Best Glamping near Rockford, IL

White Pines Forest State Park Campground and Chicago Northwest KOA house upscale glamping accommodations in the Rockford region, with options ranging from canvas safari tents to rustic-chic yurts with modern comforts. These glamping sites feature raised platforms, comfortable queen beds with luxury linens, private decks, and electrical outlets for charging devices. Most accommodations include heating and air conditioning units for year-round comfort. The eco-friendly glamping options typically provide dedicated bathhouses with hot showers and flush toilets within a short walking distance. Kings Camp and Milton-Madison SE KOA offer additional glamping experiences with varying levels of amenities including kitchenettes in select units. One guest shared, "The shower houses were some of the best we've seen and its very affordable at $35/night."

Hiking trails surround most glamping sites, with White Pines Forest State Park offering particularly scenic woodland paths and Big Foot Beach State Park providing lakeside access for swimming during summer months. Many resorts organize weekend activities specifically for families staying in glamping accommodations, from guided nature walks to evening campfires with s'mores. The Illinois Railway Museum sits just 8 miles from Chicago Northwest KOA, making it an ideal base for cultural day trips. Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area combines glamping with fishing opportunities at its on-site pond. According to a camper, "The kids had so much space to run around and explore. They loved the well pump. We explored the campground both tent and rv. Both areas were well spaced out with enough privacy." Seasonal availability varies, with most glamping resorts operating from April through October.

Best Glamping Sites Near Rockford, Illinois (25)

    1. Thomas Woods Campground

    17 Reviews
    Marengo, IL
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 338-6223

    $20 - $35 / night

    "The trails are both wooded and hilly, but there's also a large prairie nature walk
    The campground has many secluded walk-in tent sites and a variety of sites for other types of campers."

    "Firewood is cheap on-site and delivered to your site on demand."

    2. White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Mount Morris, IL
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 946-3717

    "Easy drive up style. Picnic tables and fire pits on site. Bathrooms and dumpster close by. River that is walk and drive through!"

    "Very clean, and beautiful hiking trails. My only complaint would be that at the private cabins you are not allowed to cook out."

    3. Chicago Northwest KOA

    16 Reviews
    Union, IL
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 923-4206

    "Plus they have a quiet time at night.So people and kids can go to bed without a bunch of noise."

    "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"

    4. Kings Camp

    1 Review
    Stillman Valley, IL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 645-8277

    $35 / night

    "There is a lake for swimming and fishing (with paddle boats and kayaks available to use for free, a very nice playground and the camp hosts kid/family activities on most weekends."

    5. Crazy Horse Campground

    15 Reviews
    Evansville, WI
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 897-2207

    "Friendly staff and a nicely stocked store. Has a pool, petting zoo, kayaks, rocky beach, dog park, and a land pillow!"

    "We made this trip mid-May during the Covid social distancing. The camp ground was on point with their preparedness. Check in was simply pull into your site or a brief stop at registration."

    6. Big Foot Beach State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Lake Geneva, WI
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (262) 248-2528

    "Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois. 4 stars because it's not the camping in nature experience I am looking for. Lots of noise. Lots of kids. Lots of dogs."

    "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"

    7. Milton-Madison SE KOA

    18 Reviews
    Edgerton, WI
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 868-4141

    "Very clean and friendly staff, the pool is meh as the hot tub was cold but the grounds were real nice. Big fire pits, they pick up your garbage. Lots of stuff for kids to do"

    "They have everything from just electrical hook up to full hookup to drive through spots. The pool and bath house is very nice. You can rent a golf cart too."

    8. Sweet Minnihaha Campground

    5 Reviews
    Evansville, WI
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 862-3769

    $8 - $35 / night

    "Such a lovely camp ...the sites are fairly close together but you can pick the site you want so you don’t have to be directly next to another tent ...on our visit we saw lots of wildlife from chickens"

    "I originally went to this campground a couple years ago for a music festival, but I discovered how much fun it was. the people were incredible. the staff was really awesome so I continue to make it back"

    9. Green River Oaks Camping Resort

    10 Reviews
    Nachusa, IL
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 638-2088

    "That was my first impression when visiting this family-owned and operated campground located just outside of Amboy, here in northern Illinois, where the sheer veracity of this place (some 130 acres in"

    "Clean bathrooms and showers, well maintained sites with water and electric. A bit cramped for tent camping as sites are small and no space between neighbors."

    10. Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area

    10 Reviews
    Lena, IL
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 369-4282

    $10 - $30 / night

    "They clean out fire pits after every weekend. Some sites were not the most level. All Roads are newly paved. New/Updated Dump station."

    "This was an unexpected good find in Illinois. The campground was nice with the standard set up - picnic tables, restrooms, water available."

