Turner Lake South and Honeysuckle Hollow camping areas near Port Barrington, Illinois offer tent sites for $12/night with several primitive camping options. Sites in Turner Lake South provide more privacy with tree coverage while Honeysuckle Hollow features more open RV-style camping. The region sits within the Chain O'Lakes watershed, with numerous connected waterways spanning 7,100 acres across 15 lakes. Seasonal access is restricted by gates that close at 10 PM with tire shredders preventing late entry, requiring campers to plan arrival times accordingly.
What to do
Kayaking and canoeing opportunities: At Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park, access to Fox River and connected waterways provides excellent paddling routes. "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," notes one visitor.
Mountain biking trails: Camp Bullfrog Lake offers extensive mountain biking networks. "What's great about this location is the access to the miles and miles of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite," explains a camper. The trail system attracts serious cyclists with multiple difficulty levels.
Fishing access points: Multiple lakes and streams provide fishing opportunities throughout the area. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort includes lakefront tent sites where "you can fish right from your site," according to campers. Morning and evening fishing yields best results, with frequent reports of "fish jumping from the water" during quiet hours.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Fox Den Campground maintains well-kept bathrooms and shower facilities. "The bath house was very clean. There is a lot to do at this park from hiking to water sports to horse back riding," reports one visitor. Bathhouses are centrally located between camping loops, with some featuring full restrooms and showers.
Quiet camping atmosphere: Many campers appreciate the peaceful settings, particularly during weekdays. "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," reports a visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area.
Affordable basic camping: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the value. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear," reports a Turner Lake South visitor. Most primitive sites maintain clean facilities while keeping costs low compared to private campgrounds in the area.
What you should know
Wildlife interactions: Raccoons and ticks require preparation. "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," warns a Honeysuckle Hollow camper.
Seasonal restrictions: Gates at Chain O'Lakes State Park close strictly at 10 PM with tire shredders preventing late entry. "The gates close at 10 PM and there are tire shredders, you can leave but you can't get back in unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark," notes a camper.
Site selection matters: At Thomas Woods Campground, "We stayed in one of the tent camping sites with a little walk up (parking for a car available about 50 feet away). Nobody else was camping within sight of me, which was nice, though 2 other sites were visible from mine." Sites vary significantly in privacy levels, with Turner Lake South providing more wooded coverage than other areas.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Chicago Northwest KOA offers structured programs for children. "Staff was very friendly and the facilities were kept very clean. Plenty for the little kids to do, and the text message communication was great with regards to weather updates or any goings on around the campground," reports a family camper.
Best loops for families: At Chain O'Lakes State Park, Fox Den provides the most space between sites while still offering electric hookups. "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."
Pack for ticks and insects: Families with small children need tick prevention strategies. "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!"
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup locations: At Fox Den Campground, "each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees."
Limited full hookups: "We have very limited full hook up sites," notes a camper about the regional campgrounds. For RVers requiring water and sewer connections, Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers the most complete hookups but books quickly during summer months.
Dump station planning: "The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water. It was also very busy and we had to wait when filling up and again when dumping." RVers should plan for potential wait times during weekend checkout periods, especially at Turner Lake South and Honeysuckle Hollow campgrounds.
