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.
Glamping near Union, IL
1 campground with availability this weekend
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Chicago Northwest KOA boasts several upscale glamping accommodations for visitors seeking comfort in the outdoors near Union, Illinois. These elevated camping options include safari-style canvas tents and yurts with comfortable beds, electricity, and climate control features not found at standard campsites. The glamping units provide a boutique camping experience with amenities like furnished interiors, proper bedding, and private outdoor spaces. One visitor noted, "We stayed here for a weekend and there were plenty of activities for the kids...the staff was friendly and the bathrooms were clean." Additional features include access to modern shower facilities, clean restrooms, and communal spaces like the campground's swimming pool. The property balances rustic charm with essential comforts, making it suitable for both couples and families wanting an outdoor experience without sacrificing amenities.
Thomas Woods Campground and nearby glamping properties offer varied accommodations surrounded by beautiful Illinois woodlands and prairie landscapes. Visitors can explore extensive hiking trails while enjoying the convenience of returning to comfortable glamping quarters rather than basic tents. Many sites feature eco-friendly glamping options with solar-powered amenities and sustainable design elements. According to a camper, "Beautiful trees, not too buggy. The platform for tents didn't fit our 6-man tent but the 2-man fit perfect." Proximity to the H.U.M. Trail provides opportunities for cycling on a paved 3.5-mile scenic route through forested areas. The area maintains a tranquil atmosphere despite being relatively accessible from Chicago, with weekend availability being most common during the camping season that runs from early May through late October. Advance reservations are recommended for securing the most desirable glamping units.
Best Glamping Campgrounds near Union (26)
1. Chicago Northwest KOA
"It was a bit of a drive to Chicago but nothing overly horrible. We went in October and it was very busy. Lost of activities for the family."
"Plus they have a quiet time at night.So people and kids can go to bed without a bunch of noise."
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.""Firewood is cheap on-site and delivered to your site on demand."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $35 / night
3. Big Foot Beach State Park Campground
"Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois. 4 stars because it's not the camping in nature experience I am looking for. Lots of noise. Lots of kids. Lots of dogs."
"Nice large sites. gravel spot for arc/trailer. fire pit and picnic table. trails for hiking are nice, but the overall camping area isn’t very big. 100 sites only. 30 with electric. this was the first time"
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $36 / night
4. Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park
"*** reviewing as a baby/toddler camp family on the go :-) we chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms… avoid the first 2 sites from either end"
"Non-electric sites in the loop on the small fishing pond were relatively quiet, well shaded, with decent screening between sites."
5. Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park
"There’s some small trails around as well that are beginner. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night."
"In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61."
6. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort
"Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water."
"The staff is very friendly the grounds are beautiful and well maintained We kayaked in the lake and it's small but nice."
Check Availabilityfrom $43 - $73 / night
7. Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park
"We stayed in the Fox Den electric sites. The campsite was very clean and the fire pit and table were in good condition. Our site was very shaded and quiet at night. The bath house was very clean."
"Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas."
8. Prairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park
"We stayed at the Prairie View section on site P27. It was me, my wife, our 8 month old daughter, and our dog."
"Prairie View campground is in the Chain O Lakes State Park series. This is the no services campground. We could walk to fill up with water but no electric on site. Checking in was interesting."
9. Mud Lake East — Chain O' Lakes State Park
"Very quiet spot with no electric short walk to Turner Lake. Spaces are well spaced, some with good shade and others in full sun. "
"There are tons of trails, a small fishing pond and ok bathrooms. The staff is very friendly. There is horse riding here as well. The views are breathtaking."
Check Availabilityfrom $12 / night
10. Kishwaukee Valley Farms
from $74 - $100 / night
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 Glamping Photos near Union, IL
11 Photos of 26 Union Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Glamping Reviews near Union, IL
283 Reviews of 26 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.
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 .
- RRussell H.Traveler
Milton-Madison SE KOA
Great Family Spot
Wonderful family spirt. Great clean showers and bathroom. Pool. Large campstore with lots of amenities.
- MMark H.
ScoutMilton-Madison SE KOA
KOA Milton Great stay.
Staff is friendly and attentive. Well maintained sites. Definitely family friendly. Lots of kids. Nice pool and clubhouse. We will come back.
- HHolly B.Guide
Chicago Northwest KOA
A bit of a drive
It was a bit of a drive to Chicago but nothing overly horrible. We went in October and it was very busy. Lost of activities for the family. We arrived very late but the staff was very gracious and hospitable. The grounds were well kept. They had trash pick up. Nice laundry area. The surrounding area was very nice and rural. We took our dogs on the architecture boat tour.
Operation_FunGuideYogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Fort Atkinson
A midwest gem… I guess
Our friends have a permanent camper here so we joined them for the weekend. I’ve never experienced a place like this. It’s not what I would consider camping. It’s basically people’s second trailer park home. The frog pond that was turned into a swimming hole with ridiculous inflatables completely ruined the peaceful atmosphere in that area of the park. If you enjoy being surrounded by people, noise, and teens cruising in golf carts, you’ll love this place. We do have fun when we are with our friends here, but it is definitely not a typical peaceful camp.
