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Camp Reinberg's pet-friendly sites accommodate tents, RVs, and cabin camping within Cook County Forest Preserve in Palatine, just north of Oakwood Hills. Dogs must remain leashed throughout the campground and surrounding trails, with a maximum of two pets permitted per site. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort in nearby Volo also welcomes pets at their tent and RV sites, though pets are not allowed in rental cabins or at the beach area. Both campgrounds maintain clean facilities with accessible pet waste stations throughout the grounds. Staff at Camp Reinberg are particularly accommodating to campers with pets, providing free firewood and maintaining exceptionally clean restroom facilities that make extended stays with animals more comfortable.
Chain O'Lakes State Park offers multiple pet-friendly camping areas including Prairie View, Fox Den, and Turner Lake South campgrounds where dogs can access hiking trails and select shoreline areas. The park features miles of paved and crushed gravel trails ideal for walking dogs, with some paths leading to Fox River where pets can cool off during summer months. Camping with pets in this region requires careful planning during peak summer weekends as mosquitoes can be particularly aggressive according to multiple visitors. The park gates close early in the evening, so pet owners should plan accordingly when taking dogs off-site for evening activities. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to be current on vaccinations, though documentation requirements vary by location.
"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."
from $12 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Lots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc."
"tucked alongside a bike and walking path that goes through a beautiful forest preserve. The path is gorgeous dipping through forested sections, open fields, and lilly pad covered ponds!"
from $45 - $60 / night
Check Availability"They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly."
"Driving into rural northern IL felt like leaving the craziness behind. I brought my dog to an animal-friendly area of the beach, which was small and secluded."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $43 - $73 / night
Check Availability"*** reviewing as a baby/toddler camp family on the go :-) we chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms… avoid the first 2 sites from either end"
"Campsite is nice, we're pretty close to our neighbors but not as bad as other places I've been. Walking distance to a fishing dock!"
"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."
"You can hear whatever highway is nearby pretty clearly and constantly. But if you’re not looking for something super remote then it’s fine!"
"It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "
"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."
"You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!"
"Saw a few of their “puppy sites” that included a private gated area for dog owners. It poured all weekend but we still enjoyed the stay."
"Our site had the usual picnic table and a short walk to the restrooms and water. What we enjoyed the most was the variety of hiking trails."
"While the highway riding was occasionally a bit harrowing, it was absolutely worth it for the beautiful views and camping here."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Prairie View campground is in the Chain O Lakes State Park series. This is the no services campground. We could walk to fill up with water but no electric on site. Checking in was interesting."
"It was me, my wife, our 8 month old daughter, and our dog."
GuideWe love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in. Bathrooms where very clean. Trails are great. Pet friendly - we brought our small, quiet dogs. Dog friendly restaurant right next to the camp site.
GuideAbsolutely beautiful, reasonable prices, electric available. Tons of restrooms, showers, laundry, and wonderful camp hosts. Huge beach area, dog park, fishing as well. Shop to buy items you may need and absolutely wonderful place. Open all year round
RangerI was here for three months this time as i get to business completed. The park was still kept up very nicely and this time I was here long enough to be able to see how. The grass is mowed every week. There is patroling at all hours for security. The laundry machines are great the dryers ore good. The dog park is clean and secure. The lake is natural and kept free of litter and garbage. The park is much bigger than i thought it was last year. The store has many items you may need. The showers are cleaned and work great. The camp water is high in Iron. The pot roads need service as thay do have a lot of pot holes. Good thing for the 5mph speed limit.
LegendMy first impression when I first arrived here was the overwhelming scent of a newly minted campground, what with the freshly laid gravel, the mint condition security gates, finely manicured and recently raked greenery (as it was October when we visited, it might be better described as brownery) surrounded by a fairly decent gated enclosure lined with perfectly pruned tall towering oaks. Upon arrival, you’ll find what looks to be a brand-spanking new log cabin office on the right after passing a seemingly freshly-minted activities center / community lodge complete with in-ground heated swimming pool and jacuzzi on the left.
