Crystal Lake, Illinois sits at 926 feet above sea level in the northeastern part of the state, surrounded by glacial landforms and kettle lakes formed during the last ice age. Temperatures range from winter lows averaging 14°F to summer highs around 84°F. The camping season typically runs April through October, with May and September offering fewer mosquitoes and milder temperatures for those seeking glamping near Crystal Lake.
What to do
Kayaking on Chain O'Lakes: Access multiple connected waterways at Chain O'Lakes State Park, located 20 miles northeast of Crystal Lake. The park features 7 lakes connected by tributaries ideal for paddling. A camper at Fox Den Campground noted, "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."
Mountain biking trails: Camp Bullfrog Lake offers direct access to extensive mountain biking networks just 65 miles south of Crystal Lake. The trails vary from beginner to advanced levels. According to a visitor, "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. There are miles and miles of trails."
Spring water hiking: Explore natural springs at Ottawa Lake Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest, about 60 miles northwest of Crystal Lake. The spring water is drinkable and accessible via hiking trails. A visitor shared, "Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!"
What campers like
Well-spaced tent sites: Thomas Woods Campground offers secluded tent sites with more privacy than typical campgrounds. Located 15 minutes from Crystal Lake, the sites are set among wooded areas. One camper described their experience: "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)."
Small, quiet lakes: Unlike the busy main Chain O'Lakes waterways, Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort provides a more serene lake experience just 15 miles from Crystal Lake. A camper mentioned, "The lake is beautiful and surprisingly picturesque as it is all nature preserve on the opposite side. The beach is large enough and there are clean bathrooms right there."
Kid-friendly activities: Multiple campgrounds feature specialized amenities for children. Honeysuckle Hollow Campground at Chain O'Lakes State Park includes multiple playgrounds and easy access to water activities. A parent noted, "Great for families, a few downsides... Lots of electric sites, deep enough for 2 tents... Multiple playgrounds, access to launch sites for kayaks, little store to buy ice cream or snacks."
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for ticks and raccoons at many campgrounds near Crystal Lake, especially during summer months. At Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area, a camper 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."
Weekend crowding: Most campgrounds within 30 minutes of Crystal Lake fill quickly on summer weekends. Turner Lake South Campground often has walkup sites available midweek but fills by Thursday for weekend spots. A regular camper explained, "This IL state campground fills up quickly on the weekends over the summer. While these sites are usually slated for walk-ups on the weekends, it seems like a lot of people go early on Thursday or even Wednesday to secure their sites."
Alcohol policies: State park campgrounds enforce no-alcohol policies while private campgrounds typically allow alcohol. A visitor to Fox Den Campground noted, "The only big minus is the full hook ups fill up fast no spur of the moment camping unless it is early or late in the season. The other thing is ALL Illinois State Parks are now enforcing a no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site."
Tips for camping with families
Tent-focused loops: When glamping near Crystal Lake with children, choose campground loops specifically designed for tents rather than RVs for more space. At Turner Lake South Camping Area, a visitor observed, "This loop is best for tent camping. The other loops are basically all RVs. The boat launch to the fox river was nice too but it does get busy."
Shallow swimming areas: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort maintains a sandy beach with shallow entry points suitable for younger children. A family noted, "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. The beach is large enough and there are clean bathrooms right there. The camp store sells treats and pizza, very convenient and makes for a more relaxing camping experience when traveling with young kids!"
Contained play spaces: Set up screen houses when camping with toddlers to protect from insects while allowing outdoor play. A parent camping at Honeysuckle Hollow recommended, "Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair."
Tips from RVers
Shared electric hookups: Check the location of electric boxes before booking at Chain O'Lakes State Park. A visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow warned, "These sites share an electric box. Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad. A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance."
Electric site availability: Chicago Northwest KOA offers more reliable electric hookups than state parks, with additional amenities for longer stays. The campground provides consistently clean facilities according to a review: "This campground has really grown on me a lot. My family and i have seen the newer owners clean it up, remodel sites, add new equipment for children and added more activities too!"
Leveling requirements: Many RV sites in the area require leveling blocks. At Fox Den Campground, an RVer noted the advantage over nearby options: "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. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees."
