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Big Foot Beach State Park Campground welcomes pets with designated pet-friendly sites throughout its camping loop. Located near Lake Geneva, the park offers 100 campsites including 30 with electric hookups, all accommodating dogs on leash. Chain O' Lakes State Park provides several pet-friendly camping areas including Honeysuckle Hollow, Turner Lake South, Fox Den, and Prairie View, each allowing pets at their tent sites, RV spots, and select cabins. Thomas Woods Campground in Marengo features 30-amp electric hookups and pet-friendly accommodations for tents and RVs. The recently renovated bathhouses and shower facilities remain spotless, though sites vary in size and privacy. Dog owners should note that despite being pet-friendly, Big Foot Beach State Park restricts dogs from large portions of the park and does not allow them on the small beach area.
Dog-friendly hiking trails throughout Chain O' Lakes State Park provide excellent exercise opportunities for pets, with multiple paths accessible from camping areas. Water access varies significantly between campgrounds, with Richard Bong State Recreation Area's Sunrise and Sunset Campgrounds offering more spacious areas for dogs compared to Big Foot Beach's limited waterfront. Barking policies are strictly enforced at most campgrounds, particularly during quiet hours. The Boat House Bar & Grill adjacent to Big Foot Beach State Park features a dog-friendly patio within walking distance of the campground. Campers report inconsistent cleaning of outhouse facilities at some locations, though main bathrooms are generally well-maintained. Summer weekends see most campgrounds fully booked, particularly at Big Foot Beach where sites empty considerably on Sundays, making midweek reservations recommended for those camping with pets.
"We love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in."
"Nice large sites. gravel spot for arc/trailer. fire pit and picnic table. trails for hiking are nice, but the overall camping area isn’t very big. 100 sites only. 30 with electric. this was the first time"
"*** reviewing as a baby/toddler camp family on the go :-) 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"
"Campsite is nice, we're pretty close to our neighbors but not as bad as other places I've been. Walking distance to a fishing dock!"
"Our site had the usual picnic table and a short walk to the restrooms and water. What we enjoyed the most was the variety of hiking trails."
"While the highway riding was occasionally a bit harrowing, it was absolutely worth it for the beautiful views and camping here."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61."
"You can hear whatever highway is nearby pretty clearly and constantly. But if you’re not looking for something super remote then it’s fine!"
"It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "
"We can both drive to work and then come back to relax. Close to some great places for antiquing if you don't want to hike the trails or fish."
"It pays to drive through the camp ground and note a couple sites that you are interested in and then book your site at the entrance during walk in days. "
"For us it's close to home, shopping and an RV dealership so it's pefect to "shake out" the camper and we can easily get anything we forgot or get stuff to repair anything that's not working."
from $12 - $50 / night
Check Availability"I would recommend this for anyone for starting to step out of the comfort zone for the outdoors. very simple, many paths to walk, jog, or ride a bike. a small lake is near the further parking lot. dogs"
"Pros: great hiking trails, nice lake to kayak on, family friendly beach and picnic areas Cons: Not great fishing, no dog friendly swim area, the beach/fishing pier/boat launch are all pretty far from"
"Prairie View campground is in the Chain O Lakes State Park series. This is the no services campground. We could walk to fill up with water but no electric on site. Checking in was interesting."
"It was me, my wife, our 8 month old daughter, and our dog."
"Plenty of space & foliage between sites and a nice network of trails surrounding the campground. Close to some small towns and the interstate as well, but not close enough to hear traffic."
"the property is HUGE and most things are about a 10 to 15 min walk from the campsites. lots of hiking, boating, swimming fishing and more! a great place for anyone!"
"You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!"
"Saw a few of their “puppy sites” that included a private gated area for dog owners. It poured all weekend but we still enjoyed the stay."
GuideWe love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in. Bathrooms where very clean. Trails are great. Pet friendly - we brought our small, quiet dogs. Dog friendly restaurant right next to the camp site.
TravelerJust became KOA met local campers that love this park! Good sites, trash pickup at side! They even have a snack bar and deliver to your campsite! No enclosed dog park but plenty of area to walk your dog!
GuideAbsolutely beautiful, reasonable prices, electric available. Tons of restrooms, showers, laundry, and wonderful camp hosts. Huge beach area, dog park, fishing as well. Shop to buy items you may need and absolutely wonderful place. Open all year round
TravelerGreat park with swimming beach, trails, dog park, and archery range. Campsites were ok, not much separation or privacy at all. Pit toilets and metros desperately need to be cleaned more often. We had very noisy neighbors that did not respect the quiet hours rule and park staff did nothing to intervene. Very convenient that they drive through the Campground to sell/deliver firewood tho. I'd stay here again because the park overall is great, but I would try to choose a better site. #9 looked alright, and in the 20#s looked a bit more tree lined and bigger.
