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 (70)

    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."

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Recent Reviews near Bloomingdale, IL

508 Reviews of 70 Bloomingdale Campgrounds


  • Justin F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2025

    Sunrise Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area

    Pleasantly surprised / worth a stop

    A "famous" spot because of it's name, Bong rec area was not amazing, but really nice. Plenty of space & foliage between sites and a nice network of trails surrounding the campground. Close to some small towns and the interstate as well, but not close enough to hear traffic.

  • 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.


Guide to Bloomingdale

Campgrounds near Bloomingdale, Illinois range from forest preserve sites to private resorts, accommodating both weekend getaways and extended stays. Blackwell Family Campground in Warrenville represents a popular option within 30 miles of Chicago, offering electric hookups for tent and RV camping. The area includes several Cook County Forest Preserve campgrounds like Camp Sullivan and Camp Reinberg that provide cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping, while others like Paul Wolff Campground in Elgin cater primarily to tent and RV campers. Within driving distance, Illinois Beach State Park offers waterfront camping opportunities along Lake Michigan.

Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with many forest preserve sites open from May through September or October. Blackwell Family Campground operates only on weekends during its season, while some private campgrounds maintain year-round availability. Reservation requirements are standard at most locations, with county-managed sites often having specific entry and exit restrictions. A review from The Dyrt notes: "The gates closed at sunset and no one is allowed in or out after that. There is no code. It is only open on the weekends."

The mixed-use campgrounds throughout the Bloomingdale area provide varying levels of amenities and experiences. Many forest preserve sites balance natural settings with urban proximity, though traffic noise can be noticeable at certain campgrounds. According to one visitor, "Blackwell Forest Preserve and its lake and grounds are really lovely, and a nature-filled surprise to find amidst such a populated area." Campgrounds like Big Rock and Camp Bullfrog Lake maintain natural surroundings while offering modern facilities including electric hookups, drinking water, and sanitary dumps. Camping facilities generally receive positive reviews for maintenance and cleanliness, with families appreciating the ranger-led activities at locations like Blackwell. Many sites provide recreational options including fishing, boating, hiking trails, and archery ranges, making them suitable for families and outdoor enthusiasts despite their urban-adjacent locations.

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.