Do you enjoy camping but don't want to rough it? Glamping is a great option. Glamping is not only a fun alternative to traditional tent camping, but also allows you to pack more or less gear as you see fit. These scenic and easy to access Illinois glamping locations are perfect for any adventurer.
Indiana Dunes National Park hugs 15 miles (24 km) of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and has much to offer. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national park's 15,000 acres (6070 ha) will continually enchant you. Hikers will enjoy 50 miles (80 km) of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers and peaceful forests.
There is no one-size-fits-all trip to the dunes. Each season offers new and different ways to enjoy Indiana Dunes National Park. Spring splashes the river banks of the Heron Rookery with an abundance of colorful wildflowers in this birder's paradise. Lake Michigan summer sunsets paint the skies with vibrant rays that offer a picture-perfect picnic setting. In the fall, Maple trees burst with warm red and golden hues crafting a spectacular backdrop for a hike by the Chellberg Farm and winter brings a scenic canvas of virgin white snow begging for a cross-country skiing adventure in the Glenwood Dunes. As the seasons change, so do the recreational opportunities, park facility operating hours and closures and safety concerns. Here is a list of some of the activities that occur in the National Park: Beach-going & Swimming, Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Fishing & Boating, Hiking, Geocaching, Historical Sites, Horseback Riding, Interpretive Programs, Picnic, Winter Activities and Guided Tours. Check the Calendar page on our website for our list of Ranger-led programs.
Indiana Dunes National Park is a treasure of diverse natural resources located within an urban setting. The national park features communities that have both scientific and historic significance to the field of ecology. In addition, four National Natural Landmarks (including Pinhook Bog and Cowles Bog ) and one National Historical Landmark (the Bailly Homestead ) are located within its boundaries. The park is comprised of over 15,000 acres (6070 ha) of dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers, and forests. It contains 15 miles (24 km) of Lake Michigan shoreline spanning the distance from Gary to Michigan City. Lake Michigan is part of the largest complex of freshwater lakes in the world. The national park's beaches are the park's most significant recreational resource. For more information on our natural features visit the Nature and Science page on the park website.
Located close to the campground is Lake View Beach on Lake Michigan which is located 1.5 miles north of the campground. Several other national park beaches are within easy driving distance. Do NOT park in the Town of Beverly Shores' beach parking lot, which is located just to the east of the Lake View lot. You will get ticketed. The town is very strict. A gas station / convenience store is located mile north of the campground at the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Broadway Avenue. The Beverly Shores South Shore Railroad station with passenger service to Chicago and South Bend is located on Broadway Avenue, mile north of the campground. Indiana Dunes Tourism and LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau have lists of other activities in the area.
$25 / night
Camping options: Dunbar Group Site and General Camping
Dunbar Group: The Dunbar Group Site holds up to 30 people and is located less than 500 feet from the beach. The site overlooks the Great Marsh and Lake Michigan. Parking and restrooms are located in the Dunbar Beach parking lot, 400 feet from the site.
Indiana Dunes consists of 2,182 acres of primitive, beautiful, historic, and unique Hoosier landscape. It lies at the north end of State Road 49 in Porter County and includes more than three miles of beautiful beach along Lake Michigan’s southern shore. In the early 1900s scientists, recreationists, and nature enthusiasts, recognizing the value and potential of the Indiana dunes area, fought to have the region preserved. As a result, in 1925, the state park was established.
Large sand dunes, located beyond the entire shoreline, have taken thousands of years to form, and tower nearly 200 feet above Lake Michigan. A wide range of habitats and plant species are found in the park, with vegetation stabilizing some of the sand. These habitats provide homes for many types of plants and animals. The lake also provides a habitat for many aquatic species, as well as a constantly changing fishery.
$12 - $44 / night
Camp just steps from the water in the heart of the vast, hilly Palos Preserves. Camp Bullfrog Lake offers year-round camping, group activities and water-based recreation such as canoe rentals and fishing. Just around the corner from Maple Lake’s boathouse and the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, it’s also a perfect launching pad for hiking, mountain biking and birdwatching adventures on Palos’ 50-plus miles of trails.
$20 - $138 / night
$35 - $250 / night
Lakeshore Camp Resort Portage, IN is a 940 site Membership park. We have 115 full hookup campsites and 12 cabins available for rent to the general public. We offer you and your family a fun filled camping experience with access to our many amenities that include: 22 Acre lake, 4 pools, beaches, fishing, boat rental, mini golf, daily recreational activities, weekend entertainment, and much more! We are conveniently located 10 miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park, and approximately 45 miles from downtown Chicago, IL. Area attractions include; Deep River water park, Chicago train system, casinos, bike trails, zoos, and museums. Whether you are enjoying activities in or out of the park there is much to do.
