Marengo, IL is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Marengo. Find the best campgrounds near Marengo, IL. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
$12 - $50 / night
"Normal Illinois state park. Not a lot of services but good size sites and peaceful. Lake with canoe rentals and fishing. Nice walking trails."
", with Highway 173 to the west and Harlem Road to the east."
$20 - $35 / night
" We came across this one day during a day hike in the Marengo Ridge Forest preserve in McHenry county. It's about 90 mins NW of Chicago."
"While the highway riding was occasionally a bit harrowing, it was absolutely worth it for the beautiful views and camping here."
"We stayed here for a weekend and there were plenty of activities for the kids...the staff was friendly and the bathrooms were clean...our camp site was near the bathrooms, pool, and store so we were nice"
"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.
We'll be back for sure!"
$45 - $70 / night
"Propane, full hookups, fairly sized fenced in dog run area, a lake with a beach front. Play ground for the kids and a strict 5MPH speed limit. "
"We couldn’t reach the WiFi from our site but it was good closer to the lake. They also have free TV but we didn’t hook up to that."
$12 - $35 / night
"Half of them were in the Prairie and the other half was tucked into wonderfully private spots with burn pits and picnic tables. We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies."
"The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."
"It is close to home and we start and finish the camping season here."
"We did not end up signing up as we prefer to visit many more locations than they had listed."
$65 - $85 / night
"Things started to slowly open up around the 4th of July. Now, it’s our favorite place to go! The most impressive aspect in our opinion are the people."
$49 - $99 / night
"Lots of people leaving bad reviews for silly little things. let me say first off this place is HUGE. plenty of room for the kids and the dogs and just a short walk from the kish. good fishing and friendly"
"Postage stamp space on gravel but we had things to do outside the resort. Nice walking path around the two ponds. The ponds are very low due to drought this summer."
"Stayed here for a week, nice clean campground, quiet and beautiful lake for fishing, close to town, but yet just far enough out."
"You have to walk up to the sites. There's a wagon and a dolly to take your things.
There isn't much in terms of hiking trails."
"I don't mind them at all, and rather enjoy the sound, but there were probably three of them that went by in the middle of the night rather close to the campground."
LegendThe sunrise campground offers electric and non-electric campsites as well as some sites accessible for people with disabilities. Campground amenities include a shower building, flush and vault toilets, a dump station and a playground area. Firewood is sold at the Molinaro Visitor Center/Headquarters parking lot through a firewood vending machine which is open 24/7. It is a credit card only.
ScoutWe camp here several times a year. The sites are well kept and pretty spacious. It’s rarely crowded and I never feel like I’m on top of other people. The shower house is pretty basic but clean. The primitive sites are where it’s at! First come first serve and they fill up quick.
TravelerWife and I decided to camp along the way as we traveled 2,400. Headed south we called here and the person we talked to was so sweet and knowledgeable. She helped pick a site for us because we decide the camping was going to be tent camping. Rolled in after hours and quickly set camp up. Woke up to a beautiful site and extremely nice people.
TravelerThis is a favorite campground we've stayed at many times. Some sites can be difficult to get level on, and some can be difficult to back into, so scout out sites before hand. Nice trails and a natural spring.
ScoutThe owner was honest about the services offered. Really nothing but a place to park. It was basically his back yard filled with tents. We were told drive down through the tents and park in the back. No real site offered. If you want firewood go ahead and pick up the branches they have fallen. This was one step alone above staying overnight at the Walmart offering lot but they charged $50 for it. Over all nit good.
ScoutThis was the Memorial Day pick for 2025, first off when it hits curfew its super quiet, there are a lot of playground areas for the kids, the pool was working and it was heated, the price for 5 bundles of wood is reasonable and we used a lot because this was a cold windy weekend.
One complaint was the lady in registration didn't give me a window card which I didn't think about til the security person wouldn't let me get back to my campsite, this was after I got back from taking my wife out for breakfast. I had to go back into registration to get one.
The second complaint was they didn't cut the grass so there was a mix of tall grass and dandelion stems.
The third complaint was 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, my assistant, my wife, reminded the driver that we were waiting before he got in the other line. I tried to be nice to them, which I am always in public, and told the drivers wife they needed a traffic controller, but I got the snob treatment anyway. The guard shack was right there too but they just stand there and bs while this is going on,
This campground is between two major cities and I won't go back because of that, too many stick your nose up, dirty look types around that park.
ScoutWe had a great time in this hidden gem. It is run by the county and was much more than we expected from a county run facility. We had a very nice cam site that allowed us to pull through with our pop up. There are very tall trees around the entire campground giving you some respite from the sun and the heat. The bath house is easily within walking distance from anywhere in the campground. Many people that we met have been coming back for years (this was our first time there). They have fire rings and picnic tables and firewood for sale at the entrance. They allow dogs and the ranger is frequently visible throughout the day. You are a short distance from the river and the surroundings are wonderful. You are 20 minutes away from stores and restaurants if you happen to need them and also a short drive to Wisconsin.
ScoutThis is our favorite place to camp. It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. It has the electrical hookups that we need and has a bath house that is close to where you camp (hundreds of feet versus getting into a car and driving to it). It has lots of groomed and ungroomed walking trails. It has a boat ramp and a small store and restaurant. It allows dogs and the rangers keep the site relatively quiet, especially at night. And within 5 miles of the campground, you have the amenities that you need in case you forgot something along the way. We love going there.
ScoutYou can camp year around in this campground. Most recent 2 times were winter camping. No host so buying wood is an issue, but pick a site on the edge and there is more than enough free. Bring a saw. Nice place for solitude. No rowdies in winter. Close to hiking. 10 minutes from a town if needed.
Camping near Marengo, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From scenic trails to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.
Camping near Marengo, Illinois, offers a mix of adventure and relaxation. Whether you're hiking, fishing, or just enjoying nature, there’s something for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Marengo, IL is Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground with a 4-star rating from 77 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Marengo, IL that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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