Best Glamping near West Chicago, IL

Camp Bullfrog Lake offers a selection of upscale glamping cabins within the Palos region, just 30 minutes from Chicago's western suburbs. The property features spacious, clean cabins situated around a scenic lake, with many units offering heating and private bathrooms for year-round comfort. Chicago Northwest KOA expands the area's glamping options with yurts that provide a more distinctive overnight experience. Both locations include fire pits, picnic tables, and access to modern shower facilities. Trails wind through the surrounding forest preserves, creating opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife observation without venturing far from the metropolitan area. "The cabins are large and clean with bunk beds and are great for getting out of the cold," one guest shared about their Bullfrog Lake experience.

Extensive trail systems surround these glamping destinations, with miles of mountain bike single track accessible directly from Camp Bullfrog Lake. Fishing opportunities abound on the properties' lakes, with both locations offering waterfront accommodations that provide scenic morning views. During warmer months, visitors can rent kayaks to explore the water or simply relax at lakeside fire pits included with each glamping site. Free firewood comes with bookings at Bullfrog Lake, enhancing the outdoor experience without additional cost. The proximity to Chicago makes these destinations ideal for weekend getaways without extensive travel time. According to a camper, "It's a wonderful campground with everything accessible for a few days respite - clean showers, space to walk, gorgeous lake - quiet just outside of the city!"

Best Glamping Sites Near West Chicago, Illinois (15)

    1. Camp Bullfrog Lake

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

    $20 - $138 / night

    "Each site comes with a free bundle of oak firewood which is nice to use on the fire pits."

    "The tent sites are right next to the water which is beautiful but can get very windy. There is no privacy between the sites (no trees, etc)."

    2. Chicago Northwest KOA

    16 Reviews
    Union, IL
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 923-4206

    "Plus they have a quiet time at night.So people and kids can go to bed without a bunch of noise."

    "We stayed here for a weekend and there were plenty of activities for the kids...the staff was friendly and the bathrooms were clean...our camp site was near the bathrooms, pool, and store so we were nice"

    3. Camp Sullivan

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

    $35 - $250 / night

    "As stated, there is electric hookup but no water at the site. However, staff was more than happy to meet us at the bathrooms to allow us to fill our tanks before we set up camp."

    "Wooded electric paved sites with fairly new bathhouse facilities. Pretty clean. Only one indoor water faucet working but this may be a COVID casualty."

    4. Thomas Woods Campground

    17 Reviews
    Marengo, IL
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 338-6223

    $20 - $35 / night

    "The trails are both wooded and hilly, but there's also a large prairie nature walk
    The campground has many secluded walk-in tent sites and a variety of sites for other types of campers."

    "Firewood is cheap on-site and delivered to your site on demand."

    5. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Millbrook

    6 Reviews
    Newark, IL
    27 miles
    Website

    "But noise was not an issue. Bathrooms were clean. Everything was good."

    "Bathrooms need some attention and hotter showers would be wonderful. Always came here for trick or treating and it’s a fun event for the camp ground with plenty of spooky things to do."

    6. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort

    8 Reviews
    Round Lake, IL
    30 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."

    "The staff is very friendly the grounds are beautiful and well maintained We kayaked in the lake and it's small but nice."

    7. Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    14 Reviews
    Spring Grove, IL
    38 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"

    "Non-electric sites in the loop on the small fishing pond were relatively quiet, well shaded, with decent screening between sites."

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

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

    "There’s some small trails around as well that are beginner. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night."

    "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."

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

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

    "We stayed in the Fox Den electric sites. The campsite was very clean and the fire pit and table were in good condition. Our site was very shaded and quiet at night. The bath house was very clean."

    "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas."

    10. Leisure Lake Membership Resort

    3 Reviews
    Joliet, IL
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 741-9405

    "The beach and lake were always well maintained, and we had often enjoyed live music at the pavilion. You can even play mini golf here! I would highly recommend for anyone that can invest."

    "Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week."

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Recent Glamping Photos near West Chicago, IL

5 Photos of 15 West Chicago Campgrounds


Glamping Reviews near West Chicago, IL

163 Reviews of 15 West Chicago Campgrounds


  • Addison G.
    Oct. 23, 2024

    Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Awesome choice for campers on a budget

    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. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night. Bathrooms could’ve been cleaner but we were grateful for the facility which doubled as a storm shelter. There’s indoor showers and bathrooms. There are also cabins at this campsite, not sure on pricing tho

  • M
    Jul. 30, 2023

    Big Foot Beach State Park Campground

    Not a nature type campground

    Always full on weekends. Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois. 4 stars because it's not the camping in nature experience I am looking for. Lots of noise. Lots of kids. Lots of dogs. It's park area is very nice. Nice playground for kids. Volleyball nets. Lots of picnic tables and grills available. Dogs not welcome in most of the park. More of a party place. But the staff is very active. They clean sites quickly, clean the bathrooms regularly.

