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Camp Bullfrog Lake and Camp Sullivan accept pets at their tent, RV, and cabin sites within Cook County Forest Preserves near Palos Heights. Both campgrounds provide electric hookups, drinking water, fire pits, and picnic tables at their pet-friendly sites. Campers report the bathroom facilities at Bullfrog Lake are generally clean with good handicap accessibility, while Sullivan's facilities receive mixed reviews regarding cleanliness and maintenance. Each campsite comes with a free bundle of oak firewood for evening campfires. The RV sites at Camp Sullivan are limited in size, with campers noting they accommodate units up to approximately 35 feet but lack water hookups at individual sites and have no dump station.
Several miles of hiking and mountain biking trails connect directly to both campgrounds, providing excellent opportunities for dog walking throughout the forest preserves. Camp Bullfrog Lake's lakeside tent sites offer water views but minimal shade, while the surrounding forest trails provide cooler walking routes for pets during summer months. The trails throughout the Palos area forest preserves create an extensive network for longer dog walks, with hikers reporting wildlife sightings including deer, herons, songbirds, and occasional coyotes. Both campgrounds are situated approximately an hour from downtown Chicago, making them convenient options for city residents seeking outdoor recreation with their pets without traveling far from the metropolitan area.
"Great site, not far from Chicago, but feels well away from city life. Tent sites around rim of a lake. RV sites and cabins as well."
"What’s great about this location is the access to the miles and mile of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite."
from $20 - $138 / night
Check Availability"Located in a Cook County forest preserve this family camping option is a nice local getaway. The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern."
"There are several bathrooms around and they are clean. Staff is friendly and welcoming."
from $35 - $250 / night
Check Availability"Just outside of Chicago, we have been staying here for quick weekend trips and absolutely love the proximity to home."
"I always loved going to the parks in Illinois with my grandparents when I was little. They love hiking and nature and definitely got me interested in it also. I love them and miss them everyday."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"There is so much to do her, wineries and breweries nearby. The beaches are not too crowded. Pet friendly and lots to do for children. This is one of our favorite vacation spots."
"give you a great view of Lake Michigan. Bathroom rooms and shower were super clean. Dog friendly campsite and right next to the lake!"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"If you like having access to a bathroom and shower its great and because no one really hd a tent here but us we had some privacy. It is next to a highway so be mindful of that."
"We spent the afternoon on the lakeside and drove back to the site to set up for the evening."
"Was rainy, but still enjoyed walking the beach. Staff extremely pleasant & helpful. Pavilion services was closed for construction. There is an area on the Beach where you can walk your dogs."
from $43 / night
Check Availability"We just purchased our first Winnebago and needed a spot close to home for a quick trial run. We have three small boys and they were very excited to camp."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant."
"Nice safe location. Flat, pretty large spots..picnic tables."
"The park is dog friendly. The campground is clean and quiet. There is no bath house, only port-a-potty's throughout the campground."
"Yes, it’s an hour from the city, but I’d take the drive over the bill at a nearby hotel. There’s an outhouse and plenty of places to plug in the RV, and cars/tents are welcome too."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"We were there the week before peak season opened so none of the pools or splash pads were open, but they were very accommodating so that we could still play mini golf and ride around on the pedal cars."
"A lake with water rentals, floating water slide, playgrounds and sport courts, general store with the stardust’s “convenience mark-ups”,and water/ electric at all sites."
from $49 - $57 / night
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TravelerSmall campground but very friendly. A plus was the full hookups. The sights are very close together. Management is not over bearing and very friendly. Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park! You overall great weekend
TravelerWe stayed in the off season in a site close to the laundry facility and office. Great campground for families. Our site was smaller however, no one was around us so it seemed bigger. They do have nice premium sites in the front. Loved that it is gated and and key card access after hours. Has a dog park and a playground for the kids.
ScoutWe’ve been staying at this resort for several months now, and wanted to share some feedback based on our experience.
The pool only opened mid-summer.
Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning. The water is so unclean that our shower develops yellow stains within a day, and we’ve had to install a five-stage filtration system just to make it usable.
We’ve also noticed that rules aren’t enforced consistently, and it sometimes feels like certain guests are treated unfairly. For example, while we were told that personal kiddie pools aren’t allowed, we’ve counted at least six others set up around the park.
Package delivery is only permitted under special circumstances, and only if pre-approved by staff.
Had an incident where a staff member criticized my swimsuit at the pool, despite it being modest and similar to what others were wearing. I wore this swimsuit to many pools for many years. Additionally, the beach area is often closed even during posted open hours, and pool hours or updates aren’t clearly communicated—you have to inquire to get any information.
