Northern Illinois' Chain O' Lakes region features 15 interconnected lakes and wetlands with over 7,100 acres of water at elevations averaging 750 feet. Gurnee sits just 15 miles east of these waterways, where summer temperatures average 80-85°F and the camping season typically runs April through October with site availability diminishing rapidly during peak summer weekends.
What to Do
Paddling and water access: Chain O' Lakes State Park offers multiple lake entry points where campers can enjoy quiet morning kayaking. "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," writes Cora M. about Mud Lake East.
Hiking through diverse habitats: The parks contain a mix of wooded, wetland, and prairie trails. According to Dakota at Prairie View Camping Area, "We also did a 5 mile hike through the park. It was absolutely beautiful. Lots of hills, forested areas, open prairies, and multiple water locations including next to the Fox River where our dog was able to cool off. The paths were all paved or crushed gravel and were very well upkept."
Horseback riding: Several campgrounds offer equestrian facilities and guided trail rides. "There is horse riding here as well. The views are breathtaking," notes Christian V. about the trails near Chain O' Lakes.
What Campers Like
Well-maintained facilities: Many campers appreciate the clean bathhouses and showers across various campgrounds. At Fox Den Campground, Christopher R. notes, "It has the electrical hookups that we need and has a bath house that is close to where you camp (hundreds of feet versus getting into a car and driving to it)."
Affordability: Budget-conscious pet owners appreciate the reasonable pricing. According to Addison G. at Turner Lake South, "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."
Wildlife viewing: The wetland environment supports diverse wildlife. "The upside of lots of bugs are lots of bird watching. Many pretty varieties," notes Debra M., while Tim H. from Sunset Campground adds, "I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two."
What You Should Know
Bug preparation essential: The wetland environment means insects are abundant. "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it," explains Tim H. about Richard Bong State Recreation Area. He continues, "I have seldom been around so many all at once. Thankfully we had a pop-up screened gazebo that made sitting outside our tent much more enjoyable."
Variable site privacy: Site seclusion differs significantly between campgrounds and loops. At Honeysuckle Hollow, Debra M. warns, "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."
Gate closure enforcement: Several parks strictly enforce entrance gates. Grace H. advises, "The park gates close early as well - we returned one evening at 10:30pm and couldn't get back in with a vehicle. Had to go back in on foot. Good to plan ahead!"
Tips for Camping with Families
Scout accessible playgrounds: Multiple campgrounds offer play areas for children. Meg K. reports, "There is so much to do at this campground. Horseback riding, archery, hiking, boating, fishing. There is also a park for the kids in several areas."
Consider tick protection: Parents with small children should take extra precautions. Meg from Honeysuckle Hollow warns, "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!"
Rental options for activities: Equipment rentals let families try activities without bringing gear. "There is a boat launch with rentals and a bunch of hiking trails closer to the entrance," says Art S., while Tyler notes that Camp Reinberg offers "lots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc."
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup locations: Electric posts aren't always conveniently placed at some campgrounds. Debra M. advises, "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad."
Dump station considerations: The facilities can get busy during peak checkout times. According to Tina at Honeysuckle Hollow, "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."
Site selection for larger RVs: Some sites present challenges for larger rigs. Debra M. recalls, "We originally booked 96 but could not extend our slide because of large trees on either side of the pad and then the electric was about 50 feet away. Moved to 50 one of the nicest spots."
