5 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Chain O' Lakes State Park provides multiple pet-friendly camping areas near Antioch, Illinois. Fox Den, Honeysuckle Hollow, Turner Lake South, and Prairie View campgrounds all welcome pets with proper supervision. Sites vary from primitive tent-only areas to full-hookup RV sites with electricity, water, and sewer connections. Honeysuckle Hollow features electric sites with picnic tables and fire rings where pets can stay with their owners. ['The campground gets quiet at night with numerous campground hosts ensuring noise levels remain reasonable after quiet hours.'] Most sites are well-maintained with adequate space between neighbors, though some visitors note weekend crowds can make the campground busier. No alcohol is permitted in Illinois state parks, and pets must be leashed at all times.
The park offers extensive trail systems where leashed dogs can enjoy walks with their owners. Multiple lakes and access to Fox River provide water recreation opportunities, though pets should be monitored around water areas due to wildlife. Ticks are abundant, particularly in warmer months, requiring regular pet checks after outdoor activities. Raccoons become active at dusk, so pet food should be properly secured in vehicles overnight. The bathhouses are generally clean and accessible from most campsites. For supplies, the camp store near the boat launch sells firewood, bait, snacks, and basic camping necessities. Many sites are spacious enough for pets to have room to move around without disturbing neighboring campers, though sites closer to the center of camping loops typically offer more space and better tree cover.
"They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly."
"Driving into rural northern IL felt like leaving the craziness behind. I brought my dog to an animal-friendly area of the beach, which was small and secluded."
from $25 / night
"I would recommend this for anyone for starting to step out of the comfort zone for the outdoors. very simple, many paths to walk, jog, or ride a bike. a small lake is near the further parking lot. dogs"
"Pros: great hiking trails, nice lake to kayak on, family friendly beach and picnic areas Cons: Not great fishing, no dog friendly swim area, the beach/fishing pier/boat launch are all pretty far from"
from $21 - $39 / night
"Plenty of space & foliage between sites and a nice network of trails surrounding the campground. Close to some small towns and the interstate as well, but not close enough to hear traffic."
"the property is HUGE and most things are about a 10 to 15 min walk from the campsites. lots of hiking, boating, swimming fishing and more! a great place for anyone!"
from $21 - $110 / night
"The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore"
"*** reviewing as a baby/toddler camp family on the go :-) we chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms… avoid the first 2 sites from either end"
"In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61."
"You can hear whatever highway is nearby pretty clearly and constantly. But if you’re not looking for something super remote then it’s fine!"
"It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "
"We can both drive to work and then come back to relax. Close to some great places for antiquing if you don't want to hike the trails or fish."
"Prairie View campground is in the Chain O Lakes State Park series. This is the no services campground. We could walk to fill up with water but no electric on site. Checking in was interesting."
"It was me, my wife, our 8 month old daughter, and our dog."
"Petting zoo, camp store, pool, lake/pond for swimming and fishing. Cell signal for ATT just one bar. No internet. Lots of full time residents. Lots of activities for kids. Pet friendly."
"we’ve been RV camping here for 2 months now and love it. the bathrooms are older but still nice and cleaned daily. the pool is fantastic, lots of fun playgrounds around, and there’s a neat walking trail"
"This State Park isn't too far off the beaten path which is nice. Fairly close to gas stations, convenience stores, etc. The park is clean, and has the bathrooms and utilities that would be needed."
"There are numerous sites that are on a small lake with great sunset views. Sites are decent size but not much privacy in between sites. Lots of wooded trails within the campground."
from $12 / night
"Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water."
"We biked around the campground during the days and took advantage of the adult only hot tub hours at night. It was a nice getaway from Chicago."
from $43 - $73 / night
TravelerWe got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
ScoutBlackwell has clean bathrooms, offers hiking trails, boating (kayak rentals) or bring your own, fishing, archery, cycling. The gate locks at 7pm but you just call the night guard and he will let you in. They’re only open on Friday, Saturday and holidays. Would definitely stay again. Be aware Winfield Road has a lot of traffic so sites further away from that road are best. Heard coyotes about 3 am both mornings. Rangers were exceptional.
ScoutThe park is beautiful. The water is beautiful. They say it's a gated community, but it's open to the public 9 to 5 daily. At twenty five dollars per person. And then on friday and saturday night, the locals that park here for the summer start their party central including karaoke at the camper next door, and several others. I've never had a camcround with that loud of parties. And it's a weekend event. I like hearing and seeing people having fun but when the manager extends the curfew for the parties she's at (they kind of party hop), it starts to affect the enjoyment of the park. If we had to stay, we'd stay in the S## sites in the back, where you don't hear so much of the partying. And then during the day, the rules began. Kind of like the soup nazi.
