Camping options near South Barrington, Illinois range from rustic tent sites to full-service RV parks within 20-30 miles of the village. The area sits at approximately 850 feet above sea level with moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Summer humidity levels often exceed 70%, creating conditions where proper ventilation in tents and campers becomes essential.
What to do
Kayaking the Chain O'Lakes: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers small but accessible kayaking opportunities. "We kayaked in the lake and it's small but nice," notes one visitor, while another camper appreciates that "Turner Lake South offers a pier for launching kayaks, though stairs to access can be tricky and "the bottom of the lake is very mushy."
Mountain biking on forest preserve trails: Camp Bullfrog Lake connects directly to extensive trail systems. "The mountain bike trails were awesome. If you're a trail rider, you must stay here. The lack of shade won't matter because you'll be riding all day," reports one reviewer. Miles of single-track trails weave through the property.
Hiking local conservation areas: Thomas Woods Campground offers varied terrain across relatively short distances. "What we enjoyed the most was the variety of hiking trails. They aren't the longest but we were able to vary the route to keep it fresh. Some were grass and others were dirt," shares one camper.
What campers like
Clean shower facilities: Chicago Northwest KOA maintains quality bathroom facilities according to visitors. "Staff was very friendly and the facilities were kept very clean," notes one camper. Another mentions the campground has "clean bathrooms" despite some sites being "a little close together."
Quiet camping environments: Fox Den Campground offers a more secluded experience than other nearby options. "Fox den at Chain-O-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers," shares one visitor.
Waterfront activities: Turner Lake South Camping Area provides direct lake access. "The lake was very nice. We were able to kayak but be careful getting the kayaks in. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by," explains one camper who enjoyed the water clarity.
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area has significant tick issues in warmer months. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks... they literally fall out of the trees into people!" warns one family. Raccoons are also active after dusk.
Campsite spacing varies significantly: Chain O'Lakes State Park offers vastly different experiences depending on which loop you choose. "In Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den," explains a visitor who notes that "Fox den and Prairie view loops are nice as well with mostly primitive sites."
Weather preparedness: Camp Bullfrog Lake has limited tree cover in many sites. "There is NO shade during the day. None at all due to the trees within the campground being small," reports a camper who visited during summer, noting the lack of shelter from sun or rain.
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Thomas Woods Campground offers a balanced outdoor experience. "We did our first (family of 5) camping trip at Thomas Woods. 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," shares one parent.
Seasonal activities: Chicago Northwest KOA hosts regular kid-friendly events. "Great campground just outside of Chicago! Plenty for the little kids to do, and the text message communication was great with regards to weather updates or any goings on around the campground," notes one family.
Site selection for privacy: At Camp Bullfrog Lake, sites are not created equal for family camping. "Sites # 4 and 5 probably have the longest length parking pad," notes one visitor, while another mentions "We were 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."
Tips from RVers
Hookup placement issues: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort provides multiple hookup options but requires planning. "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," notes one RV camper who still enjoyed their visit.
Campground layout considerations: At Fox Den Campground, "There are three campgrounds close together, Fox Den and two non-electric campgrounds Turner South and Prairie View that share the bath house which was clean and is in the center of them all," explains one RVer, noting the centralized facilities.
Electric hookup sharing: Some campgrounds have shared electric hookups requiring extra cords. "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," advises one RVer about Honeysuckle Hollow.
