Camping near Elmwood Park, Illinois provides access to several Cook County forest preserves within a 30-mile radius of the Chicago suburb. Winter temperatures range from 10-35°F while summer temperatures typically reach 75-90°F with moderate humidity. The camping season generally runs May through October at most locations, though some sites remain open year-round.
What to do
**Trail exploration: At Camp Reinberg in Palatine, hiking trails offer varied terrain. "Lots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc. The preserve bumps up next to neighborhoods and major roads depending how far in you get, but the main trails are easy to follow," notes one visitor.
Beach access: Indiana Dunes State Park offers swimming and hiking opportunities approximately 45 miles from Elmwood Park. A visitor shares, "The lake and dunes are spectacular and live up to the hype. The 3 dune challenge is not really a challenge if you are moderately healthy but it is fun and scenic! The cool soft sand feels fantastic, definitely best hiked barefoot."
Urban camping experience: The Vaudeville provides a unique opportunity to camp within Chicago city limits. A camper explains, "It was safe, and everyone was so friendly and kind. The neighbors welcomed us and by the time we had to leave we felt like we were part of the community. There is easy access to public transportation."
What campers like
Affordable getaways: Blackwell Family Campground offers discounts for county residents. "For only $20 a night for DuPage residents this place is perfect! The website is very descriptive when it comes to photos and explaining the campsite (I.e if it's wooded or open) which I loved," reports one camper.
Seasonal activities: Different preserves offer unique seasonal programming. A visitor to Paul Wolff Campground notes, "The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms. I've seen lots of butterflies, gold finches, hawks, deer, flocks of giant sandhill cranes, rabbits, ground squirrels, and of course actual squirrels."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards despite heavy use. A visitor to Camp Reinberg reported, "Lovely campground north west of Chicago. The shower facilities were clean and the staff very friendly." Another camper highlighted the "air conditioned/heated dining hall, shower building, restrooms (seriously the cleanest I've ever seen, even the ceilings were cleaned!)."
What you should know
Noise considerations: Train noise affects several campgrounds in the region. At Dunewood Campground, "Could hear Trains throughout the night. Great facility with showers, water fountains, and a camp sink. great shading from trees and very green!" A camper at Indiana Dunes State Park noted, "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."
Water hookups: Not all RV sites provide full hookups. At Paul Wolff Campground, "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." At Camp Reinberg, "There are no water spigots at the RV sites. The staff has to hook up a very very long hose and will bring it to your site."
Site selection: Campsite quality varies within the same campground. At Blackwell Family Campground, "Site 20 is turf and nicely secluded. Most of the sites are partial shade." At Paul Wolff Campground, "The most shaded sites are p1,3,5,7 and 9. Many of the sites in the middle are wide open with little shade but nice summer breezes."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Camp Sullivan offers family-friendly amenities. "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). Highly recommend," reports a family camper.
Nature education: Many preserves offer educational programming. At Indiana Dunes State Park, "The nature center is right next to the campground. The pavilion is being renovated, the ice cream shop was open, but they were still doing construction on the rest."
Budget-friendly options: Certain campgrounds offer lower rates for county residents. At Blackwell Family Campground, "County park district runs it and the fees are kinda steep, 20 res/30 non-res," while Paul Wolff Campground notes, "Prices are a great deal if you live in Kane county but still worth the trip if you live in another county."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: At Indiana Dunes State Park, "We had a back in sight #69. There was plenty of space on all sides. We have a 37' motorhome and pulled a Jeep behind it. There was plenty of room to maneuver around. The sight also had a wood picnic table and fire ring for a wood fire pit."
Utility considerations: Electric hookups are standard but water access varies. At Camp Reinberg, "Only offered electric service" while a Paul Wolff Campground visitor noted, "Because there is electrical it is a peaceful campground with no generator noise."
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds have limited operating seasons. Blackwell Family Campground operates from May 3 to September 29, while Paul Wolff Campground runs May 1 to October 31. A camper noted, "The only down side of the park is that it is only open on the weekends. On holiday weekends you are able to stay for three nights."
