Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground provides dedicated facilities for horse owners in Bourbonnais, Illinois, approximately 60 miles south of Chicago. The campground features drive-in access specifically designed for equestrians with their horses and trailers. Drinking water is available on-site, and fires are permitted in designated fire rings. The campground maintains sanitary dump stations, showers, and toilet facilities. While electric hookups are not available at the equestrian sites, the park's main campground, Potowatomi, offers electric sites for those requiring power. The equestrian sites provide ample space for horse trailers with convenient access to the park's trail system. Sites are spacious with lush vegetation providing natural privacy between camping areas.
The trail system at Kankakee River State Park connects directly to the equestrian campground, offering riders immediate access to scenic routes along the Kankakee River. Riders can explore miles of bridle paths through diverse terrain including wooded areas and riverside trails. The park's location along the river creates opportunities for horses to access water at designated points. Trail conditions remain well-maintained throughout most of the season, though some areas may become muddy after heavy rainfall. The campground's proximity to the river allows for pleasant riding experiences with opportunities to view wildlife. Horse owners should note that reservations are not accepted for the equestrian campground—sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Riders particularly appreciate the combination of accessible trails and basic amenities that make this location suitable for weekend equestrian camping trips near Chicago.
"The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."
"Half of them were in the Prairie and the other half was tucked into wonderfully private spots with burn pits and picnic tables. We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies."
from $12 - $35 / night
"Lovely grasslands, ponds, hiking trails, but the lack of trees and privacy isn’t my preference. Still great option not far from Chicago."
"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"
from $18 - $35 / night
"Many miles of paved and crushed limestone trails. The actual Kankakee River access is sort of outside of the campground- that would be my only complaint."
"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."
"We biked around the campground during the days and took advantage of the adult only hot tub hours at night. It was a nice getaway from Chicago."
"Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water."
from $43 - $73 / night
"In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61."
"Trails were geared more towards horses and bikes, but there are plenty of walking paths, and we were able to find some hidden trails along the lake (read: unofficial)."
"This park isn't too far away from Chicago, which makes it a great place for a quick get away! There are a variety of sites from electric to non-electric."
"This campground is within a couple hours of Chicago so it makes a nice getaway for the weekend. Things were pretty filled up when we came here."
"Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities"
from $37 / night
ScoutNice, clean, quiet, simple state park set up. Many miles of paved and crushed limestone trails. The actual Kankakee River access is sort of outside of the campground- that would be my only complaint. You have to walk or bike a little distance to be near the river. Seemed very well maintained and we loved it!
ScoutAway from All the City Noise And Not Very Far Away Dump Station And Potable Water Supply
ScoutJJust ok. Facilities were disappointing
RangerFirst, you have to make reservations in advance online. The website says otherwise. They are spacious sites and well maintained the water. Spicket are a significant distance from each campsite so come prepared for that.
TravelerI had a private, large spot in one of their "neighborhoods " Host was knowledgeable, friendly and I was a walk in. Beautiful stroll along the river with my pup.
TravelerThis was my first camping trip with family. After lots of research, I picked Kankakee river state park. This is a reasonablly priced campground with all facilities in great condition. And it is very spacious with woods separating your neighbors. The only complaint is the noise level after 10pm. The quite time was not strictly enforced. It could be we are there on a Saturday night.
TravelerMy fiancé and I stayed in the Hickory Loop spot 3. We are very new campers, so we just have a very basic tent setup. When we checked in with the host, there were bundles of firewood for $8 (either cash or cash app). The spots are not huge, and not super private (you have next door and across the street neighbors), but we didn’t mind that! 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, but we were pretty close to the shower house, which had stalls for toilets and showers. The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!
It rained a ton during our trip so we didn’t explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity.
ScoutI reserved 5 nights, paid in full. After just one night, management cancelled my stay because my service dogs(Maltese) supposedly barked. I was fully cooperative, kept them quiet, and even documented this in emails. There was a stray cat near my RV that caused the issue, but instead of solving it, they forced me to leave. No refund for 4 nights. This is unfair, discriminatory, and against ADA law.
TravelerThis is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade.
The flush toilet building was very clean, but there was no TP in the ladies' room. And I have to wonder why you would build a new campground without showers?
