Best Campgrounds near Big Rock, IL

Campgrounds near Big Rock, Illinois range from established sites with full hookups to primitive tent camping areas. Big Rock Campground, located within the forest preserve, provides electric hookups, water access, and fire rings for both tent and RV campers. The surrounding area includes Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area and Blackwell Family Campground, which offer mixed-use facilities accommodating various camping styles. Several locations feature cabin options, including Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Millbrook and Starved Rock State Park Campground, approximately 45 miles southwest of Big Rock.

Access to most camping areas remains available year-round, though amenities and conditions vary significantly by season. Reservations are highly recommended during summer months when sites fill quickly, particularly at family-friendly destinations like Blackwell Forest Preserve. "We are here on Memorial Day weekend and it is full, but still very quiet. The sites are well maintained including the fire pit areas," noted one camper at Big Rock Campground. Water hookups at some locations require longer hoses, as several reviews mentioned. Most campgrounds in the area maintain paved roads and level sites suitable for larger vehicles, though primitive areas may have more challenging access. Weather considerations include hot, humid summers and potential for severe thunderstorms, with spring bringing occasional flooding along creek and river camping areas.

Campsites with water features receive particular attention in visitor reviews. Fishing opportunities exist at multiple locations, with Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area known for various fish species and Big Rock Campground offering access to both Siegler Lake and Big Rock Creek. One visitor highlighted the "hiking, kayaking, fishing" available, mentioning "a tiny beach that we use to put our kayaks and canoes into for floating parties." Campers frequently mention the contrast between the developed camping areas and the surrounding agricultural landscape, with several reviews noting the unexpected natural beauty found within forest preserves and recreation areas. Campgrounds with shower facilities and full hookups tend to receive higher ratings, though some primitive sites gain favor for their seclusion and proximity to hiking trails. Most camping areas provide fire rings and picnic tables, with firewood available for purchase on-site.

Best Camping Sites Near Big Rock, Illinois (100)

    1. Big Rock Campground

    18 Reviews
    Big Rock, IL
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (630) 232-5980

    $18 - $35 / night

    "Nearby Siegler Lake and Big Rock Creek in the Big Rock Forest Preserve are picturesque."

    "They have a short hiking path that leads to big rock forest preserve where there is a tiny beach that we use to put our kayaks and canoes into for floating parties."

    2. Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area

    32 Reviews
    Shabbona, IL
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 824-2565

    $25 / night

    "If you find yourself out in these parts near Shabbona in north central Illinois it is because of either one of two reasons - you are incredibly lost and stumbled across this hidden natural preserve gem"

    "All within easy walking distance to the lake. Camp store and two boat rental spots allow for flexiblity on busier weekends."

    3. Blackwell Family Campground

    22 Reviews
    Warrenville, IL
    19 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. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Millbrook

    6 Reviews
    Newark, IL
    12 miles
    Website

    "This location has been taken over by new management and they are absolutely the greatest! We will continue to go there for as long as we live in this area."

    5. Sycamore RV Resort

    9 Reviews
    Sycamore, IL
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 895-5590

    "Postage stamp space on gravel but we had things to do outside the resort. Nice walking path around the two ponds. The ponds are very low due to drought this summer."

    "Stayed here for a week, nice clean campground, quiet and beautiful lake for fishing, close to town, but yet just far enough out."

    6. Paul Wolff Campground

    20 Reviews
    Elgin, IL
    23 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."

    7. Fox Bluff CottageS & RV

    2 Reviews
    Yorkville, IL
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 553-6323

    $65 - $95 / night

    "There's a gorgeous Creek, a lovely small lake and I really enjoy the walking trails."

    "The location requires a 2 night stay minimum."

    8. Hi-Tide Recreation

    6 Reviews
    Somonauk, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 495-9032

    "bordering Lake Michigan, right?"

    "We camp here every year around my daughters birthday and celebrate her birthday out here...there is a lake stocked with fish and also a creek behind the campground as well...we love coming back here year"

    9. Starved Rock Campground — Starved Rock State Park

    99 Reviews
    North Utica, IL
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 667-4726

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!"

