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Best Equestrian Camping near Mundelein, IL

99 Reviews

Equestrian camping options remain limited near Mundelein, Illinois, with most established campgrounds lacking specific horse facilities. Chain O' Lakes State Park contains multiple campgrounds including Fox Den, Turner Lake South, and Prairie View, but none offer dedicated horse corrals or equine accommodations according to available data. The park features multiple recreational opportunities including boating, fishing, and hiking trails, though equestrian-specific amenities are not highlighted in visitor reviews. Campgrounds throughout the area accommodate various camping styles including tent, RV, and in some cases cabin options, with standard amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and access to restroom facilities.

Located approximately 15-20 miles from Mundelein, these campgrounds provide access to the broader Chain O' Lakes region but without specialized horse facilities. Horse owners planning camping trips must verify current policies directly with park management regarding horses on trails or at campsites. Trails within the state park system might permit horseback riding on designated paths, but this requires confirmation. The terrain features a mix of wooded areas and lake access, creating potential for scenic rides if permitted. Campers note that reservations are essential during summer months as campgrounds fill quickly, especially at Fox Den which offers more secluded sites surrounded by trees and vegetation that provide greater privacy than other camping areas within the park.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Mundelein, Illinois (8)

    1. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    8 Reviews
    Round Lake, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 546-2228

    $43 - $73 / night

    "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."

    2. Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    12 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "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."

    "There is a lot to do at this park from hiking to water sports to horse back riding. We did a nice short hike in area. We had a great time at this campground and would visit again."

    3. Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    13 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    16 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "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."

    "Trails were geared more towards horses and bikes, but there are plenty of walking paths, and we were able to find some hidden trails along the lake (read: unofficial)."

    4. Paul Wolff Campground

    21 Reviews
    Elgin, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 444-1200

    $12 - $35 / night

    "The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."

    "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."

    5. Big Foot Beach State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Lake Geneva, WI
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (262) 248-2528

    "Conveniently located next to Lake Geneva with a tiny roadside beach area. I recommend camping sites on the west side of the camping loop to cut down on sun. Not enough electric sites for campers."

    "We stayed at site 98- just barely big enough to fit our travel trailer in and right next to the showers and bathrooms. Not a great location, but fine."

    6. Big Rock Campground

    18 Reviews
    Big Rock, IL
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 232-5980

    $18 - $35 / night

    "Clean, with large sites, about a 5 mile walk around the nearby lake- saw several deer and rabbits - T-Mobile worked just fine- no Wi-Fi"

    "Open campground with nearly zero tree. We had a great campfire but didn’t take advantage of the whole park to explore. She wants to again this year but we will spend more time hiking."

    7. Elkhorn Campgrounds

    4 Reviews
    Elkhorn, WI
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (262) 723-3228

    "Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse areana. You might even be able to catch a show or two on site at the fair grounds, depending on the time of year."

    "Easy access to electric and/or water. If unsure, contact office. Site, restrooms, and showers were clean. There are a lot of sites but still felt like there was ample space."

    8. Kishwaukee Valley Farms

    Be the first to review!
    Woodstock, IL
    28 miles

    $74 - $100 / night

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Mundelein, IL

99 Reviews of 8 Mundelein Campgrounds

  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2024

    Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Fine camping in Northern Illinois

    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. Be aware that the map on www.ExloreMoreIL,com(where you make your reservations) doesn't show where the restrooms are. 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. Facilities are clean and well lit. Fire pits are slightly raised steel troughs with a heavy adjustable grill. This is a BIG park, the campgrounds are two miles from the front gate, and it's a drive to the main boat launch at Maple Grove, where you have access to the Fox River and Grass lake. This location has a huge parking lot for boat trailers, a very well stocked general store with fishing supplies, a cafe, boat rentals and good firewood. To get away from the crowd if you're a canoeist or kayaker it's nicer to leave the park and go back in at Oak Point picnic area and boat launch at the northern border. This will put you on the Fox river with developments to the north(including a bar& grill) or to the south which is all nature. I think the distance by boat between the two launches is 4-5 miles, but I'm not sure, Halfway there you'll meet up with the Goldfinch trail which is the shortest loop and the most diverse in term of flora. There are horse/ snowmobile trails, but no equestrian campground. Chain o' Lakes is one of the busiest waterways in Illinois, with motorboats everywhere in the height of the summer season. We canoe, and both times we stayed there it was October, so I can't tell you how crowded, but the vast number of picnic areas must be there for a reason. An odd thing is that you can hear a Steam Train whistle quite often, this is from Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. We don't have kids so we went to Stade's Farm& Orchard(which is also large and kid friendly) because they have an orchard and vegetable market. One last thing, 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:)

