The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Get the app

Camping near Wilmette, IL

57 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates

    Campgrounds near Wilmette, Illinois provide access to a mix of established sites and urban camping options, despite the heavily developed Chicago suburbs. The area includes several established campgrounds like Camp Reinberg in Palatine and Illinois Beach State Park near Zion, with accommodations ranging from tent sites to cabins and RV hookups. Within a 30-mile radius, campers can find both Cook County Forest Preserve campgrounds and state park facilities offering varying levels of amenities, including electric hookups, showers, and reservable sites.

    Reservations are typically required at most established campgrounds in the region, with many sites booking up quickly during summer weekends. "Staff was very friendly. Easy access to nice hiking trails. Bathrooms and showers decent," noted one visitor about Camp Reinberg. The camping season generally runs from May through October for many facilities, though some locations like Camp Bullfrog Lake operate year-round. Weather conditions can change rapidly around Lake Michigan, with spring and fall bringing unpredictable temperature swings. Facilities within Cook County Forest Preserves maintain gates that close at night, providing additional security but restricting late arrivals, while state parks often have more flexible access hours.

    Campers consistently rate sites with nearby trail access among the highest in the area. Camp Reinberg receives praise for its clean facilities and access to the Deer Grove Forest Preserve trail system. A camper wrote, "This was a sweet camping spot. Only 4 sites tucked alongside a bike and walking path that goes through a beautiful forest preserve." Urban camping options exist but receive mixed reviews, with some locations like The Vaudeville offering unique experiences though limited amenities. Proximity to Lake Michigan serves as a major draw for Illinois Beach State Park, though reviews suggest variable maintenance. Many campgrounds in the area balance suburban convenience with natural settings, allowing access to grocery stores and other amenities while providing enough green space to feel removed from the city environment. For those seeking camping near Wilmette, the best campsites often require booking well in advance, especially during peak summer months.

    Best Campgrounds near Wilmette (57)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park

      4.1(68)25mi from WilmetteRVs, Tents

      "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!"

      from $25 / night

      Check Availability

      2. Camp Reinberg

      4.8(13)18mi from WilmetteRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "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!"

      from $45 - $60 / night

      Check Availability

      3. The Vaudeville

      4.5(4)14mi from WilmetteCabins

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

      4. Camp Bullfrog Lake

      4.2(30)27mi from WilmetteRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      from $20 - $138 / night

      Check Availability

      5. Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

      4.4(131)47mi from Wilmette67 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern."

      "You walk down steps or a ramp to your area, tent pad with a picnic table and firepit. So beautiful when the sun comes up. Showers and toilets regularly cleaned and modern."

      from $25 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Blackwell Family Campground

      4.4(23)28mi from WilmetteRVs, Tents

      "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."

      from $20 - $30 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Paul Wolff Campground

      3.9(21)32mi from WilmetteRVs, Tents

      "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."

      from $12 - $35 / night

      Check Availability

      8. Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

      4.5(55)45mi from Wilmette138 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "We spent the afternoon on the lakeside and drove back to the site to set up for the evening."

      "This campground was very nice and clean and for a packed park was very quiet and we did not feel too close to the sites next to us. "

      from $50 / night

      Check Availability

      9. NAVSTA Great Lakes RV Campground

      2.0(2)18mi from WilmetteRVs, Tents
      Check Availability

      10. Camp Sullivan

      3.3(16)31mi from WilmetteRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "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."

      from $35 - $250 / night

      Check Availability
    View all 57 campgrounds

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Wilmette Contest

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time

    Recent Camping Photos near Wilmette, IL

    184 Photos of 57 Wilmette Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Recent Reviews near Wilmette, IL

    638 Reviews of 57 Wilmette Campgrounds

    • BThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 9, 2026

      Blackwell Family Campground

      Great Stay

      Blackwell has clean bathrooms, offers hiking trails, boating (kayak rentals) or bring your own, fishing, archery, cycling. The gate locks at 7pm but you just call the night guard and he will let you in. They’re only open on Friday, Saturday and holidays. Would definitely stay again. Be aware Winfield Road has a lot of traffic so sites further away from that road are best. Heard coyotes about 3 am both mornings. Rangers were exceptional.

    • Nikolai P.
      Oct. 9, 2026

      Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

      Beautiful forest campground

      It was nice camping here. There is an asphalted road leading right to the campsites. The hot, adjustable showers are perfect. The sites are made of gravel paved with sand, which makes them perfectly flat. I liked that.

    • Ada R.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 28, 2026

      Dunewood Campground

      Wooded NP campground

      Clean lighted bathrooms and hot showers. Very shady campground but not much privacy between sites. About a mile walk to the lakeshore.

