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Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort allows pets within its grassy campsites, providing full hookups for RVs and a convenient location near Joliet. Campers with dogs appreciate the clean facilities and quiet environment despite proximity to a busy road and shipping plant. Leisure Lake Resort features multiple pet-friendly options including tent sites, RV spots, and cabins, though reviews note inconsistent rule enforcement regarding pets. The resort includes amenities like a lake, beach, pool, and designated dog park that make it suitable for extended stays with animals. Most campgrounds in the area maintain standard leash requirements and request owners clean up after their pets.
McKinley Woods at Frederick's Grove offers tent-only, pet-friendly sites accessible via walk-in, boat-in or hike-in access along the I&M Canal Trail. The park provides vault toilets and drinking water from an old-fashioned pump, though the water appears cloudy but remains potable. Several reviewers noted that despite being within sight of residential homes, the wooded surroundings create sufficient privacy for camping with pets. Channahon State Park similarly welcomes pets at its tent camping area with picnic tables and trash disposal. Dog owners should note that sites can become flooded after heavy rainfall, so checking weather forecasts before arrival is advisable. Both locations connect to the I&M Canal Trail, providing excellent options for hiking with leashed dogs and accessing the Illinois River.
"Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant."
"Nice safe location. Flat, pretty large spots..picnic tables."
"Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view."
"Spent a couple nights here (site 3) for Vintage Illinois at a nearby park. Quiet, fairly level, gravel sites. Electric worn but fully functional. Lots of trees and shade."
from $12 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities"
from $37 / night
Check Availability"Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week."
"The beach and lake were always well maintained, and we had often enjoyed live music at the pavilion. You can even play mini golf here! I would highly recommend for anyone that can invest."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!"
"Beautiful Starved Rock is Illinois's favorite state park. Hiking through forests along the Illinois River to canyons and waterfalls with eagles soaring overhead."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"It is a bit away from businesses. However if you arrive by car you drive through the quaint town. Arriving by bicycle is even better. The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail passes right by camp."
"Great site, not far from Chicago, but feels well away from city life. Tent sites around rim of a lake. RV sites and cabins as well."
"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."
from $20 - $138 / night
Check Availability"Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch. "
from $37 / night
Check Availability"If you like having access to a bathroom and shower its great and because no one really hd a tent here but us we had some privacy. It is next to a highway so be mindful of that."
TravelerVery friendly host at the gate! Just what my wife and I were looking for. Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!
ScoutAlthough we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
TravelerSmall campground but very friendly. A plus was the full hookups. The sights are very close together. Management is not over bearing and very friendly. Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park! You overall great weekend
ScoutWe’ve been staying at this resort for several months now, and wanted to share some feedback based on our experience.
The pool only opened mid-summer.
Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning. The water is so unclean that our shower develops yellow stains within a day, and we’ve had to install a five-stage filtration system just to make it usable.
We’ve also noticed that rules aren’t enforced consistently, and it sometimes feels like certain guests are treated unfairly. For example, while we were told that personal kiddie pools aren’t allowed, we’ve counted at least six others set up around the park.
Package delivery is only permitted under special circumstances, and only if pre-approved by staff.
Had an incident where a staff member criticized my swimsuit at the pool, despite it being modest and similar to what others were wearing. I wore this swimsuit to many pools for many years. Additionally, the beach area is often closed even during posted open hours, and pool hours or updates aren’t clearly communicated—you have to inquire to get any information.
The storm shelter is typically locked, making it inaccessible in emergencies, which is a major concern.
We’ve also had to fix the swing set at the playground ourselves multiple times, as it’s been broken for a while. Many of the park’s facilities and amenities are showing their age and could benefit from updates and maintenance.
That said, there are aspects we’ve truly enjoyed, and they’re the main reasons we’ve continued our stay: the spacious layout of the RV park, a nice lake, beach, pool, gym, and a dog park.
GuideBeautiful spot for our single overnight. Staff were great; friendly and helpful. Park was well kept, with lots of green around RV and tent sites. Nice pool, dog park, store, and even a stream system that wanders through the park (no swimming in the stream). Also close to Starved Rock State Park for some neat scenery and hiking. The only downside side is that some of the RV sites are a little close together - didn’t impact our stay though. Two thumbs up! :)
TravelerMany very nice permanent sites. We loved the dog park along with the many activities available. We come here at least once a year. Check out their information on their website.
If you want a quick local get away this is the place.
LegendAs we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch.
If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs.
As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location.
If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo.
Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
TravelerStayed here in early June during a trip to Starved Rock, which is a quick 10-15 minute drive. Camp hosts are very nice and the the grounds well maintained. I stayed on site 5 which is a full hookup but best for a small camper. I have a 14 foot travel trailer and it just fit with my SUV in front. The spots are very tight and you have very little room between you and your neighbor. With all the rain this year, many sites flooded during a storm while we camped and they had to be moved to other areas that were not actual sites so it was a bit crazy...hosts did a great job taking care of everyone effected. Campground has a cute dog park and a beautiful stream that runs through it. I would stay here again!!
TravelerFriendly staff who were quick to respond to any issues. Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant. No wi-fi found except at hotel. Good phone connection. Garbage cans throughout park. Minutes from I & M Canal entrance on Houbolt and from JJC and I-80.
Minooka, Illinois sits at an elevation of approximately 620 feet along the Illinois River watershed, where summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with moderate humidity. Camping options near Minooka include both private RV resorts and public facilities with varying levels of amenities and terrain. The area's location near the I&M Canal Trail provides unique opportunities for both water and land-based recreation.
Hiking access points: McKinley Woods at Frederick's Grove connects to miles of trails including the I&M Canal State Trail. "McKinley Woods offers me a lot of nostalgia since I grew up in the area. In McKinley Woods proper there is a large camping area and two of the sites have concrete pads for ADA accessibility," notes Scott N. in his review of McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove.
Boating opportunities: Several campgrounds offer river and canal access for paddlers. At Illini State Park, "This park has a boat dock and lots of good fishing! Lots of wildlife too. We met a super cute raccoon," according to Mike T. in his review of Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park.
Winter camping: Illini State Park offers off-season camping at reduced rates. "Definitely a very relaxed and clean campground that isn't busy and has really cheap rates for off-season camping. $18 a night for walk-in and we got a 50amp spot right in front of the Illinois river," reports Nick E.
Clean facilities: Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort maintains well-kept shower and bathroom facilities. "Clean campsite, clean showers & bathrooms!" reports Jeana K. about her stay at Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort.
Affordable overnight options: Love's RV Hookup offers budget-friendly stopovers. "Easy on- and off-access" with "quality facilities" makes this a convenient option according to Stuart K., who adds that the location features "7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility" at Love's RV Hookup-Morris IL 859.
River views: Multiple campsites throughout the area offer scenic views of the Illinois River. "Basic river view site, electric hookup, water spout about 300ft away, bathrooms/showers nice little walk, across from the dump station. Some good fishing spots and boat dock down the road," explains Stacy A. about Illini State Park.
Seasonal water availability: At Hollywood Casino, water service is seasonal. "Not a bad spot. Average and relatively inexpensive," notes David N., who cautions there's "No water before 4/15."
Facility limitations: Bathroom and shower facilities at some parks may have maintenance issues. At Illini State Park, one camper reported "the men's shower and bathroom didn't have water, but the women's side had ALL the water running-the sinks where you push to turn on and they go off on their own didn't go off."
Booking requirements: Most popular campgrounds in the area fill quickly during peak season. Camp Bullfrog Lake reviewers mention the campground gets busy, especially on weekends. "We paid $122.00 for two nights," reports Tim K. about his stay at Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Recreation options: Leisure Lake Resort offers family-friendly activities beyond camping. "Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities," notes Karel M. in a review of Leisure Lake Resort.
Pet-friendly camping near Minooka: Most campgrounds welcome pets but enforce varying rules. At Hollywood Casino RV Resort, one reviewer appreciated the "Pet-friendly" atmosphere with "relatively inexpensive" rates and "Minutes from I & M Canal entrance."
Noise considerations: Nearby infrastructure can affect sleep quality. James B. notes that at Hollywood Casino, there's a "Rail yard behind the row of trees. I believe they were humbling train all night long."
Site spacing: RV sites at Martin Campground are close together. "We were unable to open our awning as we were too close to the camper next door," reports Erin B. about her stay at Martin Campground.
Utility connections: Many campgrounds offer full hookups, but availability varies. "This park does NOT have water and sewer hook ups. You will have to fill your water tank, before parking," warns Lex D. about Illini State Park.
Seasonal access: Some campgrounds operate with limited seasons. "It did get a little noisy at night but that sometimes happens," reports Geoff about Camp Bullfrog Lake, which does remain "Year Round" according to the campground information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Minooka, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Minooka, IL is Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Minooka, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 64 dog-friendly camping locations near Minooka, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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