    "Beautiful Starved Rock is Illinois's favorite state park. Hiking through forests along the Illinois River to canyons and waterfalls with eagles soaring overhead."

    10. Hi-Tide Beach & Campgrounds

    5 Reviews
    Somonauk, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 495-9032

    "bordering Lake Michigan – other than this, finding a proper beachhead is impossible."

    "When the lake is open it’s great to bring kids for the water sports. They have dances every Saturday night. It’s mostly an RV park, but really great for the family."

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Recent Reviews near Big Rock, IL

717 Reviews of 100 Big Rock Campgrounds


  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Pleasant Creek Campground

    lives up to it's name, good option for Starved Rock area

    Because of it's layout, you never get a true sense of how big the whole campground is (50 acres). The largest and most open area is on top of the hill (the Highlands) but there are other areas that are shadier and more close to nature (Alcove way, Creekside, Oak Grove, the Glades). 
    Depending on the time of year, the creek may not be running, but the fishing pond is always full. Many activities in well maintained areas. It's a new campground and the general store hasn't built up much inventory yet. The firewood is dry and burns well. 

    Fire pits are basic steel circles, bring your own grill. 

    There's one central restroom with showers, clean and spacious, but it can be a walk from some areas (long hills too). 

    There are small cabins for rent and long-term sites are available.

  • Abhinay
    Oct. 7, 2025

    The Vaudeville

    Peaceful stay

    It’s was great nd peaceful place for staying on weekends for relaxation.

  • Ray S.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great campground with everything you would need

    This was my first camping trip with family. After lots of research, I picked Kankakee river state park. This is a reasonablly priced campground with all facilities in great condition. And it is very spacious with woods separating your neighbors. The only complaint is the noise level after 10pm. The quite time was not strictly enforced. It could be we are there on a Saturday night.

  • Maria Mercedes M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    King's Campground

    Where Fireflies & Faith Meet Fresh Air & Farmland

    As a mom camping with my husband and kids, I loved how this Christ-centered campground felt both safe and family-friendly, with roomy sites that offer shade, fire pits, picnic tables and clean bathhouses close enough for those urgent kid trips. The layout makes it easy to relax while still keeping an eye on little ones and the amenities, whether tent pads or RV hookups, make setting up simple. What really stood out was the nearby fun and educational activity for kids, like a nature trail, nearby working farm, local park or our visit to Blackhawk Statue near Lorado Taft that gave the kids both excitement and a learning moment. At the end of the day, this is the kind of place where parents can unwind by the fire while the kids fall asleep happily worn out from their adventures.

  • lThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Nature’s Way RV Park

    Relaxing

    Clean and well maintained facility. Staff was organized and friendly. Pet friendly. We want to come back when we can stay longer.

  • Emma H.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great for our 2 person campout!

    My fiancé and I stayed in the Hickory Loop spot 3. We are very new campers, so we just have a very basic tent setup. When we checked in with the host, there were bundles of firewood for $8 (either cash or cash app). The spots are not huge, and not super private (you have next door and across the street neighbors), but we didn’t mind that! There were two outlets available, and a small rectangular fire pit with a grate on top. There are a few water pumps and vault toilets within walking distance, but we were pretty close to the shower house, which had stalls for toilets and showers. The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!

    It rained a ton during our trip so we didn’t explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity.

  • Jessica T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Starved Rock Family Campground

    Nice little campsite!

    Well maintained and large campground. Sites aren’t stacked on top of each other and seem fairly level. I will say the grounds by our site seemed to have a fly/other sewer fly problem in the ground? I don’t know. Seemed to need a treatment of some sort. L7 is more in a wide open area so if you want more trees, book more in the middle of the campground. Bathrooms are well maintained and cleaned. Laundry facility easy. Bummed our trip got cut short by a RV maintenance issue.

  • 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.


