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Best Campgrounds near Deer Park, IL

598 Reviews

The northwestern suburbs of Chicago surrounding Deer Park, Illinois feature several well-maintained campgrounds within forest preserves and state parks. Camp Reinberg in nearby Palatine offers a semi-urban camping experience with tent sites, RV spots, and cabins within the Deer Park preserve. Just 20 miles north, Chain O' Lakes State Park provides multiple camping areas including Fox Den, Turner Lake South, Prairie View, and Honeysuckle Hollow campgrounds, each with varying levels of amenities and privacy. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort in Volo and Blackwell Family Campground in Warrenville round out the options within a 30-minute drive, accommodating everything from primitive tent camping to full-hookup RV sites and glamping accommodations.

Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through October, with reservations strongly recommended during summer weekends. County forest preserve campgrounds like Camp Reinberg offer discounts to county residents and veterans. According to camper Kelsey G., "This campground is super accessible from Chicago and a fun getaway for suburban camping. Grocery stores and modern conveniences are minutes away." Chain O' Lakes State Park enforces a strict 10 PM gate closure with tire shredders to prevent late entry. Illinois state parks generally enforce no-alcohol policies even at individual campsites. Summer humidity and heat can be challenging, with limited shade at some locations like Big Rock Campground, making spring and fall more comfortable for tent camping.

Campers frequently mention the balance between natural settings and proximity to urban amenities as a key advantage. The paved cycling and walking trails at Camp Reinberg receive particular praise, with one visitor noting "plenty of off-trail paths that lead to unique clearings and bridges." Sites at Turner Lake South loop are described as "nice and private" compared to the more open RV-focused areas at Honeysuckle Hollow. Water activities feature prominently in visitor experiences, with Chain O' Lakes becoming particularly busy with motorboats during summer weekends. Fall camping is recommended by several reviewers for those seeking quieter conditions. Most campgrounds maintain clean facilities with flush toilets and showers, though water access varies by location, with some requiring staff assistance for RV water hookups.

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Best Camping Sites Near Deer Park, Illinois (62)

    1. Camp Reinberg

    12 Reviews
    Palatine, IL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9750

    $45 - $60 / night

    "Located in the Norwest suburb of Palatine, this campground is super accessible from Chicago and a fun getaway for suburban camping. Grocery stores and modern conveniences are minutes **away. **"

    "Lots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc."

    2. Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    66 Reviews
    Zion, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 662-4811

    $25 / night

    "The group camp site is located pretty far away from the rest of the campsites, bathrooms, trails and amenities."

    "We had a phenomenal time at Illinois State Park camping facilities! Space was clean, nature was alive, and the neighbors so friendly!"

    3. Paul Wolff Campground

    20 Reviews
    Elgin, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 444-1200

    $12 - $35 / night

    "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."

    "The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."

    4. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    8 Reviews
    Round Lake, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 546-2228

    $43 - $73 / night

    "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."

    "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."

    5. Blackwell Family Campground

    22 Reviews
    Warrenville, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 933-7248

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Just outside of Chicago, we have been staying here for quick weekend trips and absolutely love the proximity to home."

    "I always loved going to the parks in Illinois with my grandparents when I was little. They love hiking and nature and definitely got me interested in it also. I love them and miss them everyday."

    6. Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    14 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    20 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "*** reviewing as a baby/toddler camp family on the go :-) we chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms… avoid the first 2 sites from either end"

    "Campsite is nice, we're pretty close to our neighbors but not as bad as other places I've been. Walking distance to a fishing dock!"

    7. Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    12 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "We can both drive to work and then come back to relax. Close to some great places for antiquing if you don't want to hike the trails or fish."

    "It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "

    8. Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    13 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    20 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "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."

    "You can hear whatever highway is nearby pretty clearly and constantly.

    But if you’re not looking for something super remote then it’s fine!"

    9. Prairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    8 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    20 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "Prairie View campground is in the Chain O Lakes State Park series. This is the no services campground. We could walk to fill up with water but no electric on site. Checking in was interesting."

    "You could barely see the neighbors because of how overgrown the edges of the site were. We felt like we were in our own little bubble."

    10. Chicago Northwest KOA

    16 Reviews
    Union, IL
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 923-4206

    "You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!"

    "We stayed here for a weekend and there were plenty of activities for the kids...the staff was friendly and the bathrooms were clean...our camp site was near the bathrooms, pool, and store so we were nice"

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Recent Camping Photos near Deer Park, IL

215 Photos of 62 Deer Park Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Deer Park, IL

598 Reviews of 62 Deer Park Campgrounds

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Camp Bullfrog Lake

    Great camping spot

    This is my second time staying at Bullfrog lake. The first time I was in spot 2 which had more privacy but felt more cramped. This time I was in spot 18 which felt like it had more space but had almost no shade.

    The camp hosts are really hit or miss. One guy was so nice and took a bunch to photos for me of me kayaking. The other guy seemed mad to be alive lol.

    The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around.

    Unfortunately the wood I bought from the camp store took forever to catch flames—my other two neighbors had the same issue.

    Bathroom/shower facilities were clean and well stocked.

    Overall I’d definitely stay here again.

  • K
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    Not communicable, fraud administration

    I 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.

