49 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several RV parks operate within 30 miles of Thornton, Illinois, providing various hookup options and site configurations. Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort in Joliet offers full hookup sites with 50-amp electrical service, water, and a sanitary dump station nearby. Lake Alexander RV Park features spacious sites with 30/50-amp service on 120 acres along the Kankakee River, open from April 15 to October 15. Tameling Campground provides big-rig friendly sites with full hookups including sewer connections, while Enchanted Shores RV Park accommodates both pull-through and back-in configurations. Site dimensions vary considerably between parks, with some offering concrete pads and others using gravel or dirt surfaces. "Friendly staff who were quick to respond to any issues. Partial hookups with sewer just outside of park behind hotel. Good pad with garbage cans throughout park."
Most RV parks in the region maintain year-round operations, though several close during winter months. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend stays between May and September. Love's RV Hookup in Morris provides a convenient overnight option with full hookups, showers, and a dump station directly off I-80. Cell service varies by location, with Verizon generally providing reliable coverage throughout the area. Pet policies differ between facilities—Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park allows pets but prohibits alcohol, while Hollywood Casino permits both. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, water quality can be problematic at some locations, with one visitor noting they "installed a five-stage filtration system just to make it usable." Propane refill services are available at select locations, including Love's RV Stop in Demotte, which also offers gated security for overnight stays.
"Friendly staff who were quick to respond to any issues. Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly."
"Did laundry….so quiet we slept hard.! Nice safe location. Flat, pretty large spots..picnic tables."
"Clean full hookups, pull through and back in sites"
"Great stop for the night, It's new, gated and has basic amenities like a General store, Dog park and basketball court and tennis ball court for some activities if you have kids."
from $35 - $599 / night
Check Availability"Lake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago."
"The camp manager was very friendly and took me to my tent/electric site. She even put me next to a fellow biker. Nice quiet place and you can walk down to the Kankakee river."
from $33 - $43 / night
Check Availability"The new pool, the game room, the playground,the beautiful new bath house and the grounds are just wonderful. We've developed quite a lovely community of really nice people."
"The location requires a 2 night stay minimum."
from $65 - $95 / night
Check Availability"We stayed on site 27, sites are full hookup up, there's a nice bathhouse which has a key pad handle which made me feel safe while showering. Theres a playground as well."
"Nature trails and of course Cedar Lake. People seemed friendly."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability"I enjoy the secluded area and found the people to be friendly and helpful"
"Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch. "
from $37 / night
Check Availability"The park is dog friendly. The campground is clean and quiet. There is no bath house, only port-a-potty's throughout the campground."
"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."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Oak Lake RV Resort handled it all with ease & gave us the BEST camping trip ever!"
"Was very quiet. Clean shower and bathroom."
from $55 - $160 / night
Check Availability
TravelerFriendly staff who were quick to respond to any issues. Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant. No wi-fi found except at hotel. Good phone connection. Garbage cans throughout park. Minutes from I & M Canal entrance on Houbolt and from JJC and I-80.
TravelerWe pulled in around 4:30 in the evening. The sight was spacious with plenty of room in between sites. Since the weather was cooler , it was pretty sparse with other campers. We stayed 2 nights over the weekend. You are within walking distance to the beach within the park. The buildings have great architecture. The sight had 50 amp electric hook ups but no water or sewer connections, and we knew that going in. We had a back in sight #69. There was plenty of space on all sides. We have a 37’ motorhome and pulled a Jeep behind it. There was plenty of room to maneuver around. The sight also had a wood picnic table and fire ring for a wood fire pit. We will definitely be back! I wish I had taken more photos from the beach and beach pavilion.
Traveler6 people, 1 pup & a 44.4' Keystone Sprinter... Oak Lake RV Resort handled it all with ease & gave us the BEST camping trip ever! From the moment you drive up, staff are waiting in golf carts to guide you to your site & even help with setup. We were nervous about fitting our big rig, but pull-through site #17 made it flawless. Where else does that??
We originally booked August 22–25, extended to the 29th & then lucked into staying through Labor Day weekend. We canceled our other plans because Oak Lake had everything we wanted & more!!Pond swimming & obstacle course, movies on our inflatable screen, golf cart glow parades, s’mores, homemade campfire pizzas & endless family memories. The kids are still raving about it!
Rebecca deserves a huge shoutout for going above & beyond! Tom & Marianne, the owners, are amazing hosts who clearly pour their hearts into making Oak Lake special. Even the coin operated laundry was a lifesaver & convinced us we need a washer/dryer in our camper for future impromptu stays 😂.
We’re already talking about being put on the list for a seasonal site for next year bc we know we’ll be back again & again. Oak Lake RV Resort is Newton County’s hidden gem!!! If you’re searching for fun, hospitality & true family camping memories... THIS is the place!! Hands down, every time.
