Glamping sites near Des Plaines, Illinois occupy the upper Illinois prairie region at approximately 700 feet elevation, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 85°F with high humidity levels. The area camping options sit within driving distance of downtown Chicago while providing access to wooded conservation areas and lake systems. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October, with limited winter availability.
What to Do
Kayaking chain lakes system: At Chain O' Lakes State Park, visitors can access connected waterways perfect for paddling. "This is a great place for kayakers. If you like to kayak or canoe this is a great place to be. There is a water way fee per kayak or canoe per year but it is well worth it," notes one camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Hiking woodland trails: Camp Bullfrog Lake provides hiking opportunities with varying difficulty levels. According to a visitor, "What's great about this location is the access to the miles and miles of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite." Wildlife spotting is common throughout these trails.
Mountain biking adventures: The trails at Camp Bullfrog Lake are particularly noted for biking. One camper explains, "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."
What Campers Like
Proximity to Chicago: Campers appreciate how Camp Sullivan provides quick access to urban areas while maintaining a natural setting. As one reviewer notes, "Our purpose for camping was visiting our adult children who live in Chicago but both have roommates. Camp Sullivan has twice as many sites and more availability."
Fishing opportunities: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers fishing right from some campsites. "The lake is beautiful and surprisingly picturesque as it is all nature preserve on the opposite side. The lakefront tent sites are spacious and you can fish right from your site!" shares one camper.
Clean facilities: Thomas Woods Campground receives praise for maintenance. "This was a well laid out campground, with some sites right on the roads and some buried back in the woods away from everyone. The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern," explains a visitor.
What You Should Know
High weekend demand: Most sites fill quickly during summer months. At Turner Lake South, "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."
Weather considerations: Spring camping often brings rain and mosquitoes. "We had to work our way through a few downed trees. The trail looks like it would be pretty muddy if it rains so choose your timing," warns a Fox Den camper.
Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for local wildlife visiting campsites. At Turner Lake South, "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s'mores early, then everything must be packed into cars."
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly campgrounds: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort caters well to children. "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. The camp store sells treats and pizza, very convenient and makes for a more relaxing camping experience when traveling with young kids!" mentions a visitor.
Tick prevention: Parents should be especially cautious about ticks. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats on walks so nothing lands in their hair."
Rainy day alternatives: Weather in the region can change quickly. At Thomas Woods, staff are responsive to needs: "They were great about stopping by the campsite when we asked for more firewood ($5 / bundle). There are smaller family cabins with heat available to rent as well as large bunkhouses for organized groups."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing varies: At Chicago Northwest KOA, "It's on the smaller side and the RV sites are a little close together but they have it set up where your RVs doors open on opposite sides so it gives a little privacy."
Hookup logistics: Some campgrounds have challenging hookup placements. "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."
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven sites at some locations. "Site was not level but it had a lot of shade which was nice. Had horrible WiFi, no cable and limited reception. Pool was ok, but tons of kids."
