kelsea D.
Traveler
TravelerPrairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park
A lot to do.
There’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.
Camping near Union, IL
97 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Campgrounds near Union, Illinois range from full-hookup RV parks to tent sites and cabin rentals, covering a mix of camping styles within a short drive of the city. Chicago Northwest KOA, located on South Union Road, offers tent camping, RV sites with full hookups, and cabin rentals, while just a few miles away, Thomas Woods Campground in Marengo provides more natural surroundings with electric hookups and tent sites. The area features a mix of state parks, county forest preserves, and private campgrounds, most within a 30-minute drive of Union, creating a hub for outdoor recreation in northern Illinois with proximity to lakes and prairie landscapes.
Seasonal operations affect campground availability throughout the region, with most facilities operating from April or May through October or November. Rock Cut State Park, about 30 miles northwest, remains open year-round, providing camping opportunities during winter months when other campgrounds close. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer weekends, especially for electric sites or cabins, which typically book well in advance. Most campgrounds in the area offer at least basic amenities including toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables, though shower facilities vary by location. As one camper noted about nearby Chain O'Lakes State Park, "This is a BIG park, the campgrounds are two miles from the front gate, and it's a drive to the main boat launch at Maple Grove."
Campers frequently mention the wooded settings and lake access as highlights when staying near Union. The region's proximity to both Chicago and Wisconsin makes it popular for weekend trips, with several reviewers noting its convenience as a quick getaway. Family-friendly amenities appear in many reviews, with attractions like the Illinois Railway Museum near Chicago Northwest KOA adding appeal for those traveling with children. Privacy between sites varies significantly across campgrounds, with some providing more secluded, tree-lined spots while others offer more open layouts. According to feedback, Shabbona Lake State Park provides "one of the most amazing outdoor camping experiences Illinois has to offer" with its mix of natural surroundings and lake activities, while other visitors appreciate the region's prairie landscapes and forest preserves that create contrast to the agricultural fields dominating much of the area.
Best Campgrounds near Union (97)
1. Chicago Northwest KOA
"You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!"
"We stayed here for a weekend and there were plenty of activities for the kids...the staff was friendly and the bathrooms were clean...our camp site was near the bathrooms, pool, and store so we were nice"
2. Thomas Woods Campground
"The trails are both wooded and hilly, but there's also a large prairie nature walk.
The campground has many secluded walk-in tent sites and a variety of sites for other types of campers.""While the highway riding was occasionally a bit harrowing, it was absolutely worth it for the beautiful views and camping here."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability3. Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground
"Normal Illinois state park. Not a lot of services but good size sites and peaceful. Lake with canoe rentals and fishing. Nice walking trails."
"with Highway 173 to the west and Harlem Road to the east."
from $12 - $50 / night
Check Availability4. Paul Wolff Campground
"Half of them were in the Prairie and the other half was tucked into wonderfully private spots with burn pits and picnic tables. We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies."
"The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."
from $12 - $35 / night
Check Availability5. Lehmans Lakeside RV Resort
"Propane, full hookups, fairly sized fenced in dog run area, a lake with a beach front. Play ground for the kids and a strict 5MPH speed limit. "
"We couldn’t reach the WiFi from our site but it was good closer to the lake. They also have free TV but we didn’t hook up to that."
from $45 - $70 / night
Check Availability6. Thousand Trails Pine Country
"For families looking for a convenient home base near Rockford with lots of room to spread out, EZ access to town for supplies and a campground that really does feel safe and relaxed, Pine Country is an"
"It is close to home and we start and finish the camping season here."
7. Holiday Acres Camping Resort
"Lots of people leaving bad reviews for silly little things. let me say first off this place is HUGE. plenty of room for the kids and the dogs and just a short walk from the kish. good fishing and friendly"
"After a long drive, the boys made a beeline for the playground and the pedal carts, and later that night we all sat under the string lights eating ice cream sandwiches from the camp store while fireflies"
from $49 - $99 / night
Check Availability8. Northwoods RV Resort
"Things started to slowly open up around the 4th of July. Now, it’s our favorite place to go! The most impressive aspect in our opinion are the people."
from $65 - $85 / night
Check Availability9. Sycamore RV Resort
"There’s something so comforting about pulling into Sycamore RV Resort and seeing the sunlight dance across those two spring-fed lakes, giving you that immediate exhale that only a calm Midwestern campground"
"Postage stamp space on gravel but we had things to do outside the resort. Nice walking path around the two ponds. The ponds are very low due to drought this summer."
