Camping spots near Kirkland, Illinois feature varying levels of accessibility during the spring thaw, when some gravel access roads become difficult to navigate. The Kishwaukee River watershed provides fishing opportunities at multiple campgrounds within a 30-minute radius of Kirkland, with bass and catfish being common catches. Northern Illinois' flat terrain means most camping areas have minimal elevation change, making them suitable for novice hikers.
What to do
Fishing at local lakes: Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area offers fishing for trophy catches. "The lake has produced a lot of trophy fish, if that's your thing. Otherwise it's quiet and peaceful. We like to go just to chill and read out in the woods," notes Scott C.
River wading: At Blackhawk Valley Campground, visitors can access the Kishwaukee River directly. "A campground close into the city but in the middle of corn and soy bean fields right done in the river. We had site 45, a back in site with no sewer but with water and electric," shares Jennifer H.
Walk-in primitive camping: For more solitude, MacQueen Forest Preserve provides rustic sites requiring short hikes. "You do have to walk into all of them, but they do have one wagon and a dolly you can use to tote things in. It's an easy walk, on a crushed gravel road and mowed trail," explains Amy G.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: MacQueen Forest Preserve offers unusually spacious site separation. "There are eight primitive campsites here, and they're spread out at least 50 yards apart. That's right, at least 50 yards. You can't see the campsite next to you," writes Amy G.
Self-service convenience: Several local campgrounds utilize simple check-in systems. "Self service check-in. You just use the pay box in the parking lot," mentions Amy G. about MacQueen Forest Preserve, where sites cost just $4-5 per night.
Wooded retreat sites: Thomas Woods Campground provides a forested camping experience. "I stayed in one of the tent camping sites with a little walk up (parking for a car available about 50 feet away). Nobody else was camping within sight of me, which was nice," shares Emily H.
What you should know
Seasonal facility limitations: Facilities vary widely by season. "We live less than five minutes from Rock Cut and wanted to test out our pop up camper. It's off season so the showers were not open yet but there were open toilets," notes Felicia at Rock Cut State Park.
Infrastructure challenges: Some campgrounds struggle with aging electrical systems. "The 30 amp plug there would work for about 2 mins and then would keep tripping again. So we ended up having to go back to camping world to get an adapter to use the 50 amp," warns Rebecca C.
Train noise proximity: Sycamore RV Resort and other area campgrounds have ambient noise considerations. "Note: if you cannot sleep to the sound of trains at night, this is not the campground for you. I don't mind them at all, and rather enjoy the sound, but there were probably three of them that went by in the middle of the night rather close to the campground," advises Amy G.
Tips for camping with families
Affordable alternatives: Budget-conscious families should consider forest preserves rather than RV parks. "The very best part? You're in the middle of the country, with gorgeous sunsets, and the primitive camping is only $4," shares Amy G. about MacQueen Forest Preserve.
Non-alcohol policies: Several government-run campgrounds prohibit alcohol. MacQueen Forest Preserve, Thomas Woods, and Rock Cut State Park all enforce "absolutely NO ALCOHOL" policies with potential fines.
Kid-friendly water features: Chicago Northwest KOA provides dedicated children's activities. "Plenty for the little kids to do, and the text message communication was great with regards to weather updates or any goings on around the campground," notes Dan B.
Tips from RVers
Parking assistance: Some campgrounds provide exceptional setup help. "When we arrive, the host will bring you to your site and just listen to his directions and he will get you into your site perfectly. I asked if I could bring him on my future trips. I've never parked so easily," shares Marc W. about Lehman's Lakeside RV Resort.
Site location strategy: At campgrounds with various loops, research specific areas before booking. "Beware of the Plum Grove loops - most sites there looked small and close together, and many were not very level. Shower buildings were clean enough, but very old with bad shower heads," advises Deb M. about Rock Cut State Park.
Water quality issues: Several campgrounds in the region have mineral-heavy water. "The camp water is high in Iron," notes Ron R., making bottled water advisable for drinking and cooking at most locations.