  • Kevin B.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Camp Sullivan

    Enjoyed the camping experience

    Nice and clean areas, staff was very professional and helpful while I was there

  • Tim L.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Chicago Northwest KOA

    Chill Vibes, quick get away from the city

    Far enough from the city lights, close enough to civilization. Cozy, small park with friendly staff and plenty of amenities. You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!

  • Tim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Sunset Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area

    Private sites, lots of wildlife ... and mosquitoes

    It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it. If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go. 

    We're from the south, so we are used to mosquitoes, but I have seldom been around so many all at once. Thankfully we had a pop-up screened gazebo that made sitting outside our tent much more enjoyable. I will say this though, even with there being more mosquitoes constantly attacking, I did not have the reactions to them like I do the mosquitoes back in Alabama and Mississippi. I wasn't itching much at all.

    But back to the fun part. It was pretty hot a couple days while we were there and to take a break from the heat, we enjoyed the ac in the car and drove around the recreation area and the campgrounds. I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two. 

    What drew me to this campground was how private the individual sites were. Each campsite is cut back into the trees so that most are at least semi-private. This was a nice feature given that many other campgrounds you are stacked in like cord wood.

    Our first night there, we left the rain fly off of the tent and just enjoyed the stars and the satellites streaking across the sky.

    Overall, it was a rather enjoyable week. The shower/bathrooms were nice and clean, though I will admit the shower got too hot even for my wife. It is an easy drive from the recreation area to Kenosha or other points of interest and Lake Michigan is worth a visit if you aren't from the area.

  • D
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Big Rock Campground

    Needs some shade

    This 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.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Camp Shabbona Woods

    Not the best but acceptable

    Stayed the weekend. Definitely felt the urban community close by with ambulances and firetrucks noises in the background. They close the gates after 10pm was weird but overall ok. No electric or water hook ups can’t keep your vehicle close to your campsite. The good the bathroom are in good shape and the staff was friendly.

  • D
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Paul Wolff Campground

    No showers

    We would gladly stay here again!

    Great campsite with the best staff ever! The sites are clean and very well maintained. We loved the staff patrolling the grounds. The trail system is great for walking the dogs. And I even grew to like the no alcohol in the preserve rule.

    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.

Guide to Deer Park

Camping near Deer Park, IL, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the many trails available at Rock Cut State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "Tons of trails, fishing, and even a swimming pond." This park is perfect for those who love to hike and enjoy nature.
  • Fishing: If you enjoy fishing, Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area is a great spot. A reviewer shared, "We kayaked around the lake and enjoyed the natural setting," highlighting the lake's beauty and fishing opportunities.
  • Swimming: For a refreshing dip, check out Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park. One visitor noted, "Staff were very friendly and helpful. Would stay again!" This park offers a beach area for swimming.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Kettle Moraine State Forest - Ottawa Lake stated, "Bathrooms and showers were clean," which is a big plus for many.
  • Spacious Campsites: Many campers enjoy the spacious sites at Camp Bullfrog Lake. One camper said, "The campsite overall is beautiful and the land is well kept," making it a favorite for those who value space and nature.
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Blackwell Family Campground are great for families. A reviewer mentioned, "The ranger offers evening entertainment for the kiddos," which adds to the fun for families camping near Deer Park, IL.

What you should know:

  • No Alcohol Policies: Some campgrounds, like Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, have strict no alcohol policies. A camper noted, "This SP strictly enforces its ‘no alcohol’ policy, which is a massive bummer."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have extensive amenities. For example, Big Foot Beach State Park Campground has been described as "not the camping in nature experience I am looking for," indicating that some may find it more crowded and less serene.
  • Wildlife Encounters: Campers should be prepared for wildlife. A review for Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pinewoods mentioned, "There was a posting about black bear sightings in the area," so it's wise to stay alert.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Plan for Activities: Choose campgrounds with activities for kids. Rock Cut State Park Campground offers trails and a swimming pond, making it a hit with families. One parent said, "It's only 8 miles from our home. Many trails and not too expensive."
  • Check for Family Events: Look for campgrounds that host family-friendly events. A review for Blackwell Family Campground mentioned, "The ranger did stop by around 5 or 6ish with some activities for the kids to do."
  • Pack for Comfort: Bring along items that make camping easier for kids, like games and snacks. A camper at Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park appreciated the friendly staff, which can help make the experience smoother.

Tips from RVers:

  • Choose the Right Site: RVers should look for campgrounds with spacious sites. A review for Camp Bullfrog Lake noted, "The site overall is amazing," indicating that RVers can find good spots.
  • Check Hookups: Ensure the campground has the necessary hookups for your RV. A camper at Kettle Moraine State Forest - Ottawa Lake mentioned, "Electricity on site and water nearby," which is crucial for RV camping.
  • Be Mindful of Noise: Some campgrounds can be noisy. A review for Big Foot Beach State Park Campground mentioned, "Lots of noise. Lots of kids," so consider this when choosing your spot.

Camping near Deer Park, IL, offers a mix of fun, relaxation, and adventure. With various campgrounds to explore, you're sure to find the perfect spot for your next outdoor getaway!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Deer Park, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Deer Park, IL is Camp Reinberg with a 4.8-star rating from 12 reviews.

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