10. Big Foot Beach State Park Campground
"Conveniently located next to Lake Geneva with a tiny roadside beach area. I recommend camping sites on the west side of the camping loop to cut down on sun. Not enough electric sites for campers."
"We stayed at site 98- just barely big enough to fit our travel trailer in and right next to the showers and bathrooms. Not a great location, but fine."
from $18 - $36 / night
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Drive Time
- 29 min from Rockford, IL
- 48 min from Janesville, WI
- 1 hr 2 min from Chicago, IL
- 1 hr 11 min from Kenosha, WI
Recent Camping Photos near Union, IL
280 Photos of 97 Union Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Chicago Northwest KOAC
Thomas Woods Campground
Escape to NatureL
Northwoods RV ResortT
Holiday Acres Camping ResortD
Thousand Trails Pine Country
Walcamp Outdoor Ministries
Paul Wolff CampgroundD
MacQueen Forest Preserve
Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort
Mud Lake West — Chain O' Lakes State Park
Prairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park
Recent Reviews near Union, IL
779 Reviews of 97 Union Campgrounds
Maria Mercedes M.
LegendHoneysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park
Lively Little Campground Beside Turner Lake
There’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees. One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.
- nnancy H.Traveler
Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground
Perfect for an overnight stop when travelling through I-90 & Rockford Ill
We are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
- Charlie Y.
GuideLove's RV Hookup-Hampshire IL 763
Cross country travelers
Last minute online reservation...They only have. 4 or 5 RV sites...full hook ups...about $60+-...right near gas pumps but any noise did not bother us weary travelers...Only downside was showers were not included....For the price certainly an included shower should be part of the deal...easy check in and check out.,..We used the Love's site due to its location to visit family and the fact that electric was available...We have medical equipment that requires a recharge at night plus it's just nice to have the AC if needed.
- MManny A.Traveler
Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park
Simple and local
Simple campsite. We should have brought some leveling blocks, But otherwise my wife and I enjoyed the site for our rental RV. Short 10 minute walk to Lake Michigan. The camp store is fairly robust with friendly people working there. I appreciate that there are 2 lanes for dump/fill stations. My wife and I would absolutely stay here again.
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.LegendEscape to Nature
Simply Lovely
We had a truly enjoyable stay and would’ve stayed an extra day if our travel schedule would’ve allowed. David was a wonderful host. Greeted us with a smile and escorted us to our site. We had our choice of 2 spots, both lovely. Picnic table and plenty of FREE firewood to keep us cozy. Wild turkeys roamed the grounds as well as the friendly ducks. All in all, a very peaceful evening and a special place.
Renee R.GuideWhitewater Lake Campground & Hickory Woods Group Camp — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit
Nice Campsites
For a primitive campground, this was a nice-enough experience.
Pros:
- The sites we stayed in and the others that we noticed seemed sizeable and had nice tree-cover
- Having access to the Ice Age Trail was really neat
- Lake access nearby
Cons:
- On the continuum of vault toilet quality, these were on the less-desirable end. We joked about whether it was scarier to visit them when they were dark or when the lights were on. If you love having fly friends keep you company when nature calls, then these are the bathrooms for you! The bathrooms did get cleaned on Sunday morning, but this didn't help the situation very much.
- No showers
Hailey Adriana O.TravelerMilton-Madison SE KOA
Notable bad news
⭐ 1/5— Not a Family-Friendly Experience We have traveled by motorhome for many years and stayed at numerous KOA campgrounds. For many years ! Sadly, this is the first negative review we have ever written. Milton KOA is beautiful and clean, although the sites are somewhat crowded. Most staff members were polite and helpful. Unfortunately, the conduct of one employee was completely unacceptable. Our group included six families with children ages 3–18. This employee used profanity, including the“F-word,” toward the children and behaved in a verbally abusive and threatening manner. When one mother calmly tried to address the situation, the employee moved toward her aggressively, causing her to fear she might be struck, and shouted,“I’m sick and tired of this.” At approximately 9:45 p.m., the 18-year-olds in our group were ordered back to their campsite, even though they were simply walking around and were not being loud or disruptive. Adults were allowed to drink in the pool area, while our children were treated with hostility and disrespect just for being there. No food no drinks.No child or parent should experience profanity, intimidation, or threatening behavior from a campground employee. The campground may be enjoyable for adults traveling without children. However, based on what our six families experienced, we cannot recommend Milton KOA to families with children. We are submitting a formal complaint to KOA Corporate and requesting a thorough investigation. Also, wasp infestation beware if you have allergies .