It is very close to the cities so we will stay here again.
Kankakee River State Park offers equestrian camping options 60 miles south of Chicago in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The park spans 4,000 acres along 11 miles of the Kankakee River, with terrain varying from rocky bluffs to wooded bottomlands. Horse owners can access over 12 miles of marked equestrian trails through the park's diverse landscapes, which connect to additional multi-use pathways throughout the region.
Fishing access: Chain O' Lakes State Park provides multiple lake entry points for anglers, with Turner Lake South offering convenient shoreline fishing. "The lake was very nice. We were able to kayak but be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by," notes Julia B. about Turner Lake South.
Hiking trails: Paul Wolff Campground offers extensive trail networks suitable for all skill levels. "The highlight of our experience is the hiking. There are miles of trails. On one hike we were on paved, sifted gravel, grass and single trek trails. There are a lot of loops giving you options. When we left we still hadn't hiked all of them," shares Art S. about Paul Wolff Campground.
Horseback facilities: For riders seeking additional equestrian options beyond Kankakee River State Park, Chain O' Lakes State Park features designated horse trails. "Chain O'Lakes State Park in IL has two electric campgrounds, 2 non-electric campgrounds and one group site. There are hiking trails and this campground is the closest to the boat dock and concession which serves as the camp store," explains Debra M. about Fox Den Campground.
Spacious sites: Big Rock Campground offers level sites with ample room between camping areas. "As someone who normally camps in state parks with only electricity hookups, this site was a welcome treat. Wide, open spaces for kids to ride bikes and explore wildflowers. Duck viewing. Quiet. Almost 100 improved sites," comments Amanda K. about Big Rock Campground.
Lake activities: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort provides multiple water recreation options just outside Chicago. "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," shares Christin D. about Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.
Natural privacy: Many horse campgrounds near Chicago feature vegetation that creates separation between sites. "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers (our site was protected on 3 sides by some fairly dens foliage and trees)," notes Ian C. about Fox Den Campground.
Seasonal conditions: Rain can impact trail conditions at many equestrian campgrounds in the Chicago region. "Trail conditions remain well-maintained throughout most of the season, though some areas may become muddy after heavy rainfall," according to park rangers.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds require advanced booking, while others operate on first-come systems. "Even though they don't take reservations, there is plenty of space and availability. Lovely grasslands, ponds, hiking trails, but the lack of trees and privacy isn't my preference. Still great option not far from Chicago," explains Melissa C. about Big Rock Campground.
Facility limitations: Not all horse campgrounds offer comprehensive amenities. "The vault toilets are clean but smell like vault toilets at 95 degrees. There is one very clean flush toilet building but no showers. They don't advertise showers, but this is the newest and nicest campsite I have seen without showers. There is some shade, but you have to search for it," writes David W. about Paul Wolff Campground.
Kid-friendly activities: Several equestrian campgrounds near Chicago offer additional recreational options. "This campground is in a populated area but the nature preserve is big. We rarely saw traffic once here. A train goes by a couple times but it was always during the day," notes Art S. about Paul Wolff Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Plan early morning or evening walks for best animal sightings. "We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies. Hard to believe that there is hiking trails like those in such a densely populated area just outside Elgin, IL," shares Tricia E.
Accessible water play: Some parks provide designated swimming areas apart from equestrian zones. "The tent 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. The river was nice to visit and we were able to take the kids to some knee deep water to play (swimming is NOT allowed in the river)," explains Linda N. about Potowatomi Campground.
Hookup availability: Check electric and water hookup locations before setting up at equestrian campgrounds. "The water hookups are kind of far from the individual sites (make sure you have extra hose)," advises Rodney D. about Big Rock Campground.
Site selection: Choose sites based on shade and privacy needs. "Turner Lake South and Mud Lake East most private. The campsites are a little bigger in Turner Lake South, I feel, but both have campsites circled by woods with a level place to pitch a tent," recommends Marisa A. about Turner Lake South.
Generator rules: Most equestrian campgrounds have specific power regulations. "Because there is electrical it is a peaceful campground with no generator noise," notes Marisa A. about Paul Wolff Campground, which is an important consideration when camping near horses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Chicago, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Chicago, IL is Paul Wolff Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Chicago, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Chicago, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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