Cabin camping near Russell, Illinois offers both basic and upscale accommodations across several state parks and private campgrounds. Winter overnight options exist at Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit where cabins remain accessible year-round despite temperatures dropping below freezing from December through February. Most properties are situated in forested settings with elevations ranging from 700-850 feet above sea level.
What to do
Hiking trails: Connect with local ecosystems at Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit where "there's hiking, access to almost all of the hiking trails available in kettle Moraine, and all within walking distance of where you park your tent or vehicle." For seasonal color, "If you enjoy ooing and ahhing over fall color leaves, mushrooms, native plants and the wonders of nature, hiking here won't disappoint."
Paddling opportunities: Explore waterways near Turner Lake South where one reviewer enjoys kayaking "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."
Wildlife viewing: Pack binoculars when staying at Sunset Campground where visitors report excellent animal sightings: "I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two." This campground offers "private sites, lots of wildlife... and mosquitoes."
What campers like
Affordable options: Basic sites start at $12 at Turner Lake South Camping Area. One reviewer notes these sites are "awesome choice for campers on a budget" and "one of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner."
Bathroom facilities: Clean restrooms at Camp Reinberg where "shower facilities were clean and the staff very friendly." Another visitor commented the restrooms were "seriously the cleanest I've ever seen, even the ceilings were cleaned!" The campground includes "pavilions, air conditioned/heated dining hall, shower building."
Lake access: Swimming and fishing at Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort where a camper describes the area as "beautiful and well maintained. We kayaked in the lake and it's small but nice. Great for kids lots of activities and space to play But very quiet and relaxing by nighttime."
What you should know
Insect preparation: Bring repellent as ticks and mosquitoes are prevalent at most campgrounds. At Sunset Campground, "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it." One visitor recommends a "pop-up screened gazebo that made sitting outside our tent much more enjoyable."
Wildlife encounters: Secure food properly as raccoons are common. At Honeysuckle Hollow, "the raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s'mores early, then everything must be packed into cars for the night."
Reservation timing: Book well in advance for cabin accommodations. Turner Lake South has cabins, but most visitors note "making reservations at the group site was easy and ensured no other campers were near us." For weekend stays, some visitors report that "it seems like a lot of people go early on Thursday or even Wednesday to secure their sites for the weekends."
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Lake swimming options abound for children at Turner Lake South where "there's a small beach on a lake within the park near camping areas." The water is "very clear and you could see the fish swim by," though one visitor warns "be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy."
Children's activities: Look for organized events at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park which offers "plenty of things to do all day with the rec dept staff and lots of sightings of Yogi, Boo Boo, and Cindy Bear!" Multiple reviewers note it's "great campground for families! Tons to do!" with "two bouncy pillows, three play grounds, a pool, water slides, a kids water activity area, beach, water obstacle course."
Terrain considerations: Choose flat sites for young children at Honeysuckle Hollow, where reviewers appreciate that "sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe." For tick protection with babies, "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."
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Check hookup distances at Happy Acres Kampground where some sites have limited utility access. Some visitors noted that "since there's no full hookup, they needed someone to control the traffic that comes from two different directions going to the dual dump stations."
Seasonal considerations: Plan for shoulder seasons when water systems may be winterized. At Kettle Moraine South Camping, "no showers in winter but awesome" according to winter campers. The forest offers "year round sites are available" making it suitable for off-season cabin camping.
Electric options: Verify amperage needs before booking. At Chicago Northwest KOA, "this KOA has very limited full hook up sites" and some visitors report they "paid for the deluxe patio site, which had no sewer. Site was not level but it had a lot of shade which was nice."
