Great Falls Campground — Illini State Park
Closed Off Tent Camping
Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
Camp Bullfrog Lake's pet-friendly sites accommodate tent campers, RV users, and cabin guests seeking outdoor experiences with their dogs. Located in Willow Springs, the campground provides drinking water, electric hookups, and picnic tables at each site, with full amenities including showers, toilets, and trash disposal. Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort in Joliet and Martin Campground in Joliet also welcome pets, offering full hookup sites for travelers passing through the Chicago area. Blackwell Family Campground in Warrenville provides seasonal pet-friendly camping from May to September. Sites at Martin's Camping Ground are very close together, making it difficult for privacy, though the staff maintains the property well. Campers reference The Dyrt for top tips on camping near Romeoville, Illinois.
Hiking trails surrounding Camp Bullfrog Lake create excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with miles of paths accessible directly from the campground. The nearby Palos Trail System offers extensive mountain biking and hiking options that dogs on leashes can enjoy while exploring the forest preserves. Springbrook Prairie Dog Park provides a nearby option for pets to stretch their legs when staying at urban camping locations. Clean bathroom facilities are consistently maintained at most pet-friendly campgrounds in the area, though highway noise impacts some locations like Martin's Camping Ground, where traffic from I-80 can be loud throughout the night. Overnight temperatures in spring can drop significantly, requiring extra warmth for pets staying in tents, especially at lakeside sites where wind exposure increases.
$20 - $138 / night
"Great site, not far from Chicago, but feels well away from city life. Tent sites around rim of a lake. RV sites and cabins as well."
"What’s great about this location is the access to the miles and mile of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite."
$20 - $30 / night
"Just outside of Chicago, we have been staying here for quick weekend trips and absolutely love the proximity to home."
"I always loved going to the parks in Illinois with my grandparents when I was little. They love hiking and nature and definitely got me interested in it also. I love them and miss them everyday."
$35 - $250 / night
"Located in a Cook County forest preserve this family camping option is a nice local getaway. The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern."
"There are several bathrooms around and they are clean. Staff is friendly and welcoming."
"If you like having access to a bathroom and shower its great and because no one really hd a tent here but us we had some privacy. It is next to a highway so be mindful of that."
"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."
$37 / night
"Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities"
$18 - $35 / night
"Clean, with large sites, about a 5 mile walk around the nearby lake- saw several deer and rabbits - T-Mobile worked just fine- no Wi-Fi"
"Open campground with nearly zero tree. We had a great campfire but didn’t take advantage of the whole park to explore. She wants to again this year but we will spend more time hiking."
$25 - $45 / night
"We just purchased our first Winnebago and needed a spot close to home for a quick trial run. We have three small boys and they were very excited to camp."
"Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week."
"The beach and lake were always well maintained, and we had often enjoyed live music at the pavilion. You can even play mini golf here! I would highly recommend for anyone that can invest."
$65 - $95 / night
"There's a gorgeous Creek, a lovely small lake and I really enjoy the walking trails."
"The location requires a 2 night stay minimum."












Although we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
Small 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
We’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.
Many 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.
As 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!
I 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.
Friendly 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.
For years, this was our go-to campground for weekend nearby adventures. Over the years, the price has increased and at $30 per site for non-residents, it's a bit steep for tent camping for me (so I left off a star rating). All sites are electric, so if you are tent camping and want your fan or slow-cooker, then it's as good as it gets in the burbs. It's located in a beautiful wooded Dupage County Forest preserve. While the sites are pretty close together, there are a few good ones that feel more secluded. Designated chip bark tent sites are level. The grounds are very well maintained. While I didn't camp here this year, I took these photos the last weekend in October to give everyone a sense of how nice this campground could be for them. My favorite sites over the years were the ones closest to Silver Lake along the South Loop road because those sites have the best views. For privacy, my favorite site is #27 on the north loop road which makes you feel like you are alone in the woods. Other than plenty of hiking options including a big hill, the fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release. There is also archery, a dog park, picnic areas, boat rental/ramp, and a compass course. It is a great place for families. I've brought cub scouts here and my kids' friends. Heads-up that sites 21 & 22 may not be able to see traffic on the busy Winfield Rd in the summer, but you will still hear it at those sites.
