Cook County offers additional camping sites near Palos Park, Illinois beyond those within the immediate forest preserve system. Most campgrounds in this region are within a 45-minute drive of downtown Chicago, providing urban-adjacent camping with varying levels of amenities. Winter camping options are limited, with several sites closing seasonally from October through April. The terrain varies from wooded areas to more open, recently developed campgrounds with younger trees.
What to do
Lake activities at Camp Bullfrog Lake: Kayak rentals cost $15 per hour and include life vests, though the lake is relatively small. "The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," notes Layla P.
Hiking trails at Indiana Dunes: The nearby Indiana Dunes State Park offers challenging hikes including the Three Dune Challenge, located about 45 miles from Palos Park. "What's great about the [Camp Bullfrog Lake] location is the access to the miles and mile of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite," explains Josh M.
Mountain biking at Blackwell Forest Preserve: Blackwell offers extensive single-track trails for mountain bikers about 25 miles from Palos Park. "Some of the areas best mountain bike single track is right here. There is fishing kayaking and hiking trails too," writes Geoff from Camp Bullfrog Lake.
What campers like
Proximity to Chicago: Many campers appreciate how these campgrounds allow quick escapes from the city. "Awesome place to stay when you live in the city and wanna get away," says Deanna B. about Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Clean facilities: The bathroom facilities across Cook County campgrounds receive positive reviews for cleanliness. At Camp Sullivan, "The bathrooms are modern. The campsites are well kept as are the grounds," according to Shane S.
Natural experiences: Despite urban proximity, campers find satisfying nature experiences. At Indiana Dunes State Park, visitors enjoy "Beautiful lake and dunes" that "live up to the hype," according to Greg S., who also notes the "cool soft sand feels fantastic, definitely best hiked barefoot."
What you should know
Noise considerations: Proximity to transportation corridors affects many campgrounds. At Indiana Dunes State Park Campground, Kaley A. mentions that "it's very close to train lines and the trains going through and blasting their horns all night long."
Limited shade: Many campgrounds have young trees providing minimal coverage. At Camp Bullfrog Lake, Tim K. notes "There is NO shade during the day. None at all due to the trees within the campground being small."
Gate closures: Some campgrounds restrict nighttime access. At Camp Sullivan, "They lock the gates (both of them!) to the campground with a PADLOCK at night until 7 in the morning," reports Lisa S., cautioning this could be problematic in emergencies.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose sites near play areas for convenience with children. At Indiana Dunes State Park, one camper mentioned their site was "right between the playground and beach trailhead, but still private."
Group camping options: Blackwell Family Campground provides dedicated areas for scout troops and family groups. "Each group site has a nice cooking are and open space for tents. We had a group of about 20 kids plus moms and dads, so we grabbed three sites in the same area," shares John R.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Families can enjoy wildlife spotting on trails. One visitor to Camp Bullfrog Lake noted they "saw tons of animals and birds including a snake, loads of herons and songbirds, deer, a raccoon and a Cooper's Hawk."
Tips from RVers
Water considerations: Several campgrounds lack water hookups. At Camp Sullivan, "There is no dish washing station on the outside of the bathhouse, but don't get excited because it isn't turned on - rendering it useless," explains one camper.
Site selection: For RVs, outer sites often provide more privacy and shade. At Indiana Dunes State Park, "The best sites are the ones on the outside from the beach trail to the nature center. These are up against the dunes and have some shade."
Site spacing: Many campgrounds have close spacing between sites. At Martin's Camping Ground, Beth B. notes "spaces are small, muddy, and un level," and mentions "Sewer connection at our site was technically on neighbors…we had to use extension."