    • kelsea D.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 25, 2026

      Prairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park

      A lot to do.

      There’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.

    • Derek J.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 24, 2026

      Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

      Great quiet place

      Staying through the week just on the outside of Labor Day Weekend. This place was perfect for us to come over and get away from it and enjoy the changing weather. Electric only sites, and the staff were friendly. Always enjoy coming here for good hiking and beach time.

    • Maria Mercedes M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 24, 2026

      Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

      Lively Little Campground Beside Turner Lake

      There’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees.  One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.

    • SkywaystoHighways.com Y.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 21, 2026

      Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

      Nice overnight stay

      We had an overnight stay here during some pretty nasty weather. Site 7 was perfect as it has a very wide concrete landing pad that kept us from trudging around our site in mud. Flooded roads resulted in a road race being diverted through the park. We were able to cheer them on while having dinner at our campfire. There’s a paved walkway around the circumference of the campground which allows you to take a nice stroll. Trails to the lake are easily accessible. The bathrooms and showers were clean, although a bit dated. We had a pleasant evening.

    • Charlie Y.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 19, 2026

      Love's RV Hookup-Hampshire IL 763

      Cross country travelers

      Last minute online reservation...They only have. 4 or 5 RV sites...full hook ups...about $60+-...right near gas pumps but any noise did not bother us weary travelers...Only downside was showers were not included....For the price certainly an included shower should be part of the deal...easy check in and check out.,..We used the Love's site due to its location to visit family and the fact that electric was available...We have medical equipment that requires a recharge at night plus it's just nice to have the AC if needed.

    • sThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 17, 2026

      Rocking Horse Camping Ranch

      Unsafe, unresponsive host

      We reserved this mobile home camping experience through Hipcamp that had(overall) positive reviews. When we arrived, the area of town was run-down as was the property itself. I would not have felt comfortable staying there with kids. In addition, due to a storm the day before, the entire area around the mobile home was flooded. There was nowhere to walk, drive or park that was not under water. This was an unacceptable and unsafe situation. In addition, we needed to find a new place to stay late in the evening. We reached out to the owner to cancel and he refused to refund our money; an overall awful experience.

    Guide to Wilmette

    Camping sites near Wilmette, Illinois offer varying terrain options within a 40-mile radius of Lake Michigan's shoreline. The region experiences significant temperature fluctuations between April and October, with summer highs averaging 85°F and spring lows dipping to 40°F. Overnight camping options range from lakefront properties to forest preserves with hiking trails connecting to extensive county-wide trail systems.

    What to do

    Lake swimming access: 10-minute walk from some camping sites to Lake Michigan shores at Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park, where visitors enjoy water activities and beachcombing. "Easy access to the beach, great sites and was very quiet," reports camper Chrissy E., who noted the convenience of beach access from campsites.

    Mountain biking: 5-10 miles of trails accessible directly from Camp Bullfrog Lake with varying difficulty levels suitable for beginners to experienced riders. "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., highlighting the integration of recreation with camping facilities.

    Kayak rentals: $15 per hour at several locations including Camp Bullfrog Lake where equipment includes life vests. Layla P. shares: "The kayaks are $15 an hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around."

    Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes and ponds throughout the preserves offer fishing for various species. Marisa A. notes that at Blackwell Family Campground: "The fishing is outstanding. There are lots of places along the lake and ponds to get an easy catch and release."

    What campers like

    Clean, modern facilities: Most established campgrounds maintain well-serviced bathroom facilities with regular cleaning schedules. At Paul Wolff Campground, David W. observed: "The vault toilets are clean but smell like vault toilets at 95 degrees. There is one very clean flush toilet building but no showers."

    Proximity to Chicago with nature immersion: Campsites provide quick escapes from urban environments while maintaining natural settings. "For nature that's close to civilization, Deer Grove Forest Preserve is the best," mentions Kristy G. about Camp Reinberg, noting the variety of trail types for different hiking preferences.

    Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many preserves host diverse wildlife despite suburban locations. At Camp Bullfrog Lake, Hatie P. encountered "tons of animals and birds including a snake, loads of herons and songbirds, deer, a raccoon and a Cooper's Hawk" during a 10-mile hike through connected trails.

    Seasonal wildflowers and natural features: Spring and summer bring vibrant wildflower displays to many preserves. Susan L. observed at Camp Reinberg: "There are so many wildflowers everywhere! I almost wasn't going to review this place because it's that special and I'd love to keep it all to myself."

