Kankakee River State Park Equestrian Campground provides horse-friendly camping facilities 60 miles south of Warrenville. The equestrian campground features designated sites for campers with horses, providing convenient access to the park's trail system that runs along the Kankakee River. Basic amenities include drinking water, trash disposal, toilets, and showers in the nearby main campground area. A sanitary dump station serves RV campers, though the equestrian area itself lacks electric hookups. The primitive nature of the equestrian sites appeals to riders seeking a more natural camping experience with their horses.
The park's trail system connects to over 10 miles of equestrian-approved paths through diverse terrain including wooded areas and riverside routes. Horse owners typically bring their own containment systems as dedicated horse corrals are not provided at the sites. Permit requirements and seasonal availability should be confirmed before arrival, as the camping season may be limited during winter months. The campground layout allows for convenient trailer parking near each site. Pets are permitted throughout the equestrian camping area, allowing riders to bring their dogs along with their horses. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some routes becoming muddy after rainfall, requiring riders to plan accordingly for weather conditions during their stay.
"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"
"Away from All the City Noise And Not Very Far Away Dump Station And Potable Water Supply"
from $18 - $35 / night
"The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."
"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."
from $12 - $35 / night
"Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities"
from $37 / 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."
from $43 - $73 / night
"Many miles of paved and crushed limestone trails. The actual Kankakee River access is sort of outside of the campground- that would be my only complaint."
"Right at the start of Osage is an entrance to the crushed gravel bike path. It gave us a great hike through the trees. You can find picnic areas and playground equipment by following the bike path."
"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."
"Trails were geared more towards horses and bikes, but there are plenty of walking paths, and we were able to find some hidden trails along the lake (read: unofficial)."
"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."
"There is a lot to do at this park from hiking to water sports to horse back riding. We did a nice short hike in area. We had a great time at this campground and would visit again."
from $74 - $100 / night
ScoutNice, clean, quiet, simple state park set up. Many miles of paved and crushed limestone trails. The actual Kankakee River access is sort of outside of the campground- that would be my only complaint. You have to walk or bike a little distance to be near the river. Seemed very well maintained and we loved it!
ScoutAway from All the City Noise And Not Very Far Away Dump Station And Potable Water Supply
ScoutJJust ok. Facilities were disappointing
RangerFirst, you have to make reservations in advance online. The website says otherwise. They are spacious sites and well maintained the water. Spicket are a significant distance from each campsite so come prepared for that.
TravelerI had a private, large spot in one of their "neighborhoods " Host was knowledgeable, friendly and I was a walk in. Beautiful stroll along the river with my pup.
TravelerThis 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.
TravelerMy 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.
ScoutI 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.
TravelerThis 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.
Equestrian camping near Warrenville, Illinois extends beyond Kankakee River State Park to include other facilities in the region. Situated 60 miles south of Chicago in northeastern Illinois, this area features approximately 65 miles of trails through woodlands, prairies, and alongside rivers. Most horse camping sites remain open from April through October with seasonal closures during winter months.
Trail riding along Chain O' Lakes State Park: The park features miles of equestrian-approved paths connecting seven lakes via channels. "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill. Rangers were helpful and delivered firewood to our site daily," notes Aida K. at Fox Den Campground.
Fishing from horseback trails: Access fishing spots directly from equestrian routes that run alongside waterways. "The lake was very nice. We were able to kayak but be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by," reports Julia B. at Turner Lake South.
Exploring diverse terrain: Horse trails pass through varied landscapes from open prairies to wooded hills. "There are hiking trails and this campground is the closest to the boat dock and concession which serves as the camp store," writes Debra M. about Fox Den Campground.
Privacy between sites: Many horse camping areas maintain natural vegetation barriers. "Spacious sites with lush jungle-like greenery grown in between, which provides perfect privacy. Easy access to water pump," writes Yang L. about Potowatomi Campground.
Knowledgeable staff: Camp hosts often have equestrian experience. "Great campsite with the best staff ever! The sites are clean and very well maintained. We loved the staff patrolling the grounds. The trail system is great for walking the dogs," David W. shared about Paul Wolff Campground.
Year-round opportunities: Some equestrian facilities maintain limited winter access. "This is a very popular campground. Lots of big rigs who seem to be staying for quite a while. Our relatives recommended this one since some of their friends use it for 'the summer,'" reports MalibuDave42 L. about Paul Wolff Campground.
Varying water access: Water sources differ significantly between horse camping areas. "The water hookups are kind of far from the individual sites (make sure you have extra hose)," advises Rodney D. from Big Rock Campground.
Reservation requirements: Most horse camping sites require advance booking. "As someone who normally camps in state parks with only electricity hookups, this site was a welcome treat... Cons: Walkup only - no reservations taken. $35 a night is a bit steep," notes Amanda K. about Big Rock Campground.
Limited shade at some facilities: Tree cover varies between campgrounds. "This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade," mentions David W. about Big Rock Campground.
Seek established trail paths: Look for maintained routes suitable for beginners. "As a Troop we would rent one of the cabins for late season campouts. Clean facilities but the nice part is the scenic hiking for being close to town. Gentle hills and beautiful color. Always see turkey and other small game," shares Mike D. about Paul Wolff Campground.
Plan for wildlife viewing: Schedule dawn or dusk trail rides for best animal sightings. "I've seen lots of butterflies, gold finches, hawks, deer, flocks of giant sandhill cranes, rabbits, ground squirrels, and of course actual squirrels," reports Marisa A. about Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.
Consider campground activities: Some facilities offer organized programming. "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," writes Leo V. about Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.
Parking configuration: Review site layouts before arriving with horse trailers. "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers," notes Ian C. about Fox Den Campground.
Hookup proximity: Verify electrical access locations for trailer positioning. "Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts to far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees," advises Debra M. about Fox Den Campground.
Dump station access: Plan departure timing around sanitation needs. "The dump station is good. It's expensive, for what is there, if you are not a Kane County resident," comments Jeff G. about Big Rock Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Warrenville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Warrenville, IL is Big Rock Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Warrenville, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Warrenville, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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