RV camping near Vernon Hills, Illinois offers numerous options within an hour's drive of Chicago's northern suburbs. The area sits within the Des Plaines River watershed at approximately 690 feet elevation, with numerous small lakes and forest preserves scattered throughout the region. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing from December through March, making seasonal camping availability an important consideration.
What to do
Hiking trails: Camp Reinberg in Palatine connects directly to miles of forest preserve trails. "The trails through the grounds are varied and long--you can find something to suit just about any preference for suburban midwest hiking. There are plenty of paved trails as well as dirt, lots of fun little off-shoots into the woods, creeks run throughout, and there's even a little up-and-down thanks to ice age glaciers," notes one visitor.
Fishing opportunities: Northwoods RV Resort offers multiple fishing spots on property. A camper mentions: "They have a huge lake with paved paths that we were able to walk the first night (not raining) and the beach looks like it will be fun to enjoy in the summer." At Sycamore RV Resort, visitors appreciate the "nice lake for fishing and a beach area for the kids to go swimming."
Kid-friendly activities: Chicago Northwest KOA provides organized weekend activities. A visitor reports: "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."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Visitors consistently praise the cleanliness at Camp Reinberg, with one camper noting: "Bathrooms and restrooms (seriously the cleanest I've ever seen, even the ceilings were cleaned!)." Similarly, at Sycamore RV Resort, guests mention "very nice shower house" facilities that are "immaculate and are locked with electronic key cards."
Proximity to Chicago: Many campgrounds serve as convenient bases for city visits. As one Camp Reinberg guest states: "The campground is centrally located to the major roads (Quentin/NW Hwy) and about 10 minutes from the Palatine Metra train station. So there is the smallest amount of road noise, but after rush hour I didn't notice it."
Helpful campground hosts: Sycamore RV Resort gets high marks for arrival assistance: "When we arrive, the host will bring you to your site and just listen to his directions and he will get you into your site perfectly. I asked if I could bring him on my future trips. I've never parked so easily."
What you should know
Site spacing varies significantly: Northwoods RV Resort receives mixed reviews on site layout. While one camper notes "the sites are pretty big. The campground is not congested at all," another cautions it "felt like a trailer park not camping. Very very few spots with shade and trees."
Seasonal operation: While many campgrounds operate year-round, availability changes with seasons. Thousand Trails Pine Country operates from "April 20 to October 15" according to their listing information, making advance planning essential.
Reservation requirements: Some locations have specific booking policies. As one visitor to Fox Bluff Cottages & RV notes: "Plan ahead! The location requires a 2 night stay minimum."
Tips for camping with families
Look for kid-specific amenities: Northwoods RV Resort offers numerous child-friendly features. According to a camper: "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."
Consider cabin options: Several campgrounds offer alternatives to tent camping. Chicago Northwest KOA provides cabins that one visitor found perfect for "a quick stay with the kids for a Friday and Saturday night. A little bit smaller of a campground with regards to site space, but that's about the only thing 'bad' to say."
Expect seasonal variations in activity levels: Summer months bring more crowds to popular locations. A Lehmans Lakeside RV Resort visitor noted: "We like dispersed sites so we wouldn't have like this park 'in season' when it's packed. That being said we've already decided this will be our first stop when the season starts again!"
Tips from RVers
Water access considerations: Water hookups differ between parks. At Grass Lake Marina and RV Park, a visitor mentioned: "We had water and 50amp, with a black water dump once or twice a week at your RV's site. The huge, mowed, grassy field in front of our coach for the pups to play was great and they loved running and chasing the ball."
Level sites matter: Check reviews for site condition information. At Sycamore RV Resort, campers appreciate that it's "very well maintained with gravel pads." However, one camper at Chicago Northwest KOA noted their "site was not level but it had a lot of shade which was nice."
Road conditions vary: Pay attention to campground access details. A visitor to Northwoods RV Resort warned: "The pot roads need service as thay do have a lot of pot holes. Good thing for the 5mph speed limit."
