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Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area's pet-friendly campsites accommodate tent, RV, and cabin campers while providing full amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, and showers. Both Big Rock Forest Preserve and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Millbrook maintain open pet policies with spacious sites suitable for camping with dogs. Big Rock offers water and electric hookups on mostly level sites, though its open field layout provides minimal privacy and shade. The Halloween camping season at Jellystone Park draws families with pets thanks to extensive activities and well-decorated sites. Blackwell Family Campground and Starved Rock Campground also welcome pets with picnic tables and fire pits at their established sites. Non-residents camping at Big Rock should note the additional $10 fee per night.
Hiking opportunities for dog owners exist throughout the region, including short trails at Big Rock that connect to the larger forest preserve. The nearby Fox River provides fishing spots and kayak access points where pets can cool off during summer months. Cannonball Ridge Park north of Yorkville offers a dedicated area for exercising dogs, with the longer Cannonball Trail providing several miles for jogging with pets. The campground's wide, open spaces allow for easy dog walking, though sites lacking mature trees may require additional cooling measures for pets during hot weather. Water hookups are often positioned far from camping pads, requiring campers to bring extra-long hoses. Most campgrounds maintain quiet hours that help prevent excessive barking issues, with good separation between sites at larger facilities.
"Clean, with large sites, about a 5 mile walk around the nearby lake- saw several deer and rabbits - T-Mobile worked just fine- no Wi-Fi"
"Open campground with nearly zero tree. We had a great campfire but didn’t take advantage of the whole park to explore. She wants to again this year but we will spend more time hiking."
from $18 - $35 / night
Check Availability"If you find yourself out in these parts near Shabbona in north central Illinois it is because of either one of two reasons - you are incredibly lost and stumbled across this hidden natural preserve gem"
"All within easy walking distance to the lake. Camp store and two boat rental spots allow for flexiblity on busier weekends."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"This location has been taken over by new management and they are absolutely the greatest! We will continue to go there for as long as we live in this area."
"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"Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!"
"Beautiful Starved Rock is Illinois's favorite state park. Hiking through forests along the Illinois River to canyons and waterfalls with eagles soaring overhead."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"bordering Lake Michigan, right?"
"We camp here every year around my daughters birthday and celebrate her birthday out here...there is a lake stocked with fish and also a creek behind the campground as well...we love coming back here year"
"There's a gorgeous Creek, a lovely small lake and I really enjoy the walking trails."
"The location requires a 2 night stay minimum."
from $65 - $95 / night
Check Availability"bordering Lake Michigan – other than this, finding a proper beachhead is impossible."
"When the lake is open it’s great to bring kids for the water sports. They have dances every Saturday night. It’s mostly an RV park, but really great for the family."
"Located just 7 miles south of nearby Sandwich, which is by no means a roaring metropolis mind you, but certainly a nice quaint Midwestern town that will offer up a small bit of refuge and resource, should"
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Situated about five miles west of Yorkville in Kendall County, Silver Springs State Fish& Wildlife Area spans over 1,350 acres including the beautiful Silver Springs, two manmade lakes and several"
TravelerVery friendly host at the gate! Just what my wife and I were looking for. Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!
ScoutAlthough we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
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.
GuideBeautiful spot for our single overnight. Staff were great; friendly and helpful. Park was well kept, with lots of green around RV and tent sites. Nice pool, dog park, store, and even a stream system that wanders through the park (no swimming in the stream). Also close to Starved Rock State Park for some neat scenery and hiking. The only downside side is that some of the RV sites are a little close together - didn’t impact our stay though. Two thumbs up! :)
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!
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!
TravelerStayed here in early June during a trip to Starved Rock, which is a quick 10-15 minute drive. Camp hosts are very nice and the the grounds well maintained. I stayed on site 5 which is a full hookup but best for a small camper. I have a 14 foot travel trailer and it just fit with my SUV in front. The spots are very tight and you have very little room between you and your neighbor. With all the rain this year, many sites flooded during a storm while we camped and they had to be moved to other areas that were not actual sites so it was a bit crazy...hosts did a great job taking care of everyone effected. Campground has a cute dog park and a beautiful stream that runs through it. I would stay here again!!
