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Camp Bullfrog Lake allows pets in all accommodation types including cabins, tent sites, and RV spaces with fire rings and picnic tables. The campground features extensive hiking and mountain biking trails where dogs can accompany their owners through the surrounding forest preserves. Dogs must be leashed at all times while at the campground facilities. The bathrooms and shower facilities are clean and accessible, though some visitors note the hot water can be unreliable. Each campsite comes with a free bundle of firewood, making evening relaxation with pets convenient.
Extensive trail networks throughout the Palos area provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs and their owners, with multiple interconnected paths accessible directly from Camp Bullfrog Lake. The primitive tent sites require a short walk from parking areas, which may require additional planning when bringing pet supplies. Camp Sullivan and Camp Reinberg also welcome pets in their cabin accommodations, providing additional options near Bedford Park. The gate closes at 10pm, requiring campers with pets to arrive before this time. During summer months, the lack of shade at many campsites makes portable shade structures advisable when camping with dogs to prevent overheating on hot days.
"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."
from $20 - $138 / night
Check Availability"Located in a Cook County forest preserve this family camping option is a nice local getaway. The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern."
"There are several bathrooms around and they are clean. Staff is friendly and welcoming."
from $35 - $250 / night
Check Availability"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"There is so much to do her, wineries and breweries nearby. The beaches are not too crowded. Pet friendly and lots to do for children. This is one of our favorite vacation spots."
"give you a great view of Lake Michigan. Bathroom rooms and shower were super clean. Dog friendly campsite and right next to the lake!"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"We spent the afternoon on the lakeside and drove back to the site to set up for the evening."
"Was rainy, but still enjoyed walking the beach. Staff extremely pleasant & helpful. Pavilion services was closed for construction. There is an area on the Beach where you can walk your dogs."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"If you like having access to a bathroom and shower its great and because no one really hd a tent here but us we had some privacy. It is next to a highway so be mindful of that."
"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 Availabilityfrom $35 - $75 / 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
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TravelerSmall campground but very friendly. A plus was the full hookups. The sights are very close together. Management is not over bearing and very friendly. Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park! You overall great weekend
TravelerWe stayed in the off season in a site close to the laundry facility and office. Great campground for families. Our site was smaller however, no one was around us so it seemed bigger. They do have nice premium sites in the front. Loved that it is gated and and key card access after hours. Has a dog park and a playground for the kids.
ScoutWe’ve been staying at this resort for several months now, and wanted to share some feedback based on our experience.
The pool only opened mid-summer.
Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning. The water is so unclean that our shower develops yellow stains within a day, and we’ve had to install a five-stage filtration system just to make it usable.
We’ve also noticed that rules aren’t enforced consistently, and it sometimes feels like certain guests are treated unfairly. For example, while we were told that personal kiddie pools aren’t allowed, we’ve counted at least six others set up around the park.
Package delivery is only permitted under special circumstances, and only if pre-approved by staff.
Had an incident where a staff member criticized my swimsuit at the pool, despite it being modest and similar to what others were wearing. I wore this swimsuit to many pools for many years. Additionally, the beach area is often closed even during posted open hours, and pool hours or updates aren’t clearly communicated—you have to inquire to get any information.
The storm shelter is typically locked, making it inaccessible in emergencies, which is a major concern.
We’ve also had to fix the swing set at the playground ourselves multiple times, as it’s been broken for a while. Many of the park’s facilities and amenities are showing their age and could benefit from updates and maintenance.
That said, there are aspects we’ve truly enjoyed, and they’re the main reasons we’ve continued our stay: the spacious layout of the RV park, a nice lake, beach, pool, gym, and a dog park.
TravelerMany very nice permanent sites. We loved the dog park along with the many activities available. We come here at least once a year. Check out their information on their website.
If you want a quick local get away this is the place.
GuidePros - playground, pool, well kept grounds, helpful staff, gated/swipe card access, ponds, close to area attractions, decent campground WiFi, small fire ring, small dog park
Cons - tight spaces, BYO grill, bad showers, dirty/tight bathroom area
The mens room is just gross. Water in the stalls because showers don’t drain. Water in the shower never gets hot. Missing shower heads with pressure that almost tears your skin. Can barely squeeze into the tiny stall. Toilets are gross.
