Hannah T.
Traveler
TravelerWhite Pines Forest State Park Campground
Lots of things to do!
Well kept camping sites. Easy drive up style. Picnic tables and fire pits on site. Bathrooms and dumpster close by. River that is walk and drive through!
Glamping near Belvidere, IL
28 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Chicago Northwest KOA in Union houses upscale glamping accommodations within an hour's drive of Belvidere, offering both cabin and yurt options for visitors seeking a blend of comfort and nature. The glamping yurts feature proper beds with linens, climate control systems, and electrical outlets while maintaining the distinctive round structure and canvas walls that create a unique overnight experience. Each accommodation includes a picnic table outside, with access to modern restrooms with showers, a camp store for essentials, and full hookup amenities throughout the property. The campground maintains a gated entrance with keycards for after-hours access, ensuring security while allowing guests to explore the surrounding area. "Our family stayed here and although it is a small campground it meets the standards of what you should expect of a KOA. Nice bathrooms, decent size level sites," noted one visitor.
Situated adjacent to Wild West Town, this eco-friendly glamping destination provides families with a distinctive entertainment option without sacrificing luxury outdoor comforts. The children's activity areas have been significantly upgraded by newer ownership, with one reviewer mentioning, "This campground has really grown on me a lot. My family and I have seen the newer owners clean it up, remodel sites, add new equipment for children and added more activities too!" Weekend programming includes organized activities for younger guests, while adults appreciate the strictly enforced quiet hours that ensure peaceful nights. For travelers seeking alternative glamping experiences, White Pines Forest State Park Campground in Polo and Big Foot Beach State Park Campground in Lake Geneva both offer distinctive seasonal accommodations with varying levels of amenities including electric hookups, firewood service, and reservable sites within natural settings.
Best Glamping Campgrounds near Belvidere (28)
1. Thomas Woods Campground
"The trails are both wooded and hilly, but there's also a large prairie nature walk.
The campground has many secluded walk-in tent sites and a variety of sites for other types of campers.""Firewood is cheap on-site and delivered to your site on demand."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability2. Chicago Northwest KOA
"Plus they have a quiet time at night.So people and kids can go to bed without a bunch of noise."
"We stayed here for a weekend and there were plenty of activities for the kids...the staff was friendly and the bathrooms were clean...our camp site was near the bathrooms, pool, and store so we were nice"
3. Rock Cut State Park - Hickory Hills Campground
"Located along the eastern edge near Pierce Lake, this campground offers non-electric Class B sites and are numbered from 1 to 60 and set along a wooded lake frontage small peninsula right on Lake Pierce"
4. Big Foot Beach State Park Campground
"Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois. 4 stars because it's not the camping in nature experience I am looking for. Lots of noise. Lots of kids. Lots of dogs."
"Nice 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"
5. White Pines Forest State Park Campground
"Easy drive up style. Picnic tables and fire pits on site. Bathrooms and dumpster close by. River that is walk and drive through!"
"Very clean, and beautiful hiking trails. My only complaint would be that at the private cabins you are not allowed to cook out."
6. Kings Camp
"There is a lake for swimming and fishing (with paddle boats and kayaks available to use for free, a very nice playground and the camp hosts kid/family activities on most weekends."
from $35 / night
Check Availability7. Crazy Horse Campground
"Friendly staff and a nicely stocked store. Has a pool, petting zoo, kayaks, rocky beach, dog park, and a land pillow!"
"We made this trip mid-May during the Covid social distancing. The camp ground was on point with their preparedness. Check in was simply pull into your site or a brief stop at registration."
8. Milton-Madison SE KOA
"Very clean and friendly staff, the pool is meh as the hot tub was cold but the grounds were real nice. Big fire pits, they pick up your garbage. Lots of stuff for kids to do"
"They have everything from just electrical hook up to full hookup to drive through spots. The pool and bath house is very nice. You can rent a golf cart too."
9. Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park
"*** 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"
"Non-electric sites in the loop on the small fishing pond were relatively quiet, well shaded, with decent screening between sites."
10. Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park
"There’s some small trails around as well that are beginner. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night."
"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."
Drive Time
- 9 min from Rockford, IL
- 28 min from Janesville, WI
- 1 hr 21 min from Kenosha, WI
- 1 hr 28 min from Racine, WI
Recent Glamping Photos near Belvidere, IL
14 Photos of 28 Belvidere Campgrounds
Stuart K.
Rock Cut State Park - Hickory Hills Campground
Marisa A.
Thomas Woods Campground
deb K.
Chicago Northwest KOA
Kim C.
White Pines Forest State Park Campground
Art S.
Prairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park
The Dyrt
Lakeland Camping Resort
Stuart K.
Hickory Hills Campground
Stuart K.
Hi-Tide Beach & Campgrounds
Stuart K.
Green River Oaks Camping Resort
Glamping Reviews near Belvidere, IL
258 Reviews of 28 Belvidere Campgrounds
Stacie H.
GuideWhite Pines Forest State Park Campground
Lovely natural scenery; campground leaves something to be desired
Let's start with the good stuff:
- The park is beautiful. Lovely trees, lots of shade, the hiking trails are nice, well marked, and they even have an accessible trail for those with disabilities!
- There is a restaurant and gift shop on site. Gift shop sells wood if you run low or forget.
- The bathrooms and shower house are relatively clean and well kept.
Now for the not so great stuff:
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Many of the campsites are sloped and some are sloped A LOT. This isn't obvious from the booking page.
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The campground is absolutely jammed with camp sites- it's ridiculous. I've never been to a campground where the sites were so on top of one another.
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We stayed in the Sunny Crest loop and the drinking water well was broken so we had to travel to other parts of the campground for water. When carrying a 10 gallon jug full of water back, that really sucked.
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The sites that are marked as "hike in" aren't secluded and away from other sites at all, as one might expect. They are jammed in with all the others but there just isn't any parking nearby.
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It had rained the day before was went and so the road to the campgrounds was blocked off (presumably because the creek was running too high), but there was NO SIGNAGE telling us how to get there another way. There was no one in the park office or in the camping registration station to ask. We finally figured out that we had to take an emergency road/auxiliary road to get to the campground, but that was after about 30 minutes of confusion.
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The breakfast buffet at the restaurant is mid but very pricey- $50 for 2 of us.
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The quiet hours and no alcohol policy are not enforced at all. While we were there, there was a very loud group playing beer pong into the wee hours of the morning.
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About half of the fire rings don't have grill grates so bring your own or bring a camp stove (See pic). Also, when you book your site, there is no way to know if your fire ring will have a grill grate or note.
Addison G.GuideTurner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park
Awesome choice for campers on a budget
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. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night. Bathrooms could’ve been cleaner but we were grateful for the facility which doubled as a storm shelter. There’s indoor showers and bathrooms. There are also cabins at this campsite, not sure on pricing tho
DakotaTravelerPrairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park
Great Camping!
We stayed at the Prairie View section on site P27. It was me, my wife, our 8 month old daughter, and our dog. One thing I always look up before booking a campsite is how secluded we are since our dog gets very anxious and will bark at almost anyone that gets “too close” in her eyes. This site seemed promising so I booked it with fingers crossed. Luckily it was fantastic. You could barely see the neighbors because of how overgrown the edges of the site were. We felt like we were in our own little bubble. The gravel drive into the site was also pretty tight so we were able to park our car in it and block off the view to the road even more. There was plenty of room for our tent and to have a fire. Two tents might have been too much though. Although we do have a pretty large tent. The fire area was great, it had a grill you could put over it to cook on. It was also very well upkept. We saw someone going around and cleaning out all of the fire pits before check-in even to make sure they were ready for the next group. There were pit toilets within the camping area but there was also a bath house with flush toilets right outside on the main road (5 minute walk).
Checking in was also extremely easy and the people at the gatehouse were very friendly. The concessions (or camp store) was large and well stocked. Plenty of firewood and was inside a garage so it was all dry and ready to use. We didn’t use any of the water sport rentals because of our baby, but we’re very happy to see there was a ton to do and will likely be back to take advantage.
We also did a 5 mile hike through the park. It was absolutely beautiful. Lots of hills, forested areas, open prairies, and multiple water locations including next to the Fox River where our dog was able to cool off. The paths were all paved or crushed gravel and were very well upkept.
We had an amazing time and will definitely be back!
Stuart K.
LegendPilgrims Campground
Hillside Tent Camping & RV Bliss
Conveniently located next to absolutely nothing just due northwest of Fort Atkinson, you’ll love Pilgrim’s Campground for its successful delivery of (capital letters) P&Q! What I love most about this location is how they keep all the RV campers penned in up against the slight diagonal embankment, which actually provides some pretty phenomenal views of the surrounding areas (if not your next door neighbors) as well as excellent drainage and subsequently separated from the primitive TV campsites. These latter sites are placed just due southwest of the grounds and are pitched perfectly in a tree-lined meadow, encircled by freshly cut corn fields, where you’ll find no shortage of amazing animals coming to graze throughout the day (and night) from deer, raccoons, opossums and endless tag teams of squirrels.
