Chain O' Lakes State Park encompasses three separate campground areas with distinct features. The Fox Den Campground offers electric sites with individual posts, while sites in Honeysuckle Hollow have power posts positioned further from parking pads. Prairie View and Turner Lake South camping areas provide non-electric options with tent pads surrounded by woodlands. The region experiences humid summers with temperatures typically ranging from 75-85°F, making early June or September ideal for more moderate camping conditions.
What to do
Kayaking through wildlife habitats: Access the seven connected lakes from multiple launch points for diverse paddling experiences. "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," shares a camper at Turner Lake South.
Mountain biking on extensive trail systems: Explore miles of dedicated biking trails within short distances from campsites. "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," notes a visitor at Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Yurt camping near Gurnee, Illinois: For those seeking structures beyond tents, both Big Foot Beach State Park and Kettle Moraine State Forest offer yurt accommodations within 45 minutes of Gurnee. Yurts provide solid shelter while maintaining a camping experience, especially valuable during unpredictable weather.
Winter camping opportunities: Several parks maintain open camping during colder months. A visitor at Kettle Moraine State Forest notes, "No showers in winter but awesome," making it an option for year-round outdoor experiences near Gurnee.
What campers like
Privacy levels between campgrounds: Sites vary significantly in seclusion across 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," reports one camper.
Accessible water recreation: Multiple campgrounds offer direct lake access. "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," notes a visitor to Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campsites provide nature observation directly from camp. "We did have 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. It was a perfect escape from the crowds," explains a camper at Fox Den Campground.
Fresh spring water access: Natural springs can be found through hiking trails in the area. One camper states, "Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!"
What you should know
Bug preparation is essential: Mosquitoes can be particularly problematic in certain seasons. "The mosquitos were pretty vicious... a couple of the regulars said it was the worst they'd been in years," reports a camper from Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.
Wildlife management challenges: Several campgrounds report active wildlife that requires careful food storage. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks," warns a visitor at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Campground-specific alcohol policies: Regulations vary by location, with state parks generally more restrictive. "Beautiful Spot. We were camping here right in the middle of fall. The leaves were changing and our site was near the lake. Awesome family friendly spot. Adult beverages must be in a solo cup," explains a camper from Honeysuckle Hollow.
Bathroom cleanliness varies: Maintenance differs across campgrounds and seasons. "The tent sites are clumped pretty tight together with a couple exceptions. There were some loud families the Saturday I was there but got fairly quiet after 10," notes a visitor to Thomas Woods Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Screen houses for tick protection: Create protected spaces for young children at woodland campgrounds. "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!"
Playground proximity considerations: Select sites strategically near play areas for convenience. "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."
Multiple activity options: Campgrounds offer varying levels of planned recreation. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, "There are a ton of activities here to include two bouncy pillows, three play grounds, a pool, water slides, a kids water activity area, beach, water obstacle course, inflatable slide, RC car track, laser tag, mini golf, giant chess, and I'm sure I'm missing something."
Raccoon-proofing evening routines: Establish early evening food cleanup habits. "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."
Tips from RVers
Electrical hookup configurations: Verify power post proximity to pads before booking. "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."
Seasonal attendance patterns: Mid-week camping offers more solitude. "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," notes an RVer at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Dump station timing: Plan for potential wait times during peak periods. "The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water. It was also very busy and we had to wait when filling up and again when dumping."
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