Chain O' Lakes State Park accepts pets across multiple camping areas including Turner Lake South, Honeysuckle Hollow, Fox Den, and Prairie View. Tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin options accommodate campers traveling with dogs throughout the park's extensive grounds. Most sites provide fire rings, picnic tables, and nearby access to restroom facilities while maintaining appropriate spacing between neighbors. Raccoons are particularly active after dusk, requiring all food items and pet supplies to be secured in vehicles overnight to prevent wildlife encounters. The state park enforces standard pet policies including leash requirements at all times, proper waste disposal, and restrictions on leaving pets unattended at campsites.
The extensive trail network throughout Chain O' Lakes provides multiple options for walking dogs, with paths connecting the various camping loops to lake access points and recreational areas. Water activities are abundant for pets and owners, with fishing docks accessible from most camping areas and boat rentals available at the main concession building. Turner Lake South offers more wooded, private sites suitable for tent camping with pets, while Honeysuckle Hollow provides electric hookups better suited for RV campers. The nearby town of Spring Grove offers basic supplies and veterinary services within a 15-minute drive. Weather considerations include tick prevention during warm months, as many visitors report finding ticks on pets and people, particularly in wooded camping areas near Turner Lake.
"We love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in."
"Nice large sites. gravel spot for arc/trailer. fire pit and picnic table. trails for hiking are nice, but the overall camping area isn’t very big. 100 sites only. 30 with electric. this was the first time"
"*** 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"
"Campsite is nice, we're pretty close to our neighbors but not as bad as other places I've been. Walking distance to a fishing dock!"
"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!"
"It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "
"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."
"I would recommend this for anyone for starting to step out of the comfort zone for the outdoors. very simple, many paths to walk, jog, or ride a bike. a small lake is near the further parking lot. dogs"
"Pros: great hiking trails, nice lake to kayak on, family friendly beach and picnic areas Cons: Not great fishing, no dog friendly swim area, the beach/fishing pier/boat launch are all pretty far from"
"Plenty of space & foliage between sites and a nice network of trails surrounding the campground. Close to some small towns and the interstate as well, but not close enough to hear traffic."
"the property is HUGE and most things are about a 10 to 15 min walk from the campsites. lots of hiking, boating, swimming fishing and more! a great place for anyone!"
"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."
"It was me, my wife, our 8 month old daughter, and our dog."
$25 / night
"They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly."
"Driving into rural northern IL felt like leaving the craziness behind. I brought my dog to an animal-friendly area of the beach, which was small and secluded."
$12 / night
"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."
$43 - $73 / night
"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."
GuideWe love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in. Bathrooms where very clean. Trails are great. Pet friendly - we brought our small, quiet dogs. Dog friendly restaurant right next to the camp site.
TravelerJust became KOA met local campers that love this park! Good sites, trash pickup at side! They even have a snack bar and deliver to your campsite! No enclosed dog park but plenty of area to walk your dog!
GuideAbsolutely beautiful, reasonable prices, electric available. Tons of restrooms, showers, laundry, and wonderful camp hosts. Huge beach area, dog park, fishing as well. Shop to buy items you may need and absolutely wonderful place. Open all year round
TravelerGreat park with swimming beach, trails, dog park, and archery range. Campsites were ok, not much separation or privacy at all. Pit toilets and metros desperately need to be cleaned more often. We had very noisy neighbors that did not respect the quiet hours rule and park staff did nothing to intervene. Very convenient that they drive through the Campground to sell/deliver firewood tho. I'd stay here again because the park overall is great, but I would try to choose a better site. #9 looked alright, and in the 20#s looked a bit more tree lined and bigger.
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!
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.
ScoutStaff was polite and helpful. They escort you to your spot. They hand out activity sheets for the weekend. Petting zoo, camp store, pool, lake/pond for swimming and fishing. Cell signal for ATT just one bar. No internet. Lots of full time residents. Lots of activities for kids. Pet friendly. They charge extra if you have visitors.
ScoutWe love camping here. It truly feels rural. Small shower house but water pressure is amazing. It’s always quiet and the view is beautiful. Bugs were awful this stay. They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly.
