Camping near Port Barrington, Illinois offers primitive and developed sites within easy reach of the Fox River watershed. Northern Illinois experiences humidity levels averaging 70-80% during summer camping season, with temperatures regularly reaching the mid-80s. Most campsites in this region require advance planning as the proximity to Chicago creates high demand for outdoor recreation spaces.
What to do
Trail hiking: Access 10+ miles of varied terrain at Camp Reinberg where both paved and natural surface paths accommodate different abilities. As one camper notes, "Deer Grove Forest Preserve is the best... The trails through the grounds are varied and long--you can find something to suit just about any preference for suburban midwest hiking. There are plenty of paved trails as well as dirt, lots of fun little off-shoots into the woods."
Kayaking: Explore interconnected waterways on the Fox River system accessible from Turner Lake South. "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 one paddler.
Horseback riding: Book guided rides through established trails at several locations. A visitor mentioned, "Horse stables and guided rides for horse lovers" are available at Mud Lake East. The equestrian-friendly trails throughout the state park system accommodate both experienced riders and beginners.
What campers like
Privacy levels: Secluded tent sites at Fox Den Campground provide natural separation between camping areas. "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)."
Budget-friendly options: Basic sites under $15 for tent campers willing to forgo electric hookups. A camper at Prairie View shares, "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner."
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathhouses across most established campgrounds despite heavy weekend use. "The shower houses are dated, yet I have seen them clean and also not clean on busy camper weekends," reports one regular visitor. Another camper added, "The bathrooms/showers are always clean and have hot water. The only downfall that I can see is that they are not consistent with cleaning the outhouses."
What you should know
Late entry restrictions: Park gates close at designated times with physical barriers preventing vehicle access. "A note that the park gates close early as well - we returned one evening at 10:30pm and couldn't get back in with a vehicle. Had to go back in on foot. Good to plan ahead!" warns one camper at Prairie View.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for nocturnal visitors by properly storing food items. "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."
Insect activity: Ticks present significant concern especially for families with small children. "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, but they literally fall out of the trees into people!"
Tips for camping with families
Beach activities: Access sandy swimming areas at Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort where water recreation remains the focus. "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. The camp store sells treats and pizza, very convenient and makes for a more relaxing camping experience when traveling with young kids!"
Playground access: Multiple play structures throughout the Chain O'Lakes area accommodate different age groups. One parent noted, "Lots of fun activities for kids. Nice weekend getaway." Another mentioned there are "a park for the kids in several areas."
Site selection: Choose inner loop locations for families needing quick bathroom access. "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 as the ones closest to the main loop aren't very deep. Closer to the center of this row is best."
Tips from RVers
Water access planning: Limited hookups at Chicago Northwest KOA and similar campgrounds may require additional preparation. "This KOA has very limited full hook up sites... We paid for the deluxe patio site, which had no sewer. Site was not level but it had a lot of shade which was nice."
Electrical hookup distances: Check connection requirements before booking at certain campgrounds. "Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad. A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance."
Leveling challenges: Bring adequate blocks particularly for sites near water features. "Our campsite was encased in foliage which gave us some privacy. The sites are near enough together - we heard many children playing from all around us - but still gave us a sense of being out in the woods."
