The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Campgrounds near Genoa, IL

623 Reviews

The camping landscape surrounding Genoa, Illinois encompasses several established campgrounds within a short drive of town. MacQueen Forest Preserve offers primitive tent camping and cabin options on the banks of the Kishwaukee River, while Sycamore RV Resort provides full-hookup sites just 10 miles south in Sycamore. Within a 30-mile radius, travelers can find a mix of public and private campgrounds accommodating tents, RVs, and cabins, with several offering lakeside settings. Most developed campgrounds in the area feature picnic tables, fire rings, and restroom facilities, though amenities vary significantly between locations.

Reservations are essential for most developed campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer weekends. Sycamore RV Resort requires advance booking and offers reliable full-hookup sites on gravel pads, while MacQueen Forest Preserve operates on a first-come, first-served basis with a self-service check-in system at only $5 per night. The camping season generally runs from April through October, though some facilities like Sycamore RV Resort remain open year-round. Winter camping is possible but limited due to freezing temperatures and facility closures. A camper at MacQueen Forest Preserve noted, "This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs. There are only 9 sites total. VERY private and secluded."

Lakeside camping opportunities represent a significant draw in the area, with several reviews highlighting water access as a key feature. At Sycamore RV Resort, visitors mention the "beautiful lake for fishing" and a "nice beach for swimming," though some campers found the sites "piled on top of each other" with limited shade. MacQueen Forest Preserve offers a contrasting experience with widely spaced, secluded campsites that are at least 50 yards apart, providing privacy rarely found at more developed facilities. As one visitor described, "It's one of those places that's so awesome, you really don't want to tell people about it." Campers should be prepared for some train noise at MacQueen, while Sycamore RV Resort offers a more developed experience with full hookups and maintained facilities at a higher price point.

Map showing campgrounds near Genoa, IllinoisExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Genoa, Illinois (83)

    1. Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    81 Reviews
    Machesney Park, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 885-3311

    $12 - $50 / night

    "Normal Illinois state park. Not a lot of services but good size sites and peaceful. Lake with canoe rentals and fishing. Nice walking trails."

    "with Highway 173 to the west and Harlem Road to the east."

    2. Chicago Northwest KOA

    16 Reviews
    Union, IL
    11 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"

    3. Sycamore RV Resort

    9 Reviews
    Sycamore, IL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 895-5590

    "Postage stamp space on gravel but we had things to do outside the resort. Nice walking path around the two ponds. The ponds are very low due to drought this summer."

    "Stayed here for a week, nice clean campground, quiet and beautiful lake for fishing, close to town, but yet just far enough out."

    4. Thomas Woods Campground

    17 Reviews
    Marengo, IL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 338-6223

    $20 - $35 / night

    "While the highway riding was occasionally a bit harrowing, it was absolutely worth it for the beautiful views and camping here."

    "Most of the sites were right on the road and you’d need to position your car right for privacy. The tent sites are clumped pretty tight together with a couple exceptions."

    5. Paul Wolff Campground

    20 Reviews
    Elgin, IL
    17 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."

    6. Lehmans Lakeside RV Resort

    7 Reviews
    Union, IL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 923-4533

    $45 - $70 / night

    "Propane, full hookups, fairly sized fenced in dog run area, a lake with a beach front.  Play ground for the kids and a strict 5MPH speed limit. "

    "We couldn’t reach the WiFi from our site but it was good closer to the lake. They also have free TV but we didn’t hook up to that."

    7. MacQueen Forest Preserve

    6 Reviews
    Kirkland, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 522-6254

    "There is one wheelchair accessible tent site on a blacktop path in the forest canopy. This is a very primative campground with 1 set of Vault toilets."

    "You have to walk up to the sites. There's a wagon and a dolly to take your things. There isn't much in terms of hiking trails."

    8. Thousand Trails Pine Country

    4 Reviews
    Belvidere, IL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "It is close to home and we start and finish the camping season here."

    "We did not end up signing up as we prefer to visit many more locations than they had listed."

    9. Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area

    32 Reviews
    Shabbona, IL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 824-2565

    $25 / night

    "If you find yourself out in these parts near Shabbona in north central Illinois it is because of either one of two reasons - you are incredibly lost and stumbled across this hidden natural preserve gem"

    "All within easy walking distance to the lake. Camp store and two boat rental spots allow for flexiblity on busier weekends."

    10. Holiday Acres Camping Resort

    5 Reviews
    Belvidere, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 547-7846

    $49 - $99 / night

    "Lots of people leaving bad reviews for silly little things. let me say first off this place is HUGE. plenty of room for the kids and the dogs and just a short walk from the kish. good fishing and friendly"

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 83 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Genoa Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Camping Photos near Genoa, IL

260 Photos of 83 Genoa Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Genoa, IL

623 Reviews of 83 Genoa Campgrounds

  • Justin F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 31, 2025

    Sunrise Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area

    Pleasantly surprised / worth a stop

    A "famous" spot because of it's name, Bong rec area was not amazing, but really nice. Plenty of space & foliage between sites and a nice network of trails surrounding the campground. Close to some small towns and the interstate as well, but not close enough to hear traffic.

