Located in northern Illinois about 35 miles from Chicago, Lake Bluff experiences warm summers with average highs of 83°F and cold winters dropping below 20°F. The region features forested preserves along Lake Michigan's western shore, where cabin campers can find accommodations ranging from rustic woodland sites to modern heated units. Most camping areas remain open from April through October.
What to do
Trail exploration: Camp Reinberg offers extensive hiking options through Deer Grove Forest Preserve. "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, creeks run throughout, and there's even a little up-and-down thanks to ice age glaciers," notes Kristy G.
Paddling opportunities: At Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park, visitors can enjoy various water activities. "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 Cora M.
Rock climbing: Camp Sullivan features indoor climbing options. "There is an activities barn with a rock climbing wall," explains Shane S., though another camper notes that while shower facilities were disappointing, "they have a nice Rockwall."
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Camping near Lake Bluff provides excellent wildlife observation opportunities. At Sunset Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area, one visitor reports, "If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go... I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two."
Private campsites: Many campgrounds offer secluded sites. "Each campsite is cut back into the trees so that most are at least semi-private. This was a nice feature given that many other campgrounds you are stacked in like cord wood," according to Tim H. at Sunset Campground.
Off-season camping: Camp Bullfrog Lake offers comfortable camping into fall. "We've camped here a few times and it is always a great experience. Each site comes with a free bundle of oak firewood which is nice to use on the fire pits," notes Josh M., who adds that living nearby allows for "midweek camping trips to break up the work week."
What you should know
Site selection matters: At Chain O' Lakes State Park, some camping areas offer more privacy than others. A camper notes, "The best sites for those hoping for privacy are in Turner Lake South and Mud Lake East. The campsites are a little bigger in Turner Lake South, I feel, but both have campsites circled by woods with a level place to pitch a tent."
After-hours access: Some campgrounds restrict overnight entry. At Camp Sullivan, one camper warns, "They lock the gates (both of them!) to the campground with a PADLOCK at night until 7 in the morning! I had to search for someone to let me out for my meeting. What if there was an emergency?"
Weather considerations: Near Lake Bluff, early and late season camping can bring temperature challenges. At Camp Bullfrog Lake, a camper mentioned staying in "heated cabins with their own bathrooms" during a cold April visit, while also noting that "the tent sites are right next to the water which is beautiful but can get very windy."
Tips for camping with families
Seasonal activities: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers water activities for kids. "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. The camp store sells treats and pizza, very convenient and makes for a more relaxing camping experience when traveling with young kids!" shares Chloe N.
Bug preparation: Insect protection is essential for family camping. At Chain O' Lakes, one camper warns about bringing "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks... 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."
Bathroom accessibility: When camping with children near Lake Bluff, bathroom access becomes important. At Camp Reinberg, Susan L. notes the facilities are "seriously the cleanest I've ever seen, even the ceilings were cleaned!" The campground also provides easy trail access, with "wildflowers everywhere!"
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: For RVers seeking camping cabins near Lake Bluff, Illinois, site size varies significantly. At Chicago Northwest KOA, "The RV sites are a little close together but they have it set up where your RVs doors open on opposite sides so it gives a little privacy," explains Michelle J.
Leveling challenges: Some campsites require additional preparation. At Honeysuckle Hollow in Chain O' Lakes State Park, one RVer advises, "These sites share an electric box. 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."
Shade availability: Consider sun exposure when booking cabin or RV sites. At Camp Bullfrog Lake, a camper notes, "There is NO shade during the day. None at all due to the trees within the campground being small," adding that the mountain bike trails make up for this limitation as "you'll be riding all day."
