Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Lemont, IL

Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.

For years, this was our go-to campground for weekend nearby adventures. Over the years, the price has increased and at $30 per site for non-residents, it's a bit steep for tent camping for me (so I left off a star rating). All sites are electric, so if you are tent camping and want your fan or slow-cooker, then it's as good as it gets in the burbs. It's located in a beautiful wooded Dupage County Forest preserve. While the sites are pretty close together, there are a few good ones that feel more secluded. Designated chip bark tent sites are level. The grounds are very well maintained. While I didn't camp here this year, I took these photos the last weekend in October to give everyone a sense of how nice this campground could be for them. My favorite sites over the years were the ones closest to Silver Lake along the South Loop road because those sites have the best views. For privacy, my favorite site is #27 on the north loop road which makes you feel like you are alone in the woods. Other than plenty of hiking options including a big hill, the fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release. There is also archery, a dog park, picnic areas, boat rental/ramp, and a compass course. It is a great place for families. I've brought cub scouts here and my kids' friends. Heads-up that sites 21 & 22 may not be able to see traffic on the busy Winfield Rd in the summer, but you will still hear it at those sites.

Friendly staff who were quick to respond to any issues. Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant. No wi-fi found except at hotel. Good phone connection. Garbage cans throughout park. Minutes from I & M Canal entrance on Houbolt and from JJC and I-80.

As we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch. 

If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs. 

As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location. 

If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo. 

Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail. 

While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot: 

Convenience: 5 

Safety & Security: 4 

Quality: 5 

Peace & Quiet: 4 

Amenities: 3 

Overall, I scored this location a 4.

Happy Overnighting!

Located just 7 miles south of nearby Sandwich, which is by no means a roaring metropolis mind you, but certainly a nice quaint Midwestern town that will offer up a small bit of refuge and resource, should you need anything while staying out in these parts. This hidden campground gem, which is incredibly homey and likely a communal outpost for many fellow campers for more than the past half century, sits right on the Fox River and therefore offers pretty stunning views as well as great access to some decent fishing and kayaking. 

While incredibly family friendly, Rolling Oaks, which is also pet-friendly, offers an abundance of amenities in addition to river access, including: horseshoe pits, playground with slides and swings, volleyball courts, 2 outdoor swimming pools and a maintained lake perfect for cooling off during the heat, propane exchange station, covered pavilions, scattered picnic tables, stand-up BBQ grills and fire rings, snack bar with sandwiches, burgers, wings and pizza as well as all of the traditional hook-ups (electric 30 / 50 amp, water and sewage) for pull-thru, back-in partial and full sites for RVs and 5th Wheelers. The bathroom and shower facilities are not amazing, but decent.  Further down the road is a general store where you can buy those items that are ‘must-haves’ and for everything else, it’s just a short drive to nearby Sandwich. 

What I love most about Rolling Oaks Campground, unlike many of the other available nearby options is that this location really feels as though it perfectly balances the seasonal ‘year rounders’ who rock up with their RVs for the annual stretch and those that are simply looking for a long weekend getaway, whether it be in their RV or for those of us that want to pitch up for the night in our tent cabins. There’s also a very strong community vibe here, which happens as a result of countless activities, group get-togethers and themed events, such as larger-than-life celebrations around the traditional holidays like 4th of July, Memorial and Labor Days, Halloween, etc. From potluck dinners and line dancing to hog roasts as well as line dancing and live music on the weekends, there’s a lot to enjoy here at Rolling Oaks. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you time it right – and I certainly would do a bit of work to do so with the family en towe – I would time your visit during the Sandwich Fair, which is one of the largest and most enjoyed statewide celebrations offering up traditional carnival rides, sweets & treats as well as other diversions like tractor pulls and pie eating contests; (2) Here you are located to some of the best state parks in the entirety of Illinois, whether that’s Shabbona Lake SP to the north, which offers up some pretty amazing fishing as well as proper hunting grounds or Starved Rock SP to the south, providing you with countless trails to hike and dells to scale; (3) For those wanting to dip their canoe or kayak in the water, I highly recommend that you first engage the Fox River that this property straddles or, if you are looking for something a bit different and slightly more challenging, check out nearby Illinois River, where the expanse is greater and the currents much more challenging and you should be easily able to spot one of the many bald eagles that call this river home; (4) When you grow weary of foraging for that next meal in the remnants of your onboard RV mini-fridge and want to try out some local fare, check out Old Mill Tavern, which is an old-school saloon, but features great fried chicken on the weekend, or Newark’s Country Kitchen for some great down home Midwestern comfort food, whether you are looking for biscuits & gravy for breakfast or fried catfish for lunch or dinner; and (5) If you are a die-hard foodie like me and don’t mind a slightly longer drive to discover two of the most amazing restaurants in the area, then head on over to Ottawa for Lone Buffalo, which operates both as a high-end micro brewery and secretly serves up some of the best gastro-pub food you’ll ever enjoy of which, I HIGHLY recommend the fish-n-chips OR make your way west down I80 to Ladd, where you’ll discover the best fried chicken of your life at Rip’s Chicken (and don’t forget to order the slaw, crispies and fried pickles, which completes the otherwise cholesterol-fueled meal!). 

Happy Camping!

Campsites super close, and very hard to pull into. Kids running thru your campsite all day and night. Other campers were inconsiderate of your space. My dogs are super well behaved but that’s not the case with every other dog in this place. Most were barking non stop and owners did nothing to stop it.

We decided to stay here - mostly because state parks are closed - and thought military campgrounds have an advantage over public parks.

Not this one. Most of the permanent residents had trash sprawled over their site, let their dogs run lose and didn’t curb them at all. So much so that there were was dog shit next to our power podium. What a welcome.

