Chain O' Lakes State Park offers campsites for glamping close to Waukegan, Illinois, approximately 25 miles from the city in a region characterized by glacial moraines and kettle lakes. The conservation area spans over 6,500 acres with elevations ranging from 735 to 780 feet above sea level. Winters bring temperatures dropping to the teens while summer highs typically reach the mid-80s with moderate humidity.
What to Do
Kayaking to hidden areas: Turner Lake South provides access to secluded waterways with abundant wildlife. "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," reports Cora M.
Mountain biking: Camp Bullfrog Lake offers direct access to extensive mountain biking trail systems. A visitor noted, "The mountain bike trails were awesome. If you're a trail rider, you must stay here. The lack of shade won't matter because you'll be riding all day. There are miles and miles of trails."
Horseback riding: Several trails at Chain O' Lakes cater specifically to equestrian users. "There are hiking trails and this campground is the closest to the boat dock and concession which serves as the camp store," explains a camper at Fox Den Campground.
What Campers Like
Lake access for fishing: Fishing opportunities exist directly from several campsites. "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," notes Julia B. at Turner Lake South.
Private wooded sites: Many campsites offer seclusion despite proximity to urban areas. "The state park is larger than expected with decent amenities (boat rentals, concessions, relatively clean pit toilets) and areas designated for trailer camping and tent camping," mentions Claire S.
Affordable primitive camping: Budget options exist for tent campers seeking basic amenities. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner," explains Addison G.
What You Should Know
Wildlife encounters: Prepare for various wildlife interactions, particularly after dark. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s'mores early, then everything must be packed into cars for the night and all surfaces wiped down," advises Meg at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Electric hookup limitations: Some sites share electric boxes or have inadequate reach. "These sites share an electric box. Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad. A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance," suggests Debra M.
Ticks and insects: Prepare for heavy insect activity, especially with children. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Luckily our screen house pop up on a tarp that was sprayed ahead for tick repellent plus a blanket on top of that did the trick, but they literally fall out of the trees into people!"
Tips for Camping with Families
Child-friendly lake activities: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers structured recreation for children. "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. Clean bathrooms and shower," reports Leo V.
Protected play spaces: Create contained areas for young children in tick-prone areas. "Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair."
Proximity to emergency services: Most campgrounds maintain 20-30 minute access to medical facilities. "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 as the ones closest to the main loop aren't very deep. Closer to the center of this row is best."
Tips from RVers
Site selection at Fox Den: Choose more secluded electric sites for optimal privacy. "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," advises Ian C. at Thomas Woods Campground.
Water access points: Fill tanks before arriving at certain loops. "We had a back-in site on the north side of the campground. We had 50 amp, but no water/sewer, although there was a water spigot next to our site that we could use to fill up jugs of water. The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water."
Midweek availability: Consider non-weekend stays for more space and quiet. "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week."
