Thornton, IL is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Thornton is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Thornton, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
$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."
$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."
$25 / night
"You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern."
"You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern."
$23 / night
"We spent the afternoon on the lakeside and drove back to the site to set up for the evening."
"This campground was very nice and clean and for a packed park was very quiet and we did not feel too close to the sites next to us. "
$49 - $57 / night
"We were there the week before peak season opened so none of the pools or splash pads were open, but they were very accommodating so that we could still play mini golf and ride around on the pedal cars."
"A lake with water rentals, floating water slide, playgrounds and sport courts, general store with the stardust’s “convenience mark-ups”,and water/ electric at all sites."
$20 - $35 / night
"Yes, it’s an hour from the city, but I’d take the drive over the bill at a nearby hotel. There’s an outhouse and plenty of places to plug in the RV, and cars/tents are welcome too."
"Nature trails and of course Cedar Lake. People seemed friendly."
GuideI am directly in the sun in my spot. There is trash in it as well. I barely have T-Mobile service (not the camps fault but thought I’d share) It’s ridiculous there are two bathroom stalls and complete strangers have to pass a toilet paper roll between the stalls- for the price I’d expect more. I’m normally uber easy to please but this camp is not run well in the slightest. I only gave two stars for the veterans discount. Last minute RV site- $33. Go elsewhere.
TravelerIndiana Dunes State park campground is one of our favorites. The beach, the trails, bike trails. There is everything to do here, it does not disappoint. Well the weekend traffic can be a bummer.
LegendManagement was very attentive to making sure the campground was quiet and calm. The lady checking me in warned me that we were staying among a cyclist group and to let them know if they got too rowdy (they did not lol).
The campsite was large and beautiful. The restroom area was clean and had soap and dryers.
Lots of nature, chill vibe. Great experience!
TravelerReally great park! It had a lot of really nice trails that were fairly easy to follow for being sand. The beach was well maintained, and had lifeguards during certain hours, which gave me a little bit of extra comfort in bringing my kids to the lake. It had really nice bathroom facilities, and changing room facilities there. There was also a café, but I did not go into that.
The visitor center is nice, fairly large and the workers were very friendly. They had one of the nicer programs that I have been to in the state.
The park sites were nice, most of them had grass and trees, but a few of them like sites 98 through 102 did have sand on them, which is kind of cool. It was also the nicest showers that I’ve been to to date.
The only reason I rate this park a three is that it’s very close to train lines and the trains going through and blasting their horns all night long. If you’re a heavy sleeper and can deal with that, you’ll be just fine but us tent camping there was nothing to block the sound, and it kept waking me up. Nothing the park does wrong, clearly, but something to think about.
ScoutPulled in as the sun was coming down after a looong day of driving. Our site was right next to the playground and my kids had a blast swinging, climbing, and jumping while we set up camp.
LegendThe lake and dunes are spectacular and live up to the hype. The 3 dune challenge is not really a challenge if you are moderately healthy but it is fun and scenic! The cool soft sand feels fantastic, definitely best hiked barefoot. The campground itself is pretty typical of a state park- decent spacing, level sites and well kept. It is electric only but that didn't really bother us- we just showed up with the water tank full and other tanks empty and enjoyed ourselves. Our site was right between the playground and beach trailhead, but still private. The best sites are the ones on the outside from the beach trail to the nature center. These are up against the dunes and have some shade. The middle sites are more exposed and much less private. The campground was pretty full but had a nice communal family feel to it. The beach and dunes are the star of this show, but the campground is a good supporting actor.
GuideIt’s just outside of Chicago and it feels like it. It’s like camping in a city park. I kept looking for the hot dog vendor, paddle swans and a bowling pin juggling mime. The lake is a pond but the illegal fireworks were great. I gave it a 2 star just for the free hot shower.
ScoutJust beautiful piece full with nature
Scout25$ a night no electric much but a park pass also for 25$
Camping near Thornton, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are several campgrounds nearby that cater to different needs.
Camping around Thornton, IL, has its perks and challenges. With a bit of planning, you can enjoy a great outdoor experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Thornton, IL is Camp Bullfrog Lake with a 4.2-star rating from 28 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 parks near Thornton, IL that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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