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Best Campgrounds near Inverness, IL

576 Reviews

Campgrounds near Inverness, Illinois center primarily around the forest preserves and state parks, offering camping opportunities within suburban Cook County and nearby areas. Camp Reinberg in the Deer Grove Forest Preserve provides tent sites, RV spots with hookups, and cabin rentals just minutes from Inverness. Other nearby options include Paul Wolff Campground at Burnidge Forest Preserve and Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort, with accommodations ranging from primitive tent sites to full-service RV pads and glamping options. These mixed-use campgrounds typically feature both wooded and open prairie settings characteristic of northern Illinois.

Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through October, with limited winter availability at select locations. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer months when Chicago-area residents seek outdoor escapes. Camp Reinberg and several other forest preserve campgrounds enforce stay limits of 14 days within a 21-day period. Facilities generally include clean restrooms, showers, and basic amenities, though tent campers should note that primitive sites may only have access to vault toilets. Several campgrounds provide both electric and water hookups for RVs, with sanitary dump stations available. As one camper noted, "This is a perfect spot for a weekend away from Chicago, with helpful staff and a well-maintained, nice trail system."

Proximity to Chicago and suburban conveniences represents both an advantage and potential drawback for campers seeking natural experiences. The campgrounds provide good access to hiking and biking trails, with many offering paved paths suitable for family outings. Train noise affects some locations, particularly Paul Wolff Campground where reviews mention hearing "trains, traffic and planes taking off at least once per hour." Campers seeking more secluded experiences might prefer the wooded tent sites rather than RV areas. Despite suburban proximity, wildlife viewing opportunities exist, particularly at Chain O' Lakes State Park where waterfront camping is available. Many campgrounds receive high marks for cleanliness and maintenance, with Camp Reinberg earning consistent praise for its "clean and well-loved semi-urban camping experience."

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Best Camping Sites Near Inverness, Illinois (65)

    1. Camp Reinberg

    12 Reviews
    Palatine, IL
    3 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!"

    2. Paul Wolff Campground

    20 Reviews
    Elgin, IL
    13 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."

    3. Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    67 Reviews
    Zion, IL
    27 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!"

    4. Blackwell Family Campground

    22 Reviews
    Warrenville, IL
    19 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."

    5. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    8 Reviews
    Round Lake, IL
    15 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."

    6. Chicago Northwest KOA

    16 Reviews
    Union, IL
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 923-4206

    "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!"

    "We stayed here for a weekend and there were plenty of activities for the kids...the staff was friendly and the bathrooms were clean...our camp site was near the bathrooms, pool, and store so we were nice"

    7. Camp Bullfrog Lake

    30 Reviews
    Willow Springs, IL
    30 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."

    8. Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    14 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    24 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!"

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

    12 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    23 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. "

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

    13 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    24 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!"

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Recent Camping Photos near Inverness, IL

223 Photos of 65 Inverness Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Inverness, IL

576 Reviews of 65 Inverness Campgrounds

  • Abhinay
    Oct. 7, 2025

    The Vaudeville

    Peaceful stay

    It’s was great nd peaceful place for staying on weekends for relaxation.

  • Operation_Fun ..
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    Could be better

    This seemed like it could be a really great campground, but it's not taken care of very well and felt a bit unsafe. 

    It's a huge park, yet the sites aren't very private. The mosquitoes and ticks are the worst I've experienced thus far, and the abandoned buildings by the beach feel like crack dens.

    We brought chairs and relaxed by the beach for a while, which was very peaceful and really made the trip.

    It's worth checking out if you're interested. I now understand why there are always sites available here when it seems every other campground is fully booked.

  • 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.

Guide to Inverness

Camping near Inverness, Illinois, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A visitor at Kettle Moraine State Forest - Ottawa Lake said, "Bathrooms and showers were clean."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Many families enjoy the activities available. A reviewer at Blackwell Family Campground mentioned, "The ranger offers evening entertainment for the kiddos."
  • Natural Beauty: Campers love the picturesque settings. One visitor at Pinewoods Campground remarked, "The sites in Loop 1 are varied as far as tree coverage, seclusion, and terrain."

What you should know:

  • No Alcohol Policies: Some campgrounds, like Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, have strict no alcohol rules. A camper noted, "This SP strictly enforces its ‘no alcohol’ policy, which is a massive bummer."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have extensive amenities. A visitor at Camp Bullfrog Lake mentioned, "The bathrooms being horrible. Hot water for showers did not work and floors were nasty."
  • Crowded on Weekends: Many campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A camper at Big Foot Beach State Park said, "Always full on weekends. Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois."

Tips for camping with families:

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Electrical Hookups: Make sure your chosen campground has the right hookups. A reviewer at Camp Bullfrog Lake noted, "The site overall is amazing. Just wouldn't ever camp here again due to the high price and the bathrooms being terrible."
  • Look for Spacious Sites: Choose campgrounds with larger sites for comfort. A camper at Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area said, "The campground itself was very nice with good size sites and lots of room."
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: If you’re camping on weekends, expect a lively atmosphere. A visitor at Big Foot Beach State Park mentioned, "Lots of noise. Lots of kids. Lots of dogs."

Camping near Inverness, Illinois, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to check the specific campgrounds for their rules and amenities to ensure a great experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Inverness, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Inverness, IL is Camp Reinberg with a 4.8-star rating from 12 reviews.

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