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Glamping Reviews near Rockford, IL

234 Reviews of 25 Rockford Campgrounds


  • Hannah T.
    Oct. 1, 2018

    White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    Lots of things to do!

    Well kept camping sites. Easy drive up style. Picnic tables and fire pits on site. Bathrooms and dumpster close by. River that is walk and drive through!

  • Stacie H.
    May. 29, 2022

    White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    Lovely natural scenery; campground leaves something to be desired

    Let's start with the good stuff:

    • The park is beautiful. Lovely trees, lots of shade, the hiking trails are nice, well marked, and they even have an accessible trail for those with disabilities!
    • There is a restaurant and gift shop on site. Gift shop sells wood if you run low or forget.
    • The bathrooms and shower house are relatively clean and well kept.

    Now for the not so great stuff:

    • Many of the campsites are sloped and some are sloped A LOT. This isn't obvious from the booking page.

    • The campground is absolutely jammed with camp sites- it's ridiculous. I've never been to a campground where the sites were so on top of one another.

    • We stayed in the Sunny Crest loop and the drinking water well was broken so we had to travel to other parts of the campground for water. When carrying a 10 gallon jug full of water back, that really sucked.

    • The sites that are marked as "hike in" aren't secluded and away from other sites at all, as one might expect. They are jammed in with all the others but there just isn't any parking nearby.

    • It had rained the day before was went and so the road to the campgrounds was blocked off (presumably because the creek was running too high), but there was NO SIGNAGE telling us how to get there another way. There was no one in the park office or in the camping registration station to ask. We finally figured out that we had to take an emergency road/auxiliary road to get to the campground, but that was after about 30 minutes of confusion.

    • The breakfast buffet at the restaurant is mid but very pricey- $50 for 2 of us.

    • The quiet hours and no alcohol policy are not enforced at all. While we were there, there was a very loud group playing beer pong into the wee hours of the morning.

    • About half of the fire rings don't have grill grates so bring your own or bring a camp stove (See pic). Also, when you book your site, there is no way to know if your fire ring will have a grill grate or note.

  • Addison G.
    Oct. 23, 2024

    Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Awesome choice for campers on a budget

    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. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night. Bathrooms could’ve been cleaner but we were grateful for the facility which doubled as a storm shelter. There’s indoor showers and bathrooms. There are also cabins at this campsite, not sure on pricing tho

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2023

    Pilgrims Campground

    Hillside Tent Camping & RV Bliss

    Conveniently located next to absolutely nothing just due northwest of Fort Atkinson, you’ll love Pilgrim’s Campground for its successful delivery of (capital letters) P&Q! What I love most about this location is how they keep all the RV campers penned in up against the slight diagonal embankment, which actually provides some pretty phenomenal views of the surrounding areas (if not your next door neighbors) as well as excellent drainage and subsequently separated from the primitive TV campsites. These latter sites are placed just due southwest of the grounds and are pitched perfectly in a tree-lined meadow, encircled by freshly cut corn fields, where you’ll find no shortage of amazing animals coming to graze throughout the day (and night) from deer, raccoons, opossums and endless tag teams of squirrels. 

    Because there isn’t so much around, be prepared to bring everything with you (save ice and wood, which is sold on-site). While the bathroom / shower facilities are just passable, what you are giving up in terms of creature comforts is more than made up for in the sheer proximity to all of nature. During the warm summer months, there’s a small in-ground pool on-site, which sits right in front of the main office. All of the standard camping surround-sound elements are here from fire rings and picnic tables to water, electrical (50 / 30 / 20 / 15 amp) and sewer hook-ups. In all, there’s about 100 sites here at Pilgrims Campground, with the lion’s share of this pet-friendly property dedicated to overnight and seasonal RV / 5th Wheelers offering both back-in and pull-through sites. 

    Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you don’t mind some rough hiking, there’s fantastic ‘spazierengehen’ to be had just wandering around the countryside in the bountiful corn and bean fields or head over to nearby Dorothy Carnes County Park for some decent trails to explore; (2) In the event that you don’t like being awaken too early from all of the nearby roosters, then bring some ear plugs; (3) When you grow tired of having to forage through either your on-board RV mini-fridge or bear-proof Cordova roto-molded cooler, then look no further than ‘What’s the Point’ (no, seriously, that's the name of the restaurant!) for traditional Midwestern comfort food like corned beef & cabbage, fried fish, BBQ ribs and prime rib; (4) Should you come bearing watercraft and looking for a decent spot to dip your kayak or canoe at, then check out Rose Lake State Natural Area, which BTW is quite small, but very convenient, or try out much larger Red Cedar Lake or Lake Ripley; and (5) Cell coverage and WiFi is pretty horrific in these parts, so bring a booster or plan to leave civilization behind you. 

