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Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Potowatomi Campground, near Bourbonnais, Illinois, is a solid choice for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a touch of comfort. This campground offers a mix of tent, RV, and cabin accommodations, making it suitable for various camping styles.

The sites are spacious and surrounded by lush greenery, providing a nice level of privacy. Many visitors have praised the clean facilities, including a central shower house and well-maintained restrooms, which make it easy to freshen up after a day of exploring. As one camper noted, “The campground manager was very friendly and helpful, and our site was clean with a nice fire pit.”

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, there’s a crushed gravel bike path that leads to picnic areas and playgrounds, perfect for families. The nearby Rock Creek Nature Trail offers additional hiking opportunities, allowing you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area. Campers have also enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, especially during quieter weekdays.

While the campground has a no-alcohol policy, it encourages a family-friendly vibe. Just keep in mind that weekends can get a bit lively, so if you prefer a quieter experience, consider visiting during the week. Whether you're roasting marshmallows by the fire or biking along the trails, Potowatomi Campground is a great spot to unwind and connect with nature.

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Location

Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park is located in Illinois

Detail location of campground

Directions

5314 W. Rt. 102, Bourbonnais IL 60914

Address

5314 West Rt 102
Bourbonnais, IL 60914

Coordinates

41.18930063 N
87.96270075 W

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Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BYToyota Trucks
Route 66 Joliet

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18 min away

Kishauwau Cabins

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1 hr 8 min away

Drive Time

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Cabins
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

14 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 9, 2025

cute

came in without a reservation and got a nice spot for a camper, showers were decent and hosts were nice!!

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 17, 2025

Great first visit

This campground was easy to access, clean, and had a very easy going vibe. The camp hosts were really fantastic and made it feel like family.

The sites are straightforward and vary quite a bit: some are huge with open green space and others I feel like just for a car and a tent. Our site was perfect with trees to hang a hammock on and for the kids to run around.

The shower house was good. We went during July 4th so it was busy (the toilet paper was completely out when I stopped by and it looked like some kids had a water balloon fight in there) but the team came out to clean up promptly. There are vault toilets, water, and trash cans in each loop.

The river was nice to visit and we were able to take the kids to some knee deep water to play (swimming is NOT allowed in the river). Playgrounds are unfortunately exposed so it was not suitable for the 100 degree days we had.

We did have a really awesome time at the main office/nature center, where my kiddos got to feed and hold a variety of reptiles!

Very solid, basic campground.

SiteOak 21
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Linda N., July 17, 2025
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Linda N., July 17, 2025
Reviewed Jul. 26, 2023

Simple state park along the river

Potowatami campground is divided into four loops. We camped in the Osage loop. Garbage cans are at the start of the loop. A central shower house is on the main road midway between the loops. Right at the start of Osage is an entrance to the crushed gravel bike path. It gave us a great hike through the trees. You can find picnic areas and playground equipment by following the bike path. The camp host checks you in. He gave us the signal in case we drive out of camp. Wave the sign out your window and re-enter camp. He also told us about rock creek nature trail. It’s just across the main road near the ranger office entrance. There are another couple miles of trails if you want some diversity.

  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Art S., July 26, 2023
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Art S., July 26, 2023
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Art S., July 26, 2023
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jul. 24, 2023

Nice on a Thursday

First off the camp hosts were amazing! Very friendly and helpful!

Ok. Came in on a Thursday with no reservations. Camp Hosts got me a spot for Thursday and only had 2 available spots in the whole campground for the weekend so I took Oak 1 over the only other open spot.
Thursday night was GREAT. It was quiet and peaceful. Had a great day chilling on Friday during the day too. Friday afternoon people started funneling in and it still wasn’t too bad into the evening.

About 8 is when it got a little worse. There was a group that came in and occupied 2 sites. They were a little more loud but bearable. About 9:45 another part of their group came rolling in. That’s when it wasn’t as nice. They were trying to set up their tent with headlights/flashlights shining into our camp. Yelling back and forth between the 3 sites, etc. Finally I think the quieted down about midnight. Saturday. Still loud and a few of the cars in their group were in and out several times. Not a big deal except every time they were driving out a one way.

SiteOak 1
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Bennie , July 24, 2023
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Bennie , July 24, 2023
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2022

Camping

Perfect place for walking relax super quiet Helpful people I like it

Site24
Month of VisitOctober
Reviewed Jul. 19, 2022

Privacy, Vegetation and Bike Trail

Spacious sites with lush jungle-like greenery grown in between, which provides perfect privacy. Easy access to water pump. Have to drive to get to the toilet/ shower station though.

SiteOak 18
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Yang L., July 19, 2022
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Yang L., July 19, 2022
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Yang L., July 19, 2022
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Sep. 26, 2021

Nice, wooded sites

This was our first camping here and we really enjoyed our stay in the campground. The campground manager was very friendly and helpful and our site was clean with a nice fire pit with built-in grill and very clean. Lots of shower stalls in the shower house. We will definitely be back!

SitePotawatomi 7
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 16, 2021

Nice campground/IL state park

Nice sites in the Potawatomi Campground! Would have been a 5 star but no Campground host on duty the night I camped and no toilet paper in the toilet in the Oak loop. Can't make a reservation day before camping so that kinda sucks as everything is walk in... Am on a "purpose trip" and not a journey, so not partaking of park amenities. I would definitely camp here again!!

