A
Abbe 
Scout
ScoutGreat 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.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Kankakee, IL
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Potowatomi Campground at Kankakee River State Park features spacious, private campsites with lush vegetation providing natural separation between sites. All camping loops welcome pets on leashes throughout the park's extensive trail system. The campground offers electric hookups at most sites, picnic tables, fire rings with built-in grills, and clean shower facilities. Campers with dogs appreciate the park's well-maintained grounds and paved bike path that runs along the Kankakee River, ideal for walking pets. Kankakee South KOA, approximately 10 miles south, accommodates pets in tent sites, RV spots, and cabin rentals, providing a designated dog exercise area where pets can play off-leash. The sites are generally level with a mix of shade and sun exposure. Campground hosts at Potowatomi are noted for being friendly and helpful with local information.
Trails throughout Kankakee River State Park offer multiple pet exercise options, including the Rock Creek Nature Trail across from the ranger office entrance. The crushed gravel bike path extending through wooded areas connects to picnic areas and playground equipment, giving pet owners various route options. During summer months, the Kankakee River provides water access, though swimming is prohibited for safety reasons. Pet owners should be aware of occasional wildlife encounters and keep dogs leashed to prevent unwanted interactions. Advance reservations are recommended during peak summer and fall weekends, as the campgrounds often fill completely. Garbage cans are located at the entrance of each camping loop, and shower houses are centrally positioned for convenient access. The Osage loop in Potowatomi provides immediate access to the bike path, making it particularly convenient for campers with pets needing regular walks.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Kankakee (47)
1. Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park
"After lots of research, I picked Kankakee river state park. This is a reasonablly priced campground with all facilities in great condition."
"They're are some rock cliffs that are suspended over the Kankakee river and also over a creek that feeds it. These are great for climbing and scaling."
2. Kankakee South KOA
"Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park! You overall great weekend"
"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."
3. Chippewa Campground — Kankakee River State Park
"shade canopy and an open feel Well maintained open-grass layout
- Spacious campsites, similar to other IL State Parks we've stayed at
- Quiet (when we visited)
- Boat ramp is accessible via trail"
"No water hookup .But has a swing set for the kids to play a few bike/hike trails. Quiet no street noise . They have a dump station and water too fill your camper."
from $8 - $20 / night
Check Availability4. Route 66 Joliet
from $100 - $1000 / night
5. Lake Alexander RV Park
"Lake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago."
"She even put me next to a fellow biker. Nice quiet place and you can walk down to the Kankakee river."
from $33 - $43 / night
Check Availability6. Enchanted Shores RV Park & Campground
"The park is dog friendly. The campground is clean and quiet. There is no bath house, only port-a-potty's throughout the campground."
"Yes, it’s an hour from the city, but I’d take the drive over the bill at a nearby hotel. There’s an outhouse and plenty of places to plug in the RV, and cars/tents are welcome too."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability7. Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area
"No real trails but if you don't mind roughing it plenty to explore, hunting, fishing, mushrooms, electric motor only boats on the lake. We bring our kayaks."
"There’s a local bar that was still hopping nearby. Generators are allowed, so there was a hum of one running all night but it was no bother at all. Otherwise, entirely peaceful and quiet."
8. Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area Campground
"Clean campground, clean bathrooms (no showers) and a nice lake. Sites do not have any utilities, but there is water available and a dump station."
from $10 - $12 / night
Check Availability9. Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground — Kankakee River State Park
10. Camp Bullfrog Lake
"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."
from $20 - $138 / night
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Drive Time
- 57 min from Chicago, IL
- 59 min from Champaign, IL
- 1 hr 20 min from Michigan City, IN
- 1 hr 29 min from Lafayette, IN
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Kankakee, IL
26 Photos of 47 Kankakee Campgrounds
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Kankakee South KOA
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Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park
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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Kankakee, IL
266 Reviews of 47 Kankakee Campgrounds
- HHarrison Z.
TravelerKankakee South KOA
Just another weekend :)
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
- Debbie B.Traveler
Kankakee South KOA
Nice enough for local camping
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.
Iryna R.ScoutLeisure Lake Resort
Ugh..
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.
Steven C.ScoutLove's RV Stop-Demotte IN 394
Clean and convienent
Great stop for the night, It's new, gated and has basic amenities like a General store, Dog park and basketball court and tennis ball court for some activities if you have kids. Plenty of space and Convenient. We reserved and checked in online. The only complaint I had is the site we were at showed a ground fault on the 50amp Circuit so I had to use the 30 amp circuit but it's Nov so no need to run dual ACs minor issue but still make sure your using your EPM devices.
Stuart K.
LegendLove's RV Hookup-Morris IL 859
Easy & Convenient Roadside Pit Stop
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!
- TTK n E.Traveler
Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort
Great First Experience
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.
