W
William M.
Traveler
TravelerDunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park
Excellent and clean
Super great here, some bugs, people were quiet
Camping near Lansing, IL
60 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping options surrounding Lansing, Illinois include several established campgrounds with varying levels of amenities and natural settings. Camp Sullivan and Camp Shabbona Woods, both located within Cook County Forest Preserves, provide tent sites, cabin accommodations, and RV spots within relatively close proximity to the Chicago metropolitan area. Nearby Indiana Dunes National Park and State Park campgrounds offer additional options within a 30-mile radius. Most developed campgrounds in the region support both tent and RV camping, with select locations like Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park and Camp Bullfrog Lake also featuring cabin rentals for those seeking alternatives to traditional camping experiences.
Reservations are strongly recommended at all established campgrounds in the area, particularly during summer weekends when facilities reach capacity quickly. "The campsites are TINY. We were in a modest pop up and still felt crowded," noted one camper about Camp Sullivan, highlighting the sometimes limited space at urban-adjacent camping areas. Many campgrounds close seasonally, with operating dates typically running from April through October, though a few remain open year-round. Electric hookups are available at most RV sites, though water connections and dump stations vary considerably between locations. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region due to the proximity to urban areas, with most campgrounds offering basic amenities like restrooms and showers.
The camping experience near Lansing reflects its position between urban and natural environments. Shabbona Woods campers reported feeling "the urban community close by with ambulances and firetrucks noises in the background," though the forest preserve setting still provides a natural escape. Sites at Indiana Dunes offer more traditional camping experiences with access to Lake Michigan shorelines and extensive trail systems. Several campgrounds feature recreational amenities like fishing ponds, hiking trails, and playgrounds. The Cook County Forest Preserve campgrounds provide convenient access to Chicago while maintaining wooded surroundings, though sites typically lack the spaciousness and privacy found in more remote camping destinations. For those primarily interested in access to Indiana Dunes, the campgrounds in Porter and Chesterton, Indiana provide the closest proximity to beaches and dune landscapes.
Best Campgrounds near Lansing (60)
1. Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park
"You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern."
"You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern."
from $25 / night
Check Availability2. Camp Sullivan
"Located in a Cook County forest preserve this family camping option is a nice local getaway. The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern."
"There are several bathrooms around and they are clean. Staff is friendly and welcoming."
from $35 - $250 / night
Check Availability3. Camp Bullfrog Lake
"Great site, not far from Chicago, but feels well away from city life. Tent sites around rim of a lake. RV sites and cabins as well."
"What’s great about this location is the access to the miles and mile of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite."
from $20 - $138 / night
Check Availability4. Indiana Dunes State Park Campground
"We spent the afternoon on the lakeside and drove back to the site to set up for the evening."
"This campground was very nice and clean and for a packed park was very quiet and we did not feel too close to the sites next to us. "
from $50 / night
Check Availability5. Lakeshore Camp Resort
"We were there the week before peak season opened so none of the pools or splash pads were open, but they were very accommodating so that we could still play mini golf and ride around on the pedal cars."
"A lake with water rentals, floating water slide, playgrounds and sport courts, general store with the stardust’s “convenience mark-ups”,and water/ electric at all sites."
from $49 - $57 / night
Check Availability6. Camp Shabbona Woods
from $30 - $80 / night
Check Availability7. Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park
"You have access to the perks of the conference grounds I clouding access to a small private beach on the lake, canoes and kayaks, life jackets, and a rec room when open."
"Nature trails and of course Cedar Lake. People seemed friendly."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability8. Emerald Trails Campground
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability9. Sand Creek Campground
"We were disappointed the state park was full but found this campground close by. The tent sites were very private as we were the only ones there for the night. Plenty of space tucked among the trees."
"I tried an RV resort park first and my site was right next to train tracks and packed in next to the other sites. This spot was more spacious and fairly quiet with good showers."
from $30 - $90 / night
Check Availability10. Enchanted Shores RV Park & Campground
"Yes, it’s an hour from the city, but I’d take the drive over the bill at a nearby hotel. There’s an outhouse and plenty of places to plug in the RV, and cars/tents are welcome too."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 25 min from Chicago, IL
- 39 min from Michigan City, IN
- 40 min from Kankakee, IL
- 1 hr 6 min from South Bend, IN
Recent Camping Photos near Lansing, IL
127 Photos of 60 Lansing Campgrounds
Jeffrey L.
Camp Shabbona Woods
Megan R.
Camp Sullivan
holly S.
Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park
Marc W.
Lakeshore Camp Resort
Josh M.