TravelerWe liked this site because it was on the "quiet loop." No radios or pets allowed. I'm not sure about children! :) The sites are fairly close together and the trees are sparse, but it was a beautiful site and wonderfully quiet for the long weekend over the 4th of July 2017.
You can walk over to an area that has hiking trails right out of the campsite. State park mountain biking trails are also close by, but you would need to drive to them. The showers were clean and when we used them, available. There is a playground right next to them as well.
The campsite itself had a good log-stopper so you wouldn't drive too far into the woods, great fire ring, and picnic table. We had nice flat areas for our tents.
I am not so sure I would have enjoyed myself if I'd been in another loop. The quiet was perfect!
Chain O' Lakes State Park offers several camping areas with multiple options for pet owners near Richmond, Illinois. The park spans over 6,500 acres and contains a series of interconnected lakes and waterways, making it a popular destination for water activities. Temperatures range from 30°F in winter to 85°F in summer, with most campers visiting between May and October when facilities are fully operational.
Kayaking through connecting waterways: The Chain O' Lakes system provides extensive 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 a visitor at Turner Lake South.
Horseback riding: Several trails accommodate equestrian activities. "There are horse rentals and a trail designated as horse friendly," mentions a reviewer at Prairie View. The park maintains dedicated trails for horses, though no equestrian campground is available.
Archery: For visitors interested in target practice, the park offers designated archery areas. "There is so much to do at this campground. Horseback riding, archery, hiking, boating, fishing," explains a camper from Turner Lake South.
Winter activities: While most reviews focus on warm-weather activities, the park remains open year-round with snowmobile trails available during winter months. "There are horse/snowmobile trails, but no equestrian campground," mentions a visitor.
Lake fishing access: Multiple fishing spots are available throughout the park. "We kayaked but be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by," shares a camper at Turner Lake South.
Privacy in wooded sites: Certain camping loops offer more seclusion than others. "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees," explains a visitor at Fox Den Campground.
Camp store amenities: The central concession building provides supplies and equipment. "The concessions/camp store is located near the boat docks and is easily walked or driven to with decent selection of foods, gear, and fishing items," notes a camper at Fox Den Campground.
Off-park attractions: Local amenities within short driving distance enhance the camping experience. "Spring Grove is a tiny town nearby with a little corner bar called 'The Grove'. They serve amazing food with great service. Very clean! I recommend checking it out if you're looking for some good food," advises a visitor.
Tick prevention essential: Ticks are prevalent throughout the park, particularly in warm months. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks... they literally fall out of the trees into people!" warns a camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Alcohol policy: Unlike some neighboring Wisconsin parks, Chain O' Lakes enforces a no-alcohol rule. "No alcohol allowed, they will issue a ticket," confirms a visitor at Mud Lake East.
Gate closure timing: Overnight campers should note strict gate hours. "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," cautions a reviewer.
Site selection considerations: Electric site availability varies significantly between camping areas. "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 a camper.
Playground access: Multiple play areas cater to children. "Multiple playgrounds, access to launch sites for kayaks, little store to buy ice cream or snacks," shares a visitor at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Educational programming: The nature center offers regular family activities. "The Weekend we were here they had a free Kids fishing weekend and John the naturalist was amazing!! There is a ton to do at this park the nature center has activities all weekend long," explains a camper at Sunrise Campground.
Contained play areas for toddlers: For families with small children, tick prevention requires special consideration. "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," advises a parent.
Local farm visits: Nearby attractions provide additional family activities. "Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove" and "Stade's Farm & Orchard" offer seasonal activities for families, according to visitor reports.
Site accessibility: Different camping loops offer varying degrees of access for large vehicles. "A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance. We originally booked 96 but could not extend our slide because of large trees on either side of the pad," shares an RVer at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Hookup locations: Electric connections can be problematic at certain sites. "Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad," notes a camper, suggesting RVers bring extension cords.
Dump station congestion: Expect potential waiting times during peak periods. "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," reports an RVer.
Seasonal occupancy patterns: Weekday camping offers more space and quiet. "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," explains a visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Richmond, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Richmond, IL is Big Foot Beach State Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 23 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Richmond, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 70 dog-friendly camping locations near Richmond, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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