Site24 oak loop Potawatomi campground
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2021

Lush area with lots of privacy

I wish we were able to stay longer than one day! I loved this spot! We loved riding our bikes along the river and just being away from the hustle and bustle. Not many amenities other than showers, toilets and hookups, but it just adds to the appeal here. A great spot to get away and experience some silence and solitude!

Site15
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Jacqueline F., July 20, 2021
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Jacqueline F., July 20, 2021
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Jacqueline F., July 20, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed May. 19, 2021

Great to be back! Land is beautiful

We had four sites on Osage loop for tent camping.  Two were very small (14&15), and little grass for tent setup, fine for RV or trailer campers.  They were private with brush between sites.  16&17 were amazing for tents!!  Open, tall trees for our tight rope and hammocks and shade. Grass for tents  16&17 Osage loop also open to 9&10 on Hickory loop.  With a lot of space between so no site setup is on top of each other.  Wish we knew more about individual site layout.  Grills were new.  Bathrooms inclu vault were cleanest I’ve seen.  Bike path/hike path is long and wide and very nice.  We had kids under age 8.  River is fast, tried to fish.  Stars were out.  Had rain Saturday but we all just hang out and manage just fine.  Overall, where the loops get close on the map, the sites back up with good space without ground brush - if you’re trying to string together a few sites for a group where you can pass through - also fine for strangers.  Biggest spaces.  Can add that 13, 6, 5, ,4  Osage are good RV but not good tent.

SiteOsage Loop Sites 14-17
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Shannon H., May 19, 2021
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Shannon H., May 19, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 27, 2016

Great

The campsites are very spread out and you will have a very private quiet campsite. This site is near a small cemetery that has tombstones that are hundreds of years old. I got to stay at site 14 at Davis creek. Potowatomi Campground and Chippewa Campground are not opened for the entire 2016. The sites are really limited around here so I recommend reserving weeks earlier or just come early. The site costed me about 8 dollars to reserve which was really cheap. The restrooms were really dirty and had a lot of insects flying around. There is no running water at the site so bring plenty. We did not have to collect firewood because there is a man walking around with a wheel barrow selling it which was really convenient. There is a short hike that crosses a bridge and it goes along the river

  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by phillip L., July 27, 2016
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by phillip L., July 27, 2016
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by phillip L., July 27, 2016
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2016

Clean, Expansive

The area is well kept, clean, and well managed. I have frequented this park because it offers a lot of activities from primitive camping, RV parking, fishing, hiking, biking, backpacking, etc. They're are some rock cliffs that are suspended over the Kankakee river and also over a creek that feeds it. These are great for climbing and scaling. Additionally, there are Indian caves through the creek where you can still find arrowheads. Exploring the area is pretty cool and the park is quite expansive and impressive for this state. It's great during all times of the year.

  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Andrea F., July 20, 2016
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Andrea F., July 20, 2016
  • Review photo of Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park by Andrea F., July 20, 2016
  • (7) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What do reviews say about Potawatomi Campground at Kankakee River State Park?

Campers consistently praise Potawatomi Campground for its privacy and spaciousness, with lush greenery between sites creating a secluded atmosphere. The campground hosts receive high marks for being friendly, helpful, and creating a family-like environment. Visitors appreciate the clean facilities, including well-maintained shower houses and campsite fire pits. The peaceful setting is frequently mentioned, making it ideal for those seeking a quiet getaway. Some sites are noted as being better suited for tents (particularly sites 16 and 17 on Osage loop), while others work better for RVs. The surrounding bike paths and riverside location add to the appeal for outdoor enthusiasts.

What amenities are available at Potawatomi Campground?

Potawatomi Campground offers fire pits with built-in grills, water pumps throughout the grounds, and a central shower house with multiple shower stalls and toilets. The campground is divided into four loops, with Oak and Osage being two of them. While amenities are basic, sites include clean fire rings and access to garbage cans located at the start of each loop. A crushed gravel bike path is accessible from the campground, perfect for hiking and biking activities. The campground supports both tent and RV camping with hookups available at certain sites.

Where is Potawatomi Campground located in Kankakee River State Park?

Potawatomi Campground is located within Kankakee River State Park in Illinois. The campground is positioned near the Kankakee River, offering easy access to riverside activities and scenic views. There are rock cliffs suspended over both the river and a creek that feeds into it. The campground is divided into four distinct loops, including Oak and Osage loops. A small historic cemetery with centuries-old tombstones is located near the camping area. From the Osage loop, campers can directly access a crushed gravel bike path that runs through the park.

How do I make reservations for Potawatomi Campground?

Reservations for Potawatomi Campground can be made through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reservation system. The campground typically doesn't accept same-day or day-before reservations, as walk-in camping is the option for last-minute stays, subject to availability. For weekend camping, it's advisable to book well in advance as the campground can fill up quickly, especially during peak season. If arriving without a reservation, check in with the campground hosts who can help secure an available site. For the most current reservation policies and availability, contact Kankakee River State Park directly.