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Kankakee River State Park campgrounds accommodate pets at both Potowatomi and Chippewa locations, with designated pet-friendly sites available for tent, RV, and cabin campers. Both campgrounds feature electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables alongside pet waste stations throughout the grounds. Leashed pets must remain under control at all times, with a two-pet maximum per site enforced by park rangers. Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort in Joliet provides another pet-friendly option with full hookups and a small designated pet exercise area, though pets must be leashed outside RVs. Starved Rock Campground maintains similar pet policies while offering cabin options that accept well-behaved dogs for an additional fee. The campground's friendly host at the gate provides specific pet guidelines upon arrival, and many campers note the nicely wooded and picturesque areas provide excellent walking routes for dogs. Campground data and reviews near Braidwood, Illinois is regularly updated on The Dyrt.
Hiking trails throughout Kankakee River State Park create excellent exercise opportunities for leashed dogs, with multiple water access points along the river where pets can cool off during summer months. Starved Rock State Park's trail system, approximately 30 minutes from Braidwood, offers additional pet-friendly hiking options, though dogs must remain on 10-foot or shorter leashes at all times. Leisure Lake Resort features a dedicated dog park where many visitors appreciate the opportunity to let their pets run off-leash after traveling. During severe weather, campers should note that storm shelters at some campgrounds may have restrictions on pets, so having a backup plan is essential. The small campground at Kankakee South KOA maintains a friendly atmosphere with a nice-sized dog park that receives positive mentions from visitors who appreciate the full hookups and pet amenities despite the relatively close site spacing.
"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."
"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 Availability"Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view."
"Spent a couple nights here (site 3) for Vintage Illinois at a nearby park. Quiet, fairly level, gravel sites. Electric worn but fully functional. Lots of trees and shade."
from $12 - $55 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Nice safe location. Flat, pretty large spots..picnic tables."
"It is a bit away from businesses. However if you arrive by car you drive through the quaint town. Arriving by bicycle is even better. The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail passes right by camp."
"The soft hush of Nettle Creek and the canopy of old hardwoods set the tone the moment we rolled into the tiny family campground at Gebhard Woods, which I would describe as a simple and wooded pocket tucked"
"Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities"
from $37 / night
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TravelerVery friendly host at the gate! Just what my wife and I were looking for. 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!
ScoutAlthough we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
TravelerSmall 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
ScoutWe’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.
TravelerMany 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.
GuideBeautiful spot for our single overnight. Staff were great; friendly and helpful. Park was well kept, with lots of green around RV and tent sites. Nice pool, dog park, store, and even a stream system that wanders through the park (no swimming in the stream). Also close to Starved Rock State Park for some neat scenery and hiking. The only downside side is that some of the RV sites are a little close together - didn’t impact our stay though. Two thumbs up! :)
LegendAs 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!
TravelerStayed here in early June during a trip to Starved Rock, which is a quick 10-15 minute drive. Camp hosts are very nice and the the grounds well maintained. I stayed on site 5 which is a full hookup but best for a small camper. I have a 14 foot travel trailer and it just fit with my SUV in front. The spots are very tight and you have very little room between you and your neighbor. With all the rain this year, many sites flooded during a storm while we camped and they had to be moved to other areas that were not actual sites so it was a bit crazy...hosts did a great job taking care of everyone effected. Campground has a cute dog park and a beautiful stream that runs through it. I would stay here again!!
TravelerFriendly 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.
Camping areas near Braidwood, Illinois sit within the Kankakee River valley, where glacial moraines and river erosion have shaped the landscape. The region receives an average of 39 inches of rainfall annually with summers reaching 85°F and winters often dropping below freezing. Several campgrounds in the area provide direct access to the Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail system, where cyclists and hikers can explore historic towpaths.
Hike the Canyon Trails: At Starved Rock State Park Campground, visitors access numerous canyon trails within a 10-minute drive. "People get down on Illinois. And I get it. It's a typical Midwest state and it's mostly pretty flat. But...then there's Starved Rock! Easily accessible to most of IL residents, Starved Rock is a great half-day for anyone looking for hiking, waterfalls, and views, views, views!" according to Brannon M.
Paddle the Illinois River: Access points available at McKinley Woods where the water conditions vary seasonally. "We canoed 3 miles up to the state park before we could cross over to the DuPage (a lovely river) and then back on the Des Plaines. There are also very nice trails through the woods in the area," notes Brian O.
Fish the Local Waters: Illini State Park offers multiple fishing spots and boat access. "This place has a boat dock and lots of good fishing! Lots of wildlife too. We met a super cute raccoon. Really nice big place to tent," reports Mike T.
Private, Spacious Sites: Kankakee River State Park offers well-separated campsites with natural screening. "The campsites are very spread out and you will have a very private quiet campsite. This site is near a small cemetery that has tombstones that are hundreds of years old," writes Phillip L.
Bike-Friendly Paths: Channahon State Park connects directly to the I&M Canal Trail. "This campground is right in town. It is a bit away from businesses. However if you arrive by car you drive through the quaint town. Arriving by bicycle is even better. The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail passes right by camp," reports Art S.
Nature Center Activities: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Braidwood offer educational options for rainy days. "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!" shares Linda N.
Water Quality Issues: Check current conditions before arrival, especially at certain facilities. At Leisure Lake Resort, campers have reported concerns: "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," notes Iryna R.
Shower Facilities Vary: Chippewa Campground and other pet-friendly options near Braidwood have different levels of shower accessibility. "The shower house was good. We went during July 4th so it was busy (the toilet paper was completely out when I stopped by and it looked like some kids had a water balloon fight in there) but the team came out to clean up promptly," reports Linda N.
Reservation Requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. "Book early- reservations open online 6 months in advance and book up quickly. Most summer weekends are completely full. Spring and fall camping is great here," advises Kim L.
Choose Sites with Play Space: Some campsites offer more room for children than others. "Our site was perfect with trees to hang a hammock on and for the kids to run around. The sites are straightforward and vary quite a bit: some are huge with open green space and others I feel like just for a car and a tent," reports Linda N.
Consider Weather Protection: Playgrounds at some pet-friendly campgrounds near Braidwood lack shade. "Playgrounds are unfortunately exposed so it was not suitable for the 100 degree days we had," warns a visitor to Kankakee River State Park.
Select Water Access Points Carefully: Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort provides a convenient base for exploring water features in the region. "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," notes TK n E.
Short-Term Stops: Love's RV Hookup offers convenient access for overnight stays. "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," advises Stuart K.
Assess Site Size Before Booking: Space constraints affect larger rigs at some locations. "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. Electrical was confusing- our site was listed at 50A only. It really was 50/30/20A," shares Kim L.
Check Hookup Availability Seasonally: Water services may be limited during colder months. "Not a bad spot. Average and relatively inexpensive," notes David N. about Hollywood Casino RV Resort, but cautions there's "No water before 4/15."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Braidwood, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Braidwood, IL is Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Braidwood, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 64 dog-friendly camping locations near Braidwood, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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