Best Campgrounds near Bloomingdale, IL

Camping options near Bloomingdale, Illinois include several forest preserve campgrounds within a 30-mile radius of the city. Blackwell Family Campground in Warrenville stands as one of the more accessible camping areas, operating primarily on weekends from May through September. The Chicago region's camping landscape features a mix of county-managed forest preserves and state parks, with accommodations ranging from tent and RV sites to cabin rentals at locations like Camp Bullfrog Lake and Camp Reinberg. Most campgrounds in the area maintain electric hookups, with varying levels of additional amenities depending on the management authority.

Access to camping areas around Bloomingdale follows seasonal patterns with most facilities operating from spring through fall. Blackwell Family Campground maintains a strict policy where gates close one hour after sunset, preventing campers from entering or exiting until morning. This security measure affects planning for day trips while camping. The region experiences typical Midwest seasonal conditions with humid summers and cold winters limiting camping opportunities. Most campgrounds require reservations, particularly on summer weekends when demand peaks. "This is a little gem in DuPage County. We live in the area and went here when our child was a baby, as we didn't want to be far from home. The campsites are surprisingly nice. Most are wooded on each side for privacy."

The suburban nature of camping near Bloomingdale creates a unique outdoor experience where natural settings exist within developed areas. Campers frequently mention road noise as a factor at several locations, particularly at Blackwell where some sites are close to busy Winfield Road. Despite this urban proximity, many forest preserve campgrounds maintain wooded sites that create a sense of seclusion. Mixed-use campgrounds in the region typically offer additional recreational activities beyond camping, including hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and boat rentals. A camper noted, "Driving in here makes you forget you're in the middle town! Quite and roving park rangers which gives it a very safe feel around here." Many campground options maintain modern bathroom facilities and shower houses, though amenities vary significantly between locations, with some offering only vault toilets while others provide full shower facilities.

Best Camping Sites Near Bloomingdale, Illinois (69)

    1. Blackwell Family Campground

    22 Reviews
    Warrenville, IL
    9 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."

    2. Camp Bullfrog Lake

    30 Reviews
    Willow Springs, IL
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9785

    $20 - $138 / night

    "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."

    3. Paul Wolff Campground

    20 Reviews
    Elgin, IL
    16 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."

    4. Camp Reinberg

    12 Reviews
    Palatine, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9750

    $45 - $60 / night

    "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!"

    5. Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    67 Reviews
    Zion, IL
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 662-4811

    $25 / night

    "The group camp site is located pretty far away from the rest of the campsites, bathrooms, trails and amenities."

    "We had a phenomenal time at Illinois State Park camping facilities! Space was clean, nature was alive, and the neighbors so friendly!"

    6. Big Rock Campground

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

    $18 - $35 / night

    "Clean, with large sites, about a 5 mile walk around the nearby lake- saw several deer and rabbits - T-Mobile worked just fine- no Wi-Fi"

    "Open campground with nearly zero tree. We had a great campfire but didn’t take advantage of the whole park to explore. She wants to again this year but we will spend more time hiking."

    7. The Vaudeville

    4 Reviews
    Chicago, IL
    20 miles
    +1 (312) 420-4204

    "There is easy access to public transportation. It was HOT and there are no plug ins or use of generators so plan accordingly"

    8. Camp Sullivan

    15 Reviews
    Oak Forest, IL
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-0041

    $35 - $250 / night

    "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."

    9. Chicago Northwest KOA

    16 Reviews
    Union, IL
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 923-4206

    "You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!"

    "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"

    10. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    8 Reviews
    Round Lake, IL
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 546-2228

    $43 - $73 / night

    "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."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 69 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Reviews near Bloomingdale, IL

507 Reviews of 69 Bloomingdale Campgrounds


  • Abhinay
    Oct. 7, 2025

    The Vaudeville

    Peaceful stay

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

  • Operation_Fun ..
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    Could be better

    This seemed like it could be a really great campground, but it's not taken care of very well and felt a bit unsafe. 

    It's a huge park, yet the sites aren't very private. The mosquitoes and ticks are the worst I've experienced thus far, and the abandoned buildings by the beach feel like crack dens.

    We brought chairs and relaxed by the beach for a while, which was very peaceful and really made the trip.

    It's worth checking out if you're interested. I now understand why there are always sites available here when it seems every other campground is fully booked.

