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Best Campgrounds near Highwood, IL

442 Reviews

The northern Illinois region surrounding Highwood includes several established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive, primarily concentrated along Lake Michigan and the Chain O'Lakes area. State parks and county forest preserves dominate the camping landscape, with Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park in Zion offering lakefront camping and Camp Reinberg in Palatine providing a more suburban camping experience. Chain O'Lakes State Park features multiple camping areas including Fox Den, Turner Lake South, Prairie View, and Honeysuckle Hollow, each with varying levels of privacy and amenities. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several also offering cabin options for those seeking additional comfort.

Reservations are essential during peak season from May through September, with many campgrounds filling completely on summer weekends. Illinois state parks enforce a no-alcohol policy even at individual campsites, a regulation campers should note before arrival. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 85°F, while spring and fall offer milder conditions but increased chances of rain. As one camper noted about Chain O'Lakes, "The gates close at 10 PM and there are tire shredders; you can leave but you can't get back in unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark." Most campgrounds are accessible via paved roads, though sites vary significantly in size, shade coverage, and proximity to amenities.

Site privacy varies considerably throughout the area's campgrounds. At Turner Lake South, campers report "nice and private sites," contrasting with Honeysuckle Hollow's "open and row after row of RV sites." Illinois Beach State Park receives mixed reviews, with one visitor noting it is "generally loud, with no vegetation between you and your neighbor." Facilities typically include clean restrooms, showers, and fire pits with adjustable grills. Water recreation opportunities abound, particularly at Chain O'Lakes where boat rentals and fishing are popular activities. Hiking trails range from paved paths at Camp Reinberg that "dip through forested sections, open fields, and lily pad covered ponds" to the wider crushed gravel trails at Chain O'Lakes that accommodate multiple activities including horseback riding.

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Best Camping Sites Near Highwood, Illinois (45)

    1. Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    66 Reviews
    Zion, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 662-4811

    $25 / night

    "The group camp site is located pretty far away from the rest of the campsites, bathrooms, trails and amenities."

    "We had a phenomenal time at Illinois State Park camping facilities! Space was clean, nature was alive, and the neighbors so friendly!"

    2. Camp Reinberg

    12 Reviews
    Palatine, IL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9750

    $45 - $60 / night

    "Lots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc."

    "tucked alongside a bike and walking path that goes through a beautiful forest preserve. The path is gorgeous dipping through forested sections, open fields, and lilly pad covered ponds!"

    3. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    8 Reviews
    Round Lake, IL
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 546-2228

    $43 - $73 / night

    "Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water."

    "We biked around the campground during the days and took advantage of the adult only hot tub hours at night. It was a nice getaway from Chicago."

    4. NAVSTA Great Lakes RV Campground

    2 Reviews
    Great Lakes, IL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 688-6675

    5. Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    14 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    25 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "*** 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!"

    6. Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    12 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "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 feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "

    7. Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    13 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    25 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "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!"

    8. Paul Wolff Campground

    20 Reviews
    Elgin, IL
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 444-1200

    $12 - $35 / night

    "Half of them were in the Prairie and the other half was tucked into wonderfully private spots with burn pits and picnic tables. We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies."

    "The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."

    9. Blackwell Family Campground

    22 Reviews
    Warrenville, IL
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 933-7248

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Just outside of Chicago, we have been staying here for quick weekend trips and absolutely love the proximity to home."

    "I always loved going to the parks in Illinois with my grandparents when I was little. They love hiking and nature and definitely got me interested in it also. I love them and miss them everyday."

    10. Camp Bullfrog Lake

    30 Reviews
    Willow Springs, IL
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9785

    $20 - $138 / night

    "Great site, not far from Chicago, but feels well away from city life.

    Tent sites around rim of a lake. RV sites and cabins as well."

    "What’s great about this location is the access to the miles and mile of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite."

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Recent Camping Photos near Highwood, IL

149 Photos of 45 Highwood Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Highwood, IL

442 Reviews of 45 Highwood Campgrounds

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Camp Bullfrog Lake

    Great camping spot

    This is my second time staying at Bullfrog lake. The first time I was in spot 2 which had more privacy but felt more cramped. This time I was in spot 18 which felt like it had more space but had almost no shade.

    The camp hosts are really hit or miss. One guy was so nice and took a bunch to photos for me of me kayaking. The other guy seemed mad to be alive lol.

    The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around.

    Unfortunately the wood I bought from the camp store took forever to catch flames—my other two neighbors had the same issue.

