Best Glamping near Gilberts, IL

Chicago Northwest KOA offers several glamping accommodation options set among shaded sites approximately 55 miles from downtown Chicago. The campground provides both traditional and upgraded sites featuring amenities specifically designed for glampers seeking comfortable outdoor experiences. One guest shared, "Loved our site as it was a pull through but more of a half-moon style off the side of the road. Loved the privacy and the space." The glamping sites include comfortable sleeping arrangements, electricity, and some feature private outdoor spaces with fire rings and picnic tables. Sites are designed with privacy in mind despite the relatively compact nature of the campground, with strategic placement of accommodations to maximize both comfort and natural surroundings.

The glamping experience includes access to a variety of on-site recreational options for families and groups. The campground features a swimming pool, jump pad, gem mining, mini-golf, frisbee golf, and a large playground area particularly appealing to families with children. According to a camper, "We use this as our base when we went to Chicago. The facilities were nice and maintained. We had a nice Prairie view spot." Weekend visitors can participate in organized activities including hay-wagon rides, face painting, and flashlight candy hunts. The property is conveniently located next to Wild West Town, an attraction offering western-themed entertainment. For those looking to explore the region, the Illinois Railway Museum is approximately one mile from the campground, making this location suitable for both relaxation and regional exploration.

Best Glamping Sites Near Gilberts, Illinois (18)

    1. Chicago Northwest KOA

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

    "Plus they have a quiet time at night.So people and kids can go to bed without a bunch of noise."

    "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"

    2. Thomas Woods Campground

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

    $20 - $35 / night

    "The trails are both wooded and hilly, but there's also a large prairie nature walk
    The campground has many secluded walk-in tent sites and a variety of sites for other types of campers."

    "Firewood is cheap on-site and delivered to your site on demand."

    3. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    8 Reviews
    Round Lake, IL
    18 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."

    "The staff is very friendly the grounds are beautiful and well maintained We kayaked in the lake and it's small but nice."

    4. Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    14 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    25 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"

    "Non-electric sites in the loop on the small fishing pond were relatively quiet, well shaded, with decent screening between sites."

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

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

    "There’s some small trails around as well that are beginner. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night."

    "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."

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

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

    "We stayed in the Fox Den electric sites. The campsite was very clean and the fire pit and table were in good condition. Our site was very shaded and quiet at night. The bath house was very clean."

    "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas."

    7. Big Foot Beach State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Lake Geneva, WI
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (262) 248-2528

    "Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois. 4 stars because it's not the camping in nature experience I am looking for. Lots of noise. Lots of kids. Lots of dogs."

    "Nice large sites. gravel spot for arc/trailer. fire pit and picnic table. trails for hiking are nice, but the overall camping area isn’t very big. 100 sites only. 30 with electric. this was the first time"

    8. Camp Bullfrog Lake

    30 Reviews
    Willow Springs, IL
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9785

    $20 - $138 / night

    "Each site comes with a free bundle of oak firewood which is nice to use on the fire pits."

    "The tent sites are right next to the water which is beautiful but can get very windy. There is no privacy between the sites (no trees, etc)."

    9. Kishwaukee Valley Farms

    Be the first to review!
    Woodstock, IL
    19 miles

    $74 - $100 / night

    10. Camp Sullivan

    15 Reviews
    Oak Forest, IL
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-0041

    $35 - $250 / night

    "As stated, there is electric hookup but no water at the site. However, staff was more than happy to meet us at the bathrooms to allow us to fill our tanks before we set up camp."

    "Wooded electric paved sites with fairly new bathhouse facilities. Pretty clean. Only one indoor water faucet working but this may be a COVID casualty."

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Glamping Reviews near Gilberts, IL

181 Reviews of 18 Gilberts Campgrounds


  • Addison G.
    Oct. 23, 2024

    Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Awesome choice for campers on a budget

    These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There’s some small trails around as well that are beginner. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night. Bathrooms could’ve been cleaner but we were grateful for the facility which doubled as a storm shelter. There’s indoor showers and bathrooms. There are also cabins at this campsite, not sure on pricing tho

  • Brenton S.
    Jul. 1, 2020

    Elkhorn Campgrounds

    Affordable and friendly!

    Such a great little place to escape to or visit if you're just passing through. Nothing crazy fancy but hook-ups and fire pits available if needed. Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse areana. You might even be able to catch a show or two on site at the fair grounds, depending on the time of year.

