Chain O'Lakes State Park offers several campgrounds within driving distance of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, located about 25 miles away. The park encompasses nearly 6,500 acres with a series of connected waterways that form the Fox Chain of Lakes. Winter temperatures in the area typically range from 12°F to 30°F, while summer temperatures average between 60°F and 85°F with moderate humidity levels.
What to do
Kayaking and canoeing through connected waterways: At Turner Lake South Camping Area, the waterways provide excellent paddling opportunities. "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 extensive trail networks: Camp Bullfrog Lake offers some of the best mountain biking near Hawthorn Woods. "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," shares Tim K.
Horseback riding and archery: Chain O'Lakes State Park features multiple activity options. "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," explains Meg K. The park has trails specifically designed for equestrian use.
What campers like
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Fox Den Campground receives positive feedback for its upkeep. "This was our first time at this campground and we were impressed. 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," Michelle M. reports.
Privacy between campsites: Thomas Woods Campground offers more secluded camping experiences. "I've been here two other weekends. Generally quiet and many of the tent spots are spaced out enough to provide privacy and quiet. Firewood is cheap on-site and delivered to your site on demand," says Matt K. The campground features wooded sites that provide natural separation.
Affordable alternative to luxury glamping: For budget-conscious campers seeking an alternative to luxury glamping near Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, certain sites offer excellent value. "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," explains Addison G.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area has specific seasonal challenges. "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.
Weekend crowds vs. weekday solitude: Campgrounds in the area show significant occupancy differences between weekends and weekdays. "We stayed here for a week over the summer in 2021. We had a back-in site on the north side of the campground. The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," explains Tina.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for active wildlife, particularly in evenings. "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," advises Meg.
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with easy access to amenities: When glamping with children near Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, location matters. "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," recommends Meg.
Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas: Chicago Northwest KOA offers family-friendly facilities. "Did a quick stay with the kids for a Friday and Saturday night. A little bit smaller of a campground with regards to site space, but that's about the only thing 'bad' to say, and it's not really a bad thing at all. Plenty for the little kids to do," shares Dan B.
Consider lakefront tent sites for fishing: For families who enjoy fishing, specific sites offer better access. "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. There are about 8 tent/pop up sites and the rest of the campground is for RVs. I recommend the lakefront tent sites, they are spacious and you can fish right from your site!" advises Chloe N.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup considerations: For RV campers, understanding the electric setup is important. "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. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees," explains Debra M.
Selecting properly sized sites: Choose appropriately sized sites for your rig. "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," shares Debra M. Many campsites have specific limitations regarding RV length and slide-out space.
Dump station timing: Plan for potential waits at dump stations. "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," notes Tina. Arriving early or during off-peak times can reduce wait time at these facilities.
