Glamping opportunities surround Highland Park, Illinois, situated along Lake Michigan at 700 feet elevation. The area experiences four distinct seasons with humid summers averaging 80°F and winters dropping below freezing, creating varied camping conditions throughout the year. Campgrounds within a 30-40 mile radius offer access to northern Illinois' interconnected waterways and woodland preserves.
What to do
Water recreation: 7 interconnected lakes: Chain O'Lakes State Park provides extensive water activities. "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," notes a visitor at Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.
Hiking trails: multiple difficulty levels: Thomas Woods Campground offers varied terrain. "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. Some of grass and others were dirt," shares a camper at Thomas Woods Campground.
Mountain biking: extensive trail system: Single-track trails attract serious cyclists. "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," explains a visitor at Camp Bullfrog Lake.
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Campers appreciate clean, updated amenities. "The camp host delivered my fire wood right to my site. Bathroom/shower facilities were clean and well stocked," mentions a reviewer at Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Privacy between sites: Site layout varies significantly between campgrounds. "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads 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)," explains a visitor at Fox Den Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Area wetlands support diverse ecosystems. "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," shares a camper at Turner Lake South.
What you should know
Seasonal pest considerations: Plan for insects, especially in warmer months. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. They literally fall out of the trees into people! Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house," warns a visitor at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Site reservation timing: Popular weekends fill quickly. "This IL state campground fills up quickly on the weekends over the summer... While these sites are usually slated for walk-ups on the weekends, it seems like a lot of people go early on Thursday or even Wednesday to secure their sites for the weekends."
Wildlife encounters: Plan for nocturnal visitors. "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."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "Great campground for families! Tons to do! Bathrooms/showers are good. Comfortable stay," notes a visitor at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park.
Site selection for family safety: Choose sites away from traffic. "Sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe. Also seemed pretty respectful in the evenings with people toning down the noise."
Water activities for children: Lakes provide kid-friendly options. "The camp store sells treats and pizza, very convenient and makes for a more relaxing camping experience when traveling with young kids! This is not private or rustic camping but still very fun and relaxing."
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup specifics: Check campground infrastructure before booking. "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."
Leveling considerations: Site topography varies significantly. "Sites # 4 and 5 probably have the longest length parking pad. I believe this is a relatively newer campground. There is NO shade during the day. None at all due to the trees within the campground being small."
Access road information: Navigation challenges exist in certain areas. "When you are checking in with trailer make sure you don't turn left to the office. It will be hard to turn around. I recommend stopping when you get to the fork in the road as the RV sites are to the right."
