Glamping near Winfield, Illinois provides outdoor accommodations within 30 miles of Chicago's western suburbs. The area sits at approximately 770 feet above sea level with terrain characterized by glacial moraines and scattered lakes. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F, while spring and fall bring cooler conditions with temperatures between 45-65°F, making seasonal preparation essential for comfort.
What to do
Kayaking on multiple connected lakes: Chain O' Lakes State Park offers extensive water recreation with seven connected lakes. "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," notes a visitor to Turner Lake South.
Mountain biking on varied terrain: The Palos Forest Preserve system offers both beginner and advanced single-track trails accessible directly from campsites. "We really like this place and was about a 30 minute rude from our place in the western burbs. Some of the areas best mountain bike single track is right here. There is fishing kayaking and hiking trails too," explains a reviewer from Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Seasonal camping activities: Fall brings special themed weekends at area campgrounds. A camper at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Millbrook explains, "I've been to this site a handful of times growing up and it's a good campsite for the kids. Always came here for trick or treating and it's a fun event for the camp ground with plenty of spooky things to do."
What campers like
Clean, modern facilities: Several campgrounds offer recently renovated amenities. "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. The campsites are well kept as are the grounds," shares a visitor to Camp Sullivan.
Proximity to Chicago: Most sites are within an hour's drive of downtown, making quick escapes possible. As one camper at Chicago Northwest KOA notes, "Did a quick stay with the kids for a Friday and Saturday night. Staff was very friendly and the facilities were kept very clean. We'll be back for sure!"
Private wooded sites: Some campgrounds offer secluded spots despite proximity to urban areas. "Limited to weekend camping, but spread out private-like tent sites. Camp hosts are super engaged and seem to love being caretakers. Hand pumps for water and well-kept pit toilets. Hiking galore!" reports a visitor to Thomas Woods Campground.
What you should know
Site selection varies by loop: Chain O' Lakes offers distinct camping experiences in different areas. A visitor to Fox Den notes, "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."
Wildlife interactions: Raccoons and ticks are common in warmer months. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Also - the raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched," warns a camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Alcohol restrictions: Illinois state parks enforce no-alcohol policies. "The only big minus is the full hook ups fill up fast no spur of the moment camping unless it is early or late in the season. The other thing is ALL Illinois State Parks are now enforcing a no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site," notes a visitor to Fox Den Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Tent site selection: Choose sites away from main roads for safety with children. "Sites # 4 and 5 probably have the longest length parking pad. I believe this is a relatively newer campground. There is NO shade during the day. None at all due to the trees within the campground being small," shares a visitor to Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Kid-friendly activities: Schedule around structured programming for maximum enjoyment. At Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort, a reviewer observes, "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. The camp store sells treats and pizza, very convenient and makes for a more relaxing camping experience when traveling with young kids!"
Timing considerations: Weekdays offer significantly quieter experiences than weekends. "We stayed here for a week over the summer in 2021. The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," reports a camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Tips from RVers
Hook-up limitations: Many sites share electric boxes or have distance issues. "This is a relatively newer campground. Sites are pretty close to each other, but neighbors were quiet. Beautiful little lake. Bathrooms were warm and clean. There's also a little store on site that was open until 10:00 PM," shares a camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake.
Dump station accessibility: Plan for potential waits at peak times. "We paid for the deluxe patio site, which had no sewer. Site was not level but it had a lot of shade which was nice. Had horrible WiFi, no cable and limited reception. One bathroom and shower was nice, the other had disgusting showers," notes a reviewer at Chicago Northwest KOA.
Gate closure policies: Check park entrance hours to avoid being locked out. "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," warns a Turner Lake South visitor.
