 

  

There’s more than 200 acres of land here to explore and a number of unencumbered trails to hike (about 3 miles worth in total), but the most noteworthy feature of this campground is the hand-built Rainbow bridge, which you’ll have to cross before reaching the campground and passing through a cool shaded Maple grove (BTW, there’s also plenty of white oaks and hickory trees for the arbor lovers amongst us!). These majestic woods also feature a single boat launch that is quite easy to maneuver. While the campground offers restroom facilities, the only disappointment I came across was the pit-like holes offered up as toilets and because this place is primitive, don’t expect any showers. There were, however, a number of oversized shelters that offered up electric outlets and a ton of community tables, scattered picnic tables, fire rings and several BBQ’s along with a few playgrounds for the kids, soccer fields as well as horseback trails. 

  

Prices are quite affordable for camping at $8-$13, but you’ll have to tack on a cool $10 more if you’re not a resident. They have firewood for sale and you have to pay extra to dump garbage (major bummer!). Back to the campground itself – with 50+ sites, nearly all of them are flat, fairly spacious and (at least when we were there) completely vacated. Almost every site comes with its own picnic table, BBQ cover and fire rings (note: not every single site has their own amenities, so you’ll have to grease elbows with your neighbors if you arrive and discover you don’t have a picnic table or grill of your own). We were surprised to have the whole place to ourselves when camping there, but all in all, this place is quite an amazing place to explore – both yourself in the amazing privacy and solitude you will experience as well as the amazing nature and wildlife you’ll no doubt discover. 

  

Insider’s tip? Here’s a few: (1) If you get tired of living on the reservation or want to experience some of the local environ, I highly recommend checking out Poison Ivy Pub (where they have sports pub fare and delightful Wisconsin exports like cheese curds and poutine (courtesy of our Canadian friends to the further north), traditional Italian, pizza, burgers and everything fried: chicken wings, mushrooms, pickles, etc.); (2) If you are looking to quench that thirst after a hard day of hiking, head on over to Louie’s Tap House with 40 drafts on tap, shuffleboard, darts, slots and sand volleyball; (3) If like me, you go everywhere with your kayak, then you’ll love that there’s a decent launch here, although it’s a bit of a hike from the campground, so likely you’ll either have to tow it by hand for a decent bit, or you can drive as close to it as possible and then tow it in; (4) IMHO, the best sites are those primitive sites that follow the tree line before reaching the river, which are: #41– #45; #46 – 49; and #60 – 61; and (5) Celebrate your outdoor adventure by heading to locally renowned Dairyhäus for homemade, German-inspired ice cream (außgeseichnet!). 

  

Happy Camping!

Quasi-Primitive Camping Out In The Sticks

A great little campground, the host was a pleasure as well. Kayaking and fishing off the river. Wild turkeys were right off the campsite, which gave for some pretty wild noises all night. Tent camping $13 resident $23 non resident of Winnebago county. This is a per tent fee from my understanding not per campsite. $7 firewood bundle about 12 pieces. Hike trail (path rather) was a great little scenic walk. Was going to upload some photos but the app wouldn't allow me to. 


Great campground

As my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update:

  

Highlights: (1) Great kayaking in nearby Rock River; (2) Supreme amount of peace &amp; quiet; (3) Nearby restaurants like Pizza Ranch, Dairyhäus, Jessica’s Restaurant and Louie’s Tap House; (4) Sites are spacious, flat and nicely shaded; (5) Ample space at each of the individual sites; (6) Incredibly affordable at $13 / night for residents and $23 / night for visitors; and (7) More than 200 acres of trails to hike and explore the outstanding natural outcrops

  

Lowlights: (1) There are very few amenities here beyond the restrooms, picnic tables, fire rings and wood for sale; (2) There is nothing nearby to either stock up on supplies or grab a bite to eat (20 minutes away), so when you come here, bring everything with you that you’ll need; (3) pit toilets and no showers; and (4) Depending upon what time of year you come, there’s sparse foliage, which decreases the privacy you might be looking for

  

Happy Camping!

Photos of Hononegah Forest Preserve

Real photos from real campers