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Best Campgrounds near Arlington Heights, IL

439 Reviews

The northwest suburbs of Chicago surrounding Arlington Heights, Illinois feature several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, offering a mix of forest preserve camping and state park options. Camp Reinberg in nearby Palatine provides a well-maintained urban camping experience with RV sites, cabins, and tent camping areas alongside paved cycling trails through Deer Park preserve. Chain O' Lakes State Park to the north offers multiple camping areas including Fox Den, Turner Lake South, and Honeysuckle Hollow campgrounds with varying levels of privacy and amenities. Blackwell Family Campground in Warrenville and Paul Wolff Campground in Elgin round out the public camping options within an hour's drive.

Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through October, with limited year-round options. Reservations are essential, particularly for summer weekends when Chicago residents seek outdoor escapes. One camper noted, "Great for the times that we have to work weekends and still want to go camping. We can both drive to work and then come back to relax." Illinois state parks enforce a no-alcohol policy even at individual campsites. The flat terrain throughout the region makes for easy site access but offers limited natural features. Summer heat can be intense at exposed sites, with one reviewer mentioning, "No shade in the Illinois heat and no shower made it unacceptable."

Proximity to water features significantly enhances camping experiences in the area. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort in Volo receives high ratings for its waterfront amenities, while Illinois Beach State Park provides Lake Michigan access despite having "sites that are okay, but a little close together, with little shade." Cyclists appreciate the extensive trail networks, with Camp Reinberg offering "a bike and walking path that goes through a beautiful forest preserve" with routes "dipping through forested sections, open fields, and lily pad covered ponds." Privacy varies considerably between campgrounds, with Turner Lake South featuring "nice and private sites" in contrast to Honeysuckle Hollow's "open and row after row of RV sites." County forest preserves often provide the most affordable options, with some basic sites available for as little as $5 per night.

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Best Camping Sites Near Arlington Heights, Illinois (58)

    1. Camp Reinberg

    12 Reviews
    Palatine, IL
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9750

    $45 - $60 / night

    "Lots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc."

    "tucked alongside a bike and walking path that goes through a beautiful forest preserve. The path is gorgeous dipping through forested sections, open fields, and lilly pad covered ponds!"

    2. Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    66 Reviews
    Zion, IL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 662-4811

    $25 / night

    "The group camp site is located pretty far away from the rest of the campsites, bathrooms, trails and amenities."

    "We had a phenomenal time at Illinois State Park camping facilities! Space was clean, nature was alive, and the neighbors so friendly!"

    3. Blackwell Family Campground

    22 Reviews
    Warrenville, IL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 933-7248

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Just outside of Chicago, we have been staying here for quick weekend trips and absolutely love the proximity to home."

    "I always loved going to the parks in Illinois with my grandparents when I was little. They love hiking and nature and definitely got me interested in it also. I love them and miss them everyday."

    4. Paul Wolff Campground

    20 Reviews
    Elgin, IL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 444-1200

    $12 - $35 / night

    "Half of them were in the Prairie and the other half was tucked into wonderfully private spots with burn pits and picnic tables. We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies."

    "The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."

    5. Camp Bullfrog Lake

    30 Reviews
    Willow Springs, IL
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9785

    $20 - $138 / night

    "Great site, not far from Chicago, but feels well away from city life.

    Tent sites around rim of a lake. RV sites and cabins as well."

    "What’s great about this location is the access to the miles and mile of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite."

    6. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    8 Reviews
    Round Lake, IL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 546-2228

    $43 - $73 / 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."

    7. Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    14 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    27 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "*** 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"

    "Campsite is nice, we're pretty close to our neighbors but not as bad as other places I've been. Walking distance to a fishing dock!"

    8. Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    12 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "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."

    "It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "

    9. Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    13 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    26 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "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!"

    10. The Vaudeville

    3 Reviews
    Chicago, IL
    20 miles
    +1 (312) 420-4204

    "There is easy access to public transportation. It was HOT and there are no plug ins or use of generators so plan accordingly"

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Recent Camping Photos near Arlington Heights, IL

160 Photos of 58 Arlington Heights Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Arlington Heights, IL

439 Reviews of 58 Arlington Heights Campgrounds

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Camp Bullfrog Lake

    Great camping spot

    This is my second time staying at Bullfrog lake. The first time I was in spot 2 which had more privacy but felt more cramped. This time I was in spot 18 which felt like it had more space but had almost no shade.