LegendThe state park is located within the boundaries of the Indiana Dunes National Park (formerly National Lakeshore), so don't get confused by this. There also is a national park campground, but it's closed in the winter.)
This state park has a nice layout because the sites seem to be staggered so that they don't back up to each other. Also, there is a good buffer space behind the sites and decent space between each site.
All sites have 20- 30- and 50-amp service available, plus almost all are a combination of a concrete pad and asphalt apron. Note that just because they're paved doesn't mean all of them are level. Each site has a fire pit and it appeared they all have grill grates on them.
One nice touch is that some sites have wider asphalt aprons so if you have a longer rig, you can put your towing vehicle or your towed vehicle off to the side once your rig is in place. Also, the ADA sites are nicely laid out with larger concrete pads so that even the fire pits are in the concrete section for ease of access.
Note that after Nov. 1, the water is shut off and bathrooms are shut down until spring, although there are vault toilets available.
You will hear a pretty regular stream of train whistles at this campground, but they aren't so loud as to be disruptive.
You can hike to the 1929 Dunes Pavilion and a large beach on Lake Michigan. The best hiking activity, however, and also easily accessible by walking from the campground, is the series of dune trails. The Nature Center, which sits between the campground and the trails, has some good visitor's information about the dunes, the flora and fauna, and the history of the area.
Once you finish seeing what you want in the state park, there's still the entire national park to see. Plus, there's a multi-use trail that runs for 9 miles along the state park and into the national park.
Cell service for Verizon was two bars but speeds seem to be good. Less signal and speed for Google Fi, but not terrible.
TravelerWe booked here sight unseen due to temporary employment in the area.
What a terrible mistake.
The best thing was, that there is "full hook up" here???
This place is old and run-down to say the least, there's not a flat spot on any of the roads. The sites are dirt with something green in between. The stinkest water we've ever smelled, horrible!!! Our sewer connection was nearly buried. There is a laundry area, I don't know what it's like, I'd never wash our close in that nasty water, we found a Laundromat. The lots are verious sizes of tiny. Most sites you're back to back to your neighbor. Your door faces your other neighbor's door, it's like you shared a site. We asked for a picnic table and got one, but when we left for a week, when we returned it was gone! Despite the high rent, there's no internet or cable TV, basically no emenities. We were told there was planned activities, but we weren't there long enough to find out. There's a area for long-term, yearly sites. Several of the trailers in that area were old with beat up decks, some surrounded by junk.
We installed interior security cameras to keep an eye on our rig. Then stayed in a hotel until we changed our job location.
We can't image a worse location. I should be condemned.
We feel bad for those who are on the road and fall into this trap for a place to stay on the way, or close to Chicago.
TravelerThis 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.
RangerLake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago. The camp is 120 acres of natural beauty on the banks of the Kankakee River. The wooded habitat abounds with fish, wildlife, and native plants, and they offer many amenities for recreation and relaxation.
They’re open from April 15 to October 15
RV Overnight (includes electric and water) • $38 (30-amp electric service) • $42 (50-amp electric service)
Tent Overnight • $32 (no electric) • $35 (incl. electric)
GuideThis is a beautifully kept campground just outside Michigan City, IN. It is gated so will need to call in once you arrive to enter. We stayed in the premium sites which were 90ft pull thought with 50A service, water and sewer, and the best wifi I have seen at a campsite. The cement patio was large with a picnic table and an adjacent fire pit. There is swimming pool and a game room, and a small store with the essentials, and propane.
You are close to Indiana Dunes and the downtown area of Michigan city. Good food, shops are close by.
By the way there are a number of cabins/mini homes to rent.
TravelerDecember 2020, we toured this KOA Holiday in Kankakee, Illinois for a long-term stay.
We noticed a few trailers with a lot of junk piled all around their units. When we inquired about them, were were told that those people were being evicted and would be soon gone. Great, since our site was directly across the street from those.
Well, no one left, the junk remained.
There were other sites that had wooden cages, tables and other structures built on them. Clearly a violation of KOA written violations.
Anyway, we weren't buying the place, but an awful eyesore.
We couldn't find another site for a long way around. Without another good option, we checked in for an extended stay.
We became friends with a few of our neighbors. We began comparing our utility charges and found that we were all being charged different rates for electric and internet. When we asked for actual "electric bills" we were told there wasn't individual bills, charges were taken by the owners reading your meter, strange. "Some" of us were paying for internet. Our neighbors had the ability to move to another job site,, so they packed up and left.
Things aren't adding up.