  • 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.

  • K
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    Not communicable, fraud administration

    I 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.

  • Kevin B.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Camp Sullivan

    Enjoyed the camping experience

    Nice and clean areas, staff was very professional and helpful while I was there

  • Tim L.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Chicago Northwest KOA

    Chill Vibes, quick get away from the city

    Far enough from the city lights, close enough to civilization. Cozy, small park with friendly staff and plenty of amenities. You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!

  • Tim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Sunset Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area

    Private sites, lots of wildlife ... and mosquitoes

    It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it. If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go. 

    We're from the south, so we are used to mosquitoes, but I have seldom been around so many all at once. Thankfully we had a pop-up screened gazebo that made sitting outside our tent much more enjoyable. I will say this though, even with there being more mosquitoes constantly attacking, I did not have the reactions to them like I do the mosquitoes back in Alabama and Mississippi. I wasn't itching much at all.

    But back to the fun part. It was pretty hot a couple days while we were there and to take a break from the heat, we enjoyed the ac in the car and drove around the recreation area and the campgrounds. I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two. 

    What drew me to this campground was how private the individual sites were. Each campsite is cut back into the trees so that most are at least semi-private. This was a nice feature given that many other campgrounds you are stacked in like cord wood.

    Our first night there, we left the rain fly off of the tent and just enjoyed the stars and the satellites streaking across the sky.

    Overall, it was a rather enjoyable week. The shower/bathrooms were nice and clean, though I will admit the shower got too hot even for my wife. It is an easy drive from the recreation area to Kenosha or other points of interest and Lake Michigan is worth a visit if you aren't from the area.

  • D
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Big Rock Campground

    Needs some shade

    This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade.

    The flush toilet building was very clean, but there was no TP in the ladies' room. And I have to wonder why you would build a new campground without showers?

    It is very close to the cities so we will stay here again.


Guide to Bloomingdale

Camping near Bloomingdale, IL, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are several campgrounds to explore.

What to do

  • Hiking and Nature Walks: Many campgrounds, like Indiana Dunes State Park Campground, have beautiful trails. One visitor mentioned, "We enjoyed riding ebikes on the trails. Lunch at the beach front was good and great views."
  • Fishing: If you enjoy fishing, Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area is a great spot. A reviewer shared, "We kayaked around the lake and enjoyed the natural setting."
  • Beach Access: For those who love the water, Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park offers beach access. One camper noted, "We stayed right by the showers which happened to be right by the beach as well!"

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Rock Cut State Park Campground said, "The shower house was clean with good hot water."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campers enjoy the welcoming atmosphere. A reviewer at Blackwell Family Campground mentioned, "The staff/ranger was nice and knowledgeable."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers often highlight the spaciousness of the sites. One camper at Dunewood Campground remarked, "Our site was huge and the bathrooms were clean."

What you should know

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs, especially at Dunewood Campground. A camper warned, "The mosquitos here are insane! I came back with giant welts from the bites."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may lack certain amenities. A visitor at Illinois Rock Cut State Park noted, "The park was old and not updated."
  • Crowded Weekends: Popular campgrounds can fill up quickly on weekends. A camper at Big Foot Beach State Park Campground mentioned, "The campground was full for the weekend but emptied out on Sunday."

Tips for camping with families

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. One reviewer at Blackwell Family Campground said, "The ranger offers evening entertainment for the kiddos."
  • Choose Spacious Sites: Opt for campgrounds with larger sites for more room to play. A camper at Rock Cut State Park Campground noted, "The sites begin with #300 and are nice flat paved slots perfect for just about any RV."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. A visitor at Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area mentioned, "The store is very nice and well stocked."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Electrical Hookups: Make sure your chosen campground has the right electrical hookups. A camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake said, "The campsite overall is beautiful, but the bathrooms were horrible."
  • Book Early: Popular spots fill up fast, especially on weekends. A visitor at Indiana Dunes State Park Campground advised, "Very popular campground so you do have to book well in advance during regular season."
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Take advantage of local attractions. A camper at Illinois Illini State Park suggested, "If you have time, check out Midway Village Museum."

Camping around Bloomingdale, IL, offers a mix of nature, family fun, and relaxation. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there's something for everyone to enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Bloomingdale, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bloomingdale, IL is Blackwell Family Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 22 reviews.