    Happy Camping!

  • Brenton S.
    Jul. 1, 2020

    Elkhorn Campgrounds

    Affordable and friendly!

    Such a great little place to escape to or visit if you're just passing through. Nothing crazy fancy but hook-ups and fire pits available if needed. Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse areana. You might even be able to catch a show or two on site at the fair grounds, depending on the time of year.

  • Tricia E.
    Jul. 4, 2018

    Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Fort Atkinson

    Wonderfully clean family campground

    My husband and I plus our 3 kids stayed in a rustic cabin. The cabin was exactly how it was described and thankfully so! Since it had air-conditioning we all slept great. The grounds itself was very clean, the portable toilets were cleaned twice a day. There were many activities for all ages both for a small fee and free. Our kids used the pools quite a lot and were a bit disappointed with the skatepark. They enjoyed all the airfilled bouncy activities.

  • Mountainman McBeachfront
    Aug. 24, 2021

    White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    Nice park, with some downsides.

    This is the type of campground you go and check your spot out before you reserve it. Many of the tent campsites are literally on a hill. Some are very close. They really crammed them wherever they could. The amenities are excellent and the only reason I gave 3 stars, the shower/restroom was very nice and air conditioned. Potable water available. If I knew the campground was gonna be sideways I wouldn’t have reserved it, not gonna lie I was pissed when I saw it as I reserved it for 3-4 days. There’s lots of them that are on flat ground/tucked away and look excellent but it’s a gamble unless you go there beforehand to look. There’s a ford you have to cross to get to the campground but its not that bad people this isn’t Oregon Trail you won’t float away and lose an Ox and wagon wheel.

  • M
    Jul. 30, 2023

    Big Foot Beach State Park Campground

    Not a nature type campground

    Always full on weekends. Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois. 4 stars because it's not the camping in nature experience I am looking for. Lots of noise. Lots of kids. Lots of dogs. It's park area is very nice. Nice playground for kids. Volleyball nets. Lots of picnic tables and grills available. Dogs not welcome in most of the park. More of a party place. But the staff is very active. They clean sites quickly, clean the bathrooms regularly.

    We stayed on site 50. We were closer to our neighbors than I'd like, including the campsite behind us. The campsite behind us had a path thru it to get to the bathrooms. There was a thin layer of growth between sites but not much. Our site had a nicely placed tree providing just enough coverage but nothing stayed wet in the rain. We camped in a popup, if we had a tent I think we would have been soaked. Lots of pooling water on the backside. The campground just added new gravel to the sites and asked that all trailers and vehicles stay on the gravel but the gravel doesn't go back far enough for both car and camper to stay on.

    The inner ring of the campground are smaller(shorter) sites. The outer ring sites are better for RVs. Except for site 70. That should be tent only because there are 2 trees right in the middle behind the gravel. 50, 69, 74 seemed the best for both shade and sun combo. Site 79 is paved but not marked as handicap because it isn't being maintained as handicap and is not close to the new bathrooms. Not enough sites with electric, however we didn't need it for the weekend.

  • F
    Aug. 1, 2016

    Chicago Northwest KOA

    Dirty

    When I visited this place it was such a disaster. The trash was overflowing, the bathrooms were a mess, and there was no TP, and the quiet hours was not enforced, so people were up partying all night. I will look for another place to stay next time


Guide to Rockford

Cabin and glamping options near Rockford, Illinois range from rustic to modern with varying levels of amenities and proximity to outdoor recreation. Sites typically operate from April through October, with most requiring advance reservations during peak summer months. Weekend availability fills quickly at popular locations, especially those with swimming access or special event weekends.

What to do

Fishing at multiple spots: Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area offers fishing opportunities at its lake and a dedicated kid's fishing pond. One reviewer noted, "The hiking trails were enjoyed often by us. We found one section that had some interesting wildflowers. We paused and turned around when we found the archery area."

River activities: Sweet Minnihaha Campground provides easy river access for water recreation. "Have been here multiple times and we always have fun. There are bands playing on the weekends. Easy access to on and off the river for tubing," shared a visitor who gave the campground five stars.

Hiking trails: Thomas Woods Campground features a network of trails through diverse landscapes. A camper mentioned, "Beautiful wooded and quiet. Great hiking trails, a pond for fishing, private camp sites." Another reviewer added, "We enjoyed the most was the variety of hiking trails. They aren't the longest but we were able to vary the route up to keep it fresh for our dog to sniff out her adventure."