Because there isn’t so much around, be prepared to bring everything with you (save ice and wood, which is sold on-site). While the bathroom / shower facilities are just passable, what you are giving up in terms of creature comforts is more than made up for in the sheer proximity to all of nature. During the warm summer months, there’s a small in-ground pool on-site, which sits right in front of the main office. All of the standard camping surround-sound elements are here from fire rings and picnic tables to water, electrical (50 / 30 / 20 / 15 amp) and sewer hook-ups. In all, there’s about 100 sites here at Pilgrims Campground, with the lion’s share of this pet-friendly property dedicated to overnight and seasonal RV / 5th Wheelers offering both back-in and pull-through sites.
Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you don’t mind some rough hiking, there’s fantastic ‘spazierengehen’ to be had just wandering around the countryside in the bountiful corn and bean fields or head over to nearby Dorothy Carnes County Park for some decent trails to explore; (2) In the event that you don’t like being awaken too early from all of the nearby roosters, then bring some ear plugs; (3) When you grow tired of having to forage through either your on-board RV mini-fridge or bear-proof Cordova roto-molded cooler, then look no further than ‘What’s the Point’ (no, seriously, that's the name of the restaurant!) for traditional Midwestern comfort food like corned beef & cabbage, fried fish, BBQ ribs and prime rib; (4) Should you come bearing watercraft and looking for a decent spot to dip your kayak or canoe at, then check out Rose Lake State Natural Area, which BTW is quite small, but very convenient, or try out much larger Red Cedar Lake or Lake Ripley; and (5) Cell coverage and WiFi is pretty horrific in these parts, so bring a booster or plan to leave civilization behind you.
Happy Camping!
- Brenton S.Traveler
Elkhorn Campgrounds
Affordable and friendly!
Such a great little place to escape to or visit if you're just passing through. Nothing crazy fancy but hook-ups and fire pits available if needed. Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse areana. You might even be able to catch a show or two on site at the fair grounds, depending on the time of year.
Tricia E.GuideYogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Fort Atkinson
Wonderfully clean family campground
My husband and I plus our 3 kids stayed in a rustic cabin. The cabin was exactly how it was described and thankfully so! Since it had air-conditioning we all slept great. The grounds itself was very clean, the portable toilets were cleaned twice a day. There were many activities for all ages both for a small fee and free. Our kids used the pools quite a lot and were a bit disappointed with the skatepark. They enjoyed all the airfilled bouncy activities.
- MMelinda K.Guide
Big Foot Beach State Park Campground
Not a nature type campground
Always full on weekends. Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois. 4 stars because it's not the camping in nature experience I am looking for. Lots of noise. Lots of kids. Lots of dogs. It's park area is very nice. Nice playground for kids. Volleyball nets. Lots of picnic tables and grills available. Dogs not welcome in most of the park. More of a party place. But the staff is very active. They clean sites quickly, clean the bathrooms regularly.
We stayed on site 50. We were closer to our neighbors than I'd like, including the campsite behind us. The campsite behind us had a path thru it to get to the bathrooms. There was a thin layer of growth between sites but not much. Our site had a nicely placed tree providing just enough coverage but nothing stayed wet in the rain. We camped in a popup, if we had a tent I think we would have been soaked. Lots of pooling water on the backside. The campground just added new gravel to the sites and asked that all trailers and vehicles stay on the gravel but the gravel doesn't go back far enough for both car and camper to stay on.
The inner ring of the campground are smaller(shorter) sites. The outer ring sites are better for RVs. Except for site 70. That should be tent only because there are 2 trees right in the middle behind the gravel. 50, 69, 74 seemed the best for both shade and sun combo. Site 79 is paved but not marked as handicap because it isn't being maintained as handicap and is not close to the new bathrooms. Not enough sites with electric, however we didn't need it for the weekend.
Mountainman McBeachfront
ScoutWhite Pines Forest State Park Campground
Nice park, with some downsides.
This is the type of campground you go and check your spot out before you reserve it. Many of the tent campsites are literally on a hill. Some are very close. They really crammed them wherever they could. The amenities are excellent and the only reason I gave 3 stars, the shower/restroom was very nice and air conditioned. Potable water available. If I knew the campground was gonna be sideways I wouldn’t have reserved it, not gonna lie I was pissed when I saw it as I reserved it for 3-4 days. There’s lots of them that are on flat ground/tucked away and look excellent but it’s a gamble unless you go there beforehand to look. There’s a ford you have to cross to get to the campground but its not that bad people this isn’t Oregon Trail you won’t float away and lose an Ox and wagon wheel.
