The Dyrt can help you find the perfect horse camping site near Thornton. It's easy to find Thornton campgrounds for horse camping with The Dyrt. With our help, you'll find the best Illinois equestrian campsites from scenic to easily accessible.
Our Class-A Premium campground is located in the main park with shower facilities, flush toilets, and all sites have electricity. Water is available by pump at designated locations throughout the campground and at the sanitary dump station. This is a very wooded area with 4 loops-Oak, Hawthorne, Osage & Hickory. Pit toilets are also located near each loop. Alcohol is prohibited and credit cards are not accepted at the site.
Big Rock Campground, part of Big Rock Forest Preserve, is located at 46W499 Granart Rd., Big Rock, IL. The campground is open seasonally, May - October 15, each year.
Camp sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted. Payment is accepted via cash, check and credit card. Check-out is at 2 p.m., each day.
The campground contains 109 camp sites including 96 improved, vehicle campsites complete with 50-amp electrical service, water access, parking pads and fire rings, 9 primitive, tent-only sites without electric access, and four equestrian camp sites.
Camp fees are as follows:
Improved camp site (with electric and water): Kane County residents: $20/day Nonresidents: $35/day
Primitive camp site: Kane County residents: $12/day Nonresidents: $18/day
Equestrian camp site (with electric and water): Kane County residents: $15/day Nonresidents: $25/day
Dump station (not registered): Kane County residents: $15 Nonresidents: $15
Firewood (available at Campground office): Bundle: $5
Note: Outside firewood is allowed to be brought into the campground, however, all firewood must either be completely burned or left on site. No firewood will be allowed to be taken off site, due to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine and restrictions by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Big Rock Campground opened in the summer of 2013. This project was partially funded by an IDNR OSLAD and Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant.
This campground/preserve includes a horseback riding area. Most horse trails are natural surface, mowed grass paths. Limestone screenings trails and asphalt bike trails are available in some of the preserves. These are multi-use trails shared with runners, bicyclists, dog walkers etc. Horse riders are required to stay on designated, forest preserve-maintained trails. Trail riding is not allowed in restricted natural areas, Illinois Nature Preserves, picnic areas or in farmed areas. To prevent trail damage during wet weather, trails may be temporarily closed. Individual forest preserves will post a sign at the entrance when horse trails are closed. Trails are currently OPEN for equestrian use at this campground/preserve.
$18 - $35 / night
Leisure Lake Membership Resort is a family camping and RV resort. Enjoy the great outdoors without the long drive. Located in Joliet, Illinois, we are 40 miles from Chicago and only minutes from Chicago Land's Route 66 Speedway, 10 miles from Metra Train Station. We are owned and operated by the members for the members. We do allow Good Sam members in based on availability.There are many organized activities, dances, and live entertainment provided throughout the year. We have many amenities to offer! Featuring a 24 acre stocked fishing lake, 2 acre sand bottom swimming lake, swimming pool, convenience store, and free WiFi.
$37 / night
The Equestrian Campground off Illinois Route 113 is open from April 1 through October 31. Equestrian trails operate on a seasonal basis. There is no water available in the Equestrian Campground.
ScoutWe booked a month stay but weren’t able to stay over 2 weeks because water is so horrible. Our cat got diarrhea, clothes got ruined, you can’t even make tea with that water. But everything else was good. Nice helpful staff, clean, quiet rv park.
Traveler
Can get a little crowded ar times
Traveler
Stayed 4 nights- first come first served- no reservations- bring plenty of hose for water connections- first site we tried was just too far to connect- toilets but no showers available- electric/ water no full hook ups. Clean, with large sites, about a 5 mile walk around the nearby lake- saw several deer and rabbits - T-Mobile worked just fine- no Wi-Fi
LegendPotowatami campground is divided into four loops. We camped in the Osage loop. Garbage cans are at the start of the loop. A central shower house is on the main road midway between the loops. Right at the start of Osage is an entrance to the crushed gravel bike path. It gave us a great hike through the trees. You can find picnic areas and playground equipment by following the bike path. The camp host checks you in. He gave us the signal in case we drive out of camp. Wave the sign out your window and re-enter camp. He also told us about rock creek nature trail. It’s just across the main road near the ranger office entrance. There are another couple miles of trails if you want some diversity.
TravelerFirst off the camp hosts were amazing! Very friendly and helpful!
Ok. Came in on a Thursday with no reservations. Camp Hosts got me a spot for Thursday and only had 2 available spots in the whole campground for the weekend so I took Oak 1 over the only other open spot.
Thursday night was GREAT. It was quiet and peaceful. Had a great day chilling on Friday during the day too. Friday afternoon people started funneling in and it still wasn’t too bad into the evening.
About 8 is when it got a little worse. There was a group that came in and occupied 2 sites. They were a little more loud but bearable. About 9:45 another part of their group came rolling in. That’s when it wasn’t as nice. They were trying to set up their tent with headlights/flashlights shining into our camp. Yelling back and forth between the 3 sites, etc. Finally I think the quieted down about midnight. Saturday. Still loud and a few of the cars in their group were in and out several times. Not a big deal except every time they were driving out a one way.
LegendWe have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 35 for 3 days in late June. This is a relatively large CG, just under 100 sites, and fortunately it was only about 25% full, because they do not accept reservations. The CG is very clean and well maintained. The water hookups on most sites were way at the back, or on the"wrong side", which might present issues for some. AT&T coverage quite good, with 3 Bars of 5G service and speeds up to 22 MB/s. We had a clear view of the southern and northern sky, so we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site and Starlink had speed up to 19 MB/s.
