Turner Lake South in Chain O' Lakes State Park offers water-centric glamping close to Kingston, Illinois, with 50 miles of navigable waterways connecting seven lakes. The park provides both lakeside and wooded camping options with varying levels of privacy and site conditions. Most sites include a steel fire trough with adjustable grills and access to both pit toilets and full bathrooms, though water access points can be limited during busy summer weekends.
What to do
Water activities on multiple lakes: At Chain O' Lakes State Park, visitors can explore multiple connected waterways by kayak or canoe. One reviewer noted, "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."
Trail exploration for all levels: White Pines Forest State Park offers accessible hiking trails for various skill levels. A visitor mentioned, "If you're a hiker, there are hills here for some decent elevation change (not bad for the Midwest). There are many trails which you can combine to get a good amount of miles in."
Fishing opportunities: Fox Den Campground provides access to multiple fishing spots. "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill," wrote one reviewer, adding that "rangers were helpful and delivered firewood to our site daily."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Campers appreciate the larger sites at Thomas Woods Campground where many tent areas are set back from the main roads. One reviewer shared: "This was a well laid out campground, with some sites right on the roads and some buried back in the woods away from everyone (we chose the latter and felt like we had the place to ourselves)."
Affordable glamping near Kingston: Budget-conscious campers favor Turner Lake South for its value. A reviewer commented, "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."
Weekend activities: Many campgrounds offer scheduled weekend events. A camper at Chicago Northwest KOA reported, "Did a quick stay with the kids for a Friday and Saturday night. A little bit smaller of a campground with regards to site space, but that's about the only thing 'bad' to say, and it's not really a bad thing at all. Staff was very friendly and the facilities were kept very clean."
What you should know
Site selection is crucial: At White Pines Forest State Park, campsites vary significantly in quality and levelness. One camper warned, "Many of the campsites are sloped and some are sloped A LOT. This isn't obvious from the booking page."
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for wildlife interactions at most campgrounds in the area. A visitor at Thomas Woods shared, "Turkeys wandering around, lots of different birds, I heard coyotes hooting and hollering in the distance, and an opossum wandered into my site while I was sitting by the fire."
Seasonal challenges: Insect activity varies throughout the year. A camper at Chain O' Lakes cautioned, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers numerous water activities for children. One visitor shared, "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. 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."
Quieter weekday visits: For families seeking a less crowded experience, mid-week camping is recommended. A reviewer at Fox Den noted, "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week."
Consider containment options: At campgrounds with high insect activity, plan accordingly for small children. A parent advised, "Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair."
Tips for RVers
Site spacing awareness: Many RV sites at Hi-Tide Beach & Campgrounds are closely positioned. One RVer cautioned, "Campsites super close, and very hard to pull into. Kids running thru your campsite all day and night."
Electric hookup logistics: At Chain O' Lakes, Fox Den Campground has better electric access than other loops. A seasoned camper explained, "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."
Dump station timing: Plan extra time during peak periods at popular campgrounds. One RVer at Chain O' Lakes noted, "The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water. It was also very busy and we had to wait when filling up and again when dumping."
