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Northern Illinois camping options near Port Barrington include several water-oriented destinations within a 30-minute drive. Chain O' Lakes State Park, located just north in Spring Grove, features multiple campground loops including Fox Den, Turner Lake South, Prairie View, and Honeysuckle Hollow, each offering varying levels of privacy and amenities. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort in nearby Volo provides lakeside camping with full hookups for RVs as well as tent sites and cabin rentals. Camp Reinberg in Palatine offers a more intimate camping experience with only a handful of sites tucked alongside forest preserve trails, while Chicago Northwest KOA in Union serves as a convenient base for those visiting the Chicago metropolitan area.
Reservations are essential during summer months, particularly for waterfront sites at Chain O' Lakes State Park, which fills quickly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. As one camper noted, "Chain O' Lakes is one of the busiest waterways in Illinois, with motorboats everywhere in the height of the summer season." Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from May through October, with limited facilities available during shoulder seasons. Illinois state parks enforce a strict no-alcohol policy, even at individual campsites. Park gates typically close at 10 PM with security features preventing late entry. The region experiences hot, humid summers and cold winters, making spring and fall the most comfortable camping seasons.
Site privacy varies significantly between campgrounds. Turner Lake South loop offers more secluded sites compared to the open, row-style arrangement at Honeysuckle Hollow. According to visitor reviews, "Our campsite was encased in foliage which gave us some privacy. The sites are near enough together but still gave us a sense of being out in the woods." Water recreation dominates the camping experience, with boat rentals available at several locations. Trails throughout the area range from paved paths to crushed gravel routes suitable for hiking and biking. Shade availability differs between campgrounds, with some sites offering good tree cover while others provide little protection from summer heat. Most established campgrounds provide electric hookups, with water access points scattered throughout the camping areas rather than at individual sites.
"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"The group camp site is located pretty far away from the rest of the campsites, bathrooms, trails and amenities."
"We had a phenomenal time at Illinois State Park camping facilities! Space was clean, nature was alive, and the neighbors so friendly!"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"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."
"The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."
from $12 - $35 / 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"The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore"
"*** 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"
"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!"
"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."
"It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "
"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."
"You could barely see the neighbors because of how overgrown the edges of the site were. We felt like we were in our own little bubble."
"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!"
"We stayed here for a weekend and there were plenty of activities for the kids...the staff was friendly and the bathrooms were clean...our camp site was near the bathrooms, pool, and store so we were nice"
"This State Park isn't too far off the beaten path which is nice. Fairly close to gas stations, convenience stores, etc. The park is clean, and has the bathrooms and utilities that would be needed."
"There are numerous sites that are on a small lake with great sunset views. Sites are decent size but not much privacy in between sites. Lots of wooded trails within the campground."
from $12 / night
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TravelerWe got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
ScoutBlackwell has clean bathrooms, offers hiking trails, boating (kayak rentals) or bring your own, fishing, archery, cycling. The gate locks at 7pm but you just call the night guard and he will let you in. They’re only open on Friday, Saturday and holidays. Would definitely stay again. Be aware Winfield Road has a lot of traffic so sites further away from that road are best. Heard coyotes about 3 am both mornings. Rangers were exceptional.
ScoutThe park is beautiful. The water is beautiful. They say it's a gated community, but it's open to the public 9 to 5 daily. At twenty five dollars per person. And then on friday and saturday night, the locals that park here for the summer start their party central including karaoke at the camper next door, and several others. I've never had a camcround with that loud of parties. And it's a weekend event. I like hearing and seeing people having fun but when the manager extends the curfew for the parties she's at (they kind of party hop), it starts to affect the enjoyment of the park. If we had to stay, we'd stay in the S## sites in the back, where you don't hear so much of the partying. And then during the day, the rules began. Kind of like the soup nazi.
TravelerThere’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.
LegendThere’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees. One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.
GuideWe are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
GuideLast minute online reservation...They only have. 4 or 5 RV sites...full hook ups...about $60+-...right near gas pumps but any noise did not bother us weary travelers...Only downside was showers were not included....For the price certainly an included shower should be part of the deal...easy check in and check out.,..We used the Love's site due to its location to visit family and the fact that electric was available...We have medical equipment that requires a recharge at night plus it's just nice to have the AC if needed.
