65 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Chain O' Lakes State Park dominates the camping landscape around Lindenhurst, Illinois, with several distinct campgrounds providing a range of experiences. The park's Fox Den, Prairie View, Turner Lake South, and Honeysuckle Hollow camping areas accommodate tent and RV campers, with most offering electric hookups. Nearby options include Illinois Beach State Park on Lake Michigan, approximately 17 miles east of Lindenhurst, and private campgrounds like Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort. Cabin accommodations are available at several locations, including Chain O' Lakes and Richard Bong State Recreation Area just across the Wisconsin border, approximately 20 miles northwest.
Access to campgrounds remains relatively straightforward with most sites featuring drive-in access suitable for both small vehicles and larger RVs. The region experiences four distinct seasons with peak camping typically running from May through October. According to one visitor, "This State Park isn't too far off the beaten path which is nice. Fairly close to gas stations, convenience stores, etc." Most campgrounds in the area require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly. The Illinois State Parks system enforces a strict no-alcohol policy at its campgrounds, including all areas within Chain O' Lakes State Park, with rangers actively issuing citations for violations.
Water-based recreation forms the centerpiece of camping experiences near Lindenhurst, with numerous lakes connected by small tributaries offering extensive kayaking, fishing, and boating opportunities. Chain O' Lakes State Park provides boat rentals and launch facilities, making water access convenient for visitors without their own watercraft. Campers frequently mention the quality of hiking trails throughout the region, with several reporting wildlife sightings including bald eagles. Sites vary considerably in terms of privacy and shade coverage. A review noted, "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." Bathroom and shower facilities receive mixed reviews, with cleanliness varying throughout the season.
"The group camp site is located pretty far away from the rest of the campsites, bathrooms, trails and amenities."
"We had a phenomenal time at Illinois State Park camping facilities! Space was clean, nature was alive, and the neighbors so friendly!"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore"
"*** 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"
"I would recommend this for anyone for starting to step out of the comfort zone for the outdoors. very simple, many paths to walk, jog, or ride a bike. a small lake is near the further parking lot. dogs"
"Had some cool amenities like the off road park and multiple fishing spots. Has a winery and cool dive bars all within 10 min. Only downside is all the noise from the road and the drag strip near by."
from $21 - $39 / night
Check Availability"In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61."
"You can hear whatever highway is nearby pretty clearly and constantly. But if you’re not looking for something super remote then it’s fine!"
"We can both drive to work and then come back to relax. Close to some great places for antiquing if you don't want to hike the trails or fish."
"It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "
"Plenty of space & foliage between sites and a nice network of trails surrounding the campground. Close to some small towns and the interstate as well, but not close enough to hear traffic."
"the property is HUGE and most things are about a 10 to 15 min walk from the campsites. lots of hiking, boating, swimming fishing and more! a great place for anyone!"
from $21 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Prairie View campground is in the Chain O Lakes State Park series. This is the no services campground. We could walk to fill up with water but no electric on site. Checking in was interesting."
"You could barely see the neighbors because of how overgrown the edges of the site were. We felt like we were in our own little bubble."
"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."
"We biked around the campground during the days and took advantage of the adult only hot tub hours at night. It was a nice getaway from Chicago."
from $43 - $73 / night
Check Availability"This State Park isn't too far off the beaten path which is nice. Fairly close to gas stations, convenience stores, etc. The park is clean, and has the bathrooms and utilities that would be needed."
"There are numerous sites that are on a small lake with great sunset views. Sites are decent size but not much privacy in between sites. Lots of wooded trails within the campground."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"we’ve been RV camping here for 2 months now and love it. the bathrooms are older but still nice and cleaned daily. the pool is fantastic, lots of fun playgrounds around, and there’s a neat walking trail"
"Petting zoo, camp store, pool, lake/pond for swimming and fishing. Cell signal for ATT just one bar. No internet. Lots of full time residents. Lots of activities for kids. Pet friendly."
TravelerWe got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
ScoutBlackwell has clean bathrooms, offers hiking trails, boating (kayak rentals) or bring your own, fishing, archery, cycling. The gate locks at 7pm but you just call the night guard and he will let you in. They’re only open on Friday, Saturday and holidays. Would definitely stay again. Be aware Winfield Road has a lot of traffic so sites further away from that road are best. Heard coyotes about 3 am both mornings. Rangers were exceptional.
TravelerThere’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.
LegendThere’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees. One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.
GuideWe are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
GuideLast minute online reservation...They only have. 4 or 5 RV sites...full hook ups...about $60+-...right near gas pumps but any noise did not bother us weary travelers...Only downside was showers were not included....For the price certainly an included shower should be part of the deal...easy check in and check out.,..We used the Love's site due to its location to visit family and the fact that electric was available...We have medical equipment that requires a recharge at night plus it's just nice to have the AC if needed.
TravelerSimple campsite. We should have brought some leveling blocks, But otherwise my wife and I enjoyed the site for our rental RV. Short 10 minute walk to Lake Michigan. The camp store is fairly robust with friendly people working there. I appreciate that there are 2 lanes for dump/fill stations. My wife and I would absolutely stay here again.
LegendWe had a truly enjoyable stay and would’ve stayed an extra day if our travel schedule would’ve allowed. David was a wonderful host. Greeted us with a smile and escorted us to our site. We had our choice of 2 spots, both lovely. Picnic table and plenty of FREE firewood to keep us cozy. Wild turkeys roamed the grounds as well as the friendly ducks. All in all, a very peaceful evening and a special place.
