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Potowatomi Campground at Kankakee River State Park provides spacious pet-friendly sites with lush vegetation grown between campsites for privacy. Dogs must be leashed throughout the park, with most sites offering ample shade from tall trees where pets can rest comfortably. Chippewa Campground, also part of Kankakee River State Park, accommodates pets in both tent and RV camping areas, with electric hookups available for campers needing to run pet-related equipment. Both campgrounds feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to drinking water, making extended stays with pets comfortable. Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort in Joliet allows pets at their sites, offering full hookups including water and electric for RV campers traveling with animals. Leisure Lake Resort includes pet-friendly cabin options for those who prefer not to tent camp with their dogs. Campground hosts at Kankakee River State Park are frequently noted for their helpfulness toward campers with pets.
Several miles of riverside paved trails provide excellent dog walking opportunities, with the wide crushed gravel path at Kankakee River State Park being particularly suitable for pets needing daily exercise. The trails connect to picnic areas and playground equipment for families camping with dogs. McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove permits pets at their tent-only sites, though campers should be aware the location can occasionally flood during heavy rains. Tameling Campground and RV Park's secluded wooded lake setting creates a quiet environment where dogs won't be disturbed by excessive noise. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to remain on leashes no longer than 6 feet, and owners must clean up after their animals. The area experiences seasonal weather variations, so pet owners camping during summer months should ensure adequate shade and water for their animals during hot days, particularly at more open sites with less natural cover.
"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."
"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."
"shade canopy and an open feel Well maintained open-grass layout
- Spacious campsites, similar to other IL State Parks we've stayed at
- Quiet (when we visited)
- Boat ramp is accessible via trail"
"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."
from $8 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot. Pet-friendly. Pleasant park with good pad. Near busy road and shipping plant."
"Nice safe location. Flat, pretty large spots..picnic tables."
from $15 - $30 / night
Check Availability"The park is dog friendly. The campground is clean and quiet. There is no bath house, only port-a-potty's throughout the campground."
"Yes, it’s an hour from the city, but I’d take the drive over the bill at a nearby hotel. There’s an outhouse and plenty of places to plug in the RV, and cars/tents are welcome too."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities"
from $37 / night
Check Availability"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."
"It is a bit away from businesses. However if you arrive by car you drive through the quaint town. Arriving by bicycle is even better. The Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail passes right by camp."
"Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week."
"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."
TravelerVery friendly host at the gate! Just what my wife and I were looking for. Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!
ScoutAlthough we camped in Illinois record rainfall, we still had a blast. Plenty of trees to hammock, clean bathrooms, and a great river view.
TravelerSmall campground but very friendly. A plus was the full hookups. The sights are very close together. Management is not over bearing and very friendly. Dog friendly lots of dogs this weekend nice size dog park! You overall great weekend
ScoutWe’ve been staying at this resort for several months now, and wanted to share some feedback based on our experience.
The pool only opened mid-summer.
Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning. The water is so unclean that our shower develops yellow stains within a day, and we’ve had to install a five-stage filtration system just to make it usable.
We’ve also noticed that rules aren’t enforced consistently, and it sometimes feels like certain guests are treated unfairly. For example, while we were told that personal kiddie pools aren’t allowed, we’ve counted at least six others set up around the park.
Package delivery is only permitted under special circumstances, and only if pre-approved by staff.
Had an incident where a staff member criticized my swimsuit at the pool, despite it being modest and similar to what others were wearing. I wore this swimsuit to many pools for many years. Additionally, the beach area is often closed even during posted open hours, and pool hours or updates aren’t clearly communicated—you have to inquire to get any information.
The storm shelter is typically locked, making it inaccessible in emergencies, which is a major concern.
We’ve also had to fix the swing set at the playground ourselves multiple times, as it’s been broken for a while. Many of the park’s facilities and amenities are showing their age and could benefit from updates and maintenance.
That said, there are aspects we’ve truly enjoyed, and they’re the main reasons we’ve continued our stay: the spacious layout of the RV park, a nice lake, beach, pool, gym, and a dog park.
TravelerMany very nice permanent sites. We loved the dog park along with the many activities available. We come here at least once a year. Check out their information on their website.
If you want a quick local get away this is the place.
GuideBeautiful spot for our single overnight. Staff were great; friendly and helpful. Park was well kept, with lots of green around RV and tent sites. Nice pool, dog park, store, and even a stream system that wanders through the park (no swimming in the stream). Also close to Starved Rock State Park for some neat scenery and hiking. The only downside side is that some of the RV sites are a little close together - didn’t impact our stay though. Two thumbs up! :)
ScoutGreat stop for the night, It's new, gated and has basic amenities like a General store, Dog park and basketball court and tennis ball court for some activities if you have kids. Plenty of space and Convenient. We reserved and checked in online. The only complaint I had is the site we were at showed a ground fault on the 50amp Circuit so I had to use the 30 amp circuit but it's Nov so no need to run dual ACs minor issue but still make sure your using your EPM devices.