Family activities: Campgrounds near Rockford organize weekend activities specifically for children. A visitor to Crazy Horse Campground explained, "They have a Daily Activity bracelet that allows you to partake in all activities but you need to purchase per person for each day regardless if you will utilize. With the kids we do use all of the included activities which include pool, kayaking services, batting cages, miniature golf, peddle cars, and some others."

What campers like

Spacious sites: Campers appreciate roomy sites that provide some privacy. At Thomas Woods Campground, one visitor reported, "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. We explored the campground both tent and rv. Both areas were well spaced out with enough privacy."

Clean facilities: Green River Oaks Camping Resort receives positive reviews for its maintenance. A reviewer noted, "Clean bathrooms and showers, well maintained sites with water and electric. A bit cramped for tent camping as sites are small and no space between neighbors. However 2 pools, activities, green river at back of campground for fishing, tubing, and trail hiking."

Convenience to Chicago: Several campgrounds provide glamping close to Rockford, Illinois while also being accessible from Chicago for weekend getaways. A visitor to Chicago Northwest KOA shared, "Great campground just outside of Chicago! Did a quick stay with the kids for a Friday and Saturday night. A little bit smaller of a campground with regards to site space, but that's about the only thing 'bad' to say, and it's not really a bad thing at all."

Themed weekends: Many resorts offer special event weekends to enhance the glamping experience. A camper at Milton-Madison SE KOA mentioned, "It's a nice campground. The Halloween weekend are fun." Green River Oaks Camping Resort organizes themed weeks during summer, with one reviewer explaining, "During the summer, each week has a theme attached to it (e.g. Barnyard Palooza), and subsequent activities organized around it."

What you should know

Site selection matters: At White Pines Forest State Park Campground, site topography varies significantly. One camper warned, "Many of the campsites are sloped and some are sloped A LOT. This isn't obvious from the booking page." Another reviewer advised, "The sites that are marked as 'hike in' aren't secluded and away from other sites at all, as one might expect."

Seasonal conditions: Some facilities close during parts of the year. A visitor to Lake Le-Aqua-Na noted, "We didn't get to use the lake. It was refilling, via letting nature fill the lake back up. I'm not sure why, but the lake was drained some time back, when the park was closed for over a year for the maintenance."

Alcohol policies vary: Rules regarding alcohol consumption differ between locations. Kings Camp prohibits alcohol, with a reviewer noting, "The only downside is they don't allow alcohol. This can also be a benefit as there wasn't anyone up partying all night and the park was very quiet."

Water crossings: Some campgrounds have unique water features. At White Pines Forest, a camper described, "The best part of the campground is probably the fords you drive through to get to the camp sites, that's always fun. Unfortunately due to heavy rains the Fords were closed and we had to use the emergency road."

Tips for camping with families

Consider activity fees: Some campgrounds charge extra for recreational amenities. A camper at Crazy Horse Campground advised, "They have a Daily Activity bracelet that allows you to partake in all activities but you need to purchase per person for each day regardless if you will utilize."

Check beach conditions: Not all water access is equal. At Big Foot Beach State Park Campground, a visitor observed, "The beach is about 10 feet of sand off a busy road and is not pet friendly." Another camper was more direct: "So this place is much less dog friendly than is advertised. Dogs aren't allowed in large swaths of the park nor on the (tiny tiny, bordered by loud highway) beach."

Look for campground activities: Many glamping locations near Rockford organize programming for children. At Chicago Northwest KOA, a reviewer shared, "Apparently, during the summer, each week has a theme attached to it, and subsequent activities organized around it, so if you've got kids that you are thinking about putting in a camp during the summer, this might be a really good option."

Consider noise levels: Campgrounds vary in quietness. A visitor to Thomas Woods Campground mentioned, "There were some loud families the Saturday I was there but got fairly quiet after 10. I did hear some nearby house party well into the night."

Tips from RVers

Check hookup availability: Full hookups are limited at some campgrounds. A reviewer at Chicago Northwest KOA noted, "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."

Plan for dump station lines: At popular campgrounds, expect waits at dump stations. A visitor to Lake Le-Aqua-Na warned, "The line to clean out the tanks was long and blocks the way in and out."

Road conditions vary: Campground roads can present challenges. A Lake Le-Aqua-Na camper observed, "Once you enter the park, there are some drastic hills to navigate." Another reviewer at the same park complained, "The roads are a pot-hole obstacle course."

Size restrictions apply: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. A visitor to White Pines Forest noted, "The sites are a nice size although if you have something other than a tent getting it into the sites might prove difficult. We camped with the pop-up and were able to get our pop up in a spot but there are no pads."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Rockford, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Rockford, IL is Thomas Woods Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 17 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Rockford, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 25 glamping camping locations near Rockford, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.