Cabin camping options within 30 miles of Lincolnwood, Illinois range from basic accommodations to more upscale lodging. Located in the northern suburbs of Chicago, this area sits at an elevation of approximately 600 feet and experiences all four seasons with humid summers and cold winters. Cabins can be reserved year-round at some locations, while others close during winter months.
What to do
Kayaking on-site lakes: Camp Bullfrog Lake offers kayak rentals for $15 per hour including life vests. "The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," notes Layla P., who also mentioned that "one guy was so nice and took a bunch of photos for me of me kayaking."
Access miles of trails: At Camp Reinberg, hiking and biking paths connect directly to the larger Deer Grove Forest Preserve trail system. "The trails through the grounds are varied and long—you can find something to suit just about any preference for suburban midwest hiking," reports Kristy G. "There are plenty of paved trails as well as dirt, lots of fun little off-shoots into the woods, creeks run throughout."
Rock climbing activities: Camp Sullivan offers organized climbing activities with their on-site rock wall. A visitor noted, "There are activities for the kids all weekend," and another mentioned the campground has "an activities barn with a rock climbing wall."
What campers like
Heated cabin options: Many campers appreciate the heated cabins during colder months. At Camp Bullfrog Lake, "There are small and medium cabins, some heated with their own bathrooms, that feature bunk beds and are great for getting out of the cold," according to one reviewer. "The central bathrooms are clean, heated and offer showers."
Well-maintained facilities: Cleanliness is frequently mentioned in reviews. "The bathrooms are really clean!" noted one camper at Chicago Northwest KOA. At Honeysuckle Hollow, a visitor observed that "the bathroom shower houses were decent" while another mentioned that Camp Reinberg had "seriously the cleanest [restrooms] I've ever seen, even the ceilings were cleaned!"
Lake views: Several cabin sites offer direct lake views. At Turner Lake South in Chain O' Lakes State Park, "The lake was very nice. We were able to kayak but be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by," according to Julia B.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: While some campgrounds operate year-round, others have limited seasons. At Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort, the operating season runs "from May 1 to October 15," while certain winter cabins at other locations may require advance reservations.
Wildlife encounters: Many campers report seeing wildlife at the cabins. One camper at Honeysuckle Hollow warned about "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks." Another noted "the raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched."
Firewood quality varies: Camp store firewood quality can be inconsistent. One camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake mentioned "the wood I bought from the camp store took forever to catch flames—my other two neighbors had the same issue," while another at a different campground noted, "Firewood was still wet and hard to burn."
Tips for camping with families
Flat campsites for safety: Families with small children appreciate level sites at certain campgrounds. At Honeysuckle Hollow, "sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe," one parent observed.
Kid-friendly activities: Chicago Northwest KOA schedules regular activities for children. "There are a lot of activities for kids on the weekends," mentioned one grandparent. Another family noted, "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."
Insect preparation: Families should come prepared for insects, especially in warmer months. One parent at Honeysuckle Hollow advised: "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."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Several cabin campgrounds also accommodate RVs but with varying hookup availability. "There is NO water spigots at the RV sites. The staff has to hook up a very very long hose and will bring it to your site," reported one RVer at Camp Reinberg. "You can get water, it's just an inconvenience for you and them."
Gate closure times: Some campgrounds restrict late-night access. A reviewer at Camp Sullivan warned, "They lock the gates (both of them!) to the campground with a PADLOCK at night until 7 in the morning!" Another campground visitor noted, "The gates close at 10 PM and there are tire shredders, you can leave but you can't get back in."
Site spacing considerations: RVers often comment on site spacing at cabin campgrounds. "We were in a modest pop up and still felt crowded," noted one camper, while another mentioned, "Easy enough to find. Checkin was a breeze... My biggest complaint is the size of the sites. We are on top of each other."