Needless to say I don’t think we’ll be coming back unless absolutely necessary. Oh wait. It’s not.

Oh. Wonderful views of the lake and way close to the beach on base.

It was a great way point on our travels. Convenient - right off the highway. Late checkin and easy communication.

Lots of dogs so be prepared for early morning barking.

Was rainy, but still enjoyed walking the beach. Staff extremely pleasant & helpful. Pavilion services was closed for construction. There is an area on the Beach where you can walk your dogs.

Upon arrival you are greeted by the owner and staff. They are very friendly and escort you to your spot after check in. Staff is super helpful and will lend a hand off anything is needed during your stay. The park is dog friendly. The campground is clean and quiet. There is no bath house, only port-a-potty's throughout the campground. But sites are full hookup so this isn't an issue is you are traveling in a TT. "Papa Don" is the owner, and is a very gracious host.

Went tent camping here and reserved our spot in advance. We bought fire wood from a locals front lawn at the entrance to the state park. Put 5$ in the bin and take a bundle. Its 30 mins away from Starved Rock and Matthiesson State Park. Good hiking. The river spots are all booked by large RVs and the tent spots have grills over the fire pits and picnic tables. lots of tree cover which came in handy when it rained in the morning. Otherwise great weather and not buggy. Dogs allowed.

I was able to get here right before the state closed the parks. It was empty but the dog and I we doing some hiking at Starved Rock so I figured why not. Sites were nice...nothing special. We got an electric site so I was able to use my teardrop which made it nice. Picnic table...fire ring...vault toilet...I don’t need much more than that. It does have some nice hiking along the river and wasn’t busy which is a huge bonus compared to other locations that are near. I would highly recommend this campground for those looking to avoid the crowds.

This is a great low cost, low frills state park. It’s pretty close to Chicago so it works for weekend getaways. We stayed in the wooded loop. It’s rustic without electric/water hookups. The other loop looked more set up for rvs. 

We loved the shade of the wooded section. We had a spot that gave us enough blockage to keep our reactive dog calm. Other sites had less division between them. 

You are close to a variety of spots. Hike or bike the I and M canal trail. Drive down the expressway a bit and explore Starved Rock. The small local towns have some interesting restaurants. 

We are keeping this campground in mind for quick weekends away.

Welcome to Illini SP and hopefully before you read this review, you will have learned that there is not 1, but 2 campgrounds to choose from, so pay attention if you want to select the right one for your camping outdoor nature blissful experience. To begin with, if you are not familiar with the name Illini, make it your business to grab some intelligence on the subject as this isn’t a nickname for the great state who produced Abe Lincoln (note: like Barack Obama, Abe wasn’t born in the Prairie State, both moved here and made their bones here), but rather the greatest honor that our state could be referenced to, the Illiniwick (or Illini) native American Indian tribe, who were one of the most prolific and important native American Indian tribes to have settled in the Mississippi River valley, of which large sections of Illinois represented.

But let’s get back to the reason likely you are reading this review in the first place. Net-net, while you could make a case for going to either one of these two campgrounds that comprise the overnight accommodations you are afforded here at Illini SP – that would be a choice of either Whitetail to the west or Grand Falls to the east – the short and the quick of it all would be this: if you are tent camping, choose Whitetail. If you have an RV or 5th Wheel, then likely you are going to be more suited for Grand Falls. And while you could still get by with hauling your RV over to Whitetail or making a night or two out of ‘pitching a tent’ over in Grand Falls, I’m just saying that certain campgrounds make for better destinations for the particular type of camping you are engaging in.

What are the major differences between these 2 campgrounds? To begin with, Grand Falls has more sites with full hook-ups, so if you are in an RV or 5th Wheel, me thinks that having all of the usually amenities like water, electric and sewage might be important. If you are a tent-pitching member of my tribe, we actually prefer ‘less is more’ and are less reliant upon such amenities, making Whitetail a better choice for tent campers. While both campgrounds offer close proximity to the Illinois River, you will be challenged to actually see the river from Whitetail, unless you head far west on Hawk Road where there is a separate picnic area complete with in-ground fire pits, stand-up grills, picnic tables, designated fishing areas and bathroom facilities that have sweeping views. 

Over at Grand Falls, you’ll have sweeping riverfront views of the Illinois River, providing you are lucky enough to book any of the sites numbered #003–#018. The last big difference is that while both offer up their own amenities and access to some pretty great hiking trails, Grand Falls is clearly the busier and much larger of the two campgrounds, where I would also add, apart from a smaller loop, the vast majority of camping areas here are wide open offering not so much privacy. You’ll experience much richer areas of privacy, solitude and unadulterated noise along with a healthy dose of P&Q over at Whitetail.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) At $10 per night for type ‘C’ primitive camping and $20 per night for the deluxe well-paved and connected accommodations, either campground here at Illini SP are some of the most inexpensive campgrounds you’ll come across; (2) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or on-board mini-fridge, fret not, there’s some really decent restaurants around this area of which I highly recommend the following: Snug Harbor Marina or Bobaluk’s Beef & Pizza; Further afield, of which you’ll have to trust me, is completely worth the drive: I recommend Lone Buffalo, Hank’s or Red Dog Grill; (3) Should you come towing canoe or kayak, you’ll definitely want to take a spin in the Illinois River, wherein I HIGHLY recommend heading westward towards Buffalo Rock SP and further west the ever amazing, Starved Rock SP; and (4) If ‘getting dirty’ is on the menu, then head on over to The Cliffs Insane Terrain Off-Road Park, which is pure fun for both kids and adults alike, but be sure to wear that helmet as it does get bumpy!

Happy Camping!

the map that shows the Peoria area is wrong. this campground is near Bradley-Bourbonnais Illinois.

This is a tylical illinois state park. Tun down and not well taken care of. Positive is the lake.