  • Marisa A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2020

    Paul Wolff Campground

    Great value Chicago suburb campsite

    I've camped here four different occasions this 2020 covid-19 year. The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms. It is a super clean campground with multiple hosts and forest preserve staff. There are a large number of RV pads overlooking the prairie and a few along a grove of trees. I was lucky once to see the equestrian area full of campers with their horses. There are 9 walk-in tent sites about 10-20 yards from parking (the two at the end p7 and p9 are connected for groups that know each other). There are multiple ada sites and two "walk-in/ie roll-in" site in the tent-only area. It's a good mix of young people, retired people, and families. I've seen weekends with mainly RVs and one weekend with a quarter of the drive-in sites being tents. The most shaded sites are p1,3,5,7 and 9. Many of the sites in the middle are wide open with little shade but nice summer breezes. Prices are a great deal if you live in Kane county but still worth the trip if you live in another county. Firewood is $7 for about .75 cu ft (what you can fit in a milk crate.) There are a few trails and I've seen lots of butterflies, gold finches, hawks, deer, flocks of giant sandhill cranes, rabbits, ground squirrels, and of course actual squirrels. Lots of people (including me) bring their leashed dogs. The other campers have been polite and friendly. I wish there was more distance between sites in the water/electrical loops for more privacy, but I'd go every weekend if I lived in Kane county because it would be worth the resident price even tho there are so many RVs. Because there is electrical it is a peaceful campground with no generator noise.

  • M
    Jun. 2, 2021

    Paul Wolff Campground

    Not for #vanlife

    Full hook ups and electric sites plus some restricted Equestrian and walk in sites
    Not for #vanlife. I tried to pay for a tent site and was told “you’re not supposed to sleep in your car” “this campground is for RV’s only”

  • Jeff G.
    May. 21, 2019

    Big Rock Campground

    Wide open with very young trees

    Grass camping. The spaces are pretty level. The trees will be terrific in about 20 years. There is nothing much to do here, or nearby. It’s clean and the comfort stations are new. There is electric at the sites and water spigots throughout, although not really at each space. I saw where some campers hooked about 150’ of hose to spigots behind the loops to run to their campers. The dump station is good. It’s expensive, for what is there, if you are not a Kane County resident. There appears to be some equestrian space and trails. Quiet.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2018

    Big Rock Campground

    No shade, no shower

    No Shade, and no showers. This is a relatively new campground not too far (about an hour drive) from Chicago. We looked at this place when we were looking for a spot to camp for a local wedding. But, no shade in the Illinois heat and no shower made it unacceptable. There were paved roads and the sites looked large and level. There was water and electric And a dump stations at the entrance/exit.

  • Brenton S.
    Jul. 1, 2020

    Elkhorn Campgrounds

    Affordable and friendly!

    Such a great little place to escape to or visit if you're just passing through. Nothing crazy fancy but hook-ups and fire pits available if needed. Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse areana. You might even be able to catch a show or two on site at the fair grounds, depending on the time of year.

  • C
    May. 31, 2017

    Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Typical State Park Campsites

    The state park is larger than expected with decent amenities (boat rentals, concessions, relatively clean pit toilets) and areas designated for trailer camping and tent camping.

    We stayed in the Turner South Loop, one of the older tent camping loops, and the age definitely showed. Most of the sites on this loop are pretty worn, with not much privacy. We stayed in T10, but would consider T9 if we returned to this loop for a different reserved site. The prairie loop looked a bit newer with bigger, less worn sites. Both loops had grill pits that were well-maintained for fires and campfire cooking.

    Trails were geared more towards horses and bikes, but there are plenty of walking paths, and we were able to find some hidden trails along the lake (read: unofficial). Overall, a place for relaxing and leisurely strolls and not hiking.

