Camping options near Zion, Illinois primarily cluster around Chain O' Lakes State Park and the Wisconsin border region, with sites located between 10-15 miles from Zion proper. The flat terrain throughout these camping areas typically ranges from 580-700 feet above sea level, with seasonal weather patterns bringing hot, humid summers and cool fall camping conditions. Mosquitoes can be particularly intense during summer months, especially near wetland areas where natural water features attract diverse wildlife.
What to do
Kayaking on interconnected waterways: Chain O' Lakes State Park offers paddling opportunities through its network of lakes and tributaries. "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill," notes Aida K. Kayak and canoe rentals are available at the boat launch area during summer months.
Horse riding experiences: Turner Lake South campground provides access to equestrian trails and guided rides. "Horse stables and guided rides for horse lovers," mentions Jori W., highlighting one of the less-discussed recreation options in the area.
ATV riding: Richard Bong State Recreation Area in nearby Wisconsin offers designated ATV tracks alongside other diverse recreational opportunities. "We took our bikes down by the pond and park. They have flush toilets and showers," reports Katie D., who specifically selected the area for its ATV facilities.
Nature center activities: Bong Recreation Area maintains regular educational programming for families. "The Weekend we were here they had a free Kids fishing weekend and John the naturalist was amazing!! There is a ton to do at this park the nature center has activities all weekend long," writes Jill G.
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Fox Den Campground offers more secluded camping experiences compared to other options in the area. "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," explains Ian C.
Lakeside camping: Mud Lake East provides sites with direct water views. "There are numerous sites that are on a small lake with great sunset views. Sites are decent size but not much privacy in between sites," reports Jori W., describing the camping experience.
Wildlife viewing: Richard Bong State Recreation Area offers abundant wildlife observation opportunities. "We're from the south, so we are used to mosquitoes, but I have seldom been around so many all at once... But back to the fun part... I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two," shares Tim H.
Varied terrain for hiking: The region provides diverse trail systems beyond the lakeshore paths. "There are amazing trails through park for people to hike, bike, or ride horse on," notes GoWhereYouAreDraw N. when describing Chain O' Lakes State Park's offerings.
What you should know
Campground accessibility and closures: Gate restrictions at state parks may limit after-hours access. "A note that the park gates close early as well - we returned one evening at 10:30pm and couldn't get back in with a vehicle. Had to go back in on foot. Good to plan ahead!" cautions Grace H. about Prairie View Camping Area.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are particularly active at many campgrounds in the region. "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," warns Meg about Honeysuckle Hollow.
Ticks and insects: The area's woodlands harbor significant tick populations. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks... they literally fall out of the trees into people!" explains Meg about Chain O' Lakes. Bug spray is considered essential gear during warmer months.
Dump station congestion: Holiday weekends create significant backups at limited dump facilities. "They needed someone to control the traffic that comes from two different directions going to the dual dump stations. There's no honor system, especially on a holiday weekend," reports Myron W. about weekend experiences.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort offers multiple kid-friendly amenities. "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," notes Leo V. about this family-oriented option.
Contained camping spaces for toddlers: Use screen houses when camping with small children to manage tick exposure. "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," advises Meg.
Budget-friendly options: Turner Lake South provides affordable sites without electric hookups. "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," reports Addison G.
Educational programming: Many campgrounds offer structured activities for children during peak season. "The nature center has activities all weekend long," states Jill G. about the programming available at Richard Bong State Recreation Area.
Tips from RVers
Electric post placement issues: Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area requires careful site selection for hookups. "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," advises Debra M., providing specific site recommendations.
Extended cable needs: Pack extension cords when visiting certain campgrounds. "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. Moved to 50 one of the nicest spots," shares Debra M. about navigating site limitations.
Water access limitations: Some electric sites lack water hookups. "We love camping here. It truly feels rural. Small shower house but water pressure is amazing. It's always quiet and the view is beautiful. Bugs were awful this stay. They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by," notes Kaitlin M. about Illinois Beach State Park.
Mid-week camping advantages: Several campgrounds experience significant population decreases Sunday through Thursday. "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," shares Tina about mid-week camping at Honeysuckle Hollow.