Clean and well maintained facility. Staff was organized and friendly. Pet friendly. We want to come back when we can stay longer.
Pet-friendly camping options near Romeoville, Illinois span across Cook, DuPage, and Will counties, with most sites situated within 30 miles of the city. The region features a mix of forest preserves and privately operated campgrounds, with spring temperatures often ranging from 40°F at night to 65°F during day. The area's camping season generally runs from April through October, though some facilities remain open year-round with limited amenities during winter months.
Mountain biking on Palos trails: Access miles of single-track trails directly from Camp Bullfrog Lake in Willow Springs. "We've camped here a few times and it is always a great experience. Each site comes with a free bundle of oak firewood which is nice to use on the fire pits. What's great about this location is the access to the miles and mile of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite," notes Josh M.
Kayaking options: Rent kayaks for $15 per hour at Camp Bullfrog Lake, with life vests included. The small lake offers relaxed paddling suitable for beginners. "The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," reports Layla P.
Wildlife viewing hikes: Explore hiking trails at Blackwell Family Campground to spot local wildlife including deer, herons, and hawks. "We hiked 10 miles and saw tons of animals and birds including a snake, loads of herons and songbirds, deer, a raccoon and a Cooper's Hawk," shares Hatie P.
Clean bathroom facilities: Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Romeoville maintain well-kept bathroom and shower buildings. At Martin Campground, "Bathhouse...super clean and modern," notes Beth B., though she adds that water temperature can be an issue: "no hot water…lukewarm at best."
Proximity to Chicago: Campsites offer convenient locations for city residents needing quick outdoor getaways. "Just outside of Chicago, we have been staying here for quick weekend trips and absolutely love the proximity to home," writes Marc W. about Blackwell Family Campground.
Evening quietness: Many campgrounds enforce quiet hours, creating peaceful environments despite their urban proximity. "Really nice campground. No water hooks up. Water on site but, not ideal. Really nice views. Very quiet. Super friendly staff and neighbors," explains Kaitlin M. about her experience at Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Site spacing varies significantly: Some campgrounds offer more privacy than others. At Camp Sullivan, "The campsites are TINY. We were in a modest pop up and still felt crowded," reports Megan R. She adds, "The closeness, expensive fire wood, and lack of extensive hiking trails means we probably will not return."
Highway noise impacts: Several campgrounds sit near major roadways, affecting the nature experience. "You can throw a stone and hit a semi driving by to I-80. There's a lot of traffic given the proximity to Chicago. If you're able to sleep with large trucks driving in the background, you'll be fine," explains Iris A. about Martin's Camping Ground.
Reservation policies: Most campgrounds require advance reservations, while others operate on a first-come basis. "Walkup only - no reservations taken. $35 a night is a bit steep," notes Amanda K. about Big Rock Campground.
Kids' activity options: Choose campgrounds with designated play areas. "The kids had a blast with the available activities, and it was the ideal setting for our family to come together and create lasting memories," shares Chad A. about Leisure Lake Membership Resort.
Family-friendly sites: Select campgrounds designed with family needs in mind. "This is a little gem in DuPage County. We live in the area and went here when our child was a baby, as we didn't want to be far from home. The campsites are surprisingly nice. Most are wooded on each side for privacy," reports Jen E. about Blackwell Family Campground.
Group camping opportunities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated group sites perfect for family gatherings. "Although the group sites are separate from the main part of the park, a short multi-use trail connects the two. Our Scouts were able to walk down to access the lake and fish. Additionally, there's an open space for sports/games and some great climbing trees within the group area," explains John R.
Hookup locations: Water and electric connections may require extra equipment. At Big Rock Campground, "Water hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!" advises Amanda K.
Space limitations: Be prepared for tight quarters at some RV parks. At Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort, "Friendly 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," reports TK n E.
Site leveling considerations: Level sites make for easier setup. "Sites are pretty close to each other, but neighbors were quiet. Beautiful little lake. Bathrooms were warm and clean. There's also a little store on site that was open until 10:00 PM," notes Lawrence B. about his experience at Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Romeoville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Romeoville, IL is Camp Bullfrog Lake with a 4.2-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Romeoville, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 57 dog-friendly camping locations near Romeoville, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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