  • M
    Jul. 30, 2023

    Big Foot Beach State Park Campground

    Not a nature type campground

    Always full on weekends. Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois. 4 stars because it's not the camping in nature experience I am looking for. Lots of noise. Lots of kids. Lots of dogs. It's park area is very nice. Nice playground for kids. Volleyball nets. Lots of picnic tables and grills available. Dogs not welcome in most of the park. More of a party place. But the staff is very active. They clean sites quickly, clean the bathrooms regularly.

    We stayed on site 50. We were closer to our neighbors than I'd like, including the campsite behind us. The campsite behind us had a path thru it to get to the bathrooms. There was a thin layer of growth between sites but not much. Our site had a nicely placed tree providing just enough coverage but nothing stayed wet in the rain. We camped in a popup, if we had a tent I think we would have been soaked. Lots of pooling water on the backside. The campground just added new gravel to the sites and asked that all trailers and vehicles stay on the gravel but the gravel doesn't go back far enough for both car and camper to stay on.

    The inner ring of the campground are smaller(shorter) sites. The outer ring sites are better for RVs. Except for site 70. That should be tent only because there are 2 trees right in the middle behind the gravel. 50, 69, 74 seemed the best for both shade and sun combo. Site 79 is paved but not marked as handicap because it isn't being maintained as handicap and is not close to the new bathrooms. Not enough sites with electric, however we didn't need it for the weekend.

  • F
    Aug. 1, 2016

    Chicago Northwest KOA

    Dirty

    When I visited this place it was such a disaster. The trash was overflowing, the bathrooms were a mess, and there was no TP, and the quiet hours was not enforced, so people were up partying all night. I will look for another place to stay next time

  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2024

    Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Fine camping in Northern Illinois

    We stayed in the Turner lake south loop, which has nice and private sites. This is in contrast to Honeysuckle hollow which is open and row after row of RV sites. Fox den and Prairie view loops are nice as well with mostly primitive sites. Be aware that the map on www.ExloreMoreIL,com(where you make your reservations) doesn't show where the restrooms are. 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. Facilities are clean and well lit. Fire pits are slightly raised steel troughs with a heavy adjustable grill. This is a BIG park, the campgrounds are two miles from the front gate, and it's a drive to the main boat launch at Maple Grove, where you have access to the Fox River and Grass lake. This location has a huge parking lot for boat trailers, a very well stocked general store with fishing supplies, a cafe, boat rentals and good firewood. To get away from the crowd if you're a canoeist or kayaker it's nicer to leave the park and go back in at Oak Point picnic area and boat launch at the northern border. This will put you on the Fox river with developments to the north(including a bar& grill) or to the south which is all nature. I think the distance by boat between the two launches is 4-5 miles, but I'm not sure, Halfway there you'll meet up with the Goldfinch trail which is the shortest loop and the most diverse in term of flora. There are horse/ snowmobile trails, but no equestrian campground. Chain o' Lakes is one of the busiest waterways in Illinois, with motorboats everywhere in the height of the summer season. We canoe, and both times we stayed there it was October, so I can't tell you how crowded, but the vast number of picnic areas must be there for a reason. An odd thing is that you can hear a Steam Train whistle quite often, this is from Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. We don't have kids so we went to Stade's Farm& Orchard(which is also large and kid friendly) because they have an orchard and vegetable market. One last thing, the gates close at 10:PM and there are tire shredders, you can leave but you can't get back in… unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark:)

  • Meg
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Good For families, a few downsides

    *** 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 as the ones closest to the main loop aren’t very deep. Closer to the center of this row is best.

    Pros- easy pull in sites and lots of walk-in availability. Sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe. Also seemed pretty respectful in the evenings with people toning down the noise.

    Lots of electric sites, deep enough for 2 tents, 2 cars (although close to neighbors and no trees between sites), picnic table and fire pit.

    Bathroom shower houses were decent (we usually just have toddler use her travel potty, but this one was fine).

    Multiple playgrounds, access to launch sites for kayaks, little store to buy ice cream or snacks.

    Cons - SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Luckily our screen house pop up on a tarp that was sprayed ahead for tick repellent plus a blanket on top of that did the trick, but they literally fall out of the trees into people! Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair.

    Also - 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 for the night and all surfaces wiped down.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2025

    Hi-Tide Beach & Campgrounds

    Water Wonderland Crowded Family Camping Experience

    OK, let’s put the most important thing here in perspective – you’re in north central Illinois and there should be absolutely no reason to find a beach anywhere in this state apart from a few select places bordering Lake Michigan – other than this, finding a proper beachhead is impossible. Yet, here at Hi-Tide Campground, the sandy beach is exactly what you’ll find and what a great time it is for the whole family, complete with all of the many on-water distractions and entertainment options this place offers from sand castle building, waterslide, ‘moonwalk,’ ice berg, which is a 15’ climbing wall in the center of the lake, water trampoline, log roll, rocket balls, floaties, innertubes as well as floating ‘lilly pads’ and shallow waters for the young kids. Let’s just say, in the heat and humidity of a Midwest summer, Hi-Tide offers a really great respite with this toy-packed lake refuge.

    As for the campground, upon entry, you will have no other choice but to head straight to the main lodge where you will check-in. Here you’ll meet the crew that run this place as well as see the market that’s here offering up just about anything you could think of while you are camping (ice, propane, s’mores ice cream, chips, soda, water toys, firewood, fishing supplies, RV maintenance items and campground gear), along with an arcade complete with video games as well as air hockey, foosball and billiards. Behind the market, you’ll discover both pedal carts for rent as well as a pretty decent 9-hole mini-golf course that has recently been upgraded. There’s also a picnic area back here, lakeside deck, fishing dock, further afield as well as an in-ground community heated pool and playground just in front of the main office. The on-site restroom and shower facilities are first-rate offering sparkling clean and well-maintained showers, toilets and even baby changing stations. There’s even an on-site laundr-O-mat located right near the shower / restroom facilities with 4 sets of coin-operated washers and dryers. On-site, you’ll find a proper dump station as well as designated dumpsters throughout the entire property. A handful of reservable small (no electric, 60 people max) and large (electric, 80 people+) are offered for rent at $50/day and $100/day respectively as well as very small ½ mile hiking loop that follows the Little Indian Creek, which is kind of a joke, but hey, it’s a nice stroll. Like most entertainment-themed campgrounds like Hi-Tide, every week has a theme, there’s planned activities like bingo and hayrides and disco parties to keep both young and old alike busy and entertained.

    In short, what’s the upside to being here at Hi-Tide? Well, if you have a young family and are looking for a lot of distractions and planned activities that allows you to enjoy a fairly mindless planning experience that you can either participate in with the kids or just let them run wild and do their thing, well then, Hi-Tide has you covered in spades. Nobody is going to get bored in this place! Downside? While it is true that you are out in the middle of nowhere, which has a semblance of feeling as though you are engaging in nature, with all of the entertainment and distractions that you will discover here, along with arguably the biggest downside – the place is completely overrun with management packing in RVs and 5th Wheelers as close to each other as possible – it will be actually pretty difficult to truly commune with nature. This is a campground campus that packs RVs in pretty snug, while feigning at offering tent campers some nice flat land to pitch a tent, and for those that don’t have either, you can still rent a cabin. But make no mistake about this place, you are in a little ‘camping city’ and everywhere you go, you’ll have endless options to distract you and keep you entertained, as well as being overwhelmed by the sheer sense of over-crowdedness. So, if you want peace and quiet and some really pristine moments with nature and wildlife, this really isn’t going to be the place you want to call home for a night or two under the stars.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) When you get tired of rustling up beans & franks for dinner and want to try out some local fare, you’ll have to drive a decent distance from here to get to anything, let alone of quality. The closest place you could consider is Somonauk, located on 34 just continuing due east where there’s just a few joints: Hot Diggity Dogs, Rambo’s Bar & Grill where Uncle Milty’s Pizza Palace is located right next door to, but the standout favorite in town is Country Kitchen for down-home Midwestern comfort food; (2) If you have any form of watercraft, you won’t really be able(or want) to use it here on the small lake that Hi-Tide has, especially with all the kids swimming, but nearby and just east is Lake Holiday which makes for a very great place to dip your kayak, canoe or outboard in; (3) For kicking back and enjoying some drinks, I highly recommend Tin Roof Tavern right on 34, where Teeks serves ‘em up strong, there’s a juke playing good tunes and even a mechanical bull riding, but was unfortunately not working when we were there; and (4) If you are looking for a real outdoors encounter with nature that may (or may not) include camping, give Shabbona Lake State Park a visit – it’s only 20– 25 minutes from Hi-Tide and has everything, whether that’s fishing, hunting, hiking, biking or kayaking – you’ll be amazed at what you have so nearby.

    Happy Camping!

  • K
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Good enough I guess

    Biggest drawback was the road noise. 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! My site had room for 2 tents and was close to the road but still felt tucked away.

    The fire pit is actually more like a grill which was cool and great for cooking. You can move the grill to have just a fire. Plus the grocery store is only a quick 15 minute drive away if you forget anything!

    People were playing music loudly at night which was annoying.

    Would have been super peaceful if it weren’t for the roadnoise (which the campground can’t do anything about of course!) and the camper noise.

    Best suited for folks just looking to just play outdoors and not for anyone looking for a peaceful escape to nature.

  • Terran B.
    Sep. 17, 2022

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Nice place, not maintained

    It’s a really nice site, but the running water bathrooms were not cleaned regularly and the pit toilets were almost overflowing on a Thursday. The site was also filled with garbage when we arrived.


Guide to Gilberts

Chicago Northwest KOA sits approximately 55 miles from downtown Chicago in a region characterized by gently rolling terrain with elevations between 700-900 feet above sea level. The campground operates from April through mid-October, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 60-85°F. Winter months see regular snowfall, making this a strictly seasonal camping destination with no year-round accommodations.

What to Do

Kayaking at Turner Lake: The lakes at Chain O' Lakes State Park offer convenient water recreation within an hour of Chicago. "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I enjoy this route for the wildlife and nature scenery. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," notes Cora M.

Mountain biking on forest trails: Camp Bullfrog Lake provides direct access to extensive single-track trails. "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. We saw several vehicles carrying top of the line bikes in and out all day," reports Tim K.

Visiting local attractions: For those looking for glamping close to Gilberts, Illinois with nearby entertainment options, Wild West Town sits adjacent to several campgrounds. "My family stayed here a few years back and although it is a small campground it meets the standards of what you should expect of a KOA. Nice bathrooms, decent size level sites. The kids were fans of Wild West Town which is directly next door," shares Marc W.

What Campers Like

Private wooded sites: Thomas Woods Campground offers secluded camping areas set back from main roads. "This was a well laid out campground, with some sites right on the roads and some buried back in the woods away from everyone (we chose the latter and felt like we had the place to ourselves). There are basic toilets (hole in ground style), a spigot for water, great trails," explains Hallie B.

Clean facilities: Several luxury camping options near Gilberts, Illinois maintain high cleanliness standards. "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. Clean bathrooms and shower," reports Leo V. about Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.

Economical pricing: Some areas offer budget-friendly camping options with minimal amenities. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night," notes Addison G.

What You Should Know

Weather considerations: Summer heat and humidity can make some sites uncomfortable without proper shade. "We did our first (family of 5) camping trip at Thomas Woods. We were at site 4 which is electric hookup and it was a huge area! The kids had so much space to run around and explore. They loved the well pump," shares Emily L.

Wildlife awareness: Local wildlife includes raccoons and ticks. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Luckily our screen house pop up on a tarp that was sprayed ahead for tick repellent plus a blanket on top of that did the trick, but they literally fall out of the trees into people!" warns Meg about Honeysuckle Hollow.

Site spacing variations: Campground layouts vary significantly throughout the region. "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers (our site was protected on 3 sides by some fairly dens foliage and trees)," explains Ian C.

Tips for Camping with Families

Playground access: Select sites near recreational facilities for easier supervision. "Very big campground with mostly seasonals. Atmosphere is the perfect balance of fun and relaxing. Site size varies. Lots of fun activities," notes Glenn T.

Safety measures: Some campgrounds implement strict quiet hours and security patrols. "That it is a very clean camp ground. My granddaughter loves it. There are a lot of activity for kids on the weekends. People are nice to you. Plus they have a quiet time at night. So people and kids can go to bed without a bunch of noise," explains Marty S.

Activity planning: Weekend organized events provide structured entertainment. "This campground has really grown on me a lot. My family and i have seen the newer owners clean it up, remodel sites, add new equipment for children and added more activities too! It's really a fun time here OH and the bathrooms are really clean!" shares Cella W.

Tips from RVers

Site selection strategy: When looking for glamping near Gilberts, Illinois, choose Fox Den Campground for individual electrical hookups. "Chain O'Lakes State Park in IL has two electric campgrounds, 2 non-electric campgrounds and one group site. Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts to far from parking pad," advises Debra M.

Hookup considerations: Plan for specific utility needs. "Sites are pretty close together, but not as bad as other places I've been. Walking distance to a fishing dock! The camp store by the boat launch has fire wood, live bait, food, and other supplies," notes Stefanie W.

Seasonal preparation: Weather can significantly impact site conditions. "We had to leave a horrible CG to the south. Booked this site on app the day before. Which was a huge plus. This KOA has very limited full hook up sites. As far as KOA standards, it is not great. It is about an hour and half from Chicago and Milwaukee," reports deb K.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Gilberts, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Gilberts, IL is Chicago Northwest KOA with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Gilberts, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 glamping camping locations near Gilberts, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.