- MMyriam F.
ScoutThousand Trails Pine Country
A Nice, Quiet RV Park
Stayed with Thousand Trails. It's mostly an annual park, but they've got about 20 TT sites. They've got a clean pool, good size. And a clubhouse that's open til 9pm. Laundry & trash dumpsters nearby. Full hook ups. We enjoyed our stay.
Guide to Union
Camping options near Union, Illinois include seasonal and year-round facilities within a 30-minute radius. The region's landscape features a mix of forest preserves and prairie terrain at approximately 900 feet elevation, creating diverse habitats for wildlife. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, while spring and fall camping offer more moderate conditions with occasional rainfall that can affect site conditions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Chicago Northwest KOA offers family-friendly fishing, while nearby campgrounds provide access to stocked ponds. "We stayed at site 37 and enjoyed our stay. There are vault toilets but the large number of big RVs meant they were not used often leaving them almost like our private restrooms," notes one camper at Paul Wolff Campground.
Hiking trails: Multiple hiking trails at varying difficulty levels run through the region's preserves. "There are miles of trails. On one hike we were on paved, sifted gravel, grass and single trek trails. There are a lot of loops giving you options. When we left we still hadn't hiked all of them," reports an Art S. at Paul Wolff Campground.
Swimming access: Some facilities maintain dedicated swimming areas or beaches for hot summer days. "The pool area was nice, but tons of kids. CG was very kid friendly, with tons for them to do," observes a reviewer about Chicago Northwest KOA.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Site layout varies significantly by location. At Thomas Woods Campground, "Most of the tent spots are spaced out enough to provide privacy and quiet. Firewood is cheap on-site and delivered to your site on demand," explains Matt K. Another reviewer notes, "I stayed in one of the tent camping sites with a little walk up (parking for a car available about 50 feet away). Nobody else was camping within sight of me."
Clean facilities: Many campers highlight maintenance standards. "The campground is beautiful wish it was open more than the weekend's," states one visitor to Thomas Woods. Another reports, "Bathrooms are immaculate and are locked with electronic key cards" at Sycamore RV Resort.
Wildlife viewing: The natural settings attract diverse wildlife. "We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies. Hard to belive that there is hiking trails like those in such a densely populated area just outside elgin, il," reports a camper at Paul Wolff Campground.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the area fill quickly during summer months. "Stayed here for a week, nice clean campground, quiet and beautiful lake for fishing, close to town, but yet just far enough out," notes a reviewer at Sycamore RV Resort.
Seasonal operations: Check operating dates before planning trips. "I've been here two other weekends. Generally quiet and many of the tent spots are spaced out enough to provide privacy and quiet," reports a Thomas Woods camper.
Shower availability: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Rock Cut State Park, "Shower buildings were clean enough, but very old with bad shower heads." Another camper mentions, "We stayed in the White Oak area and used our tent. This location was close to the shower house."
Ambient noise: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby roads or railways. "You can hear the highway at night which kinda takes away from the nature vibes but overall I was very happy with our one night stay," reports a visitor to Rock Cut State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. A visitor to Chicago Northwest KOA observed, "Did a quick stay with the kids for a Friday and Saturday night. 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."
Family-oriented activities: Scheduled events often target younger campers. "Lots of activities for kids on the weekends. People are nice to you. Plus they have a quiet time at night. So people and kids can go to bed without a bunch of noise," shares a reviewer about Chicago Northwest KOA.
Child-friendly water features: Several facilities maintain swimming options. At Northwoods RV Resort, "The pool is very clean and the staff helped us pick a better site upon arrival. They also have a very pretty river to fish."
Tips from RVers
Site access considerations: RV site configurations vary across facilities. At Chicago Northwest KOA, "It's on the smaller side and the RV sites are a little close together but they have it set up where your RVs doors open on opposite sides so it gives a little privacy."
Electric reliability: Power capabilities differ between campgrounds. A reviewer at Rock Cut State Park shares, "We stayed 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."
Seasonal hookups: Water access changes seasonally at some locations. "We live less than five minutes from Rock Cut and wanted to test out our pop up camper. It's off season so the showers were not open yet but there were open toilets," notes a camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Union, IL?
Which is the most popular campground near Union, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Union, IL is Chicago Northwest KOA with a 4.1-star rating from 17 reviews.
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