Josh F.
Traveler
TravelerChannahon State Park Campground
Gate closes
Did not stay because was planning on staying in my car in the lot but the gate says it closes at sunset, not sure if that's true as there is tent camping.
Camping near Crete, IL
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Crete, Illinois provide a mix of established camping facilities within an hour's drive of Chicago. Emerald Trails Campground, located in Crete itself, offers tent and RV sites with full hookups and operates seasonally from April 15 to October 15. Other nearby options include Camp Bullfrog Lake in Willow Springs with lakeside tent sites, RV spots, and cabin accommodations, and Enchanted Shores RV Park & Campground in Peotone featuring both tent and RV camping. Most campgrounds in the region maintain amenities like electric hookups, drinking water, showers, and fire rings, with several offering cabin rentals for those seeking more comfort.
Seasonal operation affects most campgrounds in the area, with many facilities closing between mid-October and mid-April. "This campground was very nice and clean and for a packed park was very quiet and we did not feel too close to the sites next to us," noted one visitor about Indiana Dunes State Park Campground, which is about an hour's drive from Crete. Reservations are typically required at established campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and holidays. The region's flat terrain makes for accessible camping with minimal elevation challenges, though proximity to Chicago means some campgrounds experience moderate traffic noise, particularly those near major highways. Cell service remains reliable throughout most of the area, allowing campers to stay connected even while enjoying outdoor recreation.
Campers frequently mention the water recreation opportunities as highlights of the region. Lake Alexander RV Park near Momence provides fishing and boating access on its 120-acre property along the Kankakee River. Several visitors noted the convenience of camping near the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail, which offers miles of hiking and biking on crushed gravel paths. The Indiana Dunes area, though slightly farther away, receives consistently high ratings for its unique landscape where campers can experience both beach access and wooded sites. Winter camping options are limited, with Potowatomi Campground at Kankakee River State Park being one of the few year-round facilities in the vicinity. Most campgrounds in the region are family-friendly with designated picnic areas and playgrounds, though some reviewers mention train noise affecting certain locations.
Best Campgrounds near Crete (63)
1. Camp Sullivan
"Located in a Cook County forest preserve this family camping option is a nice local getaway. The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern."
"There are several bathrooms around and they are clean. Staff is friendly and welcoming."
from $35 - $250 / night
Check Availability2. Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park
"You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern."
"You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern."
from $25 / night
Check Availability3. Camp Bullfrog Lake
"Great site, not far from Chicago, but feels well away from city life. Tent sites around rim of a lake. RV sites and cabins as well."
"What’s great about this location is the access to the miles and mile of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite."
from $20 - $138 / night
Check Availability4. Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park
"You have access to the perks of the conference grounds I clouding access to a small private beach on the lake, canoes and kayaks, life jackets, and a rec room when open."
"Nature trails and of course Cedar Lake. People seemed friendly."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability5. Emerald Trails Campground
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability6. Enchanted Shores RV Park & Campground
"Yes, it’s an hour from the city, but I’d take the drive over the bill at a nearby hotel. There’s an outhouse and plenty of places to plug in the RV, and cars/tents are welcome too."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability7. Indiana Dunes State Park Campground
"We spent the afternoon on the lakeside and drove back to the site to set up for the evening."
"This campground was very nice and clean and for a packed park was very quiet and we did not feel too close to the sites next to us. "
from $43 / night
Check Availability8. Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park
"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."
9. Camp Shabbona Woods
from $30 - $80 / night
Check Availability10. Lakeshore Camp Resort
"We were there the week before peak season opened so none of the pools or splash pads were open, but they were very accommodating so that we could still play mini golf and ride around on the pedal cars."
"A lake with water rentals, floating water slide, playgrounds and sport courts, general store with the stardust’s “convenience mark-ups”,and water/ electric at all sites."
from $49 - $57 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 34 min from Kankakee, IL
- 37 min from Chicago, IL
- 54 min from Michigan City, IN
- 1 hr 22 min from South Bend, IN
Recent Camping Photos near Crete, IL
134 Photos of 63 Crete Campgrounds
holly S.
Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park
Jeffrey L.
Camp Shabbona Woods
Megan R.
Camp Sullivan
Katelyn G.
Martin’s Camping Ground
Andrew S.
Camp Bullfrog Lake
Marc W.
Lakeshore Camp Resort
Shannon H.
Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park
Amanda K.
Pioneer Family Campground
Norman V.
Chippewa Campground — Kankakee River State Park
Nadiehsda B.
Oak Lake RV Resort
Harrison Z.
Kankakee South KOA
Josephine B.
Lake O' The Woods Club
Recent Reviews near Crete, IL
458 Reviews of 63 Crete Campgrounds
Cassondra P.
LegendLove's RV Hookup-Morris IL 859
Rating for what it is
This is not a campground but if you need an overnight quick stop this was great! Rating as a truck stop/overnight and not campground rating
We pulled in around 10pm, easily backed in with no obstacles, hook ups were all easy and convienent and we were on I80 again before 7
You check in online once your there and process was great
It is a travel stop so there are bright lights and truck noise - but we were tired and had no issues sleeping through night!
The staff were very kind, bathrooms inside were clean
Katie B.
ScoutJudy's Motel & Campground
5 stars
Bobbie and Tony thank u so much guys are amazing! If ur planning on camping everyone's so welcoming u can tell they really care about the grounds eveything is kept very clean with friendly camp ground neighbors my bf and I were traveling with our dog and found this camp ground randomly and we are so glad we found it we will absolutely be back
- WWilliam M.Traveler
Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park
Excellent and clean
Super great here, some bugs, people were quiet
- EEd B.Traveler
Lakeshore Camp Resort
looks like a dump at first glance but found out it’s storm damage
Trailer was nice plenty to do. A lot of seasonal sites. was a pleasant enough stay. Looks like a converted Yogi Bear campground. A lot of storm damage around the campground. Pools were clean, bathrooms and shower houses are a bit dated but clean. They are about every 5 rows/streets. You can rent golf carts which seems the main mode of transportation. Nice rowboat lake with a beach for swimming. Small fast food restaurant small menu weird hours and more expensive that your normal fast food places. All in all it was a nice place and activities are plenty close to Chicago and one of the closest, also very close to the Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan.
- Matthew C.Scout
Central Avenue Walk-in Sites — Indiana Dunes National Park
Beautiful but Needs Some Love
We stayed a Thursday and Friday night in July 2026 on site 1. We did need to head to the Welcome Center for a piece of paper to display on your dash so that we can park in the parking lot. There isn't a National Park entrance to access the site, you just park in a parking lot that a park ranger at the visitors center told us was owned and operated by the town and not the park service. There was an area of reserved parking for those camping at the walk-in sites.
There is a decent sandy hill that you need to go up to access the site, which really wasn't bad. The site itself was heavily wooded and secluded. It is fairly sandy, but there was a nice spot to set up the tent that was grassy. The mosquitos were aggressive, but a little Deep Woods Off and they left us along mostly. We got to the site and there was trash and cigarette butts scattered around that we had to clean up. I discovered the first night that a contributing factor to some of the trash is most likely a sizeable and bold raccoon that was not afraid of us, and both nights came wandering into our campsite looking for food while we were sitting there.
Additionally, the fire pit has probably not been cleaned out in years, since it was filled to the top with ash. With this being a wooded site, this could increase the risk of a fire getting out of the pit.
We were at site 1, so heading to the port-o-potty was fine and it was well kept. The beach was about 3-5 minutes walking. However, the bathrooms and outdoor shower were all "Closed for the Season". There were a couple port-o-pottys there, but they were not in as good of shape as the one near the campground. There was also a ton of trash in that bathroom building area, which was disappointing to see.
