Cabin camping near Northbrook, Illinois provides access to natural settings within a short drive of the city. Most camping options are located within forest preserves and recreation areas within 30 minutes of Northbrook, with elevations ranging from 650 to 850 feet above sea level. The region experiences distinct seasons with summer highs averaging 83°F and winter lows often dropping below freezing.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Camp Reinberg in Palatine connects to miles of trails through the Deer Grove Forest Preserve. "For nature that's close to civilization, Deer Grove Forest Preserve is the best. The trails through the grounds are varied and long--you can find something to suit just about any preference for suburban midwest hiking. There are plenty of paved trails as well as dirt, lots of fun little off-shoots into the woods, creeks run throughout, and there's even a little up-and-down thanks to ice age glaciers," notes a visitor to Camp Reinberg.
Kayaking and canoeing: Chain O' Lakes State Park offers multiple waterways for paddling. A visitor at Turner Lake South mentions, "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I enjoy this route for the wildlife and nature scenery. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far."
Rock climbing: Some campgrounds offer specialized activities for families. Camp Sullivan features an indoor climbing wall that guests can access. According to a visitor, "There is an activities barn with a rock climbing wall. There are smaller family cabins with heat available to rent as well as large bunkhouses for organized groups."
What campers like
Quiet weekday camping: Many campgrounds are busy on weekends but quiet during the week. A camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake noted, "We live 15 minutes away so like to take midweek camping trips to break up the work week." Another visitor mentioned, "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week."
Fishing access: Several cabins offer direct access to fishing. At Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort, "The lake is beautiful and surprisingly picturesque as it is all nature preserve on the opposite side. The lakefront tent sites are spacious and you can fish right from your site!" Some cabins are situated directly on shorelines with fishing piers nearby.
Wildlife viewing: The forest preserves around Northbrook host diverse wildlife. A visitor to Turner Lake South observed, "I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two." Visitors frequently report seeing deer, waterfowl, and small mammals throughout the camping areas.
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most cabin camping facilities operate from April/May through October, with limited winter options. Water systems at many campgrounds are shut off during cold months. "The water is not yet potable so bring your own or check with the park team to ensure it's drinkable when you go," advised one camper about early spring camping.
Reservation requirements: Most cabins require advance booking, especially for summer weekends. At Honeysuckle Hollow, a visitor noted they were "camping here right in the middle of fall. The leaves were changing and our site was near the lake." Fall weekends book up particularly quickly due to leaf-viewing opportunities.
Bathroom facilities: Quality of bathroom facilities varies significantly between locations. "The shower houses are dated, yet I have seen them clean and also not clean on busy camper weekends," explained a frequent visitor to Chain O'Lakes State Park. Cabins with private bathrooms command higher rates but offer more convenience.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some cabin locations offer multiple play areas. According to a visitor at Sunset Campground, "This used to be our traditional family camping area, but over the years camping has become very strict on noise and headcounts. It is also becoming more modernized." Many campgrounds have added updated playground equipment in recent years.
Bug protection: Ticks and mosquitoes are common, especially in wooded cabin areas. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair," warns a parent who camped at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Wildlife precautions: Raccoons are active at many campgrounds, particularly at dusk. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s'mores early, then everything must be packed into cars for the night and all surfaces wiped down," advises a camper.
Tips from RVers
Utility hookups: Electric service is available at most cabin campgrounds, but water and sewer connections vary. At Camp Sullivan, an RVer noted, "No water or dumping hook up. Electric only." Many cabins require using communal water sources rather than having direct plumbing connections.
Site spacing: Cabins at most locations are positioned close together with limited privacy. "The campsites are TINY. We were in a modest pop up and still felt crowded," reported one RVer at Camp Sullivan. Sites at Forest Preserve campgrounds tend to be more compact than those at commercial resorts.
Dump station access: End-of-stay dump station access can be challenging during busy periods. "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," explained an RVer, suggesting arriving early on checkout day to avoid long waits.