    The camp hosts are really hit or miss. One guy was so nice and took a bunch to photos for me of me kayaking. The other guy seemed mad to be alive lol.

    The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around.

    Unfortunately the wood I bought from the camp store took forever to catch flames—my other two neighbors had the same issue.

    Bathroom/shower facilities were clean and well stocked.

    Overall I’d definitely stay here again.

  • K
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    Not communicable, fraud administration

    I reserved 5 nights, paid in full. After just one night, management cancelled my stay because my service dogs(Maltese) supposedly barked. I was fully cooperative, kept them quiet, and even documented this in emails. There was a stray cat near my RV that caused the issue, but instead of solving it, they forced me to leave. No refund for 4 nights. This is unfair, discriminatory, and against ADA law.

  • Kevin B.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Camp Sullivan

    Enjoyed the camping experience

    Nice and clean areas, staff was very professional and helpful while I was there

  • Tim L.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Chicago Northwest KOA

    Chill Vibes, quick get away from the city

    Far enough from the city lights, close enough to civilization. Cozy, small park with friendly staff and plenty of amenities. You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!

  • Tim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Sunset Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area

    Private sites, lots of wildlife ... and mosquitoes

    It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it. If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go. 

    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. I will say this though, even with there being more mosquitoes constantly attacking, I did not have the reactions to them like I do the mosquitoes back in Alabama and Mississippi. I wasn't itching much at all.

    But back to the fun part. It was pretty hot a couple days while we were there and to take a break from the heat, we enjoyed the ac in the car and drove around the recreation area and the campgrounds. I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two. 

    What drew me to this campground was how private the individual sites were. Each campsite is cut back into the trees so that most are at least semi-private. This was a nice feature given that many other campgrounds you are stacked in like cord wood.

    Our first night there, we left the rain fly off of the tent and just enjoyed the stars and the satellites streaking across the sky.

    Overall, it was a rather enjoyable week. The shower/bathrooms were nice and clean, though I will admit the shower got too hot even for my wife. It is an easy drive from the recreation area to Kenosha or other points of interest and Lake Michigan is worth a visit if you aren't from the area.

  • D
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Big Rock Campground

    Needs some shade

    This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade.

    The flush toilet building was very clean, but there was no TP in the ladies' room. And I have to wonder why you would build a new campground without showers?

    It is very close to the cities so we will stay here again.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Camp Shabbona Woods

    Not the best but acceptable

    Stayed the weekend. Definitely felt the urban community close by with ambulances and firetrucks noises in the background. They close the gates after 10pm was weird but overall ok. No electric or water hook ups can’t keep your vehicle close to your campsite. The good the bathroom are in good shape and the staff was friendly.

  • D
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Paul Wolff Campground

    No showers

    We would gladly stay here again!

    Great campsite with the best staff ever! The sites are clean and very well maintained. We loved the staff patrolling the grounds. The trail system is great for walking the dogs. And I even grew to like the no alcohol in the preserve rule.

    The vault toilets are clean but smell like vault toilets at 95 degrees. There is one very clean flush toilet building but no showers. They don't advertise showers, but this is the newest and nicest campsite I have seen without showers. There is some shade, but you have to search for it.

  • Kaitlin M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2025

    Camp Bullfrog Lake

    Close to city, very peaceful

    Really nice campground. No water hooks up. Water on site but, not ideal. Really nice views. Very quiet. Super friendly staff and neighbors. I made a reservation for the wrong campground and meant to book this one and the staff helped me switch my reservation and make a new one. Really great!

Guide to Arlington Heights

Camping near Arlington Heights, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From scenic parks to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone looking to escape the city.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Nature Walks: Explore the trails at Rock Cut State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Many trails and not too expensive. They have sites with electric and sites just for tents."
  • Fishing: At Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, you can enjoy fishing in a peaceful setting. A camper shared, "We kayaked around the lake and enjoyed the natural setting."
  • Beach Access: The Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park offers a beach area for swimming and relaxing. One reviewer noted, "Staff were very friendly and helpful. Would stay again!"

