Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park
Closed Off Tent Camping
Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
Camp Bullfrog Lake accommodates pets at all of its tent sites, RV spots, and cabins, providing pet owners convenient options within 30 minutes of Bolingbrook. The campground features clean facilities with multiple bathhouses and showers, making extended stays with pets more comfortable. Nearby hiking trails connect directly to the campsite, allowing for immediate outdoor exploration with dogs. All Camp Bullfrog sites come with a free bundle of firewood, picnic tables, and fire rings, with primitive tent areas located in a quieter section near the back of the park. The lakeside setting offers scenic views for campers with dogs, though some tent sites lack shade during summer months. Campers browse The Dyrt when exploring the best sites near Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Several miles of pet-friendly trails surround the campground, offering extensive options for dog walking and exercise. The mountain bike trail system provides additional paths for hikers with dogs, with many reviewers noting the excellent quality and variety of these trails. Big Rock Campground and Blackwell Family Campground also welcome pets, expanding the options for dog owners in the area. While most sites require leashes, the nearby Springbrook Prairie Dog Park offers off-leash opportunities. Some campgrounds implement a 10 p.m. gate closure, so evening arrivals should plan accordingly. The open layout of many sites means limited privacy between camping spots, though this arrangement provides good visibility for monitoring pets. Overnight temperatures in spring can get quite cold, so proper pet bedding is essential for camping during these seasons.
$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."
$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."
$35 - $250 / night
"Located in a Cook County forest preserve this family camping option is a nice local getaway. The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern."
"There are several bathrooms around and they are clean. Staff is friendly and welcoming."
"If you like having access to a bathroom and shower its great and because no one really hd a tent here but us we had some privacy. It is next to a highway so be mindful of that."
$18 - $35 / night
"Clean, with large sites, about a 5 mile walk around the nearby lake- saw several deer and rabbits - T-Mobile worked just fine- no Wi-Fi"
"Open campground with nearly zero tree. We had a great campfire but didn’t take advantage of the whole park to explore. She wants to again this year but we will spend more time hiking."
"Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant."
"Nice safe location. Flat, pretty large spots..picnic tables."
$37 / night
"Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities"
$25 - $45 / night
"We just purchased our first Winnebago and needed a spot close to home for a quick trial run. We have three small boys and they were very excited to camp."
"Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week."
"The beach and lake were always well maintained, and we had often enjoyed live music at the pavilion. You can even play mini golf here! I would highly recommend for anyone that can invest."
$65 - $95 / night
"There's a gorgeous Creek, a lovely small lake and I really enjoy the walking trails."
"The location requires a 2 night stay minimum."












Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
Small campground but very friendly. A plus was the full hookups. The sights are very close together. Management is not over bearing and very friendly. Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park! You overall great weekend
We’ve been staying at this resort for several months now, and wanted to share some feedback based on our experience.
The pool only opened mid-summer.
Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning. The water is so unclean that our shower develops yellow stains within a day, and we’ve had to install a five-stage filtration system just to make it usable.
We’ve also noticed that rules aren’t enforced consistently, and it sometimes feels like certain guests are treated unfairly. For example, while we were told that personal kiddie pools aren’t allowed, we’ve counted at least six others set up around the park.
Package delivery is only permitted under special circumstances, and only if pre-approved by staff.
Had an incident where a staff member criticized my swimsuit at the pool, despite it being modest and similar to what others were wearing. I wore this swimsuit to many pools for many years. Additionally, the beach area is often closed even during posted open hours, and pool hours or updates aren’t clearly communicated—you have to inquire to get any information.
The storm shelter is typically locked, making it inaccessible in emergencies, which is a major concern.
We’ve also had to fix the swing set at the playground ourselves multiple times, as it’s been broken for a while. Many of the park’s facilities and amenities are showing their age and could benefit from updates and maintenance.
That said, there are aspects we’ve truly enjoyed, and they’re the main reasons we’ve continued our stay: the spacious layout of the RV park, a nice lake, beach, pool, gym, and a dog park.
Many very nice permanent sites. We loved the dog park along with the many activities available. We come here at least once a year. Check out their information on their website.
If you want a quick local get away this is the place.
As we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch.
If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs.
As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location.
If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo.
Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
I 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.
Friendly staff who were quick to respond to any issues. Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant. No wi-fi found except at hotel. Good phone connection. Garbage cans throughout park. Minutes from I & M Canal entrance on Houbolt and from JJC and I-80.
For years, this was our go-to campground for weekend nearby adventures. Over the years, the price has increased and at $30 per site for non-residents, it's a bit steep for tent camping for me (so I left off a star rating). All sites are electric, so if you are tent camping and want your fan or slow-cooker, then it's as good as it gets in the burbs. It's located in a beautiful wooded Dupage County Forest preserve. While the sites are pretty close together, there are a few good ones that feel more secluded. Designated chip bark tent sites are level. The grounds are very well maintained. While I didn't camp here this year, I took these photos the last weekend in October to give everyone a sense of how nice this campground could be for them. My favorite sites over the years were the ones closest to Silver Lake along the South Loop road because those sites have the best views. For privacy, my favorite site is #27 on the north loop road which makes you feel like you are alone in the woods. Other than plenty of hiking options including a big hill, the fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release. There is also archery, a dog park, picnic areas, boat rental/ramp, and a compass course. It is a great place for families. I've brought cub scouts here and my kids' friends. Heads-up that sites 21 & 22 may not be able to see traffic on the busy Winfield Rd in the summer, but you will still hear it at those sites.