Camp Bullfrog Lake
Katherine T.
The Vaudeville
Katelyn G.
Martin’s Camping Ground
Josephine B.
Lake O' The Woods Club
Jackie H.
Indiana Dunes State Park Campground
Rae M.
Sand Creek Campground
Bruce K.
Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park
Amanda K.
Pioneer Family Campground
Recent Reviews near Lansing, IL
459 Reviews of 60 Lansing Campgrounds
- EEd B.Traveler
Lakeshore Camp Resort
looks like a dump at first glance but found out it’s storm damage
Trailer was nice plenty to do. A lot of seasonal sites. was a pleasant enough stay. Looks like a converted Yogi Bear campground. A lot of storm damage around the campground. Pools were clean, bathrooms and shower houses are a bit dated but clean. They are about every 5 rows/streets. You can rent golf carts which seems the main mode of transportation. Nice rowboat lake with a beach for swimming. Small fast food restaurant small menu weird hours and more expensive that your normal fast food places. All in all it was a nice place and activities are plenty close to Chicago and one of the closest, also very close to the Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan.
- Matthew C.
ScoutCentral Avenue Walk-in Sites — Indiana Dunes National Park
Beautiful but Needs Some Love
We stayed a Thursday and Friday night in July 2026 on site 1. We did need to head to the Welcome Center for a piece of paper to display on your dash so that we can park in the parking lot. There isn't a National Park entrance to access the site, you just park in a parking lot that a park ranger at the visitors center told us was owned and operated by the town and not the park service. There was an area of reserved parking for those camping at the walk-in sites.
There is a decent sandy hill that you need to go up to access the site, which really wasn't bad. The site itself was heavily wooded and secluded. It is fairly sandy, but there was a nice spot to set up the tent that was grassy. The mosquitos were aggressive, but a little Deep Woods Off and they left us along mostly. We got to the site and there was trash and cigarette butts scattered around that we had to clean up. I discovered the first night that a contributing factor to some of the trash is most likely a sizeable and bold raccoon that was not afraid of us, and both nights came wandering into our campsite looking for food while we were sitting there.
Additionally, the fire pit has probably not been cleaned out in years, since it was filled to the top with ash. With this being a wooded site, this could increase the risk of a fire getting out of the pit.
We were at site 1, so heading to the port-o-potty was fine and it was well kept. The beach was about 3-5 minutes walking. However, the bathrooms and outdoor shower were all "Closed for the Season". There were a couple port-o-pottys there, but they were not in as good of shape as the one near the campground. There was also a ton of trash in that bathroom building area, which was disappointing to see.
- RRichard C.Scout
Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground — Kankakee River State Park
Ok
JJust ok. Facilities were disappointing
Kathy B.
LegendIndiana Dunes State Park Campground
Amateur hour
Nicely laid out campground with mature trees. Level sites. All with electric hookups. Was greeted by very kind person at the booth. You need to know that on Sundays check-in is until 5 PM as campers from the weekend have until 5 PM to vacate their sites. Of course you can check in early if they leave. The way the campground is laid out, there are no pass that lead to the bathrooms. Therefore, people are constantly cutting through your site to get to their restrooms.
- ssusan F.
RangerIndiana Dunes State Park Campground
Beautiful location and great campground!
Nice sites, well spaced. Campground is well maintained with nice bathrooms and showers (we were there after a massive storm in early June and there had been some flooding in the bathrooms). From the campsite, walk through the forest and Dunes to the beautiful beach. Our dog was in heaven!
- CChris L.Traveler
Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park
Great Location and Camp Hosts
Clean facilities, great camp hosts, and can’t beat the location. Campsites have a fire pit and table. One of the few spots to stay in the area.
Bring bug spray
- WWendy T.Traveler
Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park
Dunewood Campground
Beautiful location, a mile from beach on Lake Michigan
Michael M.
GuideIndiana Dunes State Park Campground
Great week
Just finished a week at this campground and overall had a great stay.
The campground is a short walk or bike ride to the public beach, and just east along the lake is the preserve area where we were able to take our dogs swimming, which was a huge plus.
The campground itself was nice. The East Loop felt a little older, with large mature trees providing shade over most sites, a centralized bathhouse, and a few pit toilets spread throughout. The West Loop had a similar feel.
There are also a few playgrounds throughout the campground, which our kids really enjoyed. They spent a lot of time bouncing back and forth between them and meeting new kids along the way, which ended up being one of their favorite parts of the trip.
The bathhouses were acceptable, though the campground was busy during our stay and it definitely showed.