LegendAs we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch.
If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs.
As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location.
If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo.
Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 5
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
TravelerStayed here in early June during a trip to Starved Rock, which is a quick 10-15 minute drive. Camp hosts are very nice and the the grounds well maintained. I stayed on site 5 which is a full hookup but best for a small camper. I have a 14 foot travel trailer and it just fit with my SUV in front. The spots are very tight and you have very little room between you and your neighbor. With all the rain this year, many sites flooded during a storm while we camped and they had to be moved to other areas that were not actual sites so it was a bit crazy...hosts did a great job taking care of everyone effected. Campground has a cute dog park and a beautiful stream that runs through it. I would stay here again!!
Kankakee River State Park offers camping within an 11-mile long protected area following the Kankakee River. The park's vegetation includes oak, hickory, and maple trees that create a diverse woodland habitat. Temperatures range from summer highs in the upper 80s to winter lows below freezing, with spring and fall being popular camping seasons due to mild conditions.
Bike the paved trails: The riverside paved trails at Chippewa Campground extend approximately 7 miles, offering scenic views along the Kankakee River. "Many miles (7ish?) of riverside paved trail for jogging, walking, or biking adjacent to campsite," notes one reviewer who visited in October.
Canoe the connected waterways: Launch from McKinley Woods: Frederick's Grove to access multiple water routes. "We canoed 3 miles up to the state park before we could cross over to the DuPage (a lovely river) and then back on the Des Plaines," reports a visitor who explored the connected waterways.
Visit the nature center: Take children to the educational facilities at Kankakee River State Park where hands-on wildlife experiences are available. "We did have a really awesome time at the main office/nature center, where my kiddos got to feed and hold a variety of reptiles!" shares a summer visitor.
Spacious, open layouts: Sites at Potowatomi Campground feature large grassy areas between campsites. "Our site was perfect with trees to hang a hammock on and for the kids to run around," mentions a July visitor who appreciated the open space.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain their shower houses and restrooms regularly. "The shower house was good. We went during July 4th so it was busy (the toilet paper was completely out when I stopped by and it looked like some kids had a water balloon fight in there) but the team came out to clean up promptly," reports a holiday weekend camper.
Accessibility options: Some area campgrounds provide accessible camping options. "In McKinley Woods proper there is a large camping area and two of the sites have concrete pads for ADA accessibility," notes a visitor who appreciates the inclusive design features.
Flooding potential: Some riverside camping areas can experience water issues during heavy rains. At McKinley Woods, "Our night went from on and off light rain to three hours of down pour rain. With that said our site was flooded once we woke up. We had three inches up the the fire pit," warns a camper who had to cut their trip short.
Traffic noise: Campgrounds near highways may experience road noise. At Martin's Camping Ground, "You can throw a stone and hit a semi driving by to I-80. There's a lot of traffic given the proximity to Chicago. If you're able to sleep with large trucks driving in the background, you'll be fine," explains a reviewer who stayed there.
Walk-in requirements: Some campgrounds require carrying gear from parking areas to campsites. "We didn't realize this was a walk-in campground, the details on the Will county site were vague, and the satellite photo showed a paved road. The road is a path, so the sites are ADA accessible," explains a camper who was surprised by the setup.
Look for sites with play space: Select campsites with room for children to explore safely. "The sites are straightforward and vary quite a bit: some are huge with open green space and others I feel like just for a car and a tent. Our site was perfect with trees to hang a hammock on and for the kids to run around," recommends a family that camped during a holiday weekend.
Consider cabin options: For families not wanting to tent camp with dogs, Leisure Lake Resort provides alternative accommodations. "Quiet, family orientated, fishing lake, miniature golf, activities," mentions a visitor who enjoyed the family-friendly amenities.
Check playground conditions: Some playgrounds may need maintenance. "We've also had to fix the swing set at the playground ourselves multiple times, as it's been broken for a while. Many of the park's facilities and amenities are showing their age," notes a long-term visitor at one resort.
Verify site levelness: Many campgrounds have uneven sites that can complicate RV setup. "Spaces are small, muddy, and un level. Highway is next to campground, but we could not hear it inside," reports a camper who stayed at Martin's Camping Ground.
Consider water quality: Some campgrounds have water issues that may require filtration. "Water quality has been very bad. On one occasion, our pet had stomach issues after drinking tap water, which was concerning. The water is so unclean that our shower develops yellow stains within a day, and we've had to install a five-stage filtration system," warns a visitor at one of the dog friendly campgrounds near Wilmington.
Check hookup locations: Hookup positioning varies between sites and may require extensions. "Sewer connection at our site was technically on neighbors…we had to use extension," notes a reviewer describing their practical challenges at an RV park near Wilmington.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Wilmington, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Wilmington, IL is Potowatomi Campground — Kankakee River State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Wilmington, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 65 dog-friendly camping locations near Wilmington, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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