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Best Tent Camping near Lake Forest, IL

440 Reviews

Tent camping options near Lake Forest, Illinois are limited but accessible within a short drive. The Lake Forest area provides access to several tent campgrounds including Camp Shabbona Woods in South Holland and Woodland Melody Park in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. These established campgrounds offer basic accommodations for tent campers seeking a getaway from urban environments without traveling far from Chicago's northern suburbs.

Camp Shabbona Woods provides drive-in tent sites with basic amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground maintains toilet facilities and showers, which are uncommon at primitive sites in the region. Fires are permitted, and firewood is available on-site. The campground operates a reservation system for securing tent sites in advance, which is recommended during peak summer months. One camper noted that "they close the gates after 10pm" and "you can't keep your vehicle close to your campsite," which are important logistical considerations for planning arrival times.

The tent camping experience in the Lake Forest vicinity reflects the urban proximity, with several reviews mentioning background noise from emergency vehicles and nearby communities. A review mentioned that Camp Shabbona Woods "is in a very urban area and is very small," though the "caretakers were very helpful and did a great job keeping the campground clean." Sites tend to have limited shade as many areas feature younger trees still in their growing stages. Tent campers should be prepared for more developed, managed camping experiences rather than remote wilderness settings. Most established tent sites in this region are suitable for beginners or those looking to test camping equipment without venturing too far from urban amenities, making them practical weekend options for Chicago-area residents seeking accessible tent camping locations.

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Best Tent Sites Near Lake Forest, Illinois (3)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lake Forest, IL

3 Photos of 3 Lake Forest Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Lake Forest, IL

440 Reviews of 3 Lake Forest Campgrounds

  • H. K.
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Camp Bullfrog Lake

    Nice but very little shade

    We stayed in the primitive tent area near the back of the park. It is walk in.

    There was a pole for a lantern, a picnic table, a fire ring and tent pad. There is one clean flush toilet and shower per each gender (the shower stall was spacious with plenty of hooks and benches). There were also vault toilets not too far away. The water spigot was pretty far away though. There were plenty of garbage cans.

    There were a few small trees but very little shade. On hot days I think a pop up shade shelter would be necessary to make it bearable.

    Overall it was pretty quiet.

    The last night we were there a large group of people with their tents showed up. There were not enough tent pads or picnic tables for all of them. I don't know if it was the park that booked so many people or if it was the group that overbooked.

  • D
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Paul Wolff Campground

    No showers

    We would gladly stay here again!

    Great campsite with the best staff ever! The sites are clean and very well maintained. We loved the staff patrolling the grounds. The trail system is great for walking the dogs. And I even grew to like the no alcohol in the preserve rule.

    The vault toilets are clean but smell like vault toilets at 95 degrees. There is one very clean flush toilet building but no showers. They don't advertise showers, but this is the newest and nicest campsite I have seen without showers. There is some shade, but you have to search for it.

  • Marisa A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2020

    Paul Wolff Campground

    Great value Chicago suburb campsite

    I've camped here four different occasions this 2020 covid-19 year. The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms. It is a super clean campground with multiple hosts and forest preserve staff. There are a large number of RV pads overlooking the prairie and a few along a grove of trees. I was lucky once to see the equestrian area full of campers with their horses. There are 9 walk-in tent sites about 10-20 yards from parking (the two at the end p7 and p9 are connected for groups that know each other). There are multiple ada sites and two "walk-in/ie roll-in" site in the tent-only area. It's a good mix of young people, retired people, and families. I've seen weekends with mainly RVs and one weekend with a quarter of the drive-in sites being tents. The most shaded sites are p1,3,5,7 and 9. Many of the sites in the middle are wide open with little shade but nice summer breezes. Prices are a great deal if you live in Kane county but still worth the trip if you live in another county. Firewood is $7 for about .75 cu ft (what you can fit in a milk crate.) There are a few trails and I've seen lots of butterflies, gold finches, hawks, deer, flocks of giant sandhill cranes, rabbits, ground squirrels, and of course actual squirrels. Lots of people (including me) bring their leashed dogs. The other campers have been polite and friendly. I wish there was more distance between sites in the water/electrical loops for more privacy, but I'd go every weekend if I lived in Kane county because it would be worth the resident price even tho there are so many RVs. Because there is electrical it is a peaceful campground with no generator noise.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 12, 2020

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Well maintained and clean

    Very impressed with this state park! It was huge, almost 3 miles just to our site! The showers were clean. The spots were large and wooded with nice fire ring set ups. The staff was very helpful answering any questions and giving recommendations. We stayed on a primitive/wilderness site for $12 with no electric. They will allow anyone on these sites-we even saw huge RV'S and 5th wheels on primitive sites.

