Cabins near Skokie, Illinois range from rustic to modern options within forested settings or alongside lakes. Located in northern Illinois where the Des Plaines River watershed creates several wetland areas, these cabin accommodations typically experience hot, humid summers and cold winters. Winter cabin rentals near Skokie often include heating systems while summer reservations should be made 3-6 months in advance during peak season.
What to do
Kayaking on small lakes: Camp Bullfrog Lake offers kayak rentals for $15 per hour including life vests. "The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," notes a visitor to Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Hiking through wetlands: Deer Grove Forest Preserve provides varied trail systems with different difficulty levels. A camper at Camp Reinberg states, "The trails through the grounds are varied and long--you can find something to suit just about any preference for suburban midwest hiking. There are plenty of paved trails as well as dirt, lots of fun little off-shoots into the woods."
Mountain biking on trails: Trail systems connect directly to some camping areas. "What's great about this location is the access to the miles and miles of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite," according to one Camp Bullfrog Lake visitor. Another notes, "Some of the area's best mountain bike single track is right here."
Wildlife observation: The natural areas around camping facilities support diverse wildlife. At Richard Bong State Recreation Area, a visitor observed: "If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go. 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."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many cabin sites maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. A camper at Camp Sullivan mentioned, "The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern. The campsites are well kept as are the grounds."
Free firewood at select locations: Some campgrounds include complimentary firewood with reservations. "Free firewood and you can purchase more for just $5," reports a visitor to Camp Reinberg. Another camper noted, "We stayed for 4 nights in June in a pull thru FHU. The mosquitos were pretty vicious... a couple of the regulars said it was the worst they'd been in years."
Quick access to Chicago: The cabin locations provide a balance between wilderness and urban proximity. A visitor to Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort stated, "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."
Seasonal activities: Summer accommodations include water recreation while winter cabins offer protection from elements. "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. There are about 8 tent/pop up sites and the rest of the campground is for RVs. I recommend the lakefront tent sites, they are spacious and you can fish right from your site!"
What you should know
Site proximity varies greatly: Many cabin locations feature closely situated accommodations. A camper at Chicago Northwest KOA observed, "It's on the smaller side and the RV sites are a little close together but they have it set up where your RVs doors open on opposite sides so it gives a little privacy."
Seasonal insect considerations: Mosquitoes and ticks can be prevalent during warmer months. "So many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks," reports a camper. "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."
Wildlife management: Some cabin areas have active wildlife populations requiring proper food storage. "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 and all surfaces wiped down."
Seasonal operation: Several cabin facilities operate only during warmer months. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort runs from May to October, while others maintain year-round availability. "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."
Tips for camping with families
Play structures near campsites: Several locations feature playground equipment within walking distance of cabin accommodations. "Lots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc. The preserve bumps up next to neighborhoods and major roads depending how far in you get, but the main trails are easy to follow," notes a visitor to Camp Reinberg.
Activities for different age groups: Some facilities organize recreational programs specifically for children. A visitor to Turner Lake South shared, "There is so much to do at this campground. Horseback riding, archery, hiking, boating, fishing. There is also a park for the kids in several areas."
Flat terrain for safety: Level camping surfaces provide safer environments for young children. "Sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe," mentions one family camper. "This is a BIG park, the campgrounds are two miles from the front gate, and it's a drive to the main boat launch."
Educational opportunities: Nature centers and interpretive trails offer learning experiences. "We camp here at least 2 times per year and have only had good experiences. Clean facilities, good hikes and good campsites (either in the woods or out of the woods). Highly recommend," states a Camp Sullivan visitor with three children under 7.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: RV sites near Skokie offer varying levels of privacy and amenities. A camper at Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area warned, "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."
Water access considerations: Not all cabin and RV sites feature direct water hookups. "We had a back-in site on the north side of the campground. We had 50 amp, but no water/sewer, although there was a water spigot next to our site that we could use to fill up jugs of water," explains a Honeysuckle Hollow visitor.
Seasonal RV site recommendations: Certain locations provide better protection during specific seasons. "We stayed in spot 2 which had more privacy but felt more cramped. This time I was in spot 18 which felt like it had more space but had almost no shade," notes a camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Gate closure policies: Security measures may restrict after-hours access. "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," explains a Turner Lake South visitor describing important information for RV travelers planning late arrivals.