  • Heather E.
    Oct. 5, 2025

    White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    First time at a campground in Illinois

    Nice Short walks in the woods. You can link trails together to go farther. Some signs for cross country ski trails.  Most of the sites are not flat and one in front of the other so be prepared for that. If you go after harvest be prepared to hear a grain dryer or other from the farm nearby all day and night. There’s a train you might hear a couple times in the night. Pretty quiet otherwise for other campers. Shower house had nice hot water. Restaurant was nice for dinner. The gift shop is cute. Looks like they have a dinner and show around the holidays at the restaurant. They could use extra signs to say where camping is right when you pull in otherwise you’ll end up at the restaurant or some better signs in the campground. Overall we will be back to select sites select times of year.

  • Maria Mercedes M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    King's Campground

    Where Fireflies & Faith Meet Fresh Air & Farmland

    As a mom camping with my husband and kids, I loved how this Christ-centered campground felt both safe and family-friendly, with roomy sites that offer shade, fire pits, picnic tables and clean bathhouses close enough for those urgent kid trips. The layout makes it easy to relax while still keeping an eye on little ones and the amenities, whether tent pads or RV hookups, make setting up simple. What really stood out was the nearby fun and educational activity for kids, like a nature trail, nearby working farm, local park or our visit to Blackhawk Statue near Lorado Taft that gave the kids both excitement and a learning moment. At the end of the day, this is the kind of place where parents can unwind by the fire while the kids fall asleep happily worn out from their adventures.

  • lThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Nature’s Way RV Park

    Relaxing

    Clean and well maintained facility. Staff was organized and friendly. Pet friendly. We want to come back when we can stay longer.

  • Operation_Fun ..
    Sep. 18, 2025

    White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    Decent getaway from the city

    Cedar Ridge campground: stayed during the week because weekends were all booked. Had the place basically to myself.

    The sites: not very private, and most are one behind the other, so you’ll be going through a campground to get to the main road if you choose one in the back. 

    Atmosphere: There are trains that pass nearby (not constantly), and I could hear some campers from the Sunny Crest campground. Neither were obnoxious, and overall, it was relatively quiet. 

    Wildlife: Turkeys wandering around, lots of different birds, I heard coyotes hooting and hollering in the distance, and an opossum wandered into my site while I was sitting by the fire. 

    Other notable items: Grab wood on the way there from a neighboring home/farmstand. There wasn't anywhere to purchase wood inside the property. 
    There are showers here. I'm not sure if they're open year-round, but the campground is. 
    The hiking trails are fun.

  • 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.

  • 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!

Guide to Genoa

Campgrounds near Genoa, Illinois span from full-service RV resorts to primitive tent sites, with several options within a 20-mile radius of town. Sycamore RV Resort, located approximately 8 miles southeast of Genoa, provides full hookups for RVs along with fishing ponds and beach access. MacQueen Forest Preserve offers a more rustic experience with only 9 primitive campsites that require a short hike from the parking area. The area also features several larger state parks and campgrounds including Rock Cut State Park and Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, both providing a mix of tent camping, RV sites with electric hookups, and cabin accommodations.

Many campgrounds in the northern Illinois region operate seasonally, with several facilities closing between late October and early May. Public campgrounds like MacQueen Forest Preserve offer affordable camping at only $4 per night with self-service check-in, while private RV parks typically range from $30-60 per night for full hookup sites. Water access varies significantly among campgrounds, from the fishing ponds at Sycamore RV Resort to the larger Shabbona Lake. Road access to most established campgrounds is well-maintained, though some primitive sites require walking gear in from parking areas. "I stayed one night and I really enjoyed myself. It's very basic, just a fire pit and a picnic table at each spot. Self service check-in. You have to walk up to the sites. There's a wagon and a dolly to take your things," noted one camper about MacQueen Forest Preserve.

Developed campgrounds with amenities receive consistent praise for their facilities. Sycamore RV Resort campers frequently mention the well-maintained shower facilities and laundry areas. "Very well maintained bathrooms, great secluded sites," reported a visitor to MacQueen Forest Preserve, highlighting the appeal of its more primitive setup. Several reviews note the contrast between crowded RV parks where sites are "piled on top of each other" and more secluded options like MacQueen where sites are "spread out at least 50 yards apart." For those seeking a middle ground, Thousand Trails Pine Country provides tent camping alongside RV sites with electrical hookups. Weather considerations play a significant role in camping experiences, with the region experiencing cold winters that limit comfortable camping to the May through October timeframe for most visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Genoa, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Genoa, IL is Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground with a 4-star rating from 81 reviews.

Keep Exploring

  3. View all Illinois cities for camping