- MManny A.Traveler
Big Foot Beach State Park Campground
Simple and local
First time RV’ing with my wife and we were able to navigate pretty easily in our rented 30’. Arrived on a Monday, and as posted, there was no one so we checked in online(they sent an email to check in). Simple camp site with tons of space(almost double our RV), a long wood picnic table and a fire pit. Everything was great until we left. Dumping was straight forward, but the person in front of me was taking a little while to dump. They had came up to my RV and let me know the dump tank was backing up, which I had also experienced when I tried dumping. I called to ask for assistance on Thursday and they said they would send a ranger out. 45 minutes of waiting and a couple other RV’s after us and we ended up giving up and going to another site closer to home to dump. Great experience otherwise.
Guide to Union
Camping opportunities near Union, Illinois range from established campgrounds to premium lodging options in natural settings. The area sits within the glacial moraine landscape of northern Illinois, where rolling hills and small lakes provide diverse terrain for outdoor activities. Weather fluctuates seasonally with humid summers reaching into the 80s and cold winters that can limit camping from November through April in most locations.
What to do
Kayaking at Chain O' Lakes: Experience paddling the interconnected waterways at Turner Lake South where visitors can access small lakes and connecting channels. "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I enjoy this route for the wildlife and nature scenery. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," notes one camper.
Mountain biking trails: Camp Bullfrog Lake offers direct access to extensive single-track trails ideal for cycling enthusiasts. "What's great about this location is the access to the miles and miles of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite," shares a regular visitor. Trail difficulty varies from beginner-friendly routes to more challenging technical sections.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple small lakes throughout the area provide fishing access for various species. "The lake was very clear and you could see the fish swim by," reports one visitor to Turner Lake South. Most locations don't require special permits beyond an Illinois fishing license, though check specific regulations before casting your line.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Thomas Woods Campground receives high marks for site separation. "This was a well laid out campground, with some sites right on the roads and some buried back in the woods away from everyone (we chose the latter and felt like we had the place to ourselves)," explains a camper. The campground offers both drive-up and walk-in tent sites with varying levels of seclusion.
Clean facilities: Big Foot Beach State Park Campground maintains well-kept amenities. "Clean bathrooms. Quiet," summarizes one straightforward review. Another notes, "Been coming here for years. Much improved with the new bathrooms." Most campgrounds in the area provide shower facilities that close seasonally during colder months.
Affordable options: Tent camping sites at several locations offer budget-friendly glamping close to Union, Illinois. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear," reports a Turner Lake South visitor. Electric sites typically run $25-30 per night with full hookup options commanding premium prices around $40-50 nightly.
What you should know
Reservations essential: Weekend availability becomes limited during summer months across all campgrounds. "This IL state campground fills up quickly on the weekends over the summer," warns a camper about Turner Lake South. Booking 3-6 months in advance provides the best selection, especially for holiday weekends.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for local fauna that may visit your site. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched," warns a visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow. Proper food storage in vehicles overnight is standard practice throughout the region.
Bug preparation: Ticks and mosquitoes thrive in the wooded, lakeside environments. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks," notes a Honeysuckle Hollow camper. Pack repellent and conduct regular tick checks, especially during warmer months from May through September.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort caters specifically to families. "I really enjoyed my stay here it's small but it's great they're pool and activities for families very quiet at night everyone and the staff were friendly," shares one visitor. The resort offers scheduled recreation programs during summer months.
Playground access: Multiple locations feature play equipment for children. "There are a large amount of trails to hike and you can walk to Turner Lake from the Honeysuckle Hollow campground," notes a visitor, adding that "There is a park for the kids in several areas."
Swimming options: Beaches and pools provide cooling relief during summer months. "The beach is large enough and there are clean bathrooms right there," reports a Fish Lake Beach visitor. Most swimming areas lack lifeguards, so parental supervision remains necessary for water activities.
Tips from RVers
Hookup configurations: Fox Den Campground provides superior electrical setups compared to alternatives. "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad," advises a camper. Most sites accommodate RVs under 35 feet, though larger rigs can access specific areas.
Site leveling: The terrain throughout the area often requires leveling equipment. "Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers," notes a Fox Den visitor. Bringing leveling blocks remains advisable even at sites described as level, as seasonal ground shifts occur.
Dump station access: Weekend departure times often create congestion at sanitation facilities. A camper at Honeysuckle Hollow observed, "The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water. It was also very busy and we had to wait when filling up and again when dumping." Plan additional time on Sundays between 10am-1pm when most RVers depart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping
campsite near Union, IL?
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Union, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Union, IL is Chicago Northwest KOA with a 4.1-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find
glamping camping near
Union, IL?
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Union, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 glamping camping locations near Union, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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