Amenities? As you could guess, this pet-friendly 60-acre RV resort has all the attractions in spades from pickleball, playgrounds, volleyball, log pergola patio, full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water & sewage), picnic tables, fire pits, BBQ grills, wagon rides, river access, picnic areas, bathhouses w/ showers & restrooms, cable TV WiFi (pretty poor connection though), gaga ball, game room, community room, billiards table, playground, wet bar, tabletop shuffleboard, community living room with large screen TV, DVD player w/ DVD library, clubhouse, dog park, horseshoes, hot tub, covered pavilions with picnic tables, catch & release ponds, inflatable water toys, jumping pillow, laundr-O-mat, propane refueling station and dump station.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) This place isn’t EZ to find – for some reason, if you plug the campground into your GPS, you’ll literally be on the wrong side of the tracks, where you will arrive at a dead end with a sign that says you are in the wrong place and that you’ll need to double-back, cross the train tracks heading north and turn right just before arriving to High Road School of Belvidere (so if you see a school, you’ve gone too far); (2) You will want to take note that yes, you actually cross train tracks to get to this campground, so if you’re sharp, you’re going to want to ensure you haven’t booked a site right next to where trains will shoot through every few hours, this specifically means avoiding sites #E1-#E5 and #FS23-#FS36 as well as #FE1-#FE20; (3) If you’re a tent camper, you can certainly stay here, but you will want to note that this is very much an RV outpost; (4) The best sites IMHO are those on the northernmost perimeter, as far away from the train tracks as you can get and that also border the Kishwaukee River with sites #S9-#S20 being excellent, as well as #S25-#S81, which are equally amazing; (5) If you are planning on using that amazing pool that you saw as you came in, make sure you call management a good day or two before you come in to ensure that they turn on the heater – when we were there for 2 days, by the time we left, the pool was still too cold to go for a dip; and (6) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up a meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler and want to venture out to try some local fare, just a short walk into the nearby town is Garden Prairie Café, which has a very simple menu offering no shortage of fried everything (fish, shrimp, chicken, etc.) and then there’s Pleasant Street Tavern, but that’s mostly cheap national beers and frozen pizza fare, so if you want something a bit more substantive, head west of here to Miles Bar N’ Grill that serves up typical Midwestern fare like cheese curds, pork tenderloin, Italian beef and a variety of fried fish like blue gill, cod and catfish.
Happy Camping!
ScoutStaff was polite and helpful. They escort you to your spot. They hand out activity sheets for the weekend. Petting zoo, camp store, pool, lake/pond for swimming and fishing. Cell signal for ATT just one bar. No internet. Lots of full time residents. Lots of activities for kids. Pet friendly. They charge extra if you have visitors.
ScoutWe love camping here. It truly feels rural. Small shower house but water pressure is amazing. It’s always quiet and the view is beautiful. Bugs were awful this stay. They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly.
RangerFor years, this was our go-to campground for weekend nearby adventures. Over the years, the price has increased and at $30 per site for non-residents, it's a bit steep for tent camping for me (so I left off a star rating). All sites are electric, so if you are tent camping and want your fan or slow-cooker, then it's as good as it gets in the burbs. It's located in a beautiful wooded Dupage County Forest preserve. While the sites are pretty close together, there are a few good ones that feel more secluded. Designated chip bark tent sites are level. The grounds are very well maintained. While I didn't camp here this year, I took these photos the last weekend in October to give everyone a sense of how nice this campground could be for them. My favorite sites over the years were the ones closest to Silver Lake along the South Loop road because those sites have the best views. For privacy, my favorite site is #27 on the north loop road which makes you feel like you are alone in the woods. Other than plenty of hiking options including a big hill, the fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release. There is also archery, a dog park, picnic areas, boat rental/ramp, and a compass course. It is a great place for families. I've brought cub scouts here and my kids' friends. Heads-up that sites 21 & 22 may not be able to see traffic on the busy Winfield Rd in the summer, but you will still hear it at those sites.
GuideCampsites are kept up and quite clean. Some have a beautiful view of lake. Some water fountains did not work, however sinks were always working. So many little trails all throughout the campsite. Family friendly (parks, beach, pet friendly)
ScoutI have camped in the tent section and also used the 30 amp service with our Class B van. Plenty of sites to choose from during the week but tends to get crowded on weekends. There are some sites out in the open and some that are totally private and secluded. It pays to drive through the camp ground and note a couple sites that you are interested in and then book your site at the entrance during walk in days. Once you have a couple favorites you can then book in advance online.
It does get congested and noisy on the weekends and holidays but can be a very peaceful and relaxing campground during the non-busy days. There is obviously the lake, hiking and biking paths throughout the park, 2 camp stores, showers and plenty of restrooms scattered around the park.