    What you should know

    Train noise affects sleep quality at several campgrounds near rail lines, particularly at Indiana Dunes State Park Campground. Kaley A. warns: "The only reason I rate this park a three is that it's very close to train lines and the trains going through and blasting their horns all night long. If you're a heavy sleeper and can deal with that, you'll be just fine."

    Gate closure times vary by location: Forest preserve campgrounds typically close entrance gates at set hours. Susan L. notes about Camp Reinberg: "There is a gate that is closed at 10pm every night and opened again in the morning."

    Limited shade at newer sites: Some recently developed campgrounds have young trees providing minimal coverage. Tim K. observes at Camp Bullfrog Lake: "There is NO shade during the day. None at all due to the trees within the campground being small."

    Insect activity fluctuates by season: Mosquitoes and flies can be particularly problematic in summer months near water features. Liz M. cautions about Illinois Beach State Park: "Beautiful views and amazing sunrises but be warned flies and mosquitos are wild."

    Tips for camping with families

    Beach-oriented campgrounds: Sites near Lake Michigan provide swimming opportunities but require supervision. At Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort, Chloe N. recommends: "The lakefront tent sites, they are spacious and you can fish right from your site! The lake is beautiful and surprisingly picturesque as it is all nature preserve on the opposite side."

    Weekday camping for fewer crowds: School-year weekdays offer significantly reduced occupancy at most sites. Lawrence B. reports at Camp Bullfrog Lake: "Sites are pretty close to each other, but neighbors were quiet. Beautiful little lake. Bathrooms were warm and clean."

    Campgrounds with organized activities: Some locations offer scheduled family programs. Leo V. notes about Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort: "Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake."

    Accessible trail options: Several preserves feature paved or crushed limestone paths suitable for strollers. Kristy G. describes Camp Reinberg: "There are plenty of paved trails as well as dirt, lots of fun little off-shoots into the woods, creeks run throughout."

    Tips from RVers

    Water fill procedures: Many campgrounds require special arrangements for water. The School for Y. notes about Camp Reinberg: "There are no water spigots at the RV sites. The staff has to hook up a very very long hose and will bring it to your site. You can get water, it's just an inconvenience."

    Electric hookup variations: Amperage options differ by location, with most offering either 30 or 50 amp service. At Paul Wolff Campground, Marisa A. appreciates: "Because there is electrical it is a peaceful campground with no generator noise."

    Site pad materials and conditions: RV pads range from concrete to gravel to asphalt. Rose T. cautions about Illinois Beach State Park: "We reserved site 349 and had no idea it would be on asphalt. There are plenty of other sites that on grass with trees."

    Site privacy considerations: RV sites offer varying degrees of separation from neighbors. Susan L. observes about Camp Reinberg: "I was visiting family in the city and surrounding suburbs and felt secure staying here as well as leaving my RV in this campground."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are there any seasonal restrictions for camping near Wilmette?

    Most campgrounds near Wilmette operate seasonally due to the harsh Midwest winters. Illinois Beach State Park typically closes for camping during winter months, generally from November through April. Chain O' Lakes State Park follows a similar seasonal pattern, with full services available from spring through fall. During peak summer months (June-August), reservations are strongly recommended at most campgrounds as they fill quickly, especially on weekends. Some facilities like bathroom buildings may close during colder months even if the campground remains open. Always check current operating hours and availability before planning your trip, as opening and closing dates can vary based on weather conditions and park management decisions.

    Where are the best campgrounds near Wilmette?

    Within an hour's drive of Wilmette, Camp Reinberg offers an excellent nearby option with extensive biking and walking trails that lead to unique clearings and bridges. For those willing to travel a bit further, Blackwell Family Campground provides a convenient weekend getaway with level, clean sites and electric hookups at reasonable prices. Other solid options include Big Rock Campground (though it lacks shade and showers), Illinois Beach State Park for spectacular Lake Michigan sunrises, and Chain O'Lakes State Park with multiple camping areas offering varying levels of privacy and amenities. Most of these campgrounds are within 1-2 hours of Wilmette, making them perfect for quick weekend escapes from the city.

    What amenities are available at campsites near Wilmette?

    Campgrounds near Wilmette offer varying levels of amenities. Chicago Northwest KOA provides full hookups for RVs, though spaces are relatively close together. For a more primitive experience, Prairie View at Chain O' Lakes State Park offers no-service sites with water available at communal fill stations. Big Foot Beach State Park features electric sites (though limited in number) and provides access to a small beach area. Most public campgrounds in the region offer basic amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and modern bathrooms with flush toilets. If you need full hookups and additional amenities like WiFi or laundry facilities, private campgrounds will be your best option, though they typically come with less privacy and higher fees than their public counterparts.

    Keep Exploring

    5. View all Illinois cities for camping