    We stayed on site 50. We were closer to our neighbors than I'd like, including the campsite behind us. The campsite behind us had a path thru it to get to the bathrooms. There was a thin layer of growth between sites but not much. Our site had a nicely placed tree providing just enough coverage but nothing stayed wet in the rain. We camped in a popup, if we had a tent I think we would have been soaked. Lots of pooling water on the backside. The campground just added new gravel to the sites and asked that all trailers and vehicles stay on the gravel but the gravel doesn't go back far enough for both car and camper to stay on.

    The inner ring of the campground are smaller(shorter) sites. The outer ring sites are better for RVs. Except for site 70. That should be tent only because there are 2 trees right in the middle behind the gravel. 50, 69, 74 seemed the best for both shade and sun combo. Site 79 is paved but not marked as handicap because it isn't being maintained as handicap and is not close to the new bathrooms. Not enough sites with electric, however we didn't need it for the weekend.

  • F
    Aug. 1, 2016

    Chicago Northwest KOA

    Dirty

    When I visited this place it was such a disaster. The trash was overflowing, the bathrooms were a mess, and there was no TP, and the quiet hours was not enforced, so people were up partying all night. I will look for another place to stay next time

  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2024

    Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Fine camping in Northern Illinois

    We stayed in the Turner lake south loop, which has nice and private sites. This is in contrast to Honeysuckle hollow which is open and row after row of RV sites. Fox den and Prairie view loops are nice as well with mostly primitive sites. Be aware that the map on www.ExloreMoreIL,com(where you make your reservations) doesn't show where the restrooms are. 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. Facilities are clean and well lit. Fire pits are slightly raised steel troughs with a heavy adjustable grill. This is a BIG park, the campgrounds are two miles from the front gate, and it's a drive to the main boat launch at Maple Grove, where you have access to the Fox River and Grass lake. This location has a huge parking lot for boat trailers, a very well stocked general store with fishing supplies, a cafe, boat rentals and good firewood. To get away from the crowd if you're a canoeist or kayaker it's nicer to leave the park and go back in at Oak Point picnic area and boat launch at the northern border. This will put you on the Fox river with developments to the north(including a bar& grill) or to the south which is all nature. I think the distance by boat between the two launches is 4-5 miles, but I'm not sure, Halfway there you'll meet up with the Goldfinch trail which is the shortest loop and the most diverse in term of flora. There are horse/ snowmobile trails, but no equestrian campground. Chain o' Lakes is one of the busiest waterways in Illinois, with motorboats everywhere in the height of the summer season. We canoe, and both times we stayed there it was October, so I can't tell you how crowded, but the vast number of picnic areas must be there for a reason. An odd thing is that you can hear a Steam Train whistle quite often, this is from Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. We don't have kids so we went to Stade's Farm& Orchard(which is also large and kid friendly) because they have an orchard and vegetable market. One last thing, the gates close at 10:PM and there are tire shredders, you can leave but you can't get back in… unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark:)

  • Meg
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Good For families, a few downsides

    *** 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 as the ones closest to the main loop aren’t very deep. Closer to the center of this row is best.

    Pros- easy pull in sites and lots of walk-in availability. Sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe. Also seemed pretty respectful in the evenings with people toning down the noise.

    Lots of electric sites, deep enough for 2 tents, 2 cars (although close to neighbors and no trees between sites), picnic table and fire pit.

    Bathroom shower houses were decent (we usually just have toddler use her travel potty, but this one was fine).

    Multiple playgrounds, access to launch sites for kayaks, little store to buy ice cream or snacks.

    Cons - 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! 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.

    Also - 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.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2025

    Hi-Tide Beach & Campgrounds

    Water Wonderland Crowded Family Camping Experience

    OK, let’s put the most important thing here in perspective – you’re in north central Illinois and there should be absolutely no reason to find a beach anywhere in this state apart from a few select places bordering Lake Michigan – other than this, finding a proper beachhead is impossible. Yet, here at Hi-Tide Campground, the sandy beach is exactly what you’ll find and what a great time it is for the whole family, complete with all of the many on-water distractions and entertainment options this place offers from sand castle building, waterslide, ‘moonwalk,’ ice berg, which is a 15’ climbing wall in the center of the lake, water trampoline, log roll, rocket balls, floaties, innertubes as well as floating ‘lilly pads’ and shallow waters for the young kids. Let’s just say, in the heat and humidity of a Midwest summer, Hi-Tide offers a really great respite with this toy-packed lake refuge.