TravelerI wouldn't recommend this "Campgrounds" for anyone not in a trailer. You're going to be just camping in a big open flat field.
Also if you're not a resident of the local county, you're going to be paying an additional $10 per night.
There are no showers. There is one flush toilet and two pit toilets.
ScoutNice clean area to camp. Most of the sites are for travel camper or RV’s.
A couple of drive Ups.
50/30 amps hookups. Water hookups as well. Great water pressure.
Running water restrooms & non-running water restrooms.
2-dump sites they have sections for tent camping- but down fall is they do not have showers.
Overall experience was great and we will return.
ScoutNewer camp ground that is Clean and well maintained. Has water and electric. The camp ground has a small pond and some trails. Just lacking a playground and shower house. Came across a lot of carpenter bees.
ScoutPerfect place for walking relax super quiet Helpful people I like it
GuideSpacious sites with lush jungle-like greenery grown in between, which provides perfect privacy. Easy access to water pump. Have to drive to get to the toilet/ shower station though.
GuideSingle night stay.
ScoutWe bought our first RV in 2019 and this place was in town so we used it to learn how to better rv camp after work some days. They have a short hiking path that leads to big rock forest preserve where there is a tiny beach that we use to put our kayaks and canoes into for floating parties. Fishing is decent and it has a 1 mile loop that goes up and down hill around the lake. Peaceful and quiet. Great place to get away and chill.
ScoutThis was our first camping here and we really enjoyed our stay in the campground. The campground manager was very friendly and helpful and our site was clean with a nice fire pit with built-in grill and very clean. Lots of shower stalls in the shower house. We will definitely be back!
GuideNice sites in the Potawatomi Campground! Would have been a 5 star but no Campground host on duty the night I camped and no toilet paper in the toilet in the Oak loop. Can't make a reservation day before camping so that kinda sucks as everything is walk in... Am on a "purpose trip" and not a journey, so not partaking of park amenities. I would definitely camp here again!!
GuideHad Electric and Water hookup. Very roomy and level sites. It's about 9 years old, so no trees. No swimming or fishing. Only hiking trails.
GuideI wish we were able to stay longer than one day! I loved this spot! We loved riding our bikes along the river and just being away from the hustle and bustle. Not many amenities other than showers, toilets and hookups, but it just adds to the appeal here. A great spot to get away and experience some silence and solitude!
GuideWe are here on Memorial Day weekend and it is full, but still very quiet. The sites are well maintained including the fire pit areas. Water hookup is back from pad so as others have said, bring the longer water hose. Nearby Siegler Lake and Big Rock Creek in the Big Rock Forest Preserve are picturesque.
ScoutWe had four sites on Osage loop for tent camping. Two were very small (14&15), and little grass for tent setup, fine for RV or trailer campers. They were private with brush between sites. 16&17 were amazing for tents!! Open, tall trees for our tight rope and hammocks and shade. Grass for tents 16&17 Osage loop also open to 9&10 on Hickory loop. With a lot of space between so no site setup is on top of each other. Wish we knew more about individual site layout. Grills were new. Bathrooms inclu vault were cleanest I’ve seen. Bike path/hike path is long and wide and very nice. We had kids under age 8. River is fast, tried to fish. Stars were out. Had rain Saturday but we all just hang out and manage just fine. Overall, where the loops get close on the map, the sites back up with good space without ground brush - if you’re trying to string together a few sites for a group where you can pass through - also fine for strangers. Biggest spaces. Can add that 13, 6, 5, ,4 Osage are good RV but not good tent.
GuideWe stayed here for a weekend. It's a nice place. Campsites are flat. The water hookups are kind of far from the individual sites (make sure you have extra hose).
RangerNot worth the drive here to tent camp if you live outside of Kane county. Even their 9 hike-in primitive sites hugging the treeline lack privacy. Yes, all the sites are very flat. It's a nice field if that's what you look for in a campground.
TravelerNice campground with big, level sites. Even though they don’t take reservations, there is plenty of space and availability. Lovely grasslands, ponds, hiking trails, but the lack of trees and privacy isn’t my preference. Still great option not far from Chicago.
TravelerQuiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities
TravelerQuiet and family orientated
TravelerAs someone who normally camps in state parks with only electricity hookups, this site was a welcome treat.
Rig: 2020 Micro Minnie 1700BH + Ford F-250
Campers: 2 parents, 3 boys ranging from 7 years old to 2 years old
Campsite Pros: Water + 50amp hookups. Wide, open spaces for kids to ride bikes and explore wildflowers. Duck viewing. Quiet. Almost 100 improved sites. Full bars on Verizon. Amazing sunsets. Sites seem to be mostly level.
Cons: Walkup only - no reservations taken. $35 a night is a bit steep. AT&T signal is spotty at times. Water hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!
GuideGrass camping. The spaces are pretty level. The trees will be terrific in about 20 years. There is nothing much to do here, or nearby. It’s clean and the comfort stations are new. There is electric at the sites and water spigots throughout, although not really at each space. I saw where some campers hooked about 150’ of hose to spigots behind the loops to run to their campers. The dump station is good. It’s expensive, for what is there, if you are not a Kane County resident. There appears to be some equestrian space and trails. Quiet.
ScoutTook my daughter for a simple overnight and it was great. Open campground with nearly zero tree. We had a great campfire but didn’t take advantage of the whole park to explore. She wants to again this year but we will spend more time hiking.
Convenient location to the Fox Valley area but follow map directions because Google will take you to the south entrance which does not connect with the campground.
Nice clean bathrooms as well!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Thornton, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Thornton, IL is Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Thornton, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Thornton, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
