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Best Campgrounds near Vernon Hills, IL

462 Reviews

Camping options around Vernon Hills, Illinois include several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius of the city. Camp Reinberg in Palatine offers tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations with paved trails throughout the surrounding Deer Grove Forest Preserve. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort in nearby Volo provides lakefront camping with tent sites, RV spaces, and glamping options from May through mid-October. Chain O' Lakes State Park maintains multiple camping areas including Fox Den, Honeysuckle Hollow, Prairie View, and Turner Lake South, each with varying levels of amenities and access types.

Most campgrounds in this region require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The terrain throughout the area is generally flat, making access straightforward for most vehicles. Electric hookups are common at established sites, though water and sewer connections vary by location. "This is a ideal getaway place for Chi-town people. Camp sites are all flattened and mulched but not too spacious," noted one camper about Camp Reinberg. Seasonal availability differs by property, with some campgrounds like Paul Wolff Campground operating from May through October, while others like the NAVSTA Great Lakes RV Campground remain open year-round.

Campers frequently mention the well-maintained facilities and trail systems as highlights of camping near Vernon Hills. The proximity to Chicago makes these sites popular for weekend getaways, with many campgrounds located within forest preserves offering hiking and biking opportunities. Water features represent another draw, with Fish Lake Beach providing swimming and fishing opportunities directly from some campsites. A visitor described Illinois Beach State Park as having "chairs and relaxed by the beach for a while, which was very peaceful and really made the trip." While not offering remote wilderness experiences, these campgrounds provide accessible outdoor recreation opportunities within the Chicago suburbs, with many sites featuring amenities like showers, picnic tables, and fire rings.

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Best Camping Sites Near Vernon Hills, Illinois (48)

    1. Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    67 Reviews
    Zion, IL
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 662-4811

    $25 / night

    "The group camp site is located pretty far away from the rest of the campsites, bathrooms, trails and amenities."

    "We had a phenomenal time at Illinois State Park camping facilities! Space was clean, nature was alive, and the neighbors so friendly!"

    2. Camp Reinberg

    12 Reviews
    Palatine, IL
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9750

    $45 - $60 / night

    "Lots of biking and walking trails and plenty of off trail paths that lead to unique clearings, bridges, etc."

    "tucked alongside a bike and walking path that goes through a beautiful forest preserve. The path is gorgeous dipping through forested sections, open fields, and lilly pad covered ponds!"

    3. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    8 Reviews
    Round Lake, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 546-2228

    $43 - $73 / night

    "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."

    "We biked around the campground during the days and took advantage of the adult only hot tub hours at night. It was a nice getaway from Chicago."

    4. Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    14 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    19 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "*** 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"

    "Campsite is nice, we're pretty close to our neighbors but not as bad as other places I've been. Walking distance to a fishing dock!"

    5. Fox Den Campground — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    12 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "We can both drive to work and then come back to relax. Close to some great places for antiquing if you don't want to hike the trails or fish."

    "It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "

    6. Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    13 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    19 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "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."

    "You can hear whatever highway is nearby pretty clearly and constantly. But if you’re not looking for something super remote then it’s fine!"

    7. Paul Wolff Campground

    20 Reviews
    Elgin, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 444-1200

    $12 - $35 / night

    "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."

    8. Prairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    8 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    18 miles
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    "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."

    "You could barely see the neighbors because of how overgrown the edges of the site were. We felt like we were in our own little bubble."

    9. Mud Lake East — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    7 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 587-5512

    $12 / night

    "This State Park isn't too far off the beaten path which is nice. Fairly close to gas stations, convenience stores, etc. The park is clean, and has the bathrooms and utilities that would be needed."

    "There are numerous sites that are on a small lake with great sunset views. Sites are decent size but not much privacy in between sites. Lots of wooded trails within the campground."

    10. NAVSTA Great Lakes RV Campground

    2 Reviews
    Great Lakes, IL
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (847) 688-6675
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Recent Camping Photos near Vernon Hills, IL

153 Photos of 48 Vernon Hills Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Vernon Hills, IL

462 Reviews of 48 Vernon Hills Campgrounds

  • Abhinay
    Oct. 7, 2025

    The Vaudeville

    Peaceful stay

    It’s was great nd peaceful place for staying on weekends for relaxation.

  • Operation_Fun ..
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    Could be better

    This seemed like it could be a really great campground, but it's not taken care of very well and felt a bit unsafe. 

    It's a huge park, yet the sites aren't very private. The mosquitoes and ticks are the worst I've experienced thus far, and the abandoned buildings by the beach feel like crack dens.

    We brought chairs and relaxed by the beach for a while, which was very peaceful and really made the trip.