Iris A.
RangerLake Alexander RV Park
Great fishing and boating on the lake
Lake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago. The camp is 120 acres of natural beauty on the banks of the Kankakee River. The wooded habitat abounds with fish, wildlife, and native plants, and they offer many amenities for recreation and relaxation.
They’re open from April 15 to October 15
RV Overnight (includes electric and water) • $38 (30-amp electric service) • $42 (50-amp electric service)
Tent Overnight • $32 (no electric) • $35 (incl. electric)
Raven Rock S.ScoutMac Finn's Landing
What a perfect place for a fishing retreat! 🎣🛶📍
One of the best no wake zones and fishing banks on the Kankakee River imo!
Lots of access to great fishing holes up the Kankakee and Iroqouis Rivers.
Kayak launch friendly!
Guide to Kankakee
Kankakee River State Park spans 4,000 acres along both sides of the Kankakee River, with limestone outcroppings and diverse woodland habitats. The park's campgrounds sit at approximately 600 feet elevation with sandy soil that drains quickly after rainfall. Winter temperatures typically range from 10-30°F with summer highs reaching 85-90°F during peak camping season.
What to do
River paddling opportunities: The Kankakee River provides excellent kayaking routes with varying difficulty levels. At Lake Alexander RV Park, visitors appreciate the river access. "The camp is 120 acres of natural beauty on the banks of the Kankakee River. The wooded habitat abounds with fish, wildlife, and native plants," notes Iris A.
Fishing along multiple access points: Fish for bass, catfish, and other species throughout the area waterways. "There are monster bass in this lake, I have got a 19-inch largemouth in 2017," shares Xiaojian J. about Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area.
Rock climbing and exploration: The park features unique geological formations worth exploring. "There are some rock cliffs that are suspended over the Kankakee river and also over a creek that feeds it. These are great for climbing and scaling. Additionally, there are Indian caves through the creek where you can still find arrowheads," explains Andrea F.
What campers like
Spacious sites with natural layout: Many campgrounds in the area provide well-designed camping spaces. At Chippewa Campground, Norman V. describes, "Large trees provided a high shade canopy and an open feel" and "Well maintained open-grass layout."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the upkeep of bathrooms and shower facilities. "The shower house was good... the team came out to clean up promptly. There are vault toilets, water, and trash cans in each loop," reports Linda N.
Nature center activities: Educational opportunities for wildlife encounters are available. "We did have a really awesome time at the main office/nature center, where my kiddos got to feed and hold a variety of reptiles!" shares Linda N. about her experience at Kankakee River State Park.
What you should know
Site selection considerations: Sites vary significantly in size, shade coverage, and suitability for different camping styles. Shannon H. advises, "Two were very small (14&15), and little grass for tent setup, fine for RV or trailer campers... 16&17 were amazing for tents!! Open, tall trees for our tight rope and hammocks and shade."
Limited swimming options: While water access exists, swimming restrictions apply in many areas. "The river was nice to visit and we were able to take the kids to some knee deep water to play (swimming is NOT allowed in the river)," notes Linda N.
Weather preparedness: Summer heat can impact outdoor activities, especially at playgrounds. "Playgrounds are unfortunately exposed so it was not suitable for the 100 degree days we had," mentions Linda N.
Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have issues with water quality or taste. "The stinkest water we've ever smelled, horrible!!!" reports Jill T. about Enchanted Shores RV Park & Campground, while Xiaojian J. mentions "the water there taste funny" at Willow Slough.
Tips for camping with families
Riverside trail options: Several paved pathways provide kid-friendly biking and walking routes. "Many miles (7ish?) of riverside paved trail for jogging, walking, or biking adjacent to campsite," reports Norman V. about Chippewa Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children can enjoy watching local animals in their natural habitats. "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," shares Hatie P. about Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Seasonal activities: Fall offers particularly scenic camping experiences. Norman V. recommends Chippewa Campground: "Great state park to serve as a base for a point-to-point paddle. Great fall colors."
Tips from RVers
Hook-up availability: Full-service sites with different amperage options exist throughout the area for pet friendly camping near Kankakee, Illinois. At Kankakee South KOA, Joe B. notes they have "nice park, good sites" with full hookup capability.
Advance booking recommendations: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak seasons. Jennifer D. advises about Kankakee South KOA, "The campground was nice and clean. Nothing super fancy but all the necessities were great and price was very reasonable!"
Level site considerations: Some campgrounds require careful site selection for larger rigs. Scott B. cautions about Willow Slough, "Nice place, some sites are not level so you have to pay attention. It's $12 a nite and it's all primitive so you can have a generator."
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Kankakee, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Kankakee, IL is Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 17 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
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What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Kankakee, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 47 dog-friendly camping locations near Kankakee, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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