North Aurora camping opportunities blend suburban proximity with surprising natural elements. Sites often feature level terrain with modern amenities within a 30-mile radius. Winter camping options remain limited with Big Rock Campground being one of few locations operating year-round, while most campgrounds reduce services after October.
What to do
Hiking trails and wildlife viewing: At Burnidge Forest Preserve Paul Wolff Campground, visitors access miles of hiking opportunities. "There are a lot of loops giving you options. When we left we still hadn't hiked all of them," notes one visitor. The trails feature varied terrain with opportunities to see local wildlife, as another camper shares: "We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies."
Fishing opportunities: Fishing enthusiasts find several options at Blackwell Family Campground where "the fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release," according to one reviewer. Beyond the campground itself, Silver Lake provides additional angling spots.
Water recreation: Kayaking and boating options exist at Camp Bullfrog Lake where "kayaks are $15 an hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," reports a camper. The camp also connects to miles of mountain biking trails that attract serious cyclists with "vehicles carrying top of the line bikes in and out all day."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many North Aurora area campgrounds maintain above-average bathroom and shower facilities. At Camp Reinberg, campers consistently praise the cleanliness, with one noting they were "seriously the cleanest I've ever seen, even the ceilings were cleaned!" Another reviewer mentions the "shower building, restrooms and cabins are as well" maintained.
Proximity to Chicago: Campgrounds surrounding North Aurora offer convenient access to Chicago while providing natural settings. "Located only 30 miles outside the city," one camper says about Blackwell Family Campground, calling it "the perfect little getaway." This accessibility makes these sites popular for weekend trips, with another reviewer mentioning Camp Reinberg is "a short trip to get groceries or whatever you need."
Multi-use trails: Biking and walking paths connect many campgrounds to surrounding forest preserves. "From the campground you have access to the entire Deer Park preserve and its paved cycling and walking trails," mentions a Camp Reinberg visitor. At Camp Bullfrog Lake, "what's great about this location is the access to miles and miles of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite."
What you should know
Limited privacy: Many campgrounds feature sites with minimal separation. At Big Rock Campground, "even their 9 hike-in primitive sites hugging the treeline lack privacy," according to a visitor. Others note that while sites are often level, many are arranged in open areas with little tree coverage between neighbors.
Water access challenges: Several campgrounds have water stations positioned inconveniently far from individual sites. At Big Rock Campground, "water hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!" advises one camper. Another visitor at Camp Reinberg explains "there are no water spigots at the RV sites. The staff has to hook up a very very long hose and will bring it to your site."
Reservation requirements: Campgrounds fill quickly during summer months, especially on weekends. Blackwell Family Campground accepts reservations up to 6 months in advance with spots often booking completely for summer weekends. At Big Rock Campground, however, sites operate on a first-come basis with "no reservations taken" though "there is plenty of space and availability."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and activities: Jellystone Park Millbrook provides scheduled entertainment for children. "Lots of activities to do everyday like crafts to keep the kids preoccupied during the day," mentions a visitor. The campground receives particularly high marks for Halloween camping, with one camper noting "this is an activity packed weekend which is amazing. Good for kids of all ages including the adults."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas for families. Sycamore RV Resort features "a nice lake for fishing and a beach area for the kids to go swimming," according to a reviewer. Jellystone Park Millbrook provides "the pool is nice as well as the hot tub," though another visitor notes "the hot tub is supposed to be adult only but it isn't really enforced."
Youth group facilities: Blackwell Family Campground includes designated youth camping areas. "The group sites are separate from the main part of the park, a short multi-use trail connects the two. Our Scouts were able to walk down to access the lake and fish," reports a visitor. The area includes "open space for sports/games and some great climbing trees within the group area."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: RV sites vary significantly in size across campgrounds. Big Rock Campground offers "big, level sites" according to visitors, while Paul Wolff Campground features "RV spots are concrete, flat, and easy to get into." Camp Bullfrog Lake receives mixed reviews with one camper noting "sites #4 and 5 probably have the longest length parking pad."
Electric service types: Most campgrounds offer electric hookups, but amperage varies. Paul Wolff Campground provides 50-amp service at some sites, while Blackwell Family Campground offers electric at all sites. For campers needing specific electric requirements, confirm availability when booking since some campgrounds may list 50-amp only but actually have "50/30/20A" options as noted about one location.
Shade availability: Limited shade affects many RV areas near North Aurora. Camp Bullfrog Lake has "NO shade during the day. None at all due to the trees within the campground being small," according to a reviewer. For greater tree coverage, Blackwell Family Campground offers more options with one camper recommending sites "closest to Silver Lake along the South Loop road."
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