    Bathroom/shower facilities were clean and well stocked.

    Overall I’d definitely stay here again.

  • K
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    Not communicable, fraud administration

    I reserved 5 nights, paid in full. After just one night, management cancelled my stay because my service dogs(Maltese) supposedly barked. I was fully cooperative, kept them quiet, and even documented this in emails. There was a stray cat near my RV that caused the issue, but instead of solving it, they forced me to leave. No refund for 4 nights. This is unfair, discriminatory, and against ADA law.

  • Kevin B.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Camp Sullivan

    Enjoyed the camping experience

    Nice and clean areas, staff was very professional and helpful while I was there

  • Tim L.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Chicago Northwest KOA

    Chill Vibes, quick get away from the city

    Far enough from the city lights, close enough to civilization. Cozy, small park with friendly staff and plenty of amenities. 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!

  • Tim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Sunset Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area

    Private sites, lots of wildlife ... and mosquitoes

    It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it. If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go. 

    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 that made sitting outside our tent much more enjoyable. I will say this though, even with there being more mosquitoes constantly attacking, I did not have the reactions to them like I do the mosquitoes back in Alabama and Mississippi. I wasn't itching much at all.

    But back to the fun part. It was pretty hot a couple days while we were there and to take a break from the heat, we enjoyed the ac in the car and 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. 

    What drew me to this campground was how private the individual sites were. Each campsite is cut back into the trees so that most are at least semi-private. This was a nice feature given that many other campgrounds you are stacked in like cord wood.

    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.

    Overall, it was a rather enjoyable week. The shower/bathrooms were nice and clean, though I will admit the shower got too hot even for my wife. It is an easy drive from the recreation area to Kenosha or other points of interest and Lake Michigan is worth a visit if you aren't from the area.

  • D
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Big Rock Campground

    Needs some shade

    This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade.

    The flush toilet building was very clean, but there was no TP in the ladies' room. And I have to wonder why you would build a new campground without showers?

    It is very close to the cities so we will stay here again.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Camp Shabbona Woods

    Not the best but acceptable

    Stayed the weekend. Definitely felt the urban community close by with ambulances and firetrucks noises in the background. They close the gates after 10pm was weird but overall ok. No electric or water hook ups can’t keep your vehicle close to your campsite. The good the bathroom are in good shape and the staff was friendly.

  • D
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Paul Wolff Campground

    No showers

    We would gladly stay here again!

    Great campsite with the best staff ever! The sites are clean and very well maintained. We loved the staff patrolling the grounds. The trail system is great for walking the dogs. And I even grew to like the no alcohol in the preserve rule.

    The vault toilets are clean but smell like vault toilets at 95 degrees. There is one very clean flush toilet building but no showers. They don't advertise showers, but this is the newest and nicest campsite I have seen without showers. There is some shade, but you have to search for it.

Guide to Highwood

Camping near Highwood, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From beautiful wooded sites to family-friendly amenities, there’s something for everyone in this area.

What to do:

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Indiana Dunes State Park Campground said, "Clean br/shower houses. Would recommend."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A review for Camp Bullfrog Lake mentioned, "The campsite overall is beautiful and the land is well kept."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Blackwell Family Campground provide activities for kids. One camper noted, "The ranger offers evening entertainment for the kiddos."

What you should know:

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Activities: Look for places like Kettle Moraine State Forest — Ottawa Lake that offer trails and playgrounds. One camper said, "Great trails close by."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring food and snacks, as some campgrounds lack markets. A visitor at Indiana Dunes State Park Campground suggested, "Recommend Aldi's stop in town."
  • Pack for Comfort: Bring extra shade and seating for hot days. A camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake noted, "On hot days I think a pop-up shade shelter would be necessary."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Electrical Hookups: Make sure your site has the right hookups. A review for Rock Cut State Park Campground mentioned, "The park was just so old that it probably couldn't keep up."
  • Reserve Early: Popular spots fill up fast, especially during peak season. A camper at Indiana Dunes State Park Campground advised, "Very popular campground so you do have to book well in advance."
  • Be Mindful of Space: Some sites can be tight for larger RVs. A visitor at Blackwell Family Campground noted, "Tight getting into the spot for Class As but spots are spaced nicely."

Camping near Highwood, Illinois, has its perks and quirks. Whether you're looking for a family getaway or a peaceful retreat, this area has options to suit your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Highwood, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Highwood, IL is Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 66 reviews.

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