Kankakee River State Park's Potowatomi Campground welcomes pets at all campsites with accommodations for tent, RV, and cabin campers. Nearby Chippewa Campground offers similar pet-friendly options with both drive-in and boat-in access. Most campgrounds in the area maintain standard leash policies requiring dogs to be secured at all times outside vehicles or tents. Tameling Campground and RV Park provides full hookup sites for pet owners with larger rigs, featuring spacious sites that accommodate dogs of all sizes. Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort in Joliet maintains a pet-friendly policy throughout their property with partial hookups and a convenient location. The Kankakee South KOA includes a dedicated dog park that receives positive mentions from campers, with one visitor noting the park was "nice size" and the campground overall was "very dog friendly with lots of dogs."
Starved Rock Campground offers pet-friendly sites with electric hookups in a wooded setting approximately 10-15 minutes from the main park's hiking trails. The I&M Canal Trail provides excellent pet exercise opportunities with miles of crushed gravel paths ideal for dog walking, connecting several pet-friendly campgrounds including Channahon State Park. Illini State Park's Great Falls Campground accommodates pets in both tent and RV sites, with riverfront views for those securing sites 3-18. During summer months, pet owners should be mindful of heat on paved surfaces and provide adequate shade and water. Most campgrounds require proof of current vaccinations, and nearby towns offer basic veterinary services for emergencies. The small campground at McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove allows tent camping with pets in a more secluded setting with access to the Grand Illinois Trail network.
"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."
$8 - $20 / night
"shade canopy and an open feel Well maintained open-grass layout
- Spacious campsites, similar to other IL State Parks we've stayed at
- Quiet (when we visited)
- Boat ramp is accessible via trail"
"No water hookup .But has a swing set for the kids to play a few bike/hike trails. Quiet no street noise . They have a dump station and water too fill your camper."
$20 - $35 / night
"The park is dog friendly. The campground is clean and quiet. There is no bath house, only port-a-potty's throughout the 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."
"Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park! You overall great weekend"
"We loved the dog park along with the many activities available. We come here at least once a year. Check out their information on their website."
"Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant."
"Nice safe location. Flat, pretty large spots..picnic tables."
$25 - $35 / night
"Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!"
"Beautiful Starved Rock is Illinois's favorite state park. Hiking through forests along the Illinois River to canyons and waterfalls with eagles soaring overhead."
$12 - $55 / night
"Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view."
"Spent a couple nights here (site 3) for Vintage Illinois at a nearby park. Quiet, fairly level, gravel sites. Electric worn but fully functional. Lots of trees and shade."
TravelerVery friendly host at the gate! Just what my wife and I were looking for. Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!
ScoutAlthough we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
TravelerSmall campground but very friendly. A plus was the full hookups. The sights are very close together. Management is not over bearing and very friendly. Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park! You overall great weekend
ScoutWe’ve been staying at this resort for several months now, and wanted to share some feedback based on our experience.
The pool only opened mid-summer.
Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning. The water is so unclean that our shower develops yellow stains within a day, and we’ve had to install a five-stage filtration system just to make it usable.
We’ve also noticed that rules aren’t enforced consistently, and it sometimes feels like certain guests are treated unfairly. For example, while we were told that personal kiddie pools aren’t allowed, we’ve counted at least six others set up around the park.
Package delivery is only permitted under special circumstances, and only if pre-approved by staff.
Had an incident where a staff member criticized my swimsuit at the pool, despite it being modest and similar to what others were wearing. I wore this swimsuit to many pools for many years. Additionally, the beach area is often closed even during posted open hours, and pool hours or updates aren’t clearly communicated—you have to inquire to get any information.
The storm shelter is typically locked, making it inaccessible in emergencies, which is a major concern.
We’ve also had to fix the swing set at the playground ourselves multiple times, as it’s been broken for a while. Many of the park’s facilities and amenities are showing their age and could benefit from updates and maintenance.
That said, there are aspects we’ve truly enjoyed, and they’re the main reasons we’ve continued our stay: the spacious layout of the RV park, a nice lake, beach, pool, gym, and a dog park.
TravelerMany very nice permanent sites. We loved the dog park along with the many activities available. We come here at least once a year. Check out their information on their website.
If you want a quick local get away this is the place.
GuideBeautiful spot for our single overnight. Staff were great; friendly and helpful. Park was well kept, with lots of green around RV and tent sites. Nice pool, dog park, store, and even a stream system that wanders through the park (no swimming in the stream). Also close to Starved Rock State Park for some neat scenery and hiking. The only downside side is that some of the RV sites are a little close together - didn’t impact our stay though. Two thumbs up! :)
ScoutGreat stop for the night, It's new, gated and has basic amenities like a General store, Dog park and basketball court and tennis ball court for some activities if you have kids. Plenty of space and Convenient. We reserved and checked in online. The only complaint I had is the site we were at showed a ground fault on the 50amp Circuit so I had to use the 30 amp circuit but it's Nov so no need to run dual ACs minor issue but still make sure your using your EPM devices.