    As for the campground, upon entry, you will have no other choice but to head straight to the main lodge where you will check-in. Here you’ll meet the crew that run this place as well as see the market that’s here offering up just about anything you could think of while you are camping (ice, propane, s’mores ice cream, chips, soda, water toys, firewood, fishing supplies, RV maintenance items and campground gear), along with an arcade complete with video games as well as air hockey, foosball and billiards. Behind the market, you’ll discover both pedal carts for rent as well as a pretty decent 9-hole mini-golf course that has recently been upgraded. There’s also a picnic area back here, lakeside deck, fishing dock, further afield as well as an in-ground community heated pool and playground just in front of the main office. The on-site restroom and shower facilities are first-rate offering sparkling clean and well-maintained showers, toilets and even baby changing stations. There’s even an on-site laundr-O-mat located right near the shower / restroom facilities with 4 sets of coin-operated washers and dryers. On-site, you’ll find a proper dump station as well as designated dumpsters throughout the entire property. A handful of reservable small (no electric, 60 people max) and large (electric, 80 people+) are offered for rent at $50/day and $100/day respectively as well as very small ½ mile hiking loop that follows the Little Indian Creek, which is kind of a joke, but hey, it’s a nice stroll. Like most entertainment-themed campgrounds like Hi-Tide, every week has a theme, there’s planned activities like bingo and hayrides and disco parties to keep both young and old alike busy and entertained.

    In short, what’s the upside to being here at Hi-Tide? Well, if you have a young family and are looking for a lot of distractions and planned activities that allows you to enjoy a fairly mindless planning experience that you can either participate in with the kids or just let them run wild and do their thing, well then, Hi-Tide has you covered in spades. Nobody is going to get bored in this place! Downside? While it is true that you are out in the middle of nowhere, which has a semblance of feeling as though you are engaging in nature, with all of the entertainment and distractions that you will discover here, along with arguably the biggest downside – the place is completely overrun with management packing in RVs and 5th Wheelers as close to each other as possible – it will be actually pretty difficult to truly commune with nature. This is a campground campus that packs RVs in pretty snug, while feigning at offering tent campers some nice flat land to pitch a tent, and for those that don’t have either, you can still rent a cabin. But make no mistake about this place, you are in a little ‘camping city’ and everywhere you go, you’ll have endless options to distract you and keep you entertained, as well as being overwhelmed by the sheer sense of over-crowdedness. So, if you want peace and quiet and some really pristine moments with nature and wildlife, this really isn’t going to be the place you want to call home for a night or two under the stars.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) When you get tired of rustling up beans & franks for dinner and want to try out some local fare, you’ll have to drive a decent distance from here to get to anything, let alone of quality. The closest place you could consider is Somonauk, located on 34 just continuing due east where there’s just a few joints: Hot Diggity Dogs, Rambo’s Bar & Grill where Uncle Milty’s Pizza Palace is located right next door to, but the standout favorite in town is Country Kitchen for down-home Midwestern comfort food; (2) If you have any form of watercraft, you won’t really be able(or want) to use it here on the small lake that Hi-Tide has, especially with all the kids swimming, but nearby and just east is Lake Holiday which makes for a very great place to dip your kayak, canoe or outboard in; (3) For kicking back and enjoying some drinks, I highly recommend Tin Roof Tavern right on 34, where Teeks serves ‘em up strong, there’s a juke playing good tunes and even a mechanical bull riding, but was unfortunately not working when we were there; and (4) If you are looking for a real outdoors encounter with nature that may (or may not) include camping, give Shabbona Lake State Park a visit – it’s only 20– 25 minutes from Hi-Tide and has everything, whether that’s fishing, hunting, hiking, biking or kayaking – you’ll be amazed at what you have so nearby.

    Happy Camping!

  • K
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Turner Lake South — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Good enough I guess

    Biggest drawback was the road noise. 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! My site had room for 2 tents and was close to the road but still felt tucked away.

    The fire pit is actually more like a grill which was cool and great for cooking. You can move the grill to have just a fire. Plus the grocery store is only a quick 15 minute drive away if you forget anything!

    People were playing music loudly at night which was annoying.