$49 - $57 / night
Perched on 68 beautiful acres in Fair Oaks, Indiana, Oak Lake RV Resort is the perfect family escape. We offer seasonal sites, cabins, and yurts for your family to enjoy. Relax on our sandy beach overlooking the scenic lake or join in the fun activities and fantastic amenities throughout the resort. It is only 90 minutes from the bustling city of Chicago, but far away from it all.
Along with being only 90 minutes from Chicago, there are a lot of great adventures to be found near Fair Oaks, Indiana. Start with a visit to Fair Oaks Farm with their Fair Oaks Dairy Adventure or visit Crown Point Family Fun Center. Spend the day at Deep River Waterpark. Head over to Valparaiso to the fun zone at Zao Island with mini golf, go karts, batting cages, an alligator exhibit, arcade and cafe or take a trip to Indiana Beach.
$55 - $160 / night
This is a membership park, but does offer spots to Good Sam members if there is availability.
Clothing optional resort.
$35 - $200 / night
Scout
Staff was extremely helpful as this was our first trip with the new camper. Was very quiet. Clean shower and bathroom.
Guide
Camp Sullivan offers a charming and well-maintained space for campers of all kinds, from tent enthusiasts to RV travelers like us. All the RV sites here are back in, and while they are tight, they are certainly manageable. We brought our 36-foot RV, the Badger, and although it barely fit, we were able to position it close enough to the power box by choosing not to extend the slide. This turned out to be a smart decision, considering the timbers that line the gravel surface of the site. These timbers add a bit of a challenge when maneuvering a larger rig, and in our case, (note to staff) removing the timber closest to the road would have made things much easier.
Each RV site is equipped with 15, 30, and 50-amp electrical connections, though it’s worth noting that there’s no water or sewer available at individual sites. As a result, water conservation becomes essential. The bathrooms here, however, are clean and well-kept, which is always appreciated, especially after a few days without on-site water. There is also a stainless steel sink for use in front of the RV area's bathroom where you can do dishes.
Security at Camp Sullivan feels solid, and while there is some noise, it wasn’t disruptive. We stayed over a weekend, and though there was a lively group in the group campsite Saturday night, they respectfully wrapped up their activities by quiet hours, ensuring a peaceful night's sleep.
The roads throughout the campground are in good condition, and the trees aren’t a concern for your RV clearance. In addition to RV sites, Camp Sullivan offers a range of accommodations for all kinds of campers. There are small rental cabins, large bunkhouses for group camping, and plenty of tent sites spread across the grounds. We didn’t have the chance to check out the"Barn" yet, but it’s a major feature here, housing a climbing wall and concessions.
We also noticed staff busy cleaning the bunkhouse areas and taking care of trash removal, even on a quiet Sunday. Everyone we encountered was friendly and added to the overall positive vibe of the place. Camp Sullivan is an excellent spot for a weekend getaway or an extended stay, (up to six days allowed) with plenty of amenities and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s a place where we feel comfortable and cared for, with just the right balance of adventure and relaxation.
Guide
Lovely area and there’s so many beach areas nearby. Not on the lake but close! Best hike nearby is Mount Baldy! It’s short and you have the beach to yourself!
ScoutConvenient to Indiana dunes, each site is easily accessible and spacious. The facilities are fairly clean and showers are available though we didn’t use them. Would recommend as a stop over. As a solo female traveler I felt safe.
TravelerAdvertised as $25 a night, but you must have an Indiana Dunes park pass, which is only good for this specific park. Site was fine, facilities were decent.
Ranger
I somehow booked a different campground- website was confusing apparently. However the worker was so helpful and found me a spot anyway. Sites are kind of small so not a lot of space for big big campers. Cute lake and relatively quiet. Odd though that when I asked questions like where can we fill water and if they had a park map I got looked at like I had 3 heads.
ScoutThis is a nice national park campground and has all that you would expect from that, but the mosquitos here are insane!!! I came back with giant welts from the bites even with bug spray on. I honestly couldn’t wait to leave!