Guide to Big Rock

Camping options around Big Rock, Illinois span across several forest preserves and recreational areas within a 45-mile radius. Big Rock Forest Preserve offers level campgrounds with electric hookups on mostly open terrain. Seasonal variations affect water access at many campgrounds, with some locations requiring longer water hoses to reach hookup points. Late spring through early fall represents peak camping season when reservations become essential at popular destinations.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, anglers find multiple fish species. "The lake has produced a lot of trophy fish, if that's your thing. Otherwise it's quiet and peaceful. We like to go just to chill and read out out in the woods," notes Scott C. The lake includes boat rentals and a fully stocked bait shop.

Hiking trails: Access miles of trails at Paul Wolff Campground in Burnidge Forest Preserve. "We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies. Hard to belive that there is hiking trails like those in such a densely populated are just outside elgin, il," reports Tricia E. The campground connects to multiple loop trails through prairie and woodland terrain.

Water recreation: Swimming and water activities draw families to Hi-Tide Beach & Campgrounds. "When the lake is open it's great to bring kids for the water sports. They have dances every Saturday night," says Amanda P. The lake features floating platforms, water trampolines and seasonal weekend events for children.

What campers like

Level campsites: The flat terrain at Big Rock Forest Preserve makes for easy setup. "Nice campground with big, level sites. Even though they don't take reservations, there is plenty of space and availability. Lovely grasslands, ponds, hiking trails," notes Melissa C. This makes the preserve particularly suitable for first-time campers.

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained bathrooms at Blackwell Family Campground. "They have modern bathrooms. We take our kayaks to the lake during the summer and Illinois just did away with reg stickers this year," reports Marc W. The campground offers discounted rates for DuPage County residents.

Quiet atmosphere: Despite proximity to suburban areas, many campgrounds maintain a peaceful environment. "We stayed here for a weekend. It's a nice place. Campsites are flat. The water hookups are kind of far from the individual sites (make sure you have extra hose)," mentions Rodney D. about Big Rock Campground. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours after 10 p.m.

What you should know

Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds have limited operations during winter months. "The gates close for the park an hour after sunset," warns Rich M. about Blackwell Family Campground. Off-season camping typically runs November through April with reduced services and facilities.

Reservation requirements: Sycamore RV Resort requires advance bookings during peak season. "Stayed here for a week, nice clean campground, quiet and beautiful lake for fishing, close to town, but yet just far enough out," shares Ron D. Weekend slots fill quickly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Limited shade: Newer campgrounds like Big Rock lack mature trees. "This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade," explains David W. Sites along the outer perimeter typically offer more tree coverage than central locations.

Water access challenges: "Water hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!" advises Amanda K. Many campgrounds require 50-100 feet of hose to reach water connections, particularly at Big Rock and several other forest preserve campgrounds.

Tips for camping with families

Activity-focused weekends: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Millbrook offers themed entertainment. "Every week has a theme, there's planned activities like bingo and hayrides and disco parties to keep both young and old alike busy and entertained," explains Stuart K. The campground schedules regular movie nights and craft sessions during summer.

Playground access: Family campgrounds typically include play areas for children. "Located only 30 miles outside the city, and conveniently only 10 mins from my house, this is the perfect little getaway. There's so much to do too from the lake to hiking!" shares Autumn D. about Blackwell Family Campground.

Site selection strategy: Choose sites away from main roads for families with small children. "The sites are well maintained including the fire pit areas," notes one camper at Big Rock Campground. Corner sites typically offer slightly more space for play equipment and family games.

Tips from RVers

Hookup variations: Electric amperage differs between campgrounds. "We stayed at a tent site, nearby pit toilets are basic with no running water. Odd numbered sites had better shade than evens," reports Cari B. about Paul Wolff Campground. Most RV sites offer 30-50 amp service with water but limited sewer connections.

Dump station access: Weekends create congestion at dump stations. "Took about 45 min for us to dump being 5th in line at 10:30am," warns Kim L. about Starved Rock Campground. Most campgrounds have single or double dump stations, creating Sunday morning backups.

Site dimensions: Most campgrounds accommodate medium-sized RVs. "For a 30 ft travel trailer, our campsite has just enough room for our slide out and awning. The fire pit was well placed and had a grate for cooking," notes Kim L. Larger units should request specific site measurements when making reservations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Big Rock, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Big Rock, IL is Big Rock Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 18 reviews.