- RRichard C.Scout
Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground — Kankakee River State Park
Ok
JJust ok. Facilities were disappointing
Kathy B.LegendIndiana Dunes State Park Campground
Amateur hour
Nicely laid out campground with mature trees. Level sites. All with electric hookups. Was greeted by very kind person at the booth. You need to know that on Sundays check-in is until 5 PM as campers from the weekend have until 5 PM to vacate their sites. Of course you can check in early if they leave. The way the campground is laid out, there are no pass that lead to the bathrooms. Therefore, people are constantly cutting through your site to get to their restrooms.
- ssusan F.
RangerIndiana Dunes State Park Campground
Beautiful location and great campground!
Nice sites, well spaced. Campground is well maintained with nice bathrooms and showers (we were there after a massive storm in early June and there had been some flooding in the bathrooms). From the campsite, walk through the forest and Dunes to the beautiful beach. Our dog was in heaven!
Guide to Crete
Camping sites near Crete, Illinois primarily offer seasonal camping from April through October due to Midwestern weather patterns. The surrounding area features gently rolling prairie terrain with elevations rarely exceeding 700 feet above sea level. Most campgrounds provide partial or full hookups for RVs, though tent sites with electric service are available at several locations.
What to do
Hiking trails: Camp Bullfrog Lake connects directly to miles of forest preserve paths. "We had a blast riding our bikes. If you're a trail rider, you must stay here. The lack of shade won't matter because you'll be riding all day. There are miles and miles of trails," notes one visitor.
Rock climbing wall: Camp Sullivan offers an activities barn with unique features. According to a camper, "There are smaller family cabins with heat available to rent as well as large bunkhouses for organized groups. There is an activities barn with a rock climbing wall."
Lake Michigan beaches: Visitors to Dunewood Campground enjoy easy beach access. "The closest beach within the national park is Kimmel Beach which is beautiful. There are some biting horseflies at the beach, but not at the campground," reports a camper who appreciated the proximity to water.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained restrooms. "The bathrooms are newer and kept fairly clean. The shower house was good. We went during July 4th so it was busy but the team came out to clean up promptly," noted a visitor to Potowatomi Campground.
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer room to spread out. "Spacious sites with lush jungle-like greenery grown in between, which provides perfect privacy. Easy access to water pump," according to a Potowatomi camper who appreciated the vegetation between sites.
Free firewood: Some locations include firewood with your stay. A Camp Sullivan visitor mentioned, "It was easy to level, they give you free firewood with your stay, the staff is kind at checkin and during rock wall activities."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close during winter. "Emerald Trails Campground operates seasonally from April 15 to October 15," while other facilities like Lakeshore Camp Resort run "May 15 to September 30."
Noise considerations: Train and traffic noise affects several locations. "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," reported one Indiana Dunes visitor.
Gate closures: Some campgrounds restrict overnight access. A Camp Sullivan visitor noted a safety concern: "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
Kid-friendly programming: Indiana Dunes State Park offers educational options. "The visitor center is nice, fairly large and the workers were very friendly. They had one of the nicer programs that I have been to in the state," mentioned a family who appreciated the organized activities.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas. "We camp here at least 2 times per year and have only had good experiences. Clean facilities, good hikes and good campsites (either in the woods or out of the woods)," reports a Camp Sullivan visitor with three children under 7.
Wildlife encounters: Nature centers provide hands-on experiences. A visitor to Potowatomi Campground shared: "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!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Check each campground's specific offerings. "The sites are full hookup up, there's a nice bathhouse which has a key pad handle which made me feel safe while showering," noted a visitor to Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park.
Site dimensions: Size limitations exist at several campgrounds. "The campsites are TINY. We were in a modest pop up and still felt crowded," reported a Camp Sullivan visitor who found the experience cramped despite having a smaller rig.
Leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. "What a terrible mistake. This place is old and run-down to say the least, there's not a flat spot on any of the roads," noted a disappointed visitor to Enchanted Shores RV Park who struggled with site conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Crete, IL?
Which is the most popular campground near Crete, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Crete, IL is Camp Sullivan with a 3.1-star rating from 15 reviews.
What parks are near Crete, IL?
What parks are near Crete, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Crete, IL that allow camping, notably Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes National Park.
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