LegendAs we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch.
If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs.
As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location.
If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo.
Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
TravelerStayed here in early June during a trip to Starved Rock, which is a quick 10-15 minute drive. Camp hosts are very nice and the the grounds well maintained. I stayed on site 5 which is a full hookup but best for a small camper. I have a 14 foot travel trailer and it just fit with my SUV in front. The spots are very tight and you have very little room between you and your neighbor. With all the rain this year, many sites flooded during a storm while we camped and they had to be moved to other areas that were not actual sites so it was a bit crazy...hosts did a great job taking care of everyone effected. Campground has a cute dog park and a beautiful stream that runs through it. I would stay here again!!
Camping options around Custer Park, Illinois offer both primitive and modern accommodations with several state parks within a 30-mile radius. The region features a mix of river access points, wooded sites, and open camping areas with seasonal availability varying by location. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F while spring camping often coincides with higher river levels from seasonal rains.
Bike the I&M Canal Trail: Located near McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove, this trail provides miles of relatively flat terrain suitable for family cycling. "The main draw to this place is the tow path. I high recommend bringing a bike to enjoy the trail. The trail is also part of the Grand Illinois Trail network," notes Scott N.
River activities: The Kankakee River offers multiple access points for fishing and paddling near Potowatomi Campground. One visitor reports: "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)." For experienced paddlers, "There is easy access to the I&M canal and bike trail with a dock, access to the Des Plaines river is an unofficial path from the overlook," according to a visitor at McKinley Woods.
Nature center programs: Families with children should note the educational opportunities at Potowatomi Campground. Linda N. mentioned: "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!"
Secluded camping spots: Chippewa Campground offers spacious sites with natural shade. "Large trees provided a high shade canopy and an open feel" with a "well maintained open-grass layout," according to Norman V., who visited in fall when the campground was particularly quiet.
Riverside sites: At Great Falls Campground, campers specifically recommend waterfront locations. A visitor noted: "We had a nice quiet spot right on the river. With the locks closed this year, the traffic on the river was way down." Another camper advises: "If you want a spot by the river make sure you reserve."
Clean facilities: Despite being a state park, Potowatomi Campground maintains good amenities. Emma H. reported: "The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!" Another visitor mentioned that "The 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."
Weather considerations: Summer camping requires preparation for heat. At Potowatomi Campground, one camper noted: "Playgrounds are unfortunately exposed so it was not suitable for the 100 degree days we had." Fall visits offer more comfortable temperatures and visual rewards at Chippewa Campground, described as having "Great fall colors."
Site selection matters: Choose sites carefully based on your specific needs. At Potowatomi Campground, camper Shannon H. advised: "We had four sites on Osage loop for tent camping. Two were very small (14&15), and little grass for tent setup, fine for RV or trailer campers... 16&17 were amazing for tents!! Open, tall trees for our tight rope and hammocks and shade."
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds in this region fill quickly during peak seasons. One visitor at Starved Rock Campground advised: "Book early- reservations open online 6 months in advance and book up quickly. Most summer weekends are completely full."
Look for playgrounds: Limited play equipment exists at some campgrounds. A visitor to Potowatomi Campground shared: "There are vault toilets, water, and trash cans in each loop... Playgrounds are unfortunately exposed so it was not suitable for the 100 degree days we had."
Pick sites with running space: When camping with children, select areas with room for activities. One visitor to Potowatomi Campground noted: "Our site was perfect with trees to hang a hammock on and for the kids to run around."
Pack for weather extremes: Illinois summers can be surprisingly hot. As one family camping at Starved Rock noted: "Quick tip: We enjoyed a quick trail mix snack at the bottom of the steep inclines. Gave the kiddos the energy they needed to make it to the top."
Electrical service details: When camping near Custer Park, verify hookup specifications. At Great Falls Campground, one RVer warned: "This park does NOT have water and sewer hook ups. You will have to fill your water tank, before parking."
Larger rig considerations: Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort accommodates bigger vehicles. "Friendly staff who were quick to respond to any issues. $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot... Good phone connection," reported one RVer.
Pet friendly options: For RVers with pets near Custer Park, Illinois, Hollywood Casino RV Resort maintains a pet-friendly policy. One visitor noted the benefit of the resort's amenities: "Clean campsite, clean showers & bathrooms!" Another camper mentioned it's "Nice safe location. Flat, pretty large spots..picnic tables."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Custer Park, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Custer Park, IL is Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Custer Park, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 62 dog-friendly camping locations near Custer Park, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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