Best Equestrian Camping near Chicago Heights, IL

Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground provides horse camping near Chicago Heights, Illinois with basic accommodations for horses and riders. The campground offers drinking water, fire rings, trash disposal, toilets and showers. Sites accommodate horse trailers with room for camping nearby. The campground gets crowded during peak summer weekends, so arriving early for walk-in sites is recommended.

Located approximately 40 miles from Chicago Heights, the equestrian areas connect to the park's extensive trail system that follows the Kankakee River. Riders access more than 12 miles of trails through woodlands and riverside terrain. The trail system accommodates horses year-round, although spring conditions can create muddy sections in some areas. Potowatomi Campground, also within Kankakee River State Park, offers additional camping options with electric hookups and more developed facilities, though without dedicated horse accommodations. The park contains multiple loops for camping with varying levels of privacy and vegetation. The spacious sites with lush greenery grown between them provide good separation between camping parties, which horse owners appreciate when managing their animals.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Chicago Heights, Illinois (4)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Chicago Heights, IL

35 Reviews of 4 Chicago Heights Campgrounds


  • Jeff G.
    May. 21, 2019

    Big Rock Campground

    Wide open with very young trees

    Grass camping. The spaces are pretty level. The trees will be terrific in about 20 years. There is nothing much to do here, or nearby. It’s clean and the comfort stations are new. There is electric at the sites and water spigots throughout, although not really at each space. I saw where some campers hooked about 150’ of hose to spigots behind the loops to run to their campers. The dump station is good. It’s expensive, for what is there, if you are not a Kane County resident. There appears to be some equestrian space and trails. Quiet.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2018

    Big Rock Campground

    No shade, no shower

    No Shade, and no showers. This is a relatively new campground not too far (about an hour drive) from Chicago. We looked at this place when we were looking for a spot to camp for a local wedding. But, no shade in the Illinois heat and no shower made it unacceptable. There were paved roads and the sites looked large and level. There was water and electric And a dump stations at the entrance/exit.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2023

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Simple state park along the river

    Potowatami campground is divided into four loops. We camped in the Osage loop. Garbage cans are at the start of the loop. A central shower house is on the main road midway between the loops. 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. The camp host checks you in. He gave us the signal in case we drive out of camp. Wave the sign out your window and re-enter camp. He also told us about rock creek nature trail. It’s just across the main road near the ranger office entrance. There are another couple miles of trails if you want some diversity.

  • K
    Aug. 23, 2023

    Big Rock Campground

    Pleasant experience

    Stayed 4 nights- first come first served- no reservations- bring plenty of hose for water connections- first site we tried was just too far to connect- toilets but no showers available- electric/ water no full hook ups. 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

  • Yang L.
    Jul. 19, 2022

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Privacy, Vegetation and Bike Trail

    Spacious sites with lush jungle-like greenery grown in between, which provides perfect privacy. Easy access to water pump. Have to drive to get to the toilet/ shower station though.

  • Jacqueline F.
    Jul. 20, 2021

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Lush area with lots of privacy

    I wish we were able to stay longer than one day! I loved this spot! We loved riding our bikes along the river and just being away from the hustle and bustle. Not many amenities other than showers, toilets and hookups, but it just adds to the appeal here. A great spot to get away and experience some silence and solitude!

  • Mike D.
    May. 15, 2019

    Big Rock Campground

    Quiet Get Away

    Took my daughter for a simple overnight and it was great. 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.

    Convenient location to the Fox Valley area but follow map directions because Google will take you to the south entrance which does not connect with the campground.

    Nice clean bathrooms as well!

  • phillip L.
    Jul. 27, 2016

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great

    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. I got to stay at site 14 at Davis creek. Potowatomi Campground and Chippewa Campground are not opened for the entire 2016. The sites are really limited around here so I recommend reserving weeks earlier or just come early. The site costed me about 8 dollars to reserve which was really cheap. The restrooms were really dirty and had a lot of insects flying around. There is no running water at the site so bring plenty. We did not have to collect firewood because there is a man walking around with a wheel barrow selling it which was really convenient. There is a short hike that crosses a bridge and it goes along the river

  • D
    Mar. 20, 2022

    Big Rock Campground

    Hiking, kayaking, fishing!

    We bought our first RV in 2019 and this place was in town so we used it to learn how to better rv camp after work some days. They have a short hiking path that leads to big rock forest preserve where there is a tiny beach that we use to put our kayaks and canoes into for floating parties. Fishing is decent and it has a 1 mile loop that goes up and down hill around the lake. Peaceful and quiet. Great place to get away and chill.


Guide to Chicago Heights

Horse camping in Illinois offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With various campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.

Tips for equestrian camping near Chicago Heights, Illinois

Equestrian campgrounds include spacious sites

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

  • Big Rock Campground features electric hookups and ample space for horse trailers, ensuring a comfortable stay for both you and your horses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Chicago Heights, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Chicago Heights, IL is Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 14 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Chicago Heights, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Chicago Heights, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.