Best Campgrounds near Oakwood Hills, IL
Northern Illinois around Oakwood Hills features a variety of camping options within a short drive, particularly concentrated along the Chain O' Lakes region. State parks and forest preserves dominate the landscape, with Chain O' Lakes State Park offering multiple campground loops including Fox Den, Turner Lake South, Prairie View, and Honeysuckle Hollow. Each provides different experiences from wooded privacy to open RV-friendly areas. Paul Wolff Campground in Burnidge Forest Preserve and Camp Reinberg in Palatine offer forest preserve camping closer to suburban areas. The Chicago Northwest KOA in Union and Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort in Volo round out the private camping options with more amenities for families and RV travelers.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through October, with limited winter availability. Illinois state parks enforce a strict no-alcohol policy that applies even at individual campsites. Reservations through the ExploreMoreIL system are essential during summer weekends when lakefront sites fill quickly. As one camper noted about Chain O' Lakes, "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." Many campgrounds feature electric hookups and water access, though primitive camping options with fewer amenities exist at locations like Prairie View campground where "we could walk to fill up with water but no electric on site."
Lakefront access represents a significant draw throughout the region, with fishing, boating, and water recreation available at most locations. Campers consistently mention the contrast between busy summer waterways and quieter shoulder seasons. "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," reports one visitor. Site privacy varies considerably between campgrounds and even within loops - Turner Lake South offers "nice and private sites" while Honeysuckle Hollow is described as "open and row after row of RV sites." Shade coverage is another important consideration during hot Illinois summers, with several reviewers noting its importance for comfort during peak season.
