Camping spots near Ingleside, Illinois concentrate within a 15-mile radius of the town, with elevations ranging from 700-850 feet above sea level. The area experiences distinct seasonal changes affecting campground availability, with summer highs averaging 83°F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Sites within Richard Bong State Recreation Area and Big Foot Beach State Park often require advance booking during peak July weekends.
What to do
Kayaking at Turner Lake: Accessible water routes provide options for paddlers of all skill levels at Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park. "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 one visitor.
Horseback riding: Trail rides available at multiple locations with varying rates for hourly rides. "There is so much to do at this campground. Horseback riding, archery, hiking, boating, fishing. There is also a park for the kids in several areas," explains a camper at Turner Lake South.
Off-road recreation: Dedicated ATV areas at Sunrise Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area allow for motorized recreation on designated tracks. "We went for the ATV track. We took our bikes down by the pond and park. They have flush toilets and showers," reports a weekend visitor.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple habitats support diverse animal sightings. "If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go," reports a visitor to Sunset Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area, adding "What drew me to this campground was how private the individual sites were. Each campsite is cut back into the trees so that most are at least semi-private."
Clear water quality: Several lakes provide excellent visibility for swimming and fishing. "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," explains a visitor to Prairie View.
Site privacy: Camping loops vary significantly in site separation and natural screening. "We stayed in the Turner lake south loop, which has nice and private sites. This is in contrast to Honeysuckle hollow which is open and row after row of RV sites. Fox den and Prairie view loops are nice as well with mostly primitive sites," a regular visitor reports.
What you should know
Alcohol restrictions: Policies vary by park system - Illinois state parks prohibit alcohol while Wisconsin parks typically allow it. "No alcohol, they will issue a ticket," warns a visitor to Mud Lake East — Chain O' Lakes State Park, while another camper notes "Illinois State Parks are now enforcing a no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site."
Gate closure times: Most parks lock entrance gates after hours, preventing late returns. "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 camper at Prairie View.
Insect populations: Wetland environments support large mosquito populations, especially after rain. "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it," explains a visitor to Sunset Campground, adding "Thankfully we had a pop-up screened gazebo that made sitting outside our tent much more enjoyable."
Tips for camping with families
Bring mosquito protection: Screen shelters for toddlers and infants recommended at Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park. "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," advises a parent.
Secure food from wildlife: Evening raccoon activity requires proper food storage. "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," reports a family camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Check site dimensions: Many campsites have specific constraints that affect equipment setup. "Sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe. Also seemed pretty respectful in the evenings with people toning down the noise," notes a family with young children.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for hookups: Electric hookup configurations vary significantly between campgrounds. "These sites share an electric box. Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance," advises an RVer at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Campground comparison: For Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park, "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees."
Weekend considerations: Weekday stays typically offer much quieter conditions and better site availability. "We stayed here for a week over the summer. The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," reports an RV camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
