39 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Illinois Beach State Park accepts pets throughout its spacious campsites, offering electric hookups and convenient access to the Lake Michigan shoreline. Camp Reinberg in Palatine maintains clean, pet-friendly facilities with tent sites, RV spots with electric hookups, and cabins that accommodate dogs. Both campgrounds feature fire pits, picnic tables, and shower facilities for campers and their four-legged companions. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort provides additional pet-friendly options with cabins and glamping accommodations alongside traditional camping sites. The campgrounds enforce standard leash requirements, and most provide designated pet waste stations. Sites at Camp Reinberg are well-dispersed with ample shade, creating comfortable environments for pets sensitive to heat during summer months. Staff members at these locations demonstrate consistent helpfulness with pet-related questions and concerns.
Trails surrounding Camp Reinberg connect directly to the larger Deer Grove Forest Preserve system, providing extensive walking opportunities for dogs and their owners. Paved paths intermingle with dirt trails through varied Midwest terrain, including wooded sections and open fields with seasonal wildflowers. The beach areas at Illinois Beach State Park include rocky shorelines that may be uncomfortable for sensitive paw pads, though the water access makes it worthwhile for water-loving dogs. During peak summer weekends, campers should arrive early to secure prime pet-friendly sites, particularly at Camp Reinberg where the limited number of sites can fill quickly. Most campgrounds in the area enforce quiet hours that apply to barking dogs, with Camp Reinberg's 24-hour staff available to address any pet-related concerns. Nearby Palatine offers emergency veterinary services approximately 10 minutes from Camp Reinberg for pet owners requiring medical attention.
"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
Check Availability"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!"
from $45 - $60 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."
"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."
from $12 - $35 / night
Check Availability"*** 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!"
"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."
"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!"
"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."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
GuideWe love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in. Bathrooms where very clean. Trails are great. Pet friendly - we brought our small, quiet dogs. Dog friendly restaurant right next to the camp site.
RangerI was here for three months this time as i get to business completed. The park was still kept up very nicely and this time I was here long enough to be able to see how. The grass is mowed every week. There is patroling at all hours for security. The laundry machines are great the dryers ore good. The dog park is clean and secure. The lake is natural and kept free of litter and garbage. The park is much bigger than i thought it was last year. The store has many items you may need. The showers are cleaned and work great. The camp water is high in Iron. The pot roads need service as thay do have a lot of pot holes. Good thing for the 5mph speed limit.
LegendMy first impression when I first arrived here was the overwhelming scent of a newly minted campground, what with the freshly laid gravel, the mint condition security gates, finely manicured and recently raked greenery (as it was October when we visited, it might be better described as brownery) surrounded by a fairly decent gated enclosure lined with perfectly pruned tall towering oaks. Upon arrival, you’ll find what looks to be a brand-spanking new log cabin office on the right after passing a seemingly freshly-minted activities center / community lodge complete with in-ground heated swimming pool and jacuzzi on the left.
Amenities? As you could guess, this pet-friendly 60-acre RV resort has all the attractions in spades from pickleball, playgrounds, volleyball, log pergola patio, full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water & sewage), picnic tables, fire pits, BBQ grills, wagon rides, river access, picnic areas, bathhouses w/ showers & restrooms, cable TV WiFi (pretty poor connection though), gaga ball, game room, community room, billiards table, playground, wet bar, tabletop shuffleboard, community living room with large screen TV, DVD player w/ DVD library, clubhouse, dog park, horseshoes, hot tub, covered pavilions with picnic tables, catch & release ponds, inflatable water toys, jumping pillow, laundr-O-mat, propane refueling station and dump station.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) This place isn’t EZ to find – for some reason, if you plug the campground into your GPS, you’ll literally be on the wrong side of the tracks, where you will arrive at a dead end with a sign that says you are in the wrong place and that you’ll need to double-back, cross the train tracks heading north and turn right just before arriving to High Road School of Belvidere (so if you see a school, you’ve gone too far); (2) You will want to take note that yes, you actually cross train tracks to get to this campground, so if you’re sharp, you’re going to want to ensure you haven’t booked a site right next to where trains will shoot through every few hours, this specifically means avoiding sites #E1-#E5 and #FS23-#FS36 as well as #FE1-#FE20; (3) If you’re a tent camper, you can certainly stay here, but you will want to note that this is very much an RV outpost; (4) The best sites IMHO are those on the northernmost perimeter, as far away from the train tracks as you can get and that also border the Kishwaukee River with sites #S9-#S20 being excellent, as well as #S25-#S81, which are equally amazing; (5) If you are planning on using that amazing pool that you saw as you came in, make sure you call management a good day or two before you come in to ensure that they turn on the heater – when we were there for 2 days, by the time we left, the pool was still too cold to go for a dip; and (6) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up a meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler and want to venture out to try some local fare, just a short walk into the nearby town is Garden Prairie Café, which has a very simple menu offering no shortage of fried everything (fish, shrimp, chicken, etc.) and then there’s Pleasant Street Tavern, but that’s mostly cheap national beers and frozen pizza fare, so if you want something a bit more substantive, head west of here to Miles Bar N’ Grill that serves up typical Midwestern fare like cheese curds, pork tenderloin, Italian beef and a variety of fried fish like blue gill, cod and catfish.
Happy Camping!
ScoutStaff was polite and helpful. They escort you to your spot. They hand out activity sheets for the weekend. 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. They charge extra if you have visitors.
