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.
What to do
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.
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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.
Tips from RVers
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.