    There are amazing trails through park for people to hike, bike, or ride horse on.

    Spring Grove is a tiny town nearby with a little corner bar called “The Grove”. They serve amazing food with great service. Very clean! I recommend checking it out if you’re looking for some good food.

  • Jonathan S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 21, 2023

    Big Rock Campground

    First time campers

    Nice clean area to camp. Most of the sites are for travel camper or RV’s.

    A couple of drive Ups.

    50/30 amps hookups. Water hookups as well. Great water pressure.

    Running water restrooms & non-running water restrooms.

    2-dump sites they have sections for tent camping- but down fall is they do not have showers.

    Overall experience was great and we will return.

  • Scott N.
    Jul. 14, 2020

    Thomas Woods Campground

    Great trails, loud neighbors, lots of bugs

    Thomas Woods campground has some great sites, particularly the tent sites. Many of them are set off a short distance from the parking area. I stayed at site 30 which was less than a tenth mile from the parking spot. There are no trash cans at the site, the dumpsite is near the entrance. Most of the roads are one way so after dropping the trash off you must drive all through the campground to get back to your site. The site itself had plenty of room and privacy. The woods are dense and block all views of the neighboring sites. Unfortunately, I think some people think if they can’t see you, you can’t hear them. Every site has a raised pad for a tent. This was very nice. I did track in some of the small gravel into the tent, though. It looks like kitty litter. Not a big deal. It was nice sleeping flat and not sliding off my sleep pad.

    Near Marengo Ridge is a bike trail called H.U.M. Trail. It is only 3.5 miles long. From what I understand is they lost funding for the project. The path is paved and offers a scenic forested view. The hiking trails of Marengo Ridge are the true stars of the area. I walked for almost two hours and still didn’t see them all. Some of the trails have wide paths of grass while others are single-track dirt. 

    As other reviewers have written, the mosquitoes are insane.  Bring plenty of bug spray!

    My website:  https://www.lost13.com/camping/2020/7/13/marengo-ridge

    My video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh4TzLzf\_PY&t=1s

  • Meg
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Good For families, a few downsides

    *** reviewing as a baby/toddler camp family on the go :-) we chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms… avoid the first 2 sites from either end as the ones closest to the main loop aren’t very deep. Closer to the center of this row is best.

    Pros- easy pull in sites and lots of walk-in availability. Sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe. Also seemed pretty respectful in the evenings with people toning down the noise.

    Lots of electric sites, deep enough for 2 tents, 2 cars (although close to neighbors and no trees between sites), picnic table and fire pit.

    Bathroom shower houses were decent (we usually just have toddler use her travel potty, but this one was fine).

    Multiple playgrounds, access to launch sites for kayaks, little store to buy ice cream or snacks.

    Cons - 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, but they literally fall out of the trees into people! 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.

    Also - the raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it’s dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s’mores early, then everything must be packed into cars for the night and all surfaces wiped down.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 20, 2019

    Paul Wolff Campground

    Amazing hiking and beautifully kept but a bit pricey

    This campground is in a populated area but the nature preserve is big. We rarely saw traffic once here. A train goes by a couple times but it was always during the day. 

    It’s pricey if you are from out of the county. We were hoping to camp at the primitive sites but they are walk-in only. Our teardrop wasn’t allowed. We settled at site 37 and enjoyed our stay. There are vault toilets but the large number of big RVs meant they were not used often leaving them almost like our private restrooms. Each site has water and electric. Trees are around the outside with few on the inside sites. All the sites have paved pads. 

    The highlight of our experience is the hiking. There are miles of trails. On one hike we were on paved, sifted gravel, grass and single trek trails. There are a lot of loops giving you options. When we left we still hadn’t hiked all of them. 