    It's worth checking out if you're interested. I now understand why there are always sites available here when it seems every other campground is fully booked.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Camp Bullfrog Lake

    Great camping spot

    This is my second time staying at Bullfrog lake. The first time I was in spot 2 which had more privacy but felt more cramped. This time I was in spot 18 which felt like it had more space but had almost no shade.

    The camp hosts are really hit or miss. One guy was so nice and took a bunch to photos for me of me kayaking. The other guy seemed mad to be alive lol.

    The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around.

    Unfortunately the wood I bought from the camp store took forever to catch flames—my other two neighbors had the same issue.

    Bathroom/shower facilities were clean and well stocked.

    Overall I’d definitely stay here again.

  • K
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    Not communicable, fraud administration

    I reserved 5 nights, paid in full. After just one night, management cancelled my stay because my service dogs(Maltese) supposedly barked. I was fully cooperative, kept them quiet, and even documented this in emails. There was a stray cat near my RV that caused the issue, but instead of solving it, they forced me to leave. No refund for 4 nights. This is unfair, discriminatory, and against ADA law.

  • Kevin B.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Camp Sullivan

    Enjoyed the camping experience

    Nice and clean areas, staff was very professional and helpful while I was there

  • Tim L.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Chicago Northwest KOA

    Chill Vibes, quick get away from the city

    Far enough from the city lights, close enough to civilization. Cozy, small park with friendly staff and plenty of amenities. 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!

  • Tim H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Sunset Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area

    Private sites, lots of wildlife ... and mosquitoes

    It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it. If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go. 

    We're from the south, so we are used to mosquitoes, but I have seldom been around so many all at once. Thankfully we had a pop-up screened gazebo that made sitting outside our tent much more enjoyable. I will say this though, even with there being more mosquitoes constantly attacking, I did not have the reactions to them like I do the mosquitoes back in Alabama and Mississippi. I wasn't itching much at all.

    But back to the fun part. It was pretty hot a couple days while we were there and to take a break from the heat, we enjoyed the ac in the car and drove around the recreation area and the campgrounds. I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two. 

    What drew me to this campground was how private the individual sites were. Each campsite is cut back into the trees so that most are at least semi-private. This was a nice feature given that many other campgrounds you are stacked in like cord wood.

    Our first night there, we left the rain fly off of the tent and just enjoyed the stars and the satellites streaking across the sky.

    Overall, it was a rather enjoyable week. The shower/bathrooms were nice and clean, though I will admit the shower got too hot even for my wife. It is an easy drive from the recreation area to Kenosha or other points of interest and Lake Michigan is worth a visit if you aren't from the area.

  • D
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Big Rock Campground

    Needs some shade

    This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade.

    The flush toilet building was very clean, but there was no TP in the ladies' room. And I have to wonder why you would build a new campground without showers?

    It is very close to the cities so we will stay here again.

Guide to Vernon Hills

Camping near Vernon Hills, Illinois, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds nearby, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature, whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin.

What to do:

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Kettle Moraine State Forest - Ottawa Lake. A review stated, "Bathrooms and showers were clean."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Many families enjoy Blackwell Family Campground. One parent said, "The ranger offers evening entertainment for the kiddos."
  • Nature and Wildlife: Campers love the natural beauty at Pinewoods Campground. A visitor mentioned, "We did not experience that, just chipmunks and birds."

What you should know:

  • No Alcohol Policies: Some campgrounds, like Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, have strict no alcohol rules. A camper noted, "This SP strictly enforces its ‘no alcohol’ policy, which is a massive bummer."
  • Busy Weekends: Expect crowds at popular spots like Big Foot Beach State Park. One reviewer said, "Always full on weekends. Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois."
  • Limited Electric Sites: Campers at Indiana Dunes State Park noted that electric sites can be hard to come by. A visitor mentioned, "Not enough electric sites for campers."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Rock Cut State Park Campground, where one reviewer said, "They have sites with electric and sites just for tents."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. A camper at Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park mentioned, "Tons of trails, fishing and even a swimming pond."
  • Pack Snacks and Games: Keep kids entertained with snacks and games. A parent at Blackwell Family Campground noted, "The ranger did stop by around 5 or 6ish with some activities for the kids to do."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Electrical Hookups: Make sure your campground has the right hookups. A reviewer at Camp Bullfrog Lake said, "The campsite overall is beautiful and the land is well kept."
  • Reserve Early: Popular campgrounds fill up fast, especially on weekends. A camper at Indiana Dunes State Park advised, "Very popular campground so you do have to book well in advance during regular season."
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Don’t forget to check out local attractions. A visitor at Kettle Moraine State Forest - Ottawa Lake mentioned, "You can walk across ZZ to Scuppernong Nature Trail."

Whether you're looking for the best camping near Vernon Hills, IL, or just a quick getaway, these campgrounds offer something for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Vernon Hills, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Vernon Hills, IL is Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 67 reviews.

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