LegendMy first impression when I first arrived here was the overwhelming scent of a newly minted campground, what with the freshly laid gravel, the mint condition security gates, finely manicured and recently raked greenery (as it was October when we visited, it might be better described as brownery) surrounded by a fairly decent gated enclosure lined with perfectly pruned tall towering oaks. Upon arrival, you’ll find what looks to be a brand-spanking new log cabin office on the right after passing a seemingly freshly-minted activities center / community lodge complete with in-ground heated swimming pool and jacuzzi on the left.
Amenities? As you could guess, this pet-friendly 60-acre RV resort has all the attractions in spades from pickleball, playgrounds, volleyball, log pergola patio, full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water & sewage), picnic tables, fire pits, BBQ grills, wagon rides, river access, picnic areas, bathhouses w/ showers & restrooms, cable TV WiFi (pretty poor connection though), gaga ball, game room, community room, billiards table, playground, wet bar, tabletop shuffleboard, community living room with large screen TV, DVD player w/ DVD library, clubhouse, dog park, horseshoes, hot tub, covered pavilions with picnic tables, catch & release ponds, inflatable water toys, jumping pillow, laundr-O-mat, propane refueling station and dump station.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) This place isn’t EZ to find – for some reason, if you plug the campground into your GPS, you’ll literally be on the wrong side of the tracks, where you will arrive at a dead end with a sign that says you are in the wrong place and that you’ll need to double-back, cross the train tracks heading north and turn right just before arriving to High Road School of Belvidere (so if you see a school, you’ve gone too far); (2) You will want to take note that yes, you actually cross train tracks to get to this campground, so if you’re sharp, you’re going to want to ensure you haven’t booked a site right next to where trains will shoot through every few hours, this specifically means avoiding sites #E1-#E5 and #FS23-#FS36 as well as #FE1-#FE20; (3) If you’re a tent camper, you can certainly stay here, but you will want to note that this is very much an RV outpost; (4) The best sites IMHO are those on the northernmost perimeter, as far away from the train tracks as you can get and that also border the Kishwaukee River with sites #S9-#S20 being excellent, as well as #S25-#S81, which are equally amazing; (5) If you are planning on using that amazing pool that you saw as you came in, make sure you call management a good day or two before you come in to ensure that they turn on the heater – when we were there for 2 days, by the time we left, the pool was still too cold to go for a dip; and (6) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up a meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler and want to venture out to try some local fare, just a short walk into the nearby town is Garden Prairie Café, which has a very simple menu offering no shortage of fried everything (fish, shrimp, chicken, etc.) and then there’s Pleasant Street Tavern, but that’s mostly cheap national beers and frozen pizza fare, so if you want something a bit more substantive, head west of here to Miles Bar N’ Grill that serves up typical Midwestern fare like cheese curds, pork tenderloin, Italian beef and a variety of fried fish like blue gill, cod and catfish.
Happy Camping!
RangerI was here for three months this time as i get to business completed. The park was still kept up very nicely and this time I was here long enough to be able to see how. The grass is mowed every week. There is patroling at all hours for security. The laundry machines are great the dryers ore good. The dog park is clean and secure. The lake is natural and kept free of litter and garbage. The park is much bigger than i thought it was last year. The store has many items you may need. The showers are cleaned and work great. The camp water is high in Iron. The pot roads need service as thay do have a lot of pot holes. Good thing for the 5mph speed limit.
ScoutStaff was polite and helpful. They escort you to your spot. They hand out activity sheets for the weekend. Petting zoo, camp store, pool, lake/pond for swimming and fishing. Cell signal for ATT just one bar. No internet. Lots of full time residents. Lots of activities for kids. Pet friendly. They charge extra if you have visitors.
ScoutWe love camping here. It truly feels rural. Small shower house but water pressure is amazing. It’s always quiet and the view is beautiful. Bugs were awful this stay. They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly.
TravelerWe liked this site because it was on the "quiet loop." No radios or pets allowed. I'm not sure about children! :) The sites are fairly close together and the trees are sparse, but it was a beautiful site and wonderfully quiet for the long weekend over the 4th of July 2017.
