Camping near Burbank, Illinois provides overnight options primarily in Cook County Forest Preserves and neighboring state parks within 30-60 miles of the city. The region's flat terrain features pockets of wooded areas amid extensive suburban development, creating a mostly treeless camping landscape at many sites. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder conditions with occasional rainfall.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Camp Reinberg connects directly to miles of varied terrain in Deer Grove Forest Preserve. "The trails through the grounds are varied and long--you can find something to suit just about any preference for suburban midwest hiking. There are plenty of paved trails as well as dirt, lots of fun little off-shoots into the woods, creeks run throughout, and there's even a little up-and-down thanks to ice age glaciers," notes one camper at Camp Reinberg.
Kayaking opportunities: Several campgrounds offer water recreation, particularly at Illinois Beach State Park. "The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," reports a visitor to Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Mountain biking: The Palos area offers extensive trail systems for cyclists. "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," shares one camper about Camp Bullfrog Lake. Another notes: "The mountain bike trails were awesome. If you're a trail rider, you must stay here. The lack of shade won't matter because you'll be riding all day."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained bathrooms at multiple campgrounds. "Shower house was clean with good hot water. A camper sink for dishwashing was a nice bonus," notes a visitor to Dunewood Campground. Another camper at Camp Sullivan reports, "The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern."
Proximity to Chicago: For urban dwellers seeking quick outdoor escapes, location matters. "We really like this place and was about a 30 minute ride from our place in the western burbs," says a camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake. Another at Indiana Dunes State Park mentioned, "On clear evenings you can see the skyline of Chicago across the lake."
Nature watching: Despite suburban surroundings, wildlife viewing opportunities exist. "We hiked 10 miles and saw tons of animals and birds including a snake, loads of herons and songbirds, deer, a raccoon and a Cooper's Hawk," a camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake reports. Another visitor to Camp Reinberg enjoyed "the butterflies and fireflies that put on a beautiful show. There are so many wildflowers everywhere!"
What you should know
Train noise: Railroad proximity affects several campgrounds. "Could hear Trains throughout the night. Great facility with showers, water fountains, and a camp sink," notes a camper at Dunewood Campground. Similarly, a visitor to Indiana Dunes State Park writes, "The only reason I rate this park a three is that it's very close to train lines and the trains going through and blasting their horns all night long."
Gate closure times: Several Cook County Forest Preserve campgrounds have strict entry/exit rules. "They lock the gates (both of them!) to the campground with a PADLOCK at night until 7 in the morning!" warns a Camp Sullivan visitor. Similar restrictions exist at Camp Reinberg: "There is a gate that is closed at 10pm every night and opened again in the morning."
Limited water hookups: Many campgrounds lack full RV services. "No water hooks up. Water on site but, not ideal," reports a camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake. A Camp Reinberg visitor explains, "The staff has to hook up a very very long hose and will bring it to your site. You can get water, it's just an inconvenience for you and them."
Tips for camping with families
Rock climbing activities: Camp Sullivan offers indoor climbing for kids. "The facilities are all newly built or remodeled... There is an activities barn with a rock climbing wall," shares a visitor. Another family camper notes, "We camp here at least 2 times per year and have only had good experiences. Clean facilities, good hikes and good campsites."
Beach access options: Multiple locations provide swimming areas for children. "The beach was nice. If you're able, do the 3 dune challenge. It wasn't easy for this old body, but I was glad to have marked it off my list," explains a camper at Indiana Dunes State Park. Another adds, "The lake and dunes are spectacular and live up to the hype."
Best sites for shade: At Blackwell Family Campground, "Most of the sites have a chip pad for tents and concrete for the vehicle. Site 20 is turf and nicely secluded. Most of the sites are partial shade." Similarly, at Camp Sullivan, "You can either in the woods or out of the woods," and at Camp Bullfrog, "Our camp site was #2. For the most part, all of the 30/50 amp sites are very similar."
Tips from RVers
Electric-only hookups: Many campgrounds provide electric but lack water/sewer. "It is electric only but that didn't really bother us- we just showed up with the water tank full and other tanks empty and enjoyed ourselves," shares an RVer at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Size limitations: Many forest preserve campgrounds accommodate modest-sized rigs. "We were in a modest pop up and still felt crowded. I supposed this would be a great camping area for anyone living in the city needing an escape, but as far as campgrounds go it was about 3x the price for less than half the space," notes a visitor to Camp Sullivan.
Dump stations: Plan for limited facilities at most locations. "Two dump stations made wait minimal," reports an RVer at Indiana Dunes State Park. Most Cook County preserves have single dump stations that can become congested on Sunday afternoons.
