A
Abbe 
Scout
ScoutGreat Falls Campground — Illini State Park
Closed Off Tent Camping
Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Bourbonnais, IL
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Potowatomi Campground at Kankakee River State Park accepts pets in tent, RV, and cabin camping areas with spacious, well-maintained sites featuring fire pits and picnic tables. This state park campground provides electric hookups, showers, and drinking water for campers with dogs. Sites in the Osage loop offer good privacy with dense vegetation between campsites, while some loops have more open layouts with shared grassy areas. Camp hosts are friendly and helpful with check-in procedures. The sites vary considerably in size and terrain - some are small with little grass for tent setup while others feature open green spaces with tall trees perfect for hammocks and shade.
The paved bike trail along the Kankakee River provides excellent walking opportunities for dogs and their owners, extending several miles through wooded areas. Dogs must remain on leash throughout the park, including on trails and in campsite areas. Chippewa Campground, another pet-friendly option within the park, features a boat ramp accessible via trail or a short drive. Kankakee South KOA, located in Chebanse, also welcomes pets and includes a dedicated dog park where campers can exercise their dogs off-leash. Both campgrounds maintain clean facilities with regular trash pickup. The river offers opportunities for dogs to cool off in knee-deep water areas, though swimming is not permitted. During summer months, temperatures can reach 100 degrees, so shaded campsites are particularly valuable for pet comfort.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Bourbonnais (52)
1. Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park
"Right at the start of Osage is an entrance to the crushed gravel bike path. It gave us a great hike through the trees. You can find picnic areas and playground equipment by following the bike path."
"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."
2. Kankakee South KOA
"Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park! You overall great weekend"
"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."
3. Chippewa Campground — Kankakee River State Park
"shade canopy and an open feel Well maintained open-grass layout
- Spacious campsites, similar to other IL State Parks we've stayed at
- Quiet (when we visited)
- Boat ramp is accessible via trail"
"No water hookup .But has a swing set for the kids to play a few bike/hike trails. Quiet no street noise . They have a dump station and water too fill your camper."
from $8 - $20 / night
Check Availability4. Enchanted Shores RV Park & Campground
"The park is dog friendly. The campground is clean and quiet. There is no bath house, only port-a-potty's throughout the campground."
"Yes, it’s an hour from the city, but I’d take the drive over the bill at a nearby hotel. There’s an outhouse and plenty of places to plug in the RV, and cars/tents are welcome too."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability5. Lake Alexander RV Park
"Lake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago."
"She even put me next to a fellow biker. Nice quiet place and you can walk down to the Kankakee river."
from $33 - $43 / night
Check Availability6. Route 66 Joliet
from $100 - $1000 / night
7. Camp Bullfrog Lake
"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 Availability8. Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground — Kankakee River State Park
9. Tameling Campground and RV Park
10. Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area
"No real trails but if you don't mind roughing it plenty to explore, hunting, fishing, mushrooms, electric motor only boats on the lake. We bring our kayaks."
"There’s a local bar that was still hopping nearby. Generators are allowed, so there was a hum of one running all night but it was no bother at all. Otherwise, entirely peaceful and quiet."
Drive Time
- 8 min from Kankakee, IL
- 48 min from Chicago, IL
- 1 hr 11 min from Michigan City, IN
- 1 hr 29 min from Bloomington, IL
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Bourbonnais, IL
20 Photos of 52 Bourbonnais Campgrounds
Nicole K.
Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park
Harrison Z.
Kankakee South KOA
Maurice
Emerald Trails Campground
Art S.
Channahon State Park Campground
Christopher G.
Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park
Megan R.
Camp Sullivan
Art S.
Gebhard Woods State Park Campground
Stuart K.
Cracker Barrel — Hammond
Josh M.
Camp Bullfrog Lake
Scott M.
Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park
Art S.
Whitetail Campground — Illini State Park
Shelagh R.
Donna Jo Camping and Recreation Area - PERMANENTLY CLOSED
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Bourbonnais, IL
293 Reviews of 52 Bourbonnais Campgrounds
- HHarrison Z.
TravelerKankakee South KOA
Just another weekend :)
Small 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
- pphillip R.Scout
Davis Creek Campground — Kankakee River State Park
the map that shows the Peoria area is wrong this campground is near Bradley-Bourbonnais Illinois.
the map that shows the Peoria area is wrong. this campground is near Bradley-Bourbonnais Illinois.
- Debbie B.Traveler
Kankakee South KOA
Nice enough for local camping
Many 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.
Iryna R.ScoutLeisure Lake Resort
Ugh..
We’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.
Steven C.ScoutLove's RV Stop-Demotte IN 394
Clean and convienent
Great stop for the night, It's new, gated and has basic amenities like a General store, Dog park and basketball court and tennis ball court for some activities if you have kids. Plenty of space and Convenient. We reserved and checked in online. The only complaint I had is the site we were at showed a ground fault on the 50amp Circuit so I had to use the 30 amp circuit but it's Nov so no need to run dual ACs minor issue but still make sure your using your EPM devices.
Stuart K.
LegendLove's RV Hookup-Morris IL 859
Easy & Convenient Roadside Pit Stop
As 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!
- TTK n E.Traveler
Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort
Great First Experience
Friendly 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.
Marisa A.