TravelerThis was a very nicely managed site. All services you might want, even showers. Our spot wasn’t very closed off from other sites, and you’re not likely to get much privacy here
GuideNice Privat Spot and lots of Shade, Train is on Duty all Night Paid $12.50 with my Senior Discount 👍
Scout
"Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week. The location was perfect for a peaceful retreat, and the amenities provided everything we needed for a comfortable and enjoyable visit. The kids had a blast with the available activities, and it was the ideal setting for our family to come together and create lasting memories. The staff was exceptionally friendly and went above and beyond to ensure our stay was pleasant. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a family-friendly getaway!"
Traveler
This is actually our second visit here. It’s only 20 minutes from our home, so we expect to come back many times. It’s a unique location about .5 miles from the actual beach and there’s a path/boardwalk that takes you right there. This is one of the few state parks that has a year-round heated bathroom with shower, so even with our popup camper we were able to take advantage of the decent weather for our first trip of the year. Sites are decent sized and have asphalt driveways with concrete pads. Sites are electric only, but there’s several water fills, even in winter. Very popular campground so you do have to book well in advance during regular season. Be aware that because it shares an entrance to the state park beach, entering on a summer Saturday or summer Sunday can take upwards of 45 minutes or more.
ScoutWe stayed 2 nights and the campground was thickly wooded and beautiful. We had good cell service but obviously the trees prevented Starlink. Our site was huge and the bathrooms were clean with individual locking showers and a dish sink. Short drive to the beaches.
Traveler
A group of us go camping at least 1 time a month and we were excited to find a campground with so many amenities very close to home. As soon as I pulled up the lady registering me couldn’t care less that I was there. It was like I was bothering her. She was more concerned what was going on on her phone. Then heading back to the site the park was entirely too crowded. They packed these spots in like sardines. The “security” was a joke. Our kids got yelled at 3 times for riding bikes. But they didn’t do anything with the drunks behind us making noise until 3am. Extremely disappointing and we will not be going back. We will warn everyone we know about this campground.
ScoutI couldn’t believe they pass this off for a campground. People live there full time. And it’s red neck.
GuideThe sites are decently private with good tent pads. Shower house was clean with good hot water. Acamper sink for dishwashing was a nice bonus. The hosts were friendly. Definitely heard railroad and road noise but that's the trade off for being close to town with good cell service.
GuideIt offers all the amenities you could want for a weekend get away. 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. However, if you’re looking for a true camping experience or to visit the Indiana Dunes, you’ll make little use of the amenities and find the sites small and area as well the sites and bath houses overcrowded. It really offers anything a family would want for a weekend trip so depending on the goal for your trip, this could have everything you would need or leave you feeling less than fully satisfied.
TravelerWe enjoyed riding ebikes on the trails. Lunch at the beach front (Lake Michigan) was good and great views. Clean br/shower houses. Would recommend
TravelerRecommend e-bike as some hills. Camp ground is clean and feels safe. Beach is nice, but no swimming in lake unless lifeguards on duty. They also don't allow floats b/c it blocks view of swimmers. Small store w/most essentials. Recommend Aldi's stop in town (only 1 other grocery store).
ScoutGreat place to stay clean quiet
Scoutvery clean safe relaxing
Scout
Very well kept safe supervision quiet clean facilities
ScoutVery well kept lightings good clean facilities population under control overall peaceful site
ScoutThe campsite overall is beautiful and the land is well kept. The reason for the review is due to the bathrooms being horrible. Hot water for showers did not work and floors were nasty, need to be remodeled. There is no water near any of the sites. 2 of the 3 hosts I dealt with were very rude. The one on the late night shift was very nice and knowledgeable. The other guys who helped me on arrival act as if they didn't want to be there. The site overall is amazing. Just wouldn't ever camp here again due to the high price and the bathrooms being Terrible.
Guide
Nice place, some sites are not level so you have to pay attention. It’s $12 a nite and it’s all primitive so you can have a generator. So because of that some people use noisy ones. But the gun range is awesome and good hunting spots as well.
GuideThe campground was nice because it’s close to the beach areas and had showers and flushing toilets. But the train station is near by and you will hear it in your tent the whole night. If you have ear plugs it’s okay ish but be warned.
Legend
We enjoyed our stay here, but I expect a KOA site to be a little cleaner. Not terrible, but there was trash at our site.
A little bit noisy from some cars and Quads racing up and down the road (not the highway, but the road near the KOA.
There was a game room with laundry attached, had plenty of room to visit with family during the rain.
Bathrooms were clean and had nice showers.
Nothing too fancy here but, it was an overall good experience.
TravelerGrate campground. Clean ,neat, an the staff is great . Very helpful an will work with you on taking care of your camp site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Thornton, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Thornton, IL is Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 121 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Thornton, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 glamping camping locations near Thornton, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