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Indiana Dunes State Park Campground remarked, "Clean br/shower houses. Would recommend."
  • Privacy: Many sites provide a sense of seclusion. A review for Dunewood Campground mentioned, "The sites are decently private with good tent pads."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of campground staff. A guest at Rock Cut State Park Campground said, "The ranger offers evening entertainment for the kiddos."

What you should know:

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs, especially in the warmer months. One camper at Dunewood Campground warned, "The mosquitos here are insane!!! I came back with giant welts from the bites."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A visitor at Camp Bullfrog Lake noted, "The bathrooms being horrible. Hot water for showers did not work."
  • Crowded Weekends: Popular campgrounds can fill up quickly on weekends. A reviewer at Big Foot Beach State Park Campground mentioned, "Always full on weekends. Popular destination for locals."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for sites with playgrounds and activities. One camper at Blackwell Family Campground said, "The ranger did stop by around 5 or 6ish with some activities for the kids to do."
  • Plan for Bugs: Bring bug spray to keep the mosquitoes at bay. A family at Indiana Dunes State Park Campground found that "mosquitoes were out but not the worst out of the campgrounds we've been in."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make family outings smoother. A visitor at Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area enjoyed the "well-stocked store" on-site.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Electrical Hookups: Ensure your site has the right hookups for your RV. A camper at Rock Cut State Park Campground mentioned, "The 30 amp plug there would work for about 2 mins and then would keep tripping again."
  • Reserve Early: Popular spots fill up fast, especially during peak season. A visitor at Indiana Dunes State Park Campground advised, "Very popular campground so you do have to book well in advance during regular season."
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Take advantage of local dining and activities. A reviewer at Camp Bullfrog Lake suggested checking out "Shabbona Café, which is a no-frills local diner serving up burgers."

Whether you're looking for the best camping near Arlington Heights, IL, or just a quick getaway, these campgrounds offer a mix of nature, fun, and family-friendly activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any affordable or cheap camping options near Arlington Heights?

Several budget-friendly camping options exist near Arlington Heights. Prairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park offers primitive camping with no electric hookups at reasonable rates, with water available a short walk away. For those looking to save even more, some retailers permit free overnight parking for self-contained RVs, like Walmart — Dekalb Supercenter, which has a spacious lot just off Sycamore Road. County-operated sites often offer discounted rates for local residents, making them worth checking out. Most public campgrounds in the area range from $15-30 per night depending on amenities, with primitive sites being the most affordable option.

Where can I find lakeside camping places near Arlington Heights?

The best lakeside camping near Arlington Heights can be found at Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park, which offers private sites along the Turner Lake shoreline. This loop provides a much more secluded experience compared to other sections of the park. For spectacular views of Lake Michigan, Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park is worth the drive for its superb lakefront sunrises. Be sure to navigate to the south entrance where the campground is located. Big Rock Campground offers some water views but lacks shade and showers.

What tent camping sites are available near Arlington Heights?

Blackwell Family Campground is a great tent camping option close to Arlington Heights with level, clean sites that include electric hookups. Modern bathrooms and reasonably priced firewood make this a convenient choice for weekend getaways. Another good option is MacQueen Forest Preserve, which offers basic tent camping in a quiet setting. For hikers and cyclists, Channahon State Park Campground provides tent sites easily accessible from the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail. Most tent sites in the area require reservations during peak season (May-September).

What are the best family-friendly campgrounds near Arlington Heights?

Camp Reinberg stands out for families with its extensive network of biking and walking trails, plus numerous off-trail paths leading to unique clearings and bridges. The preserve connects to neighborhoods but maintains well-marked main trails that are easy for children to follow. Another excellent option is Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort, which offers waterfront activities perfect for keeping kids entertained. For families seeking a campground with modern amenities but still close to home, Chicago Northwest KOA provides clean facilities, though spaces are somewhat close together.

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