GuideFor a primitive campground, this was a nice-enough experience.
Pros:
- The sites we stayed in and the others that we noticed seemed sizeable and had nice tree-cover
- Having access to the Ice Age Trail was really neat
- Lake access nearby
Cons:
- On the continuum of vault toilet quality, these were on the less-desirable end. We joked about whether it was scarier to visit them when they were dark or when the lights were on. If you love having fly friends keep you company when nature calls, then these are the bathrooms for you! The bathrooms did get cleaned on Sunday morning, but this didn't help the situation very much.
- No showers
Camping sites near Lindenhurst, Illinois primarily cluster within a 20-mile radius, where the terrain features a mix of wetlands and prairie ecosystems typical of northeastern Illinois. The region sits at approximately 800 feet above sea level with distinct seasonal changes affecting camping conditions. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, while summer humidity can make primitive sites uncomfortable without proper ventilation.
Kayaking the chain system: Access Fox River and connected waterways at Chain O' Lakes State Park where paddlers can explore multiple lakes. "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I enjoy this route for the wildlife and nature scenery. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," notes a visitor to Turner Lake South.
Fishing from shoreline sites: Several campgrounds offer direct lakefront access for fishing without needing a boat. "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," reports a camper at Turner Lake South.
Horseback riding options: Richard Bong State Recreation Area provides equestrian trails about 20 miles northwest of Lindenhurst. "This used to be our traditional family camping area... I still enjoy all the wildlife we see but I will stick with hiking over camping here," shares one reviewer who has visited multiple times.
Winter activities: Most campgrounds operate seasonally, but some areas permit winter access for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. "There are horse/snowmobile trails, but no equestrian campground," mentions a camper who stayed at Turner Lake South in October, noting the multi-seasonal use of the park's trails.
Privacy between sites: Fox Den Campground offers more secluded camping spaces compared to other loops in the area. "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 (our site was protected on 3 sides by some fairly dens foliage and trees)," reports a camper.
On-site concessions: Several campgrounds provide camp stores with essentials and refreshments. "The concessions (or camp store) was large and well stocked. Plenty of firewood and was inside a garage so it was all dry and ready to use," notes a camper who stayed at Prairie View.
Wildlife viewing: The wetland ecosystem supports diverse animal populations. "We're from the south, so we are used to mosquitoes, but I have seldom been around so many all at once... But back to the fun part. It was pretty hot a couple days while we were there and to take a break from the heat, we enjoyed the ac in the car and drove around the recreation area and the campgrounds. I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw," shares a visitor to Sunset Campground.
Varied terrain for hiking: Trail systems offer diverse ecosystems within short distances. "Halfway there you'll meet up with the Goldfinch trail which is the shortest loop and the most diverse in term of flora," notes a camper describing the trails at Turner Lake South.
Strict alcohol policy differences: Illinois state parks enforce no-alcohol rules while Wisconsin parks permit responsible consumption. "ALL Illinois State Parks are now enforcing a no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site," warns a camper at Fox Den, while Richard Bong Recreation Area in Wisconsin does not have this restriction.
Gate closure times: Park entrances close at specific hours. "The gates close at 10:PM and there are tire shredders, you can leave but you can't get back in… unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark," advises a Turner Lake South camper.
Insects can be intense: Honeysuckle Hollow and surrounding areas experience significant mosquito and tick populations. "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!" cautions a family who camped there with a toddler.
Weekend vs. weekday differences: Campground atmosphere changes significantly between weekends and weekdays. "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," notes a camper who stayed at Honeysuckle Hollow for a full week.
Playground access: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers multiple play areas for children. "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. There are about 8 tent/pop up sites and the rest of the campground is for RVs. I recommend the lakefront tent sites, they are spacious and you can fish right from your site!" shares a family camper.
Safety considerations for toddlers: Choose flat sites with minimal hazards. "Sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe," notes a parent who camped at Honeysuckle Hollow with young children.
Wildlife education opportunities: Many campgrounds offer ranger programs seasonally. "The Weekend we were here they had a free Kids fishing weekend and John the naturalist was amazing!! There is a ton to do at this park the nature center has activities all weekend long," shares an enthusiastic visitor to Sunrise Campground.
Early dining with young children: Plan meals before dusk to avoid wildlife encounters. "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," advises a parent who camped at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Electric hookup variations: Prairie View Camping Area offers non-electric sites while nearby loops have electric. "This is the no services campground. We could walk to fill up with water but no electric on site," explains an RVer who stayed there.
Shared electric posts: Some campgrounds have inconveniently placed hookups. "These sites share an electric box. Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad. A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance," advises a camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Dump station timing: Plan for potential wait times at sanitary stations. "Since there's no full hookup, they needed someone to control the traffic that comes from two different directions going to the dual dump stations. There's no honor system, especially on a holiday weekend," notes an RVer who stayed at a nearby campground during Memorial Day.
Site size considerations: Many campgrounds have sites with varying sizes and levels of privacy. "Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees. In Honeysuckle you will have clear line of site to very close neighbor," observes a repeat visitor comparing the different camping loops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Lindenhurst, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lindenhurst, IL is Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 68 reviews.
Keep Exploring