We stayed in Site 8, which I wouldn’t personally recommend. There was very little usable space, and the fire pit felt like an afterthought—placed against overgrowth on sloping sand to the point that we couldn’t realistically set chairs around it.
One thing worth mentioning: we had some pretty severe weather come through during our stay, and the on-site tornado siren alerted everyone in the campground. Thankfully the storms missed us, but while the alarms were sounding, sheriff’s deputies were driving the loops and checking on campers, which was reassuring to see.
We’ll definitely be back—just not to Site 8.
Guide to Lansing
Camping options around Lansing, Illinois sit within Cook County, where the terrain shifts between urban environments and forest preserves. Most campgrounds in this region operate at elevations under 700 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping season. Train noise affects multiple campgrounds near Lansing due to the region's status as a major rail transportation hub.
What to do
Hike the dune system: At Indiana Dunes National Park, visitors can tackle unique sand dune landscapes within a 30-minute drive of Lansing. "Management was very attentive to making sure the campground was quiet and calm. The campsite was large and beautiful," notes Veronica S. about the Dunewood Campground area.
Kayak on lakes: Several campgrounds offer water recreation options on small lakes within a short drive. At Camp Bullfrog Lake, "The kayaks are $15 an hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," according to camper Layla P.
Climb at indoor facilities: Unique to urban-adjacent camping, Camp Sullivan provides indoor activities for rainy days. "There is an activities barn with a rock climbing wall," notes Shane S., making it a standout option for families wanting both outdoor and indoor recreation.
What campers like
Accessibility to Chicago: The proximity to the city while maintaining some natural elements appeals to many campers. "It's probably the closest camping to downtown Chicago. About 5 years in existence. Clean facilities with a few trails," mentions Bill M. about Camp Sullivan.
Beach access: Indiana Dunes State Park Campground offers direct lake access with maintained beaches. "The closest beach within the national park is Kimmel Beach which is beautiful. There are some biting horseflies at the beach, but not at the campground," reports Katie O.
Quieter alternatives: While some campgrounds face urban noise challenges, others provide relatively peaceful settings. "We were in a modest pop up and still felt crowded," notes one camper about Camp Sullivan, highlighting why some prefer the more spacious layout at other campgrounds in the region.
What you should know
Train noise: Railroad tracks near several campgrounds create consistent noise issues. At Dunewood Campground, campers report they "could hear trains throughout the night," though Truly W. still rated it highly for its "great facility with showers, water fountains, and a camp sink."
Gate closures: Several Cook County campgrounds lock entrance gates overnight. At Camp Shabbona Woods, "They close the gates after 10pm was weird but overall ok. No electric or water hook ups can't keep your vehicle close to your campsite," reports Jeffrey L.
Variable shower quality: Bathhouse facilities differ significantly between locations. "The water pressure in the showers was so-so, but there was no hot water," notes one reviewer about a nearby campground, while others report clean, well-maintained facilities at locations like Indiana Dunes State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Age-appropriate hikes: The dunes trails offer varied difficulty levels suitable for different ages. "If you are able, do the 3 dune challenge. It wasn't easy for this old body, but I was glad to have marked it off my list," shares Jackie H. about Indiana Dunes State Park.
Plan for weather conditions: Summer heat can be intense, especially on exposed campsites. "We camp here at least 2 times per year and have only had good experiences. Clean facilities, good hikes and good campsites (either in the woods or out of the woods)," recommends Dane S. about Camp Sullivan.
Consider cabins: For families new to camping or visiting during shoulder seasons, Sand Creek Campground offers alternative accommodations. "They do have cute cottages you can rent but not sure the cost," mentions Emily C., noting the clean and quiet environment.
Tips from RVers
Limited water hookups: Many campgrounds in the area lack full service connections. "No water hooks up. Water on site but, not ideal. Really nice views. Very quiet. Super friendly staff and neighbors," reports Kaitlin M. about Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Compact sites: RV campers should prepare for tighter spacing than typical rural campgrounds. "The campsites are TINY. We were in a modest pop up and still felt crowded," mentions a reviewer about sites in Cook County Forest Preserves.
Dump stations: While not all campgrounds offer full hookups, several provide dump stations. "Sites are full hookup up, there's a nice bathhouse which has a key pad handle which made me feel safe while showering," notes holly S. about Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park, highlighting the security features that appeal to overnight campers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Lansing, IL?
Which is the most popular campground near Lansing, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lansing, IL is Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 128 reviews.
What parks are near Lansing, IL?
What parks are near Lansing, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 parks near Lansing, IL that allow camping, notably Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes National Park.
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