GuideWe used it as an over night stop right off of 94. It was perfect for that. It would also be perfect spot to stay longer if wanted to be in the area. Grounds were nice. Clean bathrooms, laundry, dog friendly, pool, office is friendly and has a store with game room. Nice dog park. We are in a 40ft with tow and did not need to unhook.
LegendAs we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch.
If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs.
As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location.
If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo.
Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
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.
TravelerFriendly staff who were quick to respond to any issues. Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant. No wi-fi found except at hotel. Good phone connection. Garbage cans throughout park. Minutes from I & M Canal entrance on Houbolt and from JJC and I-80.
Camp Bullfrog Lake provides designated tent and RV sites with water, electric hookups and shower facilities for campers with dogs. The campground allows pets in cabins for those wanting more comfort. Winter camping is limited with seasonal closures from November through April. Multiple entry points connect to regional trail networks for day hiking. Sites range from $20-30 per night depending on residency status and hookup requirements.
Kayaking on Silver Lake: At Blackwell Family Campground, visitors can enjoy paddling alongside wildlife. "The fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release," reports one camper. Rental boats are available during summer months.
Mountain biking on singletrack: Extensive trail networks near Camp Sullivan provide technical riding options. "The trail system is great for walking the dogs," notes a recent visitor. Trails connect between campgrounds allowing for longer rides through forest preserves.
Winter hiking: Cold-weather camping opens up solitude opportunities. "Nice place for a winter hike," shares one camper at Blackwell. Trails remain open year-round with fewer crowds during off-season months.
Free firewood allocation: Camp Reinberg provides complimentary wood with site rental. "Free firewood and you can purchase more for just $5," mentions a reviewer. This saves the hassle of sourcing wood when arriving after dark.
Proximity to Chicago: Bedford Park camping areas offer escape without distance. "Located only 30 miles outside the city," notes a review about Paul Wolff Campground. Most sites are within 45 minutes of downtown, making weekend trips practical.
Diverse wildlife viewing: Morning hours provide prime wildlife spotting. "We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies," shares a Paul Wolff visitor. Bird watching opportunities include goldfinches, hawks and seasonal migrations of sandhill cranes.
Variable shower conditions: Facilities differ widely between campgrounds. "The water pressure in the showers was so-so, but there was no hot water," reports one Camp Sullivan visitor. At Indiana Dunes State Park Campground, "Bath house was always clean and grounds were well-kept."
Train noise proximity: Several campgrounds experience railroad disruptions. "You can hear railroad and road noise but that's the trade off for being close to town with good cell service," notes a camper about Dunewood Campground. Noise-sensitive campers should request sites furthest from tracks.
Reservation requirements: Weekend spots fill quickly during summer months. "The sites are decently private with good tent pads," shares a visitor to Dunewood. Most campgrounds require reservations 1-2 weeks in advance for Friday and Saturday stays.
Rock climbing activities: Camp Sullivan offers structured recreation. "There is an activities barn with a rock climbing wall," mentions one family. The climbing wall provides an alternative when weather turns unfavorable.
Archery options: Several preserves maintain target ranges. "Canoe rentals and free archery range," notes a Blackwell visitor. Equipment rental may be seasonal, so call ahead to confirm availability.
Hiking difficulty levels: Trail systems accommodate various abilities. "There are a lot of loops giving you options," shares a visitor to Paul Wolff. Most loops are under 3 miles with minimal elevation gain, making them suitable for younger children.
Electric-only hookups: Arrive with full water tanks. "Only offered electric service," notes a visitor to Indiana Dunes State Park. Most campgrounds near Bedford Park provide electricity but limited or no water/sewer connections at individual sites.
Dump station access: Plan for limited disposal options. "No water or dumping hook up. Electric only," shares an RV owner about Martin's Camping Ground. Some facilities close dump stations seasonally, requiring advance planning for longer stays.
Concrete pad leveling: Many sites feature improved surfaces. "All sites are paved pads," mentions a reviewer about Paul Wolff. This reduces setup time but limits staking options for awnings and shade structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bedford Park, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bedford Park, IL is Camp Bullfrog Lake with a 4.2-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bedford Park, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 53 dog-friendly camping locations near Bedford Park, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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