RangerBlackwell Family Campground
Weekend Camping with lots of activities
For years, this was our go-to campground for weekend nearby adventures. Over the years, the price has increased and at $30 per site for non-residents, it's a bit steep for tent camping for me (so I left off a star rating). All sites are electric, so if you are tent camping and want your fan or slow-cooker, then it's as good as it gets in the burbs. It's located in a beautiful wooded Dupage County Forest preserve. While the sites are pretty close together, there are a few good ones that feel more secluded. Designated chip bark tent sites are level. The grounds are very well maintained. While I didn't camp here this year, I took these photos the last weekend in October to give everyone a sense of how nice this campground could be for them. My favorite sites over the years were the ones closest to Silver Lake along the South Loop road because those sites have the best views. For privacy, my favorite site is #27 on the north loop road which makes you feel like you are alone in the woods. Other than plenty of hiking options including a big hill, the fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release. There is also archery, a dog park, picnic areas, boat rental/ramp, and a compass course. It is a great place for families. I've brought cub scouts here and my kids' friends. Heads-up that sites 21 & 22 may not be able to see traffic on the busy Winfield Rd in the summer, but you will still hear it at those sites.
Guide to Bourbonnais
The Kankakee River flows through Bourbonnais, Illinois, creating a waterway destination with multiple access points for paddlers and anglers. Camping options near Bourbonnais include several state park facilities and private campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. Summer temperatures typically range from 60°F to 90°F, with occasional heat waves pushing above 100°F.
What to do
River paddling: Chippewa Campground offers boat ramp access for kayaks and canoes. "Another boat ramp about 3 miles downriver makes a gorgeous through-paddle possible," notes Norman V., who recommends this as "a great state park to serve as a base for a point-to-point paddle."
Mountain biking: Camp Bullfrog Lake provides direct trail access for cyclists. "The mountain bike trails were awesome. If you're a trail rider, you must stay here. There are miles and miles of trails," writes Tim K., who visited with family.
Wildlife viewing: Explore the natural areas around Lake Alexander RV Park where campers can observe local wildlife. "The wooded habitat abounds with fish, wildlife, and native plants," explains Iris A., who appreciates the natural setting just an hour from Chicago.
Reptile encounters: At the nature center in Kankakee River State Park, families can interact with animals. Linda N. reports, "We did have a really awesome time at the main office/nature center, where my kiddos got to feed and hold a variety of reptiles!"
What campers like
Campsite variety: Potowatomi Campground sites range from small tent spots to large sites with open areas. Emma H. shares, "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."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain good hygiene standards. "The shower house was good," notes Linda N., who stayed at Kankakee River State Park during July 4th weekend. She added that "the team came out to clean up promptly" when facilities needed attention.
Paved trail access: Multi-use trails connect the camping areas. "What's great about this location is the access to the miles and miles of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite," explains Josh M. about Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Pet-friendly amenities: For campers with dogs near Bourbonnais, Illinois, Kankakee South KOA offers dedicated pet areas. Harrison Z. notes the campground is "Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park!"
What you should know
Weather preparedness: Summer heat can be intense. Linda N. cautions, "Playgrounds are unfortunately exposed so it was not suitable for the 100 degree days we had," highlighting the need for heat management strategies.
Reservation timing: Popular weekends fill quickly at pet-friendly camping near Bourbonnais, Illinois. Phillip L. advises, "The sites are really limited around here so I recommend reserving weeks earlier or just come early."
Shower variations: Bathroom and shower conditions differ between campgrounds. At Martin's Camping Ground, Beth B. reports, "Bathhouse super clean and modern, but no hot water...lukewarm at best. Shower is not comfortable...nozzle is from ceiling and temperature not warm enough."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic sound. Jim L. describes Martin's Camping Ground: "You can watch the traffic on the highway from your camper. Bathroom and showers were clean."
River safety: The Kankakee River has specific regulations. Linda N. points out that "swimming is NOT allowed in the river" though families can access "knee deep water to play."
Tips for camping with families
Book larger sites: Some camping areas offer more space for children. Shannon H. recommends specific sites at Kankakee River State Park: "16&17 were amazing for tents!! Open, tall trees for our tight rope and hammocks and shade. Grass for tents."
Visit the nature center: Educational opportunities await at Chippewa Campground. According to Norman V., the fall season provides "great fall colors" making it "amazing in the fall" for family nature experiences.
Consider weekday visits: For quieter experiences with fewer crowds, mid-week camping offers advantages. Josh M. shares, "We live 15 minutes away so like to take midweek camping trips to break up the work week."
Check playground shade: During hot months, look for campgrounds with shaded play areas. Linda N. notes that exposed playground equipment becomes unusable during heat waves when "temperatures can reach 100 degree days."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Enchanted Shores RV Park, choose sites based on your needs. Georgeann D. notes it has "level sites, full hook-ups" though it's "a small, bare-bones operation" that's "safe and friendly."
Water quality considerations: Be prepared for varying water conditions. At some campgrounds, like Enchanted Shores, campers report that "the stinkest water we've ever smelled" makes bringing your own water advisable.
Expect varied site spacing: Many RV parks have tight arrangements. At Kankakee South KOA, Jennifer D. found it "nice and clean. Nothing super fancy but all the necessities were great and price was very reasonable!"
Firewood delivery: Some campgrounds offer convenient firewood service. Jennifer D. appreciated that "Firewood, ice, etc. could be ordered via text and delivered. Trash pick up daily."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Bourbonnais, IL?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bourbonnais, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bourbonnais, IL is Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 17 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Bourbonnais, IL?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bourbonnais, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 52 dog-friendly camping locations near Bourbonnais, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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