Pet friendly.
Cabin camping options thrive in the northern suburbs of Illinois, with accommodations ranging from rustic structures to fully-equipped units with modern amenities. The terrain features a mix of prairie, woodlands, and lake access, with elevations generally under 900 feet across McHenry County. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F during peak camping months, while spring and fall camping often requires additional layers for comfort.
Hiking through diverse terrain: Chain O'Lakes State Park offers varied hiking experiences with "miles of trails. On one hike we were on paved, sifted gravel, grass and single trek trails. There are a lot of loops giving you options," according to a visitor at Paul Wolff Campground. The park trails accommodate different skill levels with both groomed and natural surfaces.
Kayaking connected waterways: The Chain O'Lakes system provides exceptional paddling opportunities with seven interconnected lakes. "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill," notes a camper at Fox Den Campground. Boat rentals are available for those without their own equipment.
Fishing from your site: At Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort, "the lakefront tent sites are spacious and you can fish right from your site! The lake is beautiful and surprisingly picturesque as it is all nature preserve on the opposite side." The water clarity allows visitors to "see the fish swim by" according to campers.
Well-maintained facilities: Camp Reinberg consistently receives praise for its upkeep. "Bathrooms and restrooms (seriously the cleanest I've ever seen, even the ceilings were cleaned!) and cabins, along with tent sites and 5 RV sites," reports one visitor. Another mentions the camp includes "a small camping store, communal kitchen, firepits, and clean bathrooms."
Proximity to Chicago: Many campgrounds serve as convenient getaways from urban areas. "This gem of a campground is run by the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the care they have for it shows!" notes a camper about Camp Reinberg. They appreciated that it's "centrally located to the major roads (Quentin/NW Hwy) and about 10 minutes from the Palatine Metra train station."
Privacy between sites: At Thomas Woods Campground, "most of the tent spots are spaced out enough to provide privacy and quiet." Another camper described their experience: "Nobody else was camping within sight of me, which was nice, though 2 other sites were visible from mine." This setup allows for a more secluded experience while still being in a managed campground.
Seasonal considerations: Summer weekends fill up quickly, often requiring advance planning. At Turner Lake South, "this IL state campground fills up quickly on the weekends over the summer. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to be current on vaccinations, though documentation requirements vary by location."
Wildlife encounters: Multiple campgrounds report active wildlife, particularly after dark. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched," warns a camper at Honeysuckle Hollow. Proper food storage is essential at all area campgrounds.
Alcohol policies: Regulations vary significantly between sites. Illinois State Parks enforce a "no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site," according to Fox Den Campground visitors. However, private campgrounds like Chicago Northwest KOA and Fish Lake Beach typically permit alcohol with reasonable consumption.
Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds specifically cater to families. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort "is small but it's great they're pool and activities for families very quiet at night everyone and the staff were friendly." The camp store "sells treats and pizza, very convenient and makes for a more relaxing camping experience when traveling with young kids!"
Tick and mosquito preparation: For families with young children, extra precautions are necessary. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks," cautions a parent at Prairie View Camping Area. They recommend "a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair."
Playground accessibility: Consider proximity to play areas when selecting a site. At Honeysuckle Hollow, one family "chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms." Multiple campgrounds feature "multiple playgrounds, access to launch sites for kayaks, little store to buy ice cream or snacks."
Site selection strategies: RV sites vary significantly across campgrounds. At Paul Wolff Campground, "There are a large number of RV pads overlooking the prairie and a few along a grove of trees." Another camper advises checking "the map on www.ExloreMoreIL.com (where you make your reservations) doesn't show where the restrooms are," which is important for planning.
Hook-up considerations: Water access differs between campgrounds. At Camp Reinberg, "They all have electric and the camp hosts will pull the hose over to the site in order to do a water fill up. This makes it very convenient to refill." Before choosing a site, verify the electrical capacity as most provide 30-amp or 50-amp service but rarely both.
Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional preparation. At Illinois Beach State Park, "We got in around 11:30pm and there were still people in the office to assist us." When staying at Chicago Northwest KOA, one RVer noted "Site was not level but it had a lot of shade which was nice."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Oakwood Hills, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Oakwood Hills, IL is Paul Wolff Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 21 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Oakwood Hills, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 62 dog-friendly camping locations near Oakwood Hills, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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