TravelerThere’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.
LegendThere’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees. One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.
GuideWe are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
GuideLast minute online reservation...They only have. 4 or 5 RV sites...full hook ups...about $60+-...right near gas pumps but any noise did not bother us weary travelers...Only downside was showers were not included....For the price certainly an included shower should be part of the deal...easy check in and check out.,..We used the Love's site due to its location to visit family and the fact that electric was available...We have medical equipment that requires a recharge at night plus it's just nice to have the AC if needed.
TravelerSimple campsite. We should have brought some leveling blocks, But otherwise my wife and I enjoyed the site for our rental RV. Short 10 minute walk to Lake Michigan. The camp store is fairly robust with friendly people working there. I appreciate that there are 2 lanes for dump/fill stations. My wife and I would absolutely stay here again.
LegendWe had a truly enjoyable stay and would’ve stayed an extra day if our travel schedule would’ve allowed. David was a wonderful host. Greeted us with a smile and escorted us to our site. We had our choice of 2 spots, both lovely. Picnic table and plenty of FREE firewood to keep us cozy. Wild turkeys roamed the grounds as well as the friendly ducks. All in all, a very peaceful evening and a special place.
Chain O' Lakes State Park offers several camping options within its 6,500 acres of water and land. Located about 65 miles north of Chicago, the park connects to 15 lakes via the Fox River system. Winter temperatures average 26°F while summer averages 71°F, making May through September the most popular camping season.
Fishing opportunities: Anglers can enjoy fishing at Turner Lake South where numerous species are available. "We were able to kayak but be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by," notes Julia B. from Turner Lake South.
Kayaking and canoeing: The interconnected waterways make this area perfect for paddling. "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I enjoy this route for the wildlife and nature scenery. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," writes Cora M. about Turner Lake South.
Wildlife viewing: The park offers excellent opportunities for animal spotting along trails and waterways. "If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go. I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw," reports Tim H. from Sunset Campground at Richard Bong State Recreation Area, which is just a short drive from Antioch.
Affordable camping options: Budget-conscious campers can find primitive sites at low rates. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner," shares Addison G. from Turner Lake South.
Private sites in Fox Den: Many campers prefer the more secluded options at Fox Den. "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers," explains Ian C. from Fox Den Campground.
Proximity to urban amenities: The area offers both wilderness and convenience. "It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. It has the electrical hookups that we need and has a bath house that is close to where you camp. And within 5 miles of the campground, you have the amenities that you need in case you forgot something," says Christopher R. about Fox Den Campground.
Wildlife challenges: Prepare for insect activity during warmer months. "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it. We're from the south, so we are used to mosquitoes, but I have seldom been around so many all at once. Thankfully we had a pop-up screened gazebo that made sitting outside our tent much more enjoyable," advises Tim H. about Sunset Campground.
Alcohol prohibition: Unlike Wisconsin campgrounds, alcohol is not permitted in Illinois state parks. "No alcohol, they will issue a ticket," warns Kelly G. from Mud Lake East.
Weekend crowds: Campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "This IL state campground fills up quickly on the weekends over the summer. While these sites are usually slated for walk-ups on the weekends, it seems like a lot of people go early on Thursday or even Wednesday to secure their sites for the weekends," notes Marisa A. about Turner Lake South.
Wildlife education: Use the abundant wildlife as a learning opportunity for children. "The Weekend we were here they had a free Kids fishing weekend and John the naturalist was amazing!! There is a ton to do at this park the nature center has activities all weekend long," shares Jill G. about Sunrise Campground at Richard Bong State Recreation Area.
Screened shelter: Bring a shelter for bug-free meals. "With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Luckily our screen house pop up on a tarp that was sprayed ahead for tick repellent plus a blanket on top of that did the trick, but they literally fall out of the trees into people," advises Meg from Honeysuckle Hollow.
Raccoon precautions: Take extra food storage measures at night. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s'mores early, then everything must be packed into cars for the night and all surfaces wiped down," warns Meg from Honeysuckle Hollow.
Electric hookup logistics: Plan for electrical connection limitations. "Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts to far from parking pad," explains Debra M. about Fox Den.
Dump station planning: Prepare for potential wait times when dumping tanks. "The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water. It was also very busy and we had to wait when filling up and again when dumping," notes Tina from Honeysuckle Hollow.
Site selection strategy: Choose sites based on space needs. "We stayed on a back-in site on the north side of the campground. We had 50 amp, but no water/sewer, although there was a water spigot next to our site that we could use to fill up jugs of water," explains Tina from Honeysuckle Hollow, highlighting the need to plan for water access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Antioch, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Antioch, IL is Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 68 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 59 dog-friendly camping locations near Antioch, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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