  • Bob C.
    Jul. 10, 2023

    Big Foot Beach State Park Campground

    Crowded weekend

    The campground was full for the weekend but emptied out on Sunday. Conveniently located next to Lake Geneva with a tiny roadside beach area. I recommend camping sites on the west side of the camping loop to cut down on sun. Not enough electric sites for campers.

  • Jeanne M.
    Apr. 20, 2018

    Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Great for local get aways

    Great for the times that we have to work weekends and still want to go camping. 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. The only big minus is the full hook ups fill up fast no spur of the moment camping unless it is early or late in the season. The other thing is ALL Illinois State Parks are now enforcing a no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site.

Guide to Mundelein

Equestrian camping options near Mundelein, Illinois are limited within a 30-mile radius, with most campers needing to travel to neighboring counties. The area features mostly flat terrain with elevations ranging between 700-850 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with moderate humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons experience cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall.

What to do

Kayaking the Chain O' Lakes: The interconnected waterways offer multiple paddling routes through seven lakes connected by tributaries. Fox Den Campground provides convenient water access. "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill. Rangers were helpful and delivered firewood to our site daily," reports Aida K.

Wildlife observation: The wetland ecosystems throughout the region support diverse bird and mammal populations. Turner Lake South offers strategic viewing locations. "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," shares Cora M.

Hiking the forest preserves: Multiple trail systems with varying difficulty levels accommodate different fitness levels. "We did a nice short hike in area. We had a great time at this campground and would visit again," notes Michelle M. about her experience at Fox Den Campground.

What campers like

Affordability for tent campers: Budget-conscious options exist for primitive camping experiences. Big Rock Forest Preserve offers economical sites. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner," explains Addison G. about Turner Lake South.

Secluded camping spots: Sites with natural barriers provide more privacy. "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)," notes Ian C.

Proximity to urban amenities: Many campgrounds balance natural settings with access to conveniences. "This is our favorite place to camp. It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. And within 5 miles of the campground, you have the amenities that you need in case you forgot something along the way," Christopher R. shares about Fox Den Campground.

What you should know

Limited horse facilities: Despite some trail riding opportunities, dedicated equestrian camping near Mundelein is scarce. Paul Wolff Campground occasionally hosts horse campers. "I was lucky once to see the equestrian area full of campers with their horses," mentions Marisa A.

Seasonal variations in availability: Summer months require advance planning. "Chain O'Lakes State Park in IL has two electric campgrounds, 2 non-electric campgrounds and one group site," explains Debra M., noting site differences.

Site topography differences: Campsite terrain varies significantly between locations. "Sites in Turner lake south loop are kinda small but not on top of each other... This loop is best for tent camping. The other loops are basically all RVs," observes Julia B.

Tips for camping with families

Beach and swimming options: Several locations offer supervised swimming areas. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort provides multiple water recreation options. "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. The lake is beautiful and surprisingly picturesque as it is all nature preserve on the opposite side. The beach is large enough and there are clean bathrooms right there," recommends Chloe N.

Organized activities for children: Scheduled programming keeps younger campers engaged. "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," mentions Jenifer K. about Fish Lake Beach.

Educational wildlife opportunities: Several parks offer nature programming. "We kayaked in the lake and it's small but nice. Great for kids lots of activities and space to play But very quiet and relaxing by nighttime," shares Christin D. about Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.

Tips from RVers

Hookup logistics: Water and electric access points vary by campground. Elkhorn Campgrounds offers full-service sites. "Campsite 65- Rita, the mgr/owner, returned call to assist in selecting a site. The outer lanes had shade, while our site was in the middle open area. Easy access to electric and/or water. If unsure, contact office," advises Dan W.

Big rig accessibility: Some campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles better than others. "Water Hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!" cautions Amanda K. about Big Rock Campground.

Site selection for privacy: RV sites differ significantly in spacing and seclusion. "Very big campground with mostly seasonals. Atmosphere is the perfect balance of fun and relaxing. Site size varies," notes Glenn T. about Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mundelein, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mundelein, IL is Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort with a 4.3-star rating from 8 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Mundelein, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Mundelein, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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