ScoutWe love camping here. It truly feels rural. Small shower house but water pressure is amazing. It’s always quiet and the view is beautiful. Bugs were awful this stay. They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly.
RangerFor years, this was our go-to campground for weekend nearby adventures. Over the years, the price has increased and at $30 per site for non-residents, it's a bit steep for tent camping for me (so I left off a star rating). All sites are electric, so if you are tent camping and want your fan or slow-cooker, then it's as good as it gets in the burbs. It's located in a beautiful wooded Dupage County Forest preserve. While the sites are pretty close together, there are a few good ones that feel more secluded. Designated chip bark tent sites are level. The grounds are very well maintained. While I didn't camp here this year, I took these photos the last weekend in October to give everyone a sense of how nice this campground could be for them. My favorite sites over the years were the ones closest to Silver Lake along the South Loop road because those sites have the best views. For privacy, my favorite site is #27 on the north loop road which makes you feel like you are alone in the woods. Other than plenty of hiking options including a big hill, the fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release. There is also archery, a dog park, picnic areas, boat rental/ramp, and a compass course. It is a great place for families. I've brought cub scouts here and my kids' friends. Heads-up that sites 21 & 22 may not be able to see traffic on the busy Winfield Rd in the summer, but you will still hear it at those sites.
ScoutI 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.
RangerNice large sites. gravel spot for arc/trailer. fire pit and picnic table. trails for hiking are nice, but the overall camping area isn’t very big. 100 sites only. 30 with electric. this was the first time all season that the bugs Annoyed us. the beach is about 10 feet of sand off a busy road and is not pet friendly. nice spot to stay if you want to avoid paying lake Geneva prices for a room.
TravelerLots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc. The preserve bumps up next to neighborhoods and major roads depending how far in you get, but the main trails are easy to follow.
North of Chicago, the Bannockburn area sits at around 673 feet above sea level in a region characterized by its glacial landforms and proximity to Lake Michigan. The area experiences significant seasonal temperature swings, with summer camping season typically running May through October when temperatures average between 65-85°F. Mosquitos and ticks become particularly active during humid summer months, especially near the water-rich camping areas.
Kayaking the Chain O'Lakes system: Turner Lake South within Chain O'Lakes State Park offers numerous water access points. As one visitor noted, "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."
Archery practice: Blackwell Family Campground maintains a free archery range accessible to campers. "There is also archery, a dog park, picnic areas, boat rental/ramp, and a compass course. It is a great place for families," shares one reviewer who frequents the park.
Explore hiking trails: The trails at Camp Reinberg offer varying difficulty levels. "The trails through the grounds are varied and long--you can find something to suit just about any preference for suburban midwest hiking. There are plenty of paved trails as well as dirt, lots of fun little off-shoots into the woods, creeks run throughout, and there's even a little up-and-down thanks to ice age glaciers," explains one regular visitor.
Clean facilities: NAVSTA Great Lakes RV Campground receives praise for its waterfront location. A visitor mentions, "The location was right on the water so that was nice," though they also note limitations with hookups and bathroom facilities.
Secluded tent sites: Prairie View camping area offers primitive sites with natural barriers for privacy. "The site was so cozy because it was at the very back of the circle," reports one camper who appreciated the location's quieter atmosphere.
Late-season options: Paul Wolff Campground at Burnidge Forest Preserve remains open through October 31, accommodating fall camping needs. "As a Troop we would rent one of the cabins for late season campouts. Clean facilities but the nice part is the scenic hiking for being close to town. Gentle hills and beautiful color. Always see turkey and other small game," notes a frequent visitor.
Seasonal pest management: Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area experiences significant tick activity. One camper with young children warns: "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks... they literally fall out of the trees into people! Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house."
Wildlife encounters: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers pet-friendly accommodations but campers should prepare for nighttime visitors. "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."
Gate closure policies: Most parks enforce strict entry times. One camper at Prairie View notes, "The park gates close early as well - we returned one evening at 10:30pm and couldn't get back in with a vehicle. Had to go back in on foot. Good to plan ahead!"
Affordable options for beginners: Turner Lake South provides budget-friendly sites. "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," reports a regular camper.
Lake visibility considerations: Fox Den Campground offers family-friendly sites with supervision benefits. "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 is tucked away with trees. In Honeysuckle you will have clear line of site to very close neighbor," explains a camper who visited with children.
Seasonal activities: Chain O'Lakes State Park organizes ranger-led programs during summer months. "Check out the office for fun seasonal events like group hikes and geocaching contests," suggests one visitor who enjoyed the structured activities with children.
Electric hookup considerations: For pet-friendly camping near Bannockburn with RVs, be aware of hookup placements. A traveler at Camp Reinberg cautions, "This was necessary as there are no water spigots at the RV sites. The staff has to hook up a very very long hose and will bring it to your site. You can get water, it's just an inconvenience."
Pad conditions: RV sites at Illinois Beach State Park vary in surface quality. "We reserved site 349 and had no idea it would be on asphalt. There are plenty of other sites that on grass with trees. Wish there were pictures of sites in Reserve America," notes one RVer, suggesting researching specific site conditions before booking.
Dump station timing: Most campgrounds feature single dump stations that become congested during peak checkout times. "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," reports a long-term camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bannockburn, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bannockburn, IL is Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 67 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bannockburn, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 39 dog-friendly camping locations near Bannockburn, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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