Guide to Belvidere
Within an hour's drive of Belvidere, Illinois, campgrounds offer diverse terrains from densely wooded sites to prairie-bordered lakes. The area features a mix of public and private camping options at elevations ranging from 700-900 feet, with typical summer temperatures reaching 80°F and winter temperatures often dropping below freezing. Many campgrounds around Belvidere remain open from April through October, with seasonal activities adjusting to match the Midwest's distinct four seasons.
What to do
Kayaking and canoeing on connected lakes: Chain O' Lakes State Park provides access to multiple lakes linked by small tributaries. "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," notes one visitor at Turner Lake South. The park also offers kayak rentals and a shuttle service during summer months.
Fall foliage hiking trails: White Pines Forest State Park features well-marked trails with decent elevation changes for the Midwest. "If you're a hiker, there are hills here for some decent elevation change (not bad for the Midwest). There are many trails which you can combine to get a good amount of miles in," reports one camper at White Pines Forest State Park Campground. The park maintains both groomed and ungroomed walking paths.
Horseback riding and fishing: Beyond glamping close to Belvidere, Illinois, many campgrounds offer additional recreational activities. "The park has many trails, which were nice. There are several other state parks in the nearby area, which makes for a fun weekend of exploration," explains a camper from White Pines Forest State Park. Several parks maintain dedicated horse trails alongside fishing ponds and river access points.
What campers like
Privacy levels vary significantly: For campers seeking seclusion, Fox Den Campground offers more privacy than other nearby options. "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 (our site was protected on 3 sides by some fairly dens foliage and trees)," shares a visitor at Fox Den Campground.
Clean, accessible facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and shower houses. At Thomas Woods Campground, campers note the cleanliness factor: "Have stayed here a few times tent camping. Smaller campground in McHenry county. Good staff. Other campers relatively friendly and quiet. County police make a presence in the camp ground. Clean. Decent sites, some have hike in (kind of). Decent toilets."
Affordable glamping alternatives: While luxury glamping options exist near Belvidere, budget-conscious travelers have options too. "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. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night," explains a camper at Turner Lake South, highlighting the cost difference between glamping and traditional camping.
What you should know
Site layouts and positioning: Many campgrounds feature distinctive site arrangements that affect privacy and convenience. At Honeysuckle Hollow, one camper advises: "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 as the ones closest to the main loop aren't very deep. Closer to the center of this row is best."
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for local wildlife throughout the camping season. "Turkeys wandering around, lots of different birds, I heard coyotes hooting and hollering in the distance, and an opossum wandered into my site while I was sitting by the fire," reports a camper from White Pines. Another camper at Honeysuckle Hollow 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!"
Seasonal road conditions: Some campgrounds feature water crossings that affect access. "I forgot about the 'ford' crossing into the campground. It's where the water crosses the road about a foot high," notes one camper about White Pines Forest State Park. These crossings sometimes close after heavy rain, requiring campers to use alternative access roads that may not be well-marked.
Tips for camping with families
Weekend activity schedules: Milton-Madison SE KOA organizes structured activities for children on weekends. "Great place to bring our three boys. There are 2 playgrounds, a nice pool, games and activities for the kids over weekends, and the rv sites are well spaced," shares one family at Milton-Madison SE KOA. Many family-oriented campgrounds follow similar weekend programming schedules.
Consider proximity to bathrooms: When camping with young children, bathroom proximity matters. "We were at site 4 which is electric hookup and it was a huge area! The kids had so much space to run around and explore. They loved the well pump," notes a Thomas Woods camper who visited with their family of five.
Pack tick prevention supplies: Parents camping with crawling babies or toddlers should prepare for ticks. One parent recommends: "Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair." Bug spray, tick removal tools, and daily tick checks are essential, especially during peak seasons.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup placement: At Chain O' Lakes State Park, RVers should research specific sites before booking. "These sites share an electric box. Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad. A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance," advises an experienced RVer from Honeysuckle Hollow.
Water and dump stations: While many sites advertise electric hookups, water access varies significantly. At Crazy Horse Campground, one RVer mentions: "We stayed at full hookups site 803. Being right in front of the jumping pillow people didn't walk around. They would cut thru our site." Understanding site layouts helps prevent unwanted foot traffic through your campsite.
Premium site reservations: Some campgrounds allow campers to select specific sites for an additional fee. "They do allow you to pick your site if you're willing to pay $10 extra," notes a Milton KOA visitor, providing a practical option for RVers with specific needs regarding size, hookup placement, or privacy preferences.
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campsite near Belvidere, IL?
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Belvidere, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Belvidere, IL is Thomas Woods Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 17 reviews.
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glamping camping near
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What is the best site to find glamping camping near Belvidere, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 28 glamping camping locations near Belvidere, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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