You can walk over to an area that has hiking trails right out of the campsite. State park mountain biking trails are also close by, but you would need to drive to them. The showers were clean and when we used them, available. There is a playground right next to them as well.
The campsite itself had a good log-stopper so you wouldn't drive too far into the woods, great fire ring, and picnic table. We had nice flat areas for our tents.
I am not so sure I would have enjoyed myself if I'd been in another loop. The quiet was perfect!
Hebron and its surrounding areas offer a mix of woodland, prairie and wetland camping environments. Located in northern Illinois near the Wisconsin border, this region sits at elevations ranging from 800-900 feet and experiences warm summers with cold, snowy winters. The area's camping options include both heavily wooded sites with natural privacy barriers and more open prairie-style campgrounds with spacious layouts.
Hiking and trail exploration: Thomas Woods Campground features "beautiful woods and prairie trails around here. Some really spectacular views to be had" with "trails were very well upkept," according to a camper. The trails offer "lovely wooded and quiet" experiences with "great hiking trails, a pond for fishing, private camp sites."
Water recreation: Multiple waterways allow for diverse activities at Turner Lake South, where one visitor mentioned "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." Another camper noted "The lake was very nice. 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."
Off-road adventures: For those seeking a different outdoor experience, Sunrise Campground offers unique terrain options. One visitor shared, "There are lots of activities at the nature center and you can bring your own toys ie: ATV's, rockets, bikes to enjoy the vast amount of acreage that is available for use." Another camper chose this spot because "We went for the ATV track."
Wildlife viewing: Many dog-friendly campgrounds near Hebron offer excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. At Sunrise Campground, one reviewer enjoyed that "We drove around the recreation area and the campgrounds. 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." Bird watching is also rewarding, as "our first night there, we left the rain fly off of the tent and just enjoyed the stars and the satellites streaking across the sky."
Private campsites: Campers consistently praise the secluded nature of certain sites. At Fox Den Campground, "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post... Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees." One visitor noted that "sites 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)."
Reasonable pricing: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the value at Prairie View. A visitor mentioned these "campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly." Another praised it as an "Awesome choice for campers on a budget" while still providing "electricity, however those sites are $25/night."
Weather considerations: The regional climate affects camping conditions significantly. At Richard Bong State Recreation Area, campers noted "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it." One visitor advised: "We're from the south, so we are used to mosquitoes, but I have seldom been around so many all at once. Thankfully we had a pop-up screened gazebo."
Site selection strategy: Choose carefully between campground loops. At Turner Lake South, "This loop is best for tent camping. The other loops are basically all rvs" and "The campsites are a little bigger in Turner Lake South, I feel, but both have campsites circled by woods with a level place to pitch a tent."
Wildlife encounters: Multiple campgrounds report active wildlife after dark. At Turner Lake, campers warned "We had some raccoons at night even after we locked up everything in the car." Similarly, at Honeysuckle Hollow, "the raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched."
Kid-friendly amenities: Chicago Northwest KOA provides excellent facilities for children. A visitor reported "Plenty for the little kids to do, and the text message communication was great with regards to weather updates or any goings on around the campground." Another mentioned "There are a lot of activity for kids on the weekends. People are nice to you. Plus they have a quiet time at night. So people and kids can go to bed without a bunch of noise."
Educational opportunities: Chain O' Lakes State Park offers learning experiences through their nature programming. At Fox Den campground, "Rangers were helpful and delivered firewood to our site daily" while providing information about the surrounding ecosystem.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. Rock Cut State Park includes "children's playgrounds nearby" some shelters, while Turner Lake features "a park for the kids in several areas" throughout the grounds.
Electrical considerations: When selecting sites, RVers should verify electrical capacity. At Fox Den Campground, visitors appreciated that "each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts to far from parking pad." Another camper 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."
Access and navigation: Rock Cut State Park requires careful planning for larger rigs. A visitor noted "If you've been up and down the I90 corridor in Illinois and haven't had the chance to swing by Rock Cut SP, whether just entering the Land of Lincoln or fleeing to the Cheesehead state to the north, which is less than 10 minutes from this nature outcrop, you'll want to ensure you stop by this multi-campus campground gem."
Campsite selection: For those with larger vehicles, Thomas Woods poses some challenges. A camper observed that "Larger site for an RV but I used a tent only. I enjoyed the fact the site was further off the main road which allowed for more privacy. Most of the sites were right on the road and you'd need to position your car right for privacy."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hebron, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hebron, IL is Big Foot Beach State Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 23 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hebron, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 74 dog-friendly camping locations near Hebron, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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