The storm shelter is typically locked, making it inaccessible in emergencies, which is a major concern.
We’ve also had to fix the swing set at the playground ourselves multiple times, as it’s been broken for a while. Many of the park’s facilities and amenities are showing their age and could benefit from updates and maintenance.
That said, there are aspects we’ve truly enjoyed, and they’re the main reasons we’ve continued our stay: the spacious layout of the RV park, a nice lake, beach, pool, gym, and a dog park.
TravelerMany very nice permanent sites. We loved the dog park along with the many activities available. We come here at least once a year. Check out their information on their website.
If you want a quick local get away this is the place.
GuidePros - playground, pool, well kept grounds, helpful staff, gated/swipe card access, ponds, close to area attractions, decent campground WiFi, small fire ring, small dog park
Cons - tight spaces, BYO grill, bad showers, dirty/tight bathroom area
The mens room is just gross. Water in the stalls because showers don’t drain. Water in the shower never gets hot. Missing shower heads with pressure that almost tears your skin. Can barely squeeze into the tiny stall. Toilets are gross.
GuideWe used it as an over night stop right off of 94. It was perfect for that. It would also be perfect spot to stay longer if wanted to be in the area. Grounds were nice. Clean bathrooms, laundry, dog friendly, pool, office is friendly and has a store with game room. Nice dog park. We are in a 40ft with tow and did not need to unhook.
ScoutGreat stop for the night, It's new, gated and has basic amenities like a General store, Dog park and basketball court and tennis ball court for some activities if you have kids. Plenty of space and Convenient. We reserved and checked in online. The only complaint I had is the site we were at showed a ground fault on the 50amp Circuit so I had to use the 30 amp circuit but it's Nov so no need to run dual ACs minor issue but still make sure your using your EPM devices.
LegendAs we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch.
If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs.
As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location.
If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo.
Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
TravelerFriendly staff who were quick to respond to any issues. Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant. No wi-fi found except at hotel. Good phone connection. Garbage cans throughout park. Minutes from I & M Canal entrance on Houbolt and from JJC and I-80.
Camping opportunities near Palos Heights, Illinois, are primarily concentrated within Cook County Forest Preserves, with additional options available within driving distance. The Des Plaines River runs through the region, creating a corridor of forested areas with elevations ranging from 580 to 620 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during camping season, while spring and fall camping brings cooler temperatures around 50-65°F with occasional rainfall.
Hiking trail exploration: At Camp Bullfrog Lake, multiple connected trail systems provide extensive hiking opportunities. "We hiked 10 miles and saw tons of animals and birds including a snake, loads of herons and songbirds, deer, a raccoon and a Cooper's Hawk," notes camper Hatie P. The trails connect directly to the campground for easy access.
Kayaking on small lakes: Rental options are available at several campgrounds for exploring the small lakes in the area. "The kayaks are $15 an hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," shares Layla P. about her experience at Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: The region offers extensive mountain biking trails connecting through forest preserves. A camper at Blackwell Family Campground mentions, "We spent 2 nights here and went mountain biking at Imagination Glen Park in Portage just a few miles down the road which was awesome." Many trails are suitable for beginner to intermediate riders.
Beach access and swimming: Lake Michigan beaches are accessible from Indiana Dunes State Park Campground, providing swimming opportunities during summer months. "The beach and dunes are spectacular and live up to the hype," reports Greg S. The state park features lifeguards during specific hours at designated swimming areas.
Free firewood at select campgrounds: Several campers appreciate that Camp Bullfrog Lake provides a complimentary bundle of firewood with each reservation. "Each site comes with a free bundle of oak firewood which is nice to use on the fire pits," notes Josh M. This saves campers from having to purchase or transport their own wood.
Proximity to Chicago: The location of these campgrounds allows for easy access to downtown Chicago while still enjoying outdoor recreation. As one camper at Camp Sullivan notes, "It's probably the closest camping to downtown Chicago. About 5 years in existence. Clean facilities with a few trails." This makes them practical for weekend getaways without long travel times.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The forest preserves offer good opportunities for wildlife sightings. At Blackwell Family Campground, campers report, "The fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release." Many campers also report seeing deer, herons, and various bird species.
Cabin options for non-tent campers: For those who prefer not to tent camp, several campgrounds offer cabin accommodations. Shane S. mentions about Camp Sullivan: "There are smaller family cabins with heat available to rent as well as large bunkhouses for organized groups." These cabins provide alternative options during cooler or rainy weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Palos Heights, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Palos Heights, IL is Camp Bullfrog Lake with a 4.2-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Palos Heights, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 55 dog-friendly camping locations near Palos Heights, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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