Best Campgrounds near Arlington Heights, IL
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.
