Chain O' Lakes State Park offers several camping loops with different layouts and amenities for glamping near Richmond, Illinois. The campground connects to the Fox River waterway system with 7,000 acres of water across 15 lakes. Temperatures range from 60-85°F in summer with frequent afternoon thunderstorms during July and August. Most camping areas remain open from April through October with full facilities.
What to do
Kayak the quiet waterways: At Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park, campers can explore multiple connected lakes. "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," reports Cora M.
Explore hiking options: The Fox Den Campground provides access to numerous trails with varying difficulty levels. One camper noted, "There is a boat launch with rentals and a bunch of hiking trails closer to the entrance. However, if you go just past the entrance- pass by the playground- you will come to a stop sign. Keep going straight even though it will look like you are just walking into trees. A trail is there that was a nice place to explore."
Visit nearby attractions: The area offers excursions beyond camping. "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:)" reports Brian O. about Turner Lake South. For day trips, "Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove" offers seasonal activities with a distinctive steam train whistle heard throughout the area.
What campers like
Spacious sites at certain loops: Thomas Woods Campground offers particularly private sites. "We did our first (family of 5) camping trip at Thomas Woods. We were at site 4 which is electric hookup and it was a huge area! The kids had so much space to run around and explore. They loved the well pump," reports Emily L.
Lakefront accessibility: At Snug Harbor Inn Campground, the tiered layout provides water views from multiple vantage points. "Great three tiered camping spot. Full hookup, and great views. Has a pub/restaurant with good food. Lots to do! Definitely a do again!" shares Alix M. The campground's design enables most sites to have water views despite the high density.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain higher standards than typical public facilities. "The bathhouse is clean and well lit. Fire pits are slightly raised steel troughs with a heavy adjustable grill," notes Brian O. about Turner Lake South. Similarly, at Thomas Woods, campers appreciate that "facilities are clean and well-maintained for convenience."
What you should know
Site-specific considerations: Each camping loop has distinct characteristics. At Big Foot Beach State Park Campground, be prepared for limitations: "More of a yard style, open camping. No privacy. Lots of kids everywhere. No alcohol allowed. Packed during the day at the beach. Ok trails," warns Adam.
Wildlife encounters: Expect regular visits from local fauna. "We had some raccoons at night even after we locked up everything in the car. The lake was very nice. We were able to kayak but be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy," advises Julia B. about Turner Lake South.
Reservation timing: Weekends fill quickly throughout summer months. "This IL state campground fills up quickly on the weekends over the summer. While these sites are usually slated for walk-ups on the weekends, it seems like a lot of people go early on Thursday or even Wednesday to secure their sites for the weekends," explains Marisa A.
Tips for camping with families
Best locations for kids: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort caters specifically to families. "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. 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," reports Chloe N.
Activity planning: Chain O' Lakes provides structured children's programming. "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," recommends Meg at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Bug preparation: Insects can affect the camping experience. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair," warns Meg.
Tips from RVers
Hookup configurations: Electrical access varies dramatically between sites. "These sites share an electric box. 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," advises Debra M. about Honeysuckle Hollow.
Site selection strategy: For RVs, Fox Den provides better options than neighboring loops. "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because 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," reports another camper.
Supply planning: Limited on-site stores require preparation. "Not far from town in case you need to go to the store and there is also a bait/shop store on premises. The only downfall that I can see is that they are not consistent with cleaning the outhouses," notes Meg K. about Turner Lake South.