    Would have been super peaceful if it weren’t for the roadnoise (which the campground can’t do anything about of course!) and the camper noise.

    Best suited for folks just looking to just play outdoors and not for anyone looking for a peaceful escape to nature.

  • Terran B.
    Sep. 17, 2022

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Nice place, not maintained

    It’s a really nice site, but the running water bathrooms were not cleaned regularly and the pit toilets were almost overflowing on a Thursday. The site was also filled with garbage when we arrived.

  • Erin S.
    Jul. 8, 2019

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Good for water activities.

    Electric site 7/5-7/7. Campground gets quiet at night. So many campground hosts around I don’t think they would let it be loud past quiet hours. First night the concession closed early so weren’t able to get firewood and had to go to the closest gas station. We could not figure out the problem but I’ve never had such a hard time keeping a fire lit with the wood from the concessions and gas station. Did some fishing, just caught some bluegill. We walked around a lot and did some kayaking. Shower houses were pretty gross in tent loops. We still had a great weekend.


Guide to West Chicago

Campsites near West Chicago provide diverse overnight options across McHenry and Cook counties, with elevations ranging from 600-850 feet above sea level. The region's four distinct seasons affect camping conditions, with summer humidity levels often reaching 75-85% during July and August. Weather patterns create ideal spring and fall conditions when temperatures typically stay between 50-70°F—perfect for outdoor activities without summer's crowds.

What to Do

Kayaking on interconnected waterways: Chain O' Lakes State Park offers multiple launch points for paddlers across its seven connected lakes. "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill," shares one Fox Den Campground visitor who appreciated the park's water-based recreation options.

Mountain biking single-track: The Palos region features miles of dedicated mountain biking trails with varying difficulty levels for all rider abilities. A visitor at Camp Sullivan noted, "There are a lot of groomed and ungroomed walking trails," making it perfect for both hikers and cyclists looking to explore without traveling far.

Wildlife observation: The region's preserves host diverse ecosystems where campers regularly spot native wildlife. "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 one visitor who documented their wildlife encounters during spring camping.

What Campers Like

Proximity to urban areas: Many campgrounds provide natural settings surprisingly close to metropolitan areas. "It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything," explains one Fox Den Campground visitor who appreciated being able to access civilization when needed.

Family activities: Campgrounds like Jellystone Park Millbrook focus on 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," reports one camper about their experience at Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.

Fire pit arrangements: Several campgrounds provide well-designed fire rings with cooking options. "Fire pits are slightly raised steel troughs with a heavy adjustable grill," notes a camper at Turner Lake South, describing practical features that enhance cooking capabilities beyond basic fire containment.

What You Should Know

Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. One camper at Thomas Woods Campground explains, "While these sites are usually slated for walk-ups on the weekends, it seems like a lot of people go early on Thursday or even Wednesday to secure their sites for the weekends."

Wildlife encounters: Ticks and mosquitoes present challenges during warm months. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks," warns a visitor about conditions at Honeysuckle Hollow, recommending containment solutions for young children.

Campsite privacy variations: Site privacy levels vary significantly between campgrounds and loops. "Sites # 4 and 5 probably have the longest length parking pad," notes one camper about specific sites at Camp Sullivan, while another mentions, "This loop is best for tent camping. The other loops are basically all RVs."

Tips for Camping with Families

Screen enclosures essential: Bring screen shelters for bug protection, especially with small children. A visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area advises, "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!"

Playground accessibility: Choose sites near recreation areas when traveling with children. "We chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms," shares one family about their strategic site selection at a local campground.

Food storage protocols: Raccoons actively visit campsites after dusk. A camper at Honeysuckle Hollow cautions, "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched," recommending early dinner and thorough cleanup before nightfall.

Tips from RVers

Electric hookup locations: Check electric post placement before booking. "Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad," warns an RVer at Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area, explaining, "We originally booked 96 but could not extend our slide because of large trees on either side of the pad and then the electric was about 50 feet away."

Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven sites at some campgrounds. "Site was not level but it had a lot of shade which was nice," notes one RVer about their glamping experience near West Chicago at Chicago Northwest KOA, highlighting the trade-off between perfectly level sites and desirable shade.

Dump station timing: Plan for potential lines at single dump stations during peak checkout times. One RVer from Thomas Woods Campground shared, "The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water. It was also very busy and we had to wait when filling up and again when dumping."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near West Chicago, IL?

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

What is the best site to find glamping camping near West Chicago, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 15 glamping camping locations near West Chicago, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.