Best Campgrounds near Northbrook, IL
Campgrounds near Northbrook, Illinois range from suburban forest preserves to lakefront state parks, with most facilities located within a 30-45 minute drive. Camp Reinberg in Palatine and Illinois Beach State Park offer developed camping options with amenities like electric hookups, showers, and reservable sites. The area primarily supports tent and RV camping, with some locations like Camp Bullfrog Lake and Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort also offering cabin accommodations and glamping experiences.
Reservations are essential at most campgrounds in the Chicago metropolitan area, particularly on summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The camping season typically runs from May through October, with limited year-round options. "Just outside of Chicago, we have been staying here for quick weekend trips and absolutely love the proximity to home," noted one camper about Blackwell Family Campground. Many campgrounds in the region enforce alcohol restrictions and quiet hours. Forest Preserve District sites like Camp Reinberg and Paul Wolff Campground provide electric hookups and basic amenities within natural settings, while state parks offer more extensive facilities including sanitary dump stations, showers, and water hookups.
Campers consistently mention the surprising amount of nature preservation so close to urban Chicago. The Chain O'Lakes area north of Northbrook provides multiple camping options with water recreation opportunities. "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," reported one visitor about Chain O'Lakes State Park. Sites at most campgrounds tend to be relatively close together with limited privacy, though walk-in tent sites typically offer more seclusion. Many campers appreciate the trail systems available for hiking and biking directly from campgrounds. Campgrounds within forest preserves typically provide more wooded settings, while state park campgrounds often feature a mix of open and shaded sites with varied levels of privacy.
