Fox Den Campground and Honeysuckle Hollow at Chain O' Lakes State Park provide several glamping options with electrical hookups near Carpentersville, Illinois. Located within 35 miles of Carpentersville, these sites offer access to multiple connected lakes for water activities in a natural setting. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing while summer temperatures often reach into the 80s, making spring and fall ideal seasons for luxury camping experiences.
What to do
Water activities at Chain O' Lakes: The extensive waterway system at Fox Den Campground connects seven lakes via small tributaries. According to one visitor, "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill. Rangers were helpful and delivered firewood to our site daily."
Rock climbing and hiking: Located in a Cook County forest preserve, Camp Sullivan offers climbing activities in their barn facility. "There are trails to walk. There is an activities barn with a rock climbing wall," notes one camper. The camp also provides free firewood with your stay.
Horseback riding and archery: The Chain O' Lakes State Park system has specialized facilities beyond standard camping. A visitor at Turner Lake South Camping Area mentioned, "There is so much to do at this campground. Horseback riding, archery, hiking, boating, fishing. There is also a park for the kids in several areas."
What campers like
Private woodland sites: Unlike more open glamping areas, Thomas Woods Campground offers secluded sites surrounded by trees. "This was a well laid out campground, with some sites right on the roads and some buried back in the woods away from everyone (we chose the latter and felt like we had the place to ourselves)," shares one camper.
Lakeside tent areas: Some visitors prefer direct water access for their glamping experience. At Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort, "Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water. Clean bathrooms and shower."
Easy access to Chicago: For those wanting glamping with urban proximity, several sites offer convenient locations. "It's probably the closest camping to downtown Chicago. About 5 years in existence. Clean facilities with a few trails," states a review for Camp Sullivan, which makes it ideal for weekend glamping escapes.
What you should know
Booking systems vary: Some parks have challenging reservation processes. One Camp Sullivan visitor noted, "Very difficult to contact staff to book reservation. When we got there they told us they double booked us and requested we move after we got set up."
Wildlife considerations: Wildlife encounters are common at several glamping sites. A camper at Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area warned, "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks... Also - the raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched."
Gate restrictions: Some campgrounds lock entrance gates overnight. One visitor reported, "They lock the gates (both of them!) to the campground with a PADLOCK at night until 7 in the morning! I had to search for someone to let me out for my meeting."
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly activities: Several campgrounds have dedicated amenities for children. A Fish Lake Beach visitor shared, "Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. We kayaked in the lake and it's small but nice. Great for kids lots of activities and space to play But very quiet and relaxing by nighttime."
Quiet hours enforcement: Parents appreciate consistent rules for bedtimes. One Chicago Northwest KOA visitor mentioned, "That it is a very clean camp ground. My granddaughter loves it. There are a lot of activity for kids on the weekends. People are nice to you. Plus they have a quiet time at night. So people and kids can go to bed without a bunch of noise."
Age-appropriate water access: Different water features suit different age groups. At Turner Lake South, "The bathrooms/showers are always clean and have hot water. The only downfall that I can see is that they are not consistent with cleaning the outhouses."
Tips from RVers
Electric site considerations: RV sites with electrical hookups vary in layout and quality. A visitor to Fox Den noted, "Chain O'Lakes State Park in IL has two electric campgrounds, 2 non-electric campgrounds and one group site. Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad."
Site spacing and privacy: The amount of privacy between RV sites differs greatly. At Turner Lake, "The campground is set up nicely. Our site had the usual picnic table and a short walk to the restrooms and water. What we enjoyed the most was the variety of hiking trails."
Seasonal considerations: Some glamping facilities operate seasonally with varying conditions. At Thomas Woods Campground, "Limited to weekend camping, but spread out private-like tent sites. Camp hosts are super engaged and seem to love being caretakers. Hand pumps for water and well-kept pit toilets."
