Dog-Friendly Camping near Kingston, IL

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Kingston, IL

648 Reviews of 80 Kingston Campgrounds

• 

  Joel K.

  Guide

  Oct. 28, 2026

  Hammel Woods

  One night campout in October

  I've lived within 2 miles of this campground for 7 years, and I've driven past it literally hundreds of times, but it wasn't until a friend of mine found himself unemployed and said "let's go camping" that we actually camped here.  They have 6 primitive sites, and you have to walk in from the parking lot.  It is NOT drive in.  The sites are all decent, have fire rings, and big solid picnic tables, and each site has it's own garbage can.  The camping sites are immediately adjacent to the dog park off Black Road.  I will say, between Black Rd, I 55, and Rt. 59, the road noise is noticeable.  The office staff and park ranger who closed the gate were all friendly and helpful.

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• G

  Gladys L.

  Traveler

  Oct. 15, 2026

  Plum Grove Campground - Rock Cut State Park

  Rock Cut State Park in Rockford , Illinois

  We 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.

• B

  Beth O.

  Scout

  Oct. 9, 2026

  Blackwell Family Campground

  Great Stay

  Blackwell 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.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Oct. 2, 2026

  Castle Rock State Park Campground

  Primitive Perfection @ This Paddle-In Paradise

  For those willing to trade the hum of RV generators for the splash of paddles against the Rock River, Castle Rock State Park offers one of the most unique and rewarding camping experiences in northern Illinois. Located just a few miles south of Oregon - which if you aren't familiar with, is ABSOLUTELY worth exploring, particular in and around Lorado Taft - along scenic Route 2, this park is a natural mosaic of limestone bluffs, sandstone formations, and dense Midwestern forest punctuated by open prairie. Access to the campground, however, comes only by water ... oh yes, this is a TRUE paddle-in site. You’ll need a canoe or kayak to reach the nine primitive campsites that line this quiet stretch of river, each one tucked beneath a canopy of trees that have seen centuries of change and history.

  HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Absolute serenity - the only sounds you’ll hear are the river, the birds, and your own campfire; (2) The boat-in exclusivity means far fewer visitors, granting this spot an unmatched sense of privacy; (3) Rich Native American history surrounds you as this was Sauk and Fox territory, and nearby you can visit the 48-foot Lorado Taft statue honoring Chief Black Hawk (which the adjoining property is actually another SP here in IL that is also very worthy of your camping pleasure); (4) The South Trails(Pond, Oak Ridge, and Fox) offer easy-to-moderate hikes once you paddle ashore and cross Route 2, while the North Trails provide tougher climbs, but the payoff is worth it with breathtaking overlooks; (5) For anglers, the Rock River teems with bass, walleye, sauger and northern pike; and (6) The view from the Castle Rock Scenic Overlook, just upriver from the launch, is one of the most picturesque in all of Illinois.

  LOWLIGHTS: (1) Access is strictly by water - here there's absolutely no vehicles, no hiking path or basically ANY amenity - so plan for wet feet and muddy landings accordingly; (2) Facilities are minimal with just one basic bathroom with a fairly nasty vault toilet (glorified hole in the ground) and no showers; (3) Seasonal flooding can temporarily submerge lower sites near the waterline, so plot out planting your tent carefully; (4) Expect a workout carrying gear up from your kayak or canoe; and (5) Dock availability is inconsistent, particularly in spring and fall shoulder seasons, when the temporary dock may altogether not be present.

  Happy Camping!

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• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Oct. 1, 2026

  Rolling Oaks Campground

  Old-School Camping with a Whole Lot of Personality

  Rolling Oaks is one of those wonderfully old-school Midwestern campgrounds that feels less like an RV resort and more like a little summer community that has been evolving for generations out here in the rich corn patches of central IL. Family-run since 1969, the sprawling, shady property sits along the Fox River with its very own lake and a decidedly RV-centric personality, where curb appeal is just as important (if not more) than the actual mobile confines people are living in. A substantial portion of the campground is occupied by long-term and seasonal residents, complete with patios, sheds and occasionally elaborate outdoor entertaining spaces, which gives Rolling Oaks an unusual neighborhood feel rather than the transient atmosphere of most CGs. 

  While my earlier review goes into considerably more detail, I thought I’d revisit this campground with a quick topline of HIGHS and LOWS along with a fresh batch of photos.

  HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Water is the star here, with a swimming lake, pool and direct access to the Fox River making this particularly appealing if you bring kayaks, canoes or tubes; (2) Plenty of shade and a mixture of full-hookup, partial-hookup and pull-through RV sites plus tent camping accommodate just about every style of camper; (3) Playgrounds, volleyball, horseshoes and a game room give kids plenty to do without leaving the property; (4) Summer weekends have an almost throwback campground-community atmosphere with dancing, cart rides, farmers’ markets, spaghetti dinners, corn boils and pig roasts; and (5) Being only a few miles from the village of Sandwich makes supplies easy while putting you in prime position for the enormously popular Sandwich Fair (if you manage to time your stay here to coincide with this annual attraction). 

  LOWLIGHTS: (1) The large population of seasonal and long-term campers means portions of Rolling Oaks can feel more like a permanent RV neighborhood than a campground; (2) All that community activity means summer weekends aren't exactly designed for campers seeking solitude and P&Q; and (3) The CGs sprawling layout means the experience can vary considerably depending upon where you land with front sections feel busier and more transient, while areas farther back become increasingly more residential. 

  Insider’s Tip: For the best balance of scenery, shade and quiet, head toward the far side of the lake, away from the busiest weekend activity. And if you're thinking of bringing a kayak or canoe, definitely bring it as direct Fox River access is one of Rolling Oaks' biggest advantages. 

  Happy Camping!

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• 

  Sherry K.

  Scout

  Sep. 29, 2026

  Pearl Lake

  Late night party central

  The 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.

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• 

  kelsea D.

  Traveler

  Sep. 25, 2026

  Prairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park

  A lot to do.

  There’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.

• 

  Maria Mercedes M.

  Legend

  Sep. 24, 2026

  Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

  Lively Little Campground Beside Turner Lake

  There’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.

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  nancy H.

  Guide

  Sep. 22, 2026

  Staghorn Campground - Rock Cut State Park

  Perfect for an overnight stop when travelling through I-90 & Rockford Ill

  We 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.