TravelerSimple campsite. We should have brought some leveling blocks, But otherwise my wife and I enjoyed the site for our rental RV. Short 10 minute walk to Lake Michigan. The camp store is fairly robust with friendly people working there. I appreciate that there are 2 lanes for dump/fill stations. My wife and I would absolutely stay here again.
LegendWe had a truly enjoyable stay and would’ve stayed an extra day if our travel schedule would’ve allowed. David was a wonderful host. Greeted us with a smile and escorted us to our site. We had our choice of 2 spots, both lovely. Picnic table and plenty of FREE firewood to keep us cozy. Wild turkeys roamed the grounds as well as the friendly ducks. All in all, a very peaceful evening and a special place.
Camping near Port Barrington, Illinois offers primitive and developed sites within easy reach of the Fox River watershed. Northern Illinois experiences humidity levels averaging 70-80% during summer camping season, with temperatures regularly reaching the mid-80s. Most campsites in this region require advance planning as the proximity to Chicago creates high demand for outdoor recreation spaces.
Trail hiking: Access 10+ miles of varied terrain at Camp Reinberg where both paved and natural surface paths accommodate different abilities. As one camper notes, "Deer Grove Forest Preserve is the best... The trails through the grounds are varied and long--you can find something to suit just about any preference for suburban midwest hiking. There are plenty of paved trails as well as dirt, lots of fun little off-shoots into the woods."
Kayaking: Explore interconnected waterways on the Fox River system accessible from Turner Lake South. "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I enjoy this route for the wildlife and nature scenery. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," shares one paddler.
Horseback riding: Book guided rides through established trails at several locations. A visitor mentioned, "Horse stables and guided rides for horse lovers" are available at Mud Lake East. The equestrian-friendly trails throughout the state park system accommodate both experienced riders and beginners.
Privacy levels: Secluded tent sites at Fox Den Campground provide natural separation between camping areas. "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers (our site was protected on 3 sides by some fairly dens foliage and trees)."
Budget-friendly options: Basic sites under $15 for tent campers willing to forgo electric hookups. A camper at Prairie View shares, "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner."
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathhouses across most established campgrounds despite heavy weekend use. "The shower houses are dated, yet I have seen them clean and also not clean on busy camper weekends," reports one regular visitor. Another camper added, "The bathrooms/showers are always clean and have hot water. The only downfall that I can see is that they are not consistent with cleaning the outhouses."
Late entry restrictions: Park gates close at designated times with physical barriers preventing vehicle access. "A note that the park gates close early as well - we returned one evening at 10:30pm and couldn't get back in with a vehicle. Had to go back in on foot. Good to plan ahead!" warns one camper at Prairie View.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for nocturnal visitors by properly storing food items. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s'mores early, then everything must be packed into cars for the night and all surfaces wiped down."
Insect activity: Ticks present significant concern especially for families with small children. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Luckily our screen house pop up on a tarp that was sprayed ahead for tick repellent plus a blanket on top of that did the trick, but they literally fall out of the trees into people!"
Beach activities: Access sandy swimming areas at Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort where water recreation remains the focus. "The lake is beautiful and surprisingly picturesque as it is all nature preserve on the opposite side. The beach is large enough and there are clean bathrooms right there. The camp store sells treats and pizza, very convenient and makes for a more relaxing camping experience when traveling with young kids!"
Playground access: Multiple play structures throughout the Chain O'Lakes area accommodate different age groups. One parent noted, "Lots of fun activities for kids. Nice weekend getaway." Another mentioned there are "a park for the kids in several areas."
Site selection: Choose inner loop locations for families needing quick bathroom access. "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 as the ones closest to the main loop aren't very deep. Closer to the center of this row is best."
Water access planning: Limited hookups at Chicago Northwest KOA and similar campgrounds may require additional preparation. "This KOA has very limited full hook up sites... We paid for the deluxe patio site, which had no sewer. Site was not level but it had a lot of shade which was nice."
Electrical hookup distances: Check connection requirements before booking at certain campgrounds. "Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad. A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance."
Leveling challenges: Bring adequate blocks particularly for sites near water features. "Our campsite was encased in foliage which gave us some privacy. The sites are near enough together - we heard many children playing from all around us - but still gave us a sense of being out in the woods."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Port Barrington, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Port Barrington, IL is Camp Reinberg with a 4.8-star rating from 13 reviews.
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