We had nice site on the interior of a cul-de-sac, with a nice large open grassy space right behind us. It is one of the quietest and largest sites in an area, where most of us were staying long-term. After a few months, it became apparent that the owners had their favorite renters. The ones who had wooden structures, piles of junk and that were allowed to park their vehicles in areas that were designated "keep off the grass". Yep, that nice grassy area right behind our RV was where they parked their 2 vehicles, not utilizing their own parking spaces in front of their trailer. When we complained, we were told that we were welcome to park our second vehicle there also. However, when we parked our second vehicle in the same area, we were asked to leave.
As far as regular short-term camping, it's ok. It's older place with huge rotting trees, mostly dirt or gravel sites. The washers and dryers were nice in spring of 2021. The owners do a good job of "acting" nice and welcoming.
I would not recommend an extended monthly stay at this KOA HOLIDAY in Kankakee, Illinois.
RV camping near Thornton, Illinois offers options within a 45-mile radius, with sites ranging from $32 to $63 per night. The area experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures averaging 84°F in July and cold winters dropping to 17°F in January. Propane refill services remain limited during winter months when several campgrounds close their water hookups.
Swimming and water activities: At Oak Lake RV Resort, visitors enjoy a swimming pond with an obstacle course. "Pond swimming & obstacle course, movies on our inflatable screen, golf cart glow parades, s'mores, homemade campfire pizzas & endless family memories," reports one camper who extended their stay from a weekend to nearly two weeks.
Fishing opportunities: The Kankakee River provides fishing access at Lake Alexander RV Park, where 120 acres of natural habitat supports diverse wildlife. "Lake Alexander RV Park is a quiet, spacious, family owned and operated campground located near Momence, Illinois, within a 1-hour drive of Chicago. The camp is 120 acres of natural beauty on the banks of the Kankakee River," notes one reviewer.
Walking trails: Multiple parks near Love's RV Hookup-Morris offer hiking options, including the I&M Canal State Trail. "Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street/Road 47 where you'll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic."
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention the well-maintained shower facilities at several locations. "Clean campsite, clean showers & bathrooms!" reports one visitor to Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort. Others note that Love's RV locations feature "pristine, brand-new" shower stalls.
Affordable alternatives to Chicago hotels: Budget-conscious travelers appreciate Enchanted Shores RV Park & Campground for its proximity to Chicago at lower rates. "$20. 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," shares one reviewer.
Helpful staff: Many campgrounds receive praise for exceptional service. "Staff was extremely helpful as this was our first trip with the new camper," notes a visitor to Oak Lake RV Resort. Another adds, "Rebecca deserves a huge shoutout for going above & beyond! Tom & Marianne, the owners, are amazing hosts who clearly pour their hearts into making Oak Lake special."
Water quality concerns: Some campgrounds have water quality issues beyond what filtration systems can address. At Enchanted Shores, one camper reported, "The stinkest water we've ever smelled, horrible!!! Our sewer connection was nearly buried."
Reservation requirements: Most parks require advance booking during peak season (May-September). At Cedar Lake Ministries RV Park, seasonal operations run April 1 to October 21, with many amenities available only during this period.
Seasonal limitations: Several campgrounds close entirely or limit services during winter. "Not a bad spot. Average and relatively inexpensive," notes one Hollywood Casino visitor who added, "No water before 4/15," indicating seasonal water restrictions.
Noise factors: Traffic noise affects some locations. For Enchanted Shores, a reviewer noted: "Located right on US45-US52. Lots of truck traffic stopping at the intersection makes lots of noise at night."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play equipment for children. One Oak Lake RV Resort visitor mentioned, "Pulled 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."
Entertainment options: Family activities vary by campground. "Fox Bluff CottageS & RV has not disappointed. The new pool, the game room, the playground, the beautiful new bath house and the grounds are just wonderful," reports a five-year seasonal camper.
Security considerations: Gated facilities provide additional peace of mind for families. "Gated for security and plenty of shade. Great family setting and staff," notes one Oak Lake RV Resort visitor.
Electrical connections: Check specific amperage availability. Love's RV Stop in Demotte offers both 30-amp and 50-amp connections, though one camper noted an issue: "The site we were at showed a ground fault on the 50amp Circuit so I had to use the 30 amp circuit."
Site dimensions: Several campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. "We were nervous about fitting our big rig, but pull-through site #17 made it flawless," reports a camper with a 44.4' Keystone Sprinter at Oak Lake RV Resort.
Overnight convenience stops: For travelers passing through, Love's RV locations offer practical options. "Fueled up here and realized it was a loves rv overnight. Easy in and out with all the basics plus a nice convenient store and fuel," notes one reviewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Thornton, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Thornton, IL is Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Thornton, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 49 RV camping locations near Thornton, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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