Best Campgrounds near Villa Park, IL

Campgrounds around Villa Park, Illinois primarily concentrate in forested preserves and public recreation areas within a 25-mile radius of the western Chicago suburb. Blackwell Family Campground in Warrenville serves as a primary camping destination, offering electric hookups for both tent and RV campers in a wooded setting. Camp Bullfrog Lake in Willow Springs and Camp Reinberg in Palatine expand the camping options with cabin accommodations alongside traditional tent and RV sites. The accommodation types across these areas include developed campgrounds with amenities like showers and electrical hookups, as well as more rustic options at forest preserves.

Camping in this region operates seasonally at many locations, with several campgrounds like Blackwell only open weekends from May through September. Most campgrounds require advance reservations, especially during summer months when sites fill quickly. "For only $20 a night for DuPage residents this place is perfect!" noted one visitor about Blackwell. Road access throughout the region is generally good with paved entrances to most campgrounds, though some areas have limited parking for larger RVs. Weather considerations include humid summers and cold winters, making late spring through early fall the primary camping season. Proximity to urban areas means most campgrounds maintain gates that close after sunset, limiting nighttime access and departures.

The Chicago metropolitan region's campgrounds receive particularly positive reviews for providing nature experiences close to urban areas. Campers frequently mention appreciating the wooded sites and relative privacy despite urban proximity. "Driving in here makes you forget you're in the middle town!" remarked one camper about Blackwell Forest Preserve. Several reviews note the surprising tranquility of these sites given their suburban settings, though road noise can be heard at certain campgrounds. Many camping areas feature additional recreational amenities like fishing lakes, boat rentals, hiking trails, and archery ranges. Families particularly value these campgrounds for offering accessible outdoor experiences without extensive travel from Chicago and its suburbs. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and access to drinking water, with some offering shower facilities and electric hookups.

Best Camping Sites Near Villa Park, Illinois (73)

    1. Camp Bullfrog Lake

    30 Reviews
    Willow Springs, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-9785

    $20 - $138 / night

    "Great site, not far from Chicago, but feels well away from city life. Tent sites around rim of a lake. RV sites and cabins as well."

    "What’s great about this location is the access to the miles and mile of MTB and hiking trails just out the front step of your campsite."

    2. Blackwell Family Campground

    22 Reviews
    Warrenville, IL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 933-7248

    $20 - $30 / night

    "Just outside of Chicago, we have been staying here for quick weekend trips and absolutely love the proximity to home."

    "I always loved going to the parks in Illinois with my grandparents when I was little. They love hiking and nature and definitely got me interested in it also. I love them and miss them everyday."

    3. Camp Reinberg

    12 Reviews
    Palatine, IL
    18 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!"

    4. 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."

    5. The Vaudeville

    4 Reviews
    Chicago, IL
    14 miles
    +1 (312) 420-4204

    "There is easy access to public transportation. It was HOT and there are no plug ins or use of generators so plan accordingly"

    6. Camp Sullivan

    15 Reviews
    Oak Forest, IL
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (312) 636-0041

    $35 - $250 / night

    "Located in a Cook County forest preserve this family camping option is a nice local getaway. The facilities are all newly built or remodeled. The bathrooms are modern."

    "There are several bathrooms around and they are clean. Staff is friendly and welcoming."

    7. Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    67 Reviews
    Zion, IL
    39 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!"

    8. Big Rock Campground

    18 Reviews
    Big Rock, IL
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (630) 232-5980

    $18 - $35 / night

    "Clean, with large sites, about a 5 mile walk around the nearby lake- saw several deer and rabbits - T-Mobile worked just fine- no Wi-Fi"

    "Open campground with nearly zero tree. We had a great campfire but didn’t take advantage of the whole park to explore. She wants to again this year but we will spend more time hiking."

    9. Martin’s Camping Ground

    7 Reviews
    New Lenox, IL
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 726-3173

    "If you like having access to a bathroom and shower its great and because no one really hd a tent here but us we had some privacy. It is next to a highway so be mindful of that."

