The area surrounding Hebron, Illinois offers distinctive camping experiences with elevations ranging from 900 to 950 feet above sea level in the glacial landscape of northeastern Illinois. Campers will find both modern and primitive sites scattered throughout the region's woodlands and lakeshores. Winter camping options remain available at select locations where temperatures can drop below 10°F during January and February.
What to do
Hiking through varied terrain: Thomas Woods Campground in the McHenry County Conservation District offers multiple trail options for day hikes. "Great hiking trails, a pond for fishing, private camp sites," notes Tricia E., while another visitor mentioned, "What we enjoyed the most was the variety of hiking trails. They aren't the longest but we were able to vary the route up to keep it fresh for our dog to sniff out her adventure."
Kayaking the waterways: Ottawa Lake Campground provides easy lake access for paddlers. "The lake is great for swimming, though they do have e coli warnings frequently in the heat of summer," reports Jimmy P. For a different paddling experience, Turner Lake South connects to smaller waterways where "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."
Seasonal outdoor activities: Big Foot Beach State Park offers year-round recreation opportunities. "Clean sites, Lake Geneva swimming, friendly staff not far from Lake Geneva and stores for food and supplies the fall is beautiful and less crowded," reports one camper. Winter visitors note, "No showers in winter but awesome" at Kettle Moraine State Forest sites.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Thomas Woods Campground gets high marks for site separation. "The campsite are nicely sized and sufficiently shady," mentions one camper, while another noted, "Limited to weekend camping, but spread out private-like tent sites. Camp hosts are super engaged and seem to love being caretakers."
Family-friendly amenities: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers numerous activities for children. "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!"
Budget-friendly options: Turner Lake South provides affordable camping near Hebron. "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."
What you should know
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Fox Den Campground offers better facilities than some neighboring areas. "Bathhouse could use to be cleaned a bit more regularly but overall a pleasant experience for the price," reports one camper. At Thomas Woods, expect "hand pumps for water and well-kept pit toilets."
Wildlife considerations: Raccoons and insects can be problematic at certain sites. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched," warns a camper at Honeysuckle Hollow. Another notes, "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks."
Alcohol policies differ: Check individual park rules before packing beverages. At Chicago Northwest KOA, alcohol is permitted, while at Chain O' Lakes properties like Fox Den, "The only big minus is the full hook ups fill up fast no spur of the moment camping unless it is early or late in the season. The other thing is ALL Illinois State Parks are now enforcing a no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with playground access: Snug Harbor Inn Campground offers multi-level camping with lake views. "This is primarily an RV/mobile home campground, but there are some nicely tucked away tent camp sites. The property is basically terraced along a slope down to the lake, with the RV and mobile home sites closer to the lake. The tent sites are above it all with decent views of the lake below."
Consider yurt camping options: Yurt camping near Hebron, Illinois provides a comfortable alternative for families with young children. Chicago Northwest KOA offers yurt accommodations as noted by visitors who appreciate "renovations and upgrades" including "new equipment for children and added more activities."
Plan for water safety: When camping with children at lakefront sites, know the water conditions. At Turner Lake South, one camper advises, "We were able to kayak but be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Honeysuckle Hollow requires careful site selection for RVs. "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," advises one experienced RVer who adds, "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."
Hookup variations between parks: Research specific hookup options before booking. At Fox Den Campground, "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. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees."
Seasonal considerations: Note when full services are available. "We've been full time RVers for 4 years and this is a beautiful campground close to 'home'. We stay here a couple of times each year for doctor and dentist appointments, visiting family and friends, and general relaxation," notes a visitor to Ottawa Lake Campground.
