56 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Blackwell Family Campground welcomes pets at all 60 campsites across its wooded DuPage County forest preserve. Sites feature level limestone pads with electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings with cooking grates. Camp Reinberg and Paul Wolff Campground also accommodate four-legged companions throughout their camping areas, offering a mix of tent sites, RV spots with electric hookups, and pet-friendly cabin options. Leashed dogs must remain under control at all times, and waste disposal stations are provided throughout the grounds. The campgrounds maintain clean facilities with modern restrooms and showers, though Camp Sullivan receives lower ratings for pet accommodations. Visitors note that Blackwell's design makes campers forget they're in the middle of town, with roving park rangers adding to the secure environment. The campgrounds are well-maintained with privacy between many sites, especially along Blackwell's south loop road closest to Silver Lake.
Hiking trails throughout these forest preserves provide excellent pet exercise opportunities, with Blackwell offering multiple lake-access points for fishing and designated paths connecting the main campground to group sites. Many campsites feature partial shade with wooded borders creating natural boundaries between neighbors. For RV campers, most locations provide electric hookups, water access, and dump stations. Blackwell's busy Winfield Road borders some campsites, creating noticeable traffic noise, particularly at sites 21 and 22. Dog owners should note that gates close one hour after sunset at Blackwell, restricting nighttime walks. Wildlife sightings are common in these preserves, so keeping pets leashed protects both native animals and camping companions. The archery range, boat rentals, and compass course at Blackwell provide additional recreation options for visitors while their pets enjoy the natural surroundings.
"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."
from $20 - $30 / night
Check Availability"Lots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc."
"tucked alongside a bike and walking path that goes through a beautiful forest preserve. The path is gorgeous dipping through forested sections, open fields, and lilly pad covered ponds!"
from $45 - $60 / night
Check Availability"The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."
"Half of them were in the Prairie and the other half was tucked into wonderfully private spots with burn pits and picnic tables. We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies."
from $12 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $138 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $18 - $35 / night
Check Availability"You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!"
"Saw a few of their “puppy sites” that included a private gated area for dog owners. It poured all weekend but we still enjoyed the stay."
"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."
from $43 - $73 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $35 - $250 / night
Check Availability"Our site had the usual picnic table and a short walk to the restrooms and water. What we enjoyed the most was the variety of hiking trails."
"While the highway riding was occasionally a bit harrowing, it was absolutely worth it for the beautiful views and camping here."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
RangerFor 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.
Roselle's strategic location between DuPage, Cook, and Kane counties provides pet friendly camping options within 30-60 minutes of downtown Chicago. Most campgrounds in this region are located within county forest preserves, featuring a mix of prairie, woodland, and lakefront settings. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F, making late spring through early fall the prime camping season.
Fishing at multiple locations: Silver Lake at Blackwell Family Campground offers clear water and accessible shorelines. "The trails are nice and the water is crystal clear. Nice place for a winter hike. Canoe rentals and free archery range," notes Christian V.
Hiking diverse terrain: Thomas Woods Campground offers miles of trails through woods and prairie landscapes. "Some of grass and others were dirt. The wildflowers caught our eye and we enjoyed pausing to appreciate their beauty," shares Art S. The trails accommodate various skill levels.
Kayaking and boating: Camp Bullfrog Lake rents kayaks for $15/hour including life vests. "The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," says Layla P. The small size makes it ideal for beginners or families with young children.
Archery practice: Several forest preserves offer archery ranges where campers can practice skills without additional fees. One visitor mentioned the "free archery range" at Blackwell as a standout feature during their stay.
Clean, modern facilities: Camp Reinberg receives consistent praise for maintenance standards. "The shower facilities were clean and the staff very friendly. The bathrooms and showers decent," reports Laura Z. Most campgrounds provide flush toilets in central locations.
Access to trails: Trail connectivity throughout forest preserves allows extended hiking or cycling without driving. "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," explains Josh M.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early mornings and evenings offer prime wildlife watching. "We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies. Hard to believe that there is hiking trails like those in such a densely populated area," shares Tricia E. about her experience at Marengo Ridge.
Free firewood at select parks: Some Cook County campgrounds include complimentary firewood with site rental. One visitor noted, "Each site comes with a free bundle of oak firewood which is nice to use on the fire pits."
Weekend-only camping at some preserves: Thomas Woods Campground operates primarily on weekends. "Limited to weekend camping, but spread out private-like tent sites. Camp hosts are super engaged and seem to love being caretakers," explains Marisa A.
Gate closure timing varies: At Paul Wolff Campground, entry restrictions impact late arrivals or early departures. "There's a restaurant across from it. When you are checking in with trailer make sure you don't turn left to the office. It will be hard to turn around," advises a visitor.
Price differences for residents vs non-residents: County residents receive substantial discounts at most forest preserves. "This year the prices have also gone up for people that live outside the park district - bummer. Hard to pay that much when you can't shower or clean up," shares Tara M.
Limited shade at newer campgrounds: Big Rock Campground is notably exposed. "This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade," reports David W.
Multiple activity options: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort caters specifically to families. "Camp sites are all flattened and mulched but not too spacious. You cannot pull your vehicle by the site but they provide wagons and staffs are willing to help," explains Yang L.
Tent site selection for privacy: At most forest preserves, corner sites provide more seclusion. "We were in a tent site, nearby pit toilets are basic with no running water. Odd numbered sites had better shade than evens," advises Cari B. when discussing site selection.
Pet exercise considerations: Most pet friendly camping near Roselle requires leashed dogs at all times, but trail systems provide ample exercise opportunities. "The trail system is great for walking the dogs. And I even grew to like the no alcohol in the preserve rule," says David W.
Weather preparation: The Chicago region experiences rapid weather changes, especially in spring and fall. "The staff was kind at checkin and during rock wall activities. The location is the main draw, as we wanted to be close enough to visit Chicago and suburbs," notes one family.
Utility connection specifics: Chicago Northwest KOA provides full hookup options. "This KOA has very limited full hook up sites. Site was not level but it had a lot of shade which was nice," mentions deb K. Many county forest preserve campgrounds offer electric but not water hookups.
Site leveling challenges: Several RVers note that even paved sites require leveling. "Sites # 4 and 5 probably have the longest length parking pad. There is NO shade during the day. None at all due to the trees within the campground being small," reports Tim K.
Water access planning: At Paul Wolff Campground, staff assist with water connections. "The staff has to hook up a very very long hose and will bring it to your site. You can get water, it's just an inconvenience for you and them," explains one reviewer.
Late season options: Most forest preserve campgrounds close by late October, but several private campgrounds remain open later. "Firewood was still wet and hard to burn," notes Lawrence B. about early spring camping conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Roselle, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Roselle, IL is Blackwell Family Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Roselle, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 56 dog-friendly camping locations near Roselle, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