    If the price was more reasonable we would certainly be back. If you need the water/electric then this is a great choice.

  • A
    Jul. 3, 2018

    Camp Bullfrog Lake

    Clean and cute

    This is a good place for people starting to camp. Good size lakeside sites and large, clean cabins on the inner road. Clean bathroom house. Firewood came with the site, which is awesome, and they rent gear, from tents to sleeping bags. Well stocked store and decent trails nearby. But keep your stuff locked and secured. We did and that's why the guy trying to open our car didn't make of with any of our stuff. Sigh... Cook County...

Guide to Lake Forest

Tent camping near Lake Forest, Illinois provides options within driving distance of the northern Chicago suburbs. The region offers a mix of county-managed campgrounds and state parks, situated among Midwestern deciduous forests and small lakes. Summer camping season typically runs May through October, with temperatures ranging from 50-85°F during peak months.

What to do

Nature trails access: Camp Shabbona Woods offers several hiking paths through restored prairie and woodland areas. Trails range from 0.5 to 2.5 miles in length, making them suitable for casual hikers. A camper noted that the site is "set up very well for first time campers or new people interested in trying out camping."

Water recreation options: Woodland Melody Park Campground in Twin Lakes provides access to Lake Mary for fishing and small watercraft launching. The campground's location on East Lakeshore Drive places campers within 400 feet of water access points.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kishwaukee Valley Farms attracts birdwatchers and wildlife photographers seeking to document native Illinois species. The farm setting creates unique habitat edges where woodland and agricultural areas meet.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the maintenance standards at established sites. At Camp Shabbona Woods, reviewers appreciated that "caretakers were very helpful and did a great job keeping the campground clean." Bathrooms are noted as well-maintained despite the urban setting.

Staff responsiveness: Camp staff at local sites receive positive mentions for addressing camper needs promptly. One reviewer highlighted the "friendly" staff at Camp Shabbona Woods, which enhances the camping experience for visitors unfamiliar with the area.

Proximity to Chicago: The best tent camping near Lake Forest, Illinois allows urban residents to experience camping without extended travel. Campgrounds in this region serve as convenient weekend destinations, requiring drives of typically 30-60 minutes from northern Chicago neighborhoods.

What you should know

Urban setting limitations: Most campgrounds near Lake Forest feature background noise from nearby development. As one camper at Camp Shabbona Woods observed, campers "definitely felt the urban community close by with ambulances and firetrucks noises in the background."

Site restrictions: Gate closure policies affect arrival timing at several locations. At Camp Shabbona Woods, gates close at 10 PM, which one camper described as "weird but overall ok."

Limited shade coverage: Recently developed camping areas feature younger trees that provide minimal shade. One reviewer mentioned Camp Shabbona Woods "campgrounds do not have a lot of shade as new saplings are still growing."

Seasonal availability: Most tent camping near Lake Forest operates seasonally, with Woodland Melody Park's season running May 1 through October 15. Weekends in July and August typically require reservations 2-4 weeks in advance at most established campgrounds.

Tips for camping with families

First-time camping opportunities: The developed nature of sites makes them appropriate for introducing children to camping. Camp Shabbona Woods is described as being "set up very well for first time campers," with facilities that accommodate families new to outdoor experiences.

Vehicle proximity restrictions: Families with young children should note parking policies. At Camp Shabbona Woods, you "can't keep your vehicle close to your campsite," requiring planning for transporting gear and supplies.

Weather preparation: Due to limited shade at newer campgrounds, families should pack extra sun protection during summer months and be prepared for temperature variations typical of the Midwest region.

Tips from RVers

Hookup limitations: RVers should note that many campgrounds near Lake Forest lack electrical and water hookups. Camp Shabbona Woods has "no electric or water hook ups," requiring self-containment for RV camping.

Size restrictions: Most camping areas near Lake Forest accommodate smaller recreational vehicles rather than large rigs. Access roads and parking pads are typically designed for moderate-sized campers and trailers under 30 feet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lake Forest, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lake Forest, IL is Melody Park Campground with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lake Forest, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Lake Forest, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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