Cabins and tent sites provide year-round camping access near Lincolnwood, Illinois, with options located 15-40 minutes from the city. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, making the heated cabins at several campgrounds particularly valuable from November through March. Elevation remains relatively flat throughout the region, with most campgrounds situated between 580-650 feet above sea level.
What to do
Lake activities: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort: The small lake offers fishing and kayaking opportunities in a tranquil setting. "Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water," notes Leo V.
Mountain biking: Camp Bullfrog Lake: The extensive trail network provides excellent mountain biking directly from campsites. "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. 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," writes Josh M.
Hiking dunes: Indiana Dunes State Park Campground: The 3-dune challenge offers a moderately difficult hiking experience with lake views. "The 3 dune challenge is not really a challenge if you are moderately healthy but it is fun and scenic! The cool soft sand feels fantastic, definitely best hiked barefoot," says Greg S.
What campers like
Free firewood: Camp Sullivan: Several Cook County Forest Preserve campgrounds provide complimentary firewood with site rental. "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. The campsites are well kept as are the grounds," explains Shane S.
Nearby beaches: Indiana Dunes State Park Campground offers direct access to Lake Michigan's shoreline. "The lake and dunes are spectacular and live up to the hype. The beach and dunes are the star of this show, but the campground is a good supporting actor," notes Greg S.
Clean facilities: Turner Lake South: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and shower facilities. "The bathrooms/showers are always clean and have hot water. The only downfall that I can see is that they are not consistent with cleaning the outhouses," reports Meg K.
What you should know
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Lincolnwood experience regular train noise that can disturb sleep. "The only reason I rate this park a three is that it's very close to train lines and the trains going through and blasting their horns all night long. If you're a heavy sleeper and can deal with that, you'll be just fine but us tent camping there was nothing to block the sound," warns Kaley A. about Indiana Dunes.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons and ticks are common at most campgrounds in the area. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. They literally fall out of the trees into people!" cautions Meg about Honeysuckle Hollow.
Budget options: Fox Den Campground: Non-electric sites offer affordable camping within an hour of Lincolnwood. "This campground is within a couple hours of Chicago so it makes a nice getaway for the weekend. Things were pretty filled up when we came here. However there is plenty of space around to find a spot on your own," reports Art S.
Tips for camping with families
Activity centers: Chicago Northwest KOA provides numerous structured activities for children on weekends. "Did a quick stay with the kids for a Friday and Saturday night. 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," shares Dan B.
Water recreation: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort: The family-friendly beach area offers swimming opportunities from May through September. "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. 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!" explains Chloe N.
Affordable sites: Turner Lake South offers budget-friendly tent camping ideal for families testing new gear. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner," writes Addison G.
Tips from RVers
Site privacy: Fox Den Campground offers more secluded RV sites than other nearby options. "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers," notes Ian C.
Electric hookups only: Most state park campgrounds near Lincolnwood offer electric hookups but no water or sewer at individual sites. "It is electric only but that didn't really bother us- we just showed up with the water tank full and other tanks empty and enjoyed ourselves," advises Greg S. about Indiana Dunes State Park.
Camp store access: Several campgrounds provide on-site stores for basic supplies. "The concessions/camp store is located near the boat docks and is easily walked or driven to with decent selection of foods, gear, and fishing items," states Ian C. about Chain O'Lakes facilities.