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 options near Plano, Illinois focus on the Fox River watershed area with elevations between 600-700 feet above sea level. The region experiences hot, humid summers with daytime temperatures often exceeding 85°F in July and August. Fall camping season typically extends through October with cooler nights reaching the 40s, making campfires essential for evening comfort.
Fishing at Fox River: Launch from Mallard Bend RV Resort where the Fox River offers excellent access points. "The kayak / canoe launch is located at the river basin, south of the property," according to Stuart K., who notes the area's potential for wildlife viewing.
Swim at stocked ponds: Hi-Tide Beach & Campgrounds maintains a beach area with multiple water attractions. "The sandy beach is exactly what you'll find and what a great time it is for the whole family, complete with all of the many on-water distractions and entertainment options this place offers from sand castle building, waterslide, 'moonwalk,' ice berg, which is a 15' climbing wall in the center of the lake," says Stuart K.
Archery practice: Blackwell Family Campground provides free archery ranges for visitors. "Nice place for a winter hike. Canoe rentals and free archery range," explains Christian V., making this an excellent option for skill development outside peak summer months.
Level campsites: Big Rock Campground offers particularly flat terrain throughout the campground. "Nice campground with big, level sites. Even though they don't take reservations, there is plenty of space and availability," notes Melissa C., though she mentions the "lack of trees and privacy isn't my preference."
Hot showers at select locations: Limited shower facilities matter when camping with dogs. "Bathrooms were clean. Everything was good," says camper Bea about Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Millbrook, though other reviewers mention maintenance issues at some campgrounds.
Camping store convenience: Some campgrounds maintain well-stocked shops with camping necessities. At Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, one camper reports, "Bath/showers are very clean with hot water. Nicely kept grounds with a beautiful lake for dock and boat fishing. You can rent boats and they have a nice camping store."
Extra-long water hoses required: At many dog-friendly campgrounds near Plano, the water hookup placement requires planning. "The water hookups are kind of far from the individual sites (make sure you have extra hose)," warns Rodney D. about Big Rock Campground.
Limited privacy at some locations: Most open-field campgrounds have minimal separation between sites. "Not a lot of good things to say. I guess the lake was nice, but they let wayyyy to many people come in. The campsites are packed together so close you can see in your neighbors camper," reports Rodney D. about Hi-Tide Beach & Campgrounds.
Non-resident fees apply: Starved Rock Campground maintains different pricing structures for locals versus visitors. "For $25-35 per night, you can get a site with electrical hookup. The east loop has better tree coverage and more privacy," notes Kim L., providing specific location advice within the campground.
Pool access for cooling off: When temperatures climb, some campgrounds provide swimming options for families with pets. "The pool is nice as well as the hot tub. The hot tub is supposed to be adult only but it isn't really enforced," writes Jeff G. about Jellystone Park Millbrook.
Book specific wooded sites: At Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, site selection significantly affects your experience. "Got there early Saturday morning and there were only a few sites left. I would suggest making reservations or getting there on a Friday. Our site was wooded which we loved. Neighbors all around but still secluded," advises Nikki O.
Walking paths without traffic: For dog-walking, several campgrounds offer dedicated trails. "The grounds include a lake for boating, hiking trails, and bike paths. There is also an archery range, and some ranger programs. Very nice," explains Jen E. about Blackwell Family Campground.
Electrical hookup locations: Most pet-friendly RV sites provide 30-50 amp service, but placement varies. "For the price it's a solid experience, though plan on a car & tent wash after lots of tree sap," warns Katherine T. about Great Falls Campground, highlighting the trade-off between wooded sites and maintenance.
Dump station timing: Plan morning departures strategically to avoid lines. "Took about 45 min for us to dump being 5th in line at 10:30am," reports Kim L. at Starved Rock Campground, suggesting earlier arrival at facilities helps expedite departure.
Wide turning radius needed: Some campgrounds have tight corners that challenge larger rigs. Jeff G. notes, "At least half of the spaces will accommodate large RVs" at one location, but site-specific dimensions should be confirmed before booking when traveling with pets and large campers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Plano, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Plano, IL is Big Rock Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Plano, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 81 dog-friendly camping locations near Plano, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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