Best Campgrounds near Highland Park, IL
Campers looking for places to pitch a tent near Highland Park, Illinois will need to drive a bit, as the closest good spots are in neighboring areas. Indiana Dunes State Park Campground sits about an hour away along Lake Michigan's shoreline. Rock Cut State Park Campground, slightly farther out, has good hiking trails and several fishing spots on Pierce Lake. Deer and raccoons frequently visit both campgrounds, so hanging food or storing it in your vehicle is smart. Both parks connect to major highways, making the drive from Highland Park straightforward on paved roads that work fine for most cars and RVs. The bathrooms at Indiana Dunes stay clean, and there are plenty of picnic tables scattered throughout the grounds. Rock Cut has some nice playgrounds for kids and bigger campsites that don't feel cramped. Another option, Dunewood Campground, keeps things simple but has the basics covered for a comfortable night outdoors. The woods and prairies around these parks look particularly nice during spring wildflower season and when fall colors peak. July and August fill up fast, so book at least a few months ahead if you want a summer weekend. Some hardy folks camp during winter, but you'll need serious cold-weather gear. These campgrounds give you different experiences depending on what you're after, from lakefront sites to woodland camping.
