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Campgrounds near Ingleside, Illinois cluster primarily around the Chain O' Lakes State Park system, offering a range of developed camping options with varying amenities. The area features multiple campground sections including Fox Den, Turner Lake South, Prairie View, and Mud Lake East, each providing different experiences for tent and RV campers. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort represents one of the more amenity-rich options in the region, with full hookup sites and recreational facilities. Most camping in this area is established rather than dispersed, with designated sites in managed campgrounds.
Several campgrounds in the Chain O' Lakes system offer electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables, with shared facilities like shower houses and toilets centrally located. Access roads are generally well-maintained, though site availability varies significantly by season. "The park is clean, and has the bathrooms and utilities that would be needed. A few different lakes for fishing, swimming, boating, etc. The fox river runs through the park as well," notes one visitor to Mud Lake East. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends when the campgrounds fill quickly. Most campgrounds in this region enforce a no-alcohol policy, with rangers actively monitoring compliance.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews across the Chain O' Lakes system, with lakeside sites being particularly popular. Campers report that Fox Den offers more spacious sites with better separation between neighbors compared to other campgrounds in the park. Campers appreciate the balance of natural setting with proximity to conveniences, as the area feels remote while still being close to stores and amenities. As one reviewer of Fox Den noted, "It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything." Family-friendly amenities like swimming beaches, boat rentals, and fishing opportunities are frequently mentioned as highlights. The most common complaints relate to mosquitoes during certain seasons and occasional crowding at premium waterfront sites.
"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!"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore"
"*** 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"
"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!"
"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. "
"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."
"You could barely see the neighbors because of how overgrown the edges of the site were. We felt like we were in our own little bubble."
"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."
from $43 - $73 / 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"
"Had some cool amenities like the off road park and multiple fishing spots. Has a winery and cool dive bars all within 10 min. Only downside is all the noise from the road and the drag strip near by."
from $21 - $39 / night
Check Availability"This State Park isn't too far off the beaten path which is nice. Fairly close to gas stations, convenience stores, etc. The park is clean, and has the bathrooms and utilities that would be needed."
"There are numerous sites that are on a small lake with great sunset views. Sites are decent size but not much privacy in between sites. Lots of wooded trails within the campground."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $21 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Conveniently located next to Lake Geneva with a tiny roadside beach area. I recommend camping sites on the west side of the camping loop to cut down on sun. Not enough electric sites for campers."
"We stayed at site 98- just barely big enough to fit our travel trailer in and right next to the showers and bathrooms. Not a great location, but fine."
from $19 - $37 / night
Check Availability
TravelerWe got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
ScoutBlackwell has clean bathrooms, offers hiking trails, boating (kayak rentals) or bring your own, fishing, archery, cycling. The gate locks at 7pm but you just call the night guard and he will let you in. They’re only open on Friday, Saturday and holidays. Would definitely stay again. Be aware Winfield Road has a lot of traffic so sites further away from that road are best. Heard coyotes about 3 am both mornings. Rangers were exceptional.
ScoutThe park is beautiful. The water is beautiful. They say it's a gated community, but it's open to the public 9 to 5 daily. At twenty five dollars per person. And then on friday and saturday night, the locals that park here for the summer start their party central including karaoke at the camper next door, and several others. I've never had a camcround with that loud of parties. And it's a weekend event. I like hearing and seeing people having fun but when the manager extends the curfew for the parties she's at (they kind of party hop), it starts to affect the enjoyment of the park. If we had to stay, we'd stay in the S## sites in the back, where you don't hear so much of the partying. And then during the day, the rules began. Kind of like the soup nazi.
TravelerThere’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.
LegendThere’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees. One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.
GuideWe are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
GuideLast minute online reservation...They only have. 4 or 5 RV sites...full hook ups...about $60+-...right near gas pumps but any noise did not bother us weary travelers...Only downside was showers were not included....For the price certainly an included shower should be part of the deal...easy check in and check out.,..We used the Love's site due to its location to visit family and the fact that electric was available...We have medical equipment that requires a recharge at night plus it's just nice to have the AC if needed.
TravelerSimple campsite. We should have brought some leveling blocks, But otherwise my wife and I enjoyed the site for our rental RV. Short 10 minute walk to Lake Michigan. The camp store is fairly robust with friendly people working there. I appreciate that there are 2 lanes for dump/fill stations. My wife and I would absolutely stay here again.
LegendWe had a truly enjoyable stay and would’ve stayed an extra day if our travel schedule would’ve allowed. David was a wonderful host. Greeted us with a smile and escorted us to our site. We had our choice of 2 spots, both lovely. Picnic table and plenty of FREE firewood to keep us cozy. Wild turkeys roamed the grounds as well as the friendly ducks. All in all, a very peaceful evening and a special place.
Camping spots near Ingleside, Illinois concentrate within a 15-mile radius of the town, with elevations ranging from 700-850 feet above sea level. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes affecting campground availability, with summer highs averaging 83°F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Sites within Richard Bong State Recreation Area and Big Foot Beach State Park often require advance booking during peak July weekends.
Kayaking at Turner Lake: Accessible water routes provide options for paddlers of all skill levels at Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park. "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," notes one visitor.
Horseback riding: Trail rides available at multiple locations with varying rates for hourly rides. "There is so much to do at this campground. Horseback riding, archery, hiking, boating, fishing. There is also a park for the kids in several areas," explains a camper at Turner Lake South.
Off-road recreation: Dedicated ATV areas at Sunrise Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area allow for motorized recreation on designated tracks. "We went for the ATV track. We took our bikes down by the pond and park. They have flush toilets and showers," reports a weekend visitor.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple habitats support diverse animal sightings. "If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go," reports a visitor to Sunset Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area, adding "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."
Clear water quality: Several lakes provide excellent visibility for swimming and fishing. "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. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by," explains a visitor to Prairie View.
Site privacy: Camping loops vary significantly in site separation and natural screening. "We stayed in the Turner lake south loop, which has nice and private sites. This is in contrast to Honeysuckle hollow which is open and row after row of RV sites. Fox den and Prairie view loops are nice as well with mostly primitive sites," a regular visitor reports.
Alcohol restrictions: Policies vary by park system - Illinois state parks prohibit alcohol while Wisconsin parks typically allow it. "No alcohol, they will issue a ticket," warns a visitor to Mud Lake East — Chain O' Lakes State Park, while another camper notes "Illinois State Parks are now enforcing a no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site."
Gate closure times: Most parks lock entrance gates after hours, preventing late returns. "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," advises a camper at Prairie View.
Insect populations: Wetland environments support large mosquito populations, especially after rain. "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it," explains a visitor to Sunset Campground, adding "Thankfully we had a pop-up screened gazebo that made sitting outside our tent much more enjoyable."
Bring mosquito protection: Screen shelters for toddlers and infants recommended at Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Luckily our screen house pop up on a tarp that was sprayed ahead for tick repellent plus a blanket on top of that did the trick," advises a parent.
Secure food from wildlife: Evening raccoon activity requires proper food storage. "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," reports a family camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Check site dimensions: Many campsites have specific constraints that affect equipment setup. "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," notes a family with young children.
Site selection for hookups: Electric hookup configurations vary significantly between campgrounds. "These sites share an electric box. Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance," advises an RVer at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Campground comparison: For Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park, "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees."
Weekend considerations: Weekday stays typically offer much quieter conditions and better site availability. "We stayed here for a week over the summer. The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," reports an RV camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Ingleside, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ingleside, IL is Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 68 reviews.
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