The area surrounding Glenview, Illinois features mostly flat terrain within the Great Lakes region, with elevations around 650 feet above sea level. Camping options near Glenview are situated within forest preserves and along waterways, with sites typically open from April through October. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during peak camping months with frequent afternoon thunderstorms possible.
What to do
Kayaking on multiple lakes: Chain O'Lakes State Park offers excellent paddling opportunities with seven connected lakes accessible from Fox Den Campground. "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill," noted one visitor to Fox Den Campground, who appreciated the rangers delivering firewood to their site daily.
Mountain biking on extensive trail systems: Camp Bullfrog Lake provides direct access to miles of mountain biking trails. According to one camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake, "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. We live 15 minutes away so like to take midweek camping trips to break up the work week."
Swimming and beach activities: Illinois Beach State Park features direct lake access and sandy shorelines. A visitor mentioned, "Easy access to the beach, great sites and was very quiet. My only complaint is that there wasn't any soap or sanitizer in the bathrooms."
What campers like
Proximity for quick getaways: Many campers appreciate how accessible Glenview IL campground options are for Chicago-area residents. A visitor to Camp Reinberg noted, "This gem of a campground is run by the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the care they have for it shows! It's a short trip to get groceries or whatever you need in Palatine, but there's also a little camp store."
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention the well-maintained bathrooms and shower buildings. One reviewer at Blackwell Family Campground stated, "They have discounted rates for Dupage county residents and have electric at all sites and great prices for firewood. Sites are level and clean and they have modern bathrooms."
Wooded privacy: Some campgrounds offer more secluded sites than others. A camper at Fox Den Campground reported, "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)."
What you should know
Mosquito and tick prevalence: Insect populations can be significant during warm months. One visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow warned, "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!"
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are particularly active at some campgrounds. The same Honeysuckle Hollow visitor noted, "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."
Limited availability: Many campgrounds are only open seasonally or on weekends. A visitor to Blackwell Family Campground explained, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Look for water activities: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers family-friendly swimming and fishing opportunities. A visitor remarked, "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. The lake is beautiful and surprisingly picturesque as it is all nature preserve on the opposite side. The beach is large enough and there are clean bathrooms right there. The camp store sells treats and pizza, very convenient and makes for a more relaxing camping experience when traveling with young kids!"
Choose sites with playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated children's play areas. A family who stayed at Paul Wolff Campground noted, "This campground is within a couple hours of Chicago so it makes a nice getaway for the weekend. There is a boat launch with rentals and a bunch of hiking trails closer to the entrance."
Consider cabins for easier family trips: Several campgrounds near Glenview offer cabin options. A visitor to Camp Reinberg shared, "Small camp sites, but fantastic facilities and trails, close location. While the camp sites are small, the amenities are super clean and the rentable cabins are as well."
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup locations: Electric posts at different campgrounds vary in accessibility. A visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow cautioned, "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."
Site sizes and layouts: RV sites have varying dimensions and privacy levels. A visitor to Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort said, "Very friendly staff and people. Great accommodations. Spots are ok size. Pretty level." Another camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake mentioned, "Really nice campground. No water hooks up. Water on site but, not ideal. Really nice views. Very quiet. Super friendly staff and neighbors."
Weekend vs. weekday differences: Campers report significant variation in crowding levels throughout the week. A camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake noted, "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week."
