Starved Rock Campground allows pets with clean shower facilities and electric hookups for RV camping. Located in Oglesby, the campground maintains a 4.1 rating and accommodates tents, RVs, and pet-friendly cabins year-round. Illini State Park's Great Falls and Whitetail Campgrounds also welcome dogs, providing water access, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. Love's RV Hookup in Morris offers ten full-hookup spots for travelers with pets, featuring a small dog park area, seven shower stalls, and a laundry facility. McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove permits leashed pets at its primitive tent camping sites accessed by walking in from the parking area. Some campgrounds in the region experience flooding during heavy rainfall, with sites at McKinley Woods showing three inches of standing water after downpours.
Hiking opportunities with dogs exist along the I&M Canal Trail, which passes through multiple pet-friendly camping areas. The trail provides a great way to travel from Chicago to Starved Rock while avoiding roads and offers relatively flat terrain for dog walking. Fossil Rock RV Resort has permanently closed, so pet owners should verify current operations before planning trips. Four Star Campground accommodates pets but receives mixed reviews, with some visitors reporting maintenance issues. Pet-friendly cabins at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Millbrook provide an alternative to tent camping during inclement weather. Glenwood RV Resort allows dogs with many seasonal sites and hosts a large Halloween event complete with decorated campsites and activities for children and pets.
$12 - $55 / night
"Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view."
"Spent a couple nights here (site 3) for Vintage Illinois at a nearby park. Quiet, fairly level, gravel sites. Electric worn but fully functional. Lots of trees and shade."
$25 - $35 / night
"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."
$10 - $45 / night
"or Illini) native American Indian tribe, who were one of the most prolific and important native American Indian tribes to have settled in the Mississippi River valley, of which large sections of Illinois"
"It’s pretty close to Chicago so it works for weekend getaways. We stayed in the wooded loop. It’s rustic without electric/water hookups. The other loop looked more set up for rvs. "
$37 / night
"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. "
"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."
"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."
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.
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!
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
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! :)
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.
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 areas in Morris, Illinois, sit at approximately 520 feet above sea level in the Illinois River valley. The region experiences typical Midwestern climate with humid summers reaching 90°F and winters dropping below freezing. Many campsites in this area occupy former farmland converted to recreational use with flat terrain ideal for tent setup.
Kayaking at Starved Rock: Visitors can bring their own boats and access the Illinois River for paddling excursions. "Summer trip week 2 the return home. Picked this spot outta the air. What an amazing history and geological area. The campgrounds were large and dark with shade trees," explains Fred R. from Starved Rock Campground.
Hiking the I&M Canal Trail: The trail system connects multiple state parks and camping areas through former industrial corridors. "McKinley Woods offers me a lot of nostalgia since I grew up in the area. The main draw to this place is the tow path. I high recommend bringing a bike to enjoy the trail. The trail is also part of the Grand Illinois Trail network," notes Scott N. from McKinley Woods.
Bird watching at riverside sites: Early morning is best for spotting migratory birds along the Illinois River. "We did take a morning walk along the river and we enjoyed MANY different birdsongs," shares Karla J. B. at Illini State Park.
River views at budget prices: Waterfront sites provide scenic vistas without premium pricing. "Definitely a very relaxed and clean campground that isn't busy and has really cheap rates for off-season camping. $18 a night for walk-in and we got a 50amp spot right in front of the Illinois river," reports Nick E. at Great Falls Campground.
Winter camping options: Some parks maintain year-round operation with appropriate facilities. "We stayed here while working in the area. We chose it because they have 'winter water', which was great to have. Most of this large campground is for seasonal membership campers," explains Bea at Glenwood RV Resort.
Hot showers at casino campground: Clean bathroom facilities make overnight stays more comfortable. "Clean campsite, clean showers & bathrooms!" notes Jeana K. about Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort, offering a convenient alternative to state park facilities.
Variable site quality within same park: Different camping loops offer dramatically different experiences. "Welcome to Illini SP and hopefully before you read this review, you will have learned that there is not 1, but 2 campgrounds to choose from. If you are tent camping, choose Whitetail. If you have an RV or 5th Wheel, then likely you are going to be more suited for Grand Falls," advises Stuart K.
Flooding risk in low-lying areas: Heavy rain can quickly transform campsites into uncomfortable situations. "Our night went from on and off light rain to three hours of down pour rain. Our site was flooded once we woke up. We had three inches up the the fire pit. By the time we packed up it reached the side walk," cautions Rita S. about McKinley Woods.
Campground office hours vary: Many locations operate seasonally with limited staffing. "Stopped at the office which was closed (4pm on summer Saturday). A sign said to just go set up. There is an initial sign pointing you in the general direction of Whitetail, but then more intersections with no indication of which way to go," notes Veronica S.
Halloween events are popular: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Morris offer special fall activities. "My family never misses the Halloween camping season at Millbrook. This is an activity packed weekend which is amazing. Good for kids of all ages including the adults. All the campers do amazing decorations for the weekend," shares Marc W. at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Millbrook.
Playground proximity varies by site: Research the location of play areas when booking. "Spent two nights in Great Falls Campground on site#30. Beautiful spot, but it was directly across from a playground, which I failed to read about when booking. If you have kids, this is perfect for you," advises Lola K.
Multiple options for rainy day activities: The region offers indoor alternatives when weather doesn't cooperate. "We weren't sure if we were going to like it because we were camping without kids, and it seems like the kind of campground that people with kids would go to because of all the fun activities. But noise was not an issue," mentions Bea about Jellystone Park.
Limited 50-amp availability: Older campgrounds may have electrical limitations. "Limited 50 Amp sites as it is old," notes Fred R. about Starved Rock State Park Campground.
Love's RV Hookup provides quick overnight stop: Convenient highway access makes this a practical stopover. "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. In all, there's 10 back-in RV slots available," explains Stuart K. at Love's RV Hookup.
Dump station congestion: Plan for potential wait times during peak checkout periods. "Took about 45 min for us to dump being 5th in line at 10:30am," warns Kim L. about Starved Rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Morris, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Morris, IL is Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park with a 3.7-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Morris, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 64 dog-friendly camping locations near Morris, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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