    10. The Fawn Flats

    Be the first to review!
    Oak Park, IL
    14 miles
    +1 (618) 946-7614

    $35 - $75 / night

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Recent Reviews near Villa Park, IL

480 Reviews of 73 Villa Park Campgrounds


  • Gina A.
    Oct. 19, 2025

    Chippewa Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Kankakee River State Park Chippewa

    $20 a day with with restrooms has NO shower area. No water hookup .But has a swing set for the kids to play a few bike/hike trails. Quiet no street noise . They have a dump station and water too fill your camper.

  • Abhinay
    Oct. 7, 2025

    The Vaudeville

    Peaceful stay

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

  • Ray S.
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great campground with everything you would need

    This was my first camping trip with family. After lots of research, I picked Kankakee river state park. This is a reasonablly priced campground with all facilities in great condition. And it is very spacious with woods separating your neighbors. The only complaint is the noise level after 10pm. The quite time was not strictly enforced. It could be we are there on a Saturday night.

  • Emma H.
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park

    Great for our 2 person campout!

    My fiancé and I stayed in the Hickory Loop spot 3. We are very new campers, so we just have a very basic tent setup. When we checked in with the host, there were bundles of firewood for $8 (either cash or cash app). The spots are not huge, and not super private (you have next door and across the street neighbors), but we didn’t mind that! There were two outlets available, and a small rectangular fire pit with a grate on top. There are a few water pumps and vault toilets within walking distance, but we were pretty close to the shower house, which had stalls for toilets and showers. The showers were pretty great for a camp ground!

    It rained a ton during our trip so we didn’t explore much, but would definitely recommend for a simple camping trip where you want flushable toilets, showers, and some electricity.

  • 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.


Guide to Villa Park

Camping near Villa Park, Illinois concentrates in forest preserves within a 30-mile radius, offering both primitive and developed sites. The terrain is predominantly flat to gently rolling with prairie and woodland habitats dominating the landscape. Weekday camping typically provides more solitude than weekends, when family groups often fill popular campgrounds from May through September.

What to do

Mountain biking trails: Camp Bullfrog Lake connects directly to an extensive trail network. "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," notes Josh M. Another camper adds, "The mountain bike trails were awesome. If you're a trail rider, you must stay here" (Tim K.).

Fishing opportunities: Blackwell Family Campground offers multiple fishing spots across its lakes and ponds. "Nice place for a winter hike. Canoe rentals and free archery range," mentions Christian V. The fishing is particularly productive for families with children as catch-and-release spots are easily accessible.

Kayaking: Camp Bullfrog Lake provides kayak rentals during summer months. "The kayaks are $15 an hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around," writes Layla P. The small size makes it manageable for beginners while still providing recreation value.

What campers like

Proximity to urban areas: Campers consistently mention the convenience of camping close to Chicago. "We live 15 minutes away so like to take midweek camping trips to break up the work week," says one Camp Bullfrog Lake visitor. Another notes, "This is our second time staying at this campground... our son was playing in a youth hockey tournament nearby so the location was perfect for us."

Clean facilities: Camp Reinberg receives high marks for maintenance standards. "The shower facilities were clean and the staff very friendly," writes Laura Z. Another camper mentions, "Restrooms (seriously the cleanest I've ever seen, even the ceilings were cleaned!)" (Susan L.).

Nature viewing: Despite urban proximity, wildlife spotting remains possible. "We hiked 10 miles and saw tons of animals and birds including a snake, loads of herons and songbirds, deer, a raccoon and a Cooper's Hawk," reports a Camp Bullfrog Lake visitor. Early morning hours provide the best wildlife viewing opportunities.

What you should know

Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds operate with restricted schedules. Paul Wolff Campground runs from May 1 to October 31. "This year the prices have also gone up for people that live outside the park district - bummer. Hard to pay that much when you can't shower or clean up," notes Tara M.

Gate closures: Security gates restrict nighttime access at many locations. "If you are staying here to see Chicago the gates close for the park an hour after sunset," warns Rich M. about Blackwell Family Campground. Always verify closing times when planning evening activities away from camp.

Limited shade: Several newer campgrounds lack mature trees. At Paul Wolff Campground, a visitor notes, "Many of the sites in the middle are wide open with little shade but nice summer breezes." Consider shade structures during summer visits when temperatures frequently exceed 85°F.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Villa Park, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Villa Park, IL is Camp Bullfrog Lake with a 4.2-star rating from 30 reviews.