This campground is right in town. It is a bit away from businesses. However if you arrive by car you drive through the quaint town.
Arriving by bicycle is even better. The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail passes right by camp. You can stop for a rest or stay the night. It's a nice stopping distance if you are riding from Chicago to Starved Rock. The trail is crushed gravel and is a beautiful ride.
This campground is surrounded by trees. When we showed up, a classic car gathering was going on. They even set a campfire to use throughout the morning. There are vault toilets and a picnic area too. It should also be noted that you need to walk in to the campsites (parking is really close by).
The maintenance buildings are right next to campsites. Today they were mowing so workers were moving in camp but also out along the trail and park.
This is a nice, shady place to stop along the I & M Canal Trail.
Camping options near Bolingbrook, Illinois range from lakeside spots to forest preserves with variable terrain. The region sits at approximately 700 feet elevation with a continental climate featuring humid summers and cold winters. Most pet-friendly campgrounds in the area operate primarily from April through October, with limited year-round options available during winter months.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: Camp Bullfrog Lake offers direct access to miles of mountain bike single track right from your campsite. "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," notes Josh M., who enjoys taking midweek camping trips to break up the work week.
Kayaking on small lakes: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Bolingbrook offer water recreation options. At Camp Bullfrog Lake, kayak rentals are available at reasonable rates. "The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," reports Layla P., who stayed at the campground twice.
Archery practice: Blackwell Family Campground provides free archery facilities for campers looking to practice their skills. "Canoe rentals and free archery range," mentions Christian V., highlighting this as one of several amenities at this pet-welcoming forest preserve campground near Bolingbrook.
Clean, modern facilities: Many Bolingbrook-area campgrounds maintain well-kept bathhouses. At Blackwell Family Campground, "There is a nice shower facility. The grounds include a lake for boating, hiking trails, and bike paths," explains Jen E., who found it ideal for camping with a baby when they didn't want to be far from home.
Proximity to Chicago: For urban dwellers seeking quick escapes with pets, these campgrounds offer convenient locations. "Located only 30 miles outside the city, and conveniently only 10 mins from my house, this is the perfect little getaway," says Autumn D. about Blackwell Family Campground, noting the descriptive website that helped her select the perfect spot.
Morning wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe local animals. At Camp Sullivan, visitors appreciate the forest preserve environment. One camper at Palos area (Camp Bullfrog Lake) noted, "We hiked 10 miles and saw tons of animals and birds including a snake, loads of herons and songbirds, deer, a raccoon and a Cooper's Hawk."
Site privacy varies significantly: At many pet-friendly campgrounds near the Bolingbrook region, proximity between sites can be an issue. At Camp Sullivan, "The campsites are TINY. We were in a modest pop up and still felt crowded... as far as campgrounds go it was about 3x the price for less than half the space," reports Lisa S.
Weather preparedness essential: Spring camping can bring challenging conditions. "Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week," notes Chad A., though others mention that spring weather in the region can fluctuate dramatically, requiring proper gear for both campers and pets.
Early reservations recommended: Popular sites fill quickly, especially at campgrounds with limited availability. "If you're staying here to see Chicago the gates close for the park an hour after sunset," warns Rich M. about Blackwell Family Campground, highlighting the importance of understanding each location's specific rules.
Variety of accommodations: Several campgrounds offer multiple lodging options beyond traditional tent sites. Big Rock Campground provides large, level sites that work well for family setups. "Nice campground with big, level sites. Even though they don't take reservations, there is plenty of space and availability," notes Melissa C.
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with designated play areas. "Took my daughter for a simple overnight and it was great. Open campground with nearly zero tree. We had a great campfire but didn't take advantage of the whole park to explore. She wants to again this year but we will spend more time hiking," shares Mike D. about Big Rock Campground.
Group camping options: Some locations cater specifically to larger family gatherings. "Although the group sites are separate from the main part of the park, a short multi-use trail connects the two. Our Scouts were able to walk down to access the lake and fish," explains John R. about Blackwell Family Campground's group camping area.
Hookup locations and extensions: Water connections at some campgrounds require planning. At Big Rock Campground, "Water hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!" advises Amanda K., who appreciates the campground despite this inconvenience.
Limited privacy at some sites: Many RV areas lack natural barriers between spaces. "Sites are ok. Very close together. Traffic from I-80 is loud. Staff is very nice. Cleanest campground bathrooms I've ever seen," reports Robert C. about Martin's Camping Ground.
Site selection strategy: For RVers seeking more space, carefully review site options. "For the most part, all of the 30/50 amp sites are very similar. Can't really say one appears to be better than the rest. Sites # 4 and 5 probably have the longest length parking pad," notes Tim K. about Camp Bullfrog Lake, adding that the lack of shade affected his overall experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bolingbrook, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bolingbrook, IL is Camp Bullfrog Lake with a 4.2-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Bolingbrook, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 60 dog-friendly camping locations near Bolingbrook, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring