Sugar River Forest Preserve, near Durand, Illinois, is a solid spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a bit of comfort. The campground offers spacious sites, many shaded by tall pine trees, making it a pleasant place to set up camp and unwind.

You’ll find amenities like clean showers and well-maintained restrooms, which visitors appreciate after a day of activities. Campers have noted the large picnic tables, perfect for family meals or card games in the evening. As one reviewer mentioned, “The smell of pine is heavenly here!”

For those who love water activities, the Sugar River is right at your doorstep, ideal for canoeing and kayaking. While the river can be low at times, it still provides a scenic backdrop for tubing and fishing. Plus, if you’re up for a little adventure, nearby attractions like the National Cheese Museum in Monroe, Wisconsin, are worth a visit.

While some campers have mentioned that it can get a bit lively with local groups, the overall vibe is friendly and welcoming. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Sugar River Forest Preserve has plenty to offer for a memorable camping experience.

Sugar River Forest Preserve

Join the fun near Durand. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Find the best campgrounds near Durand, IL. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Durand

The Best Camping Near Durand, Illinois

Not a bad place for exploring the river. Big sites. Lots of mosquitoes so come prepared!

Lots to do if you like the river

There are a bunch of different kinds of campsites to choose from. Rustic ones right near the river are my favorite! There’s an indoor restroom complete with a shower. We’ve done some fishing and plan to kayak there soon!

Accommodating Staff! 

We spent a weekend at Sugar River and thoroughly enjoyed our! The sites are large and well maintained, the hosts were great, and it is less than two hours from home!

Great Forest preserve campground!

This was the perfect end to our camping season. The smell of pine is heavenly here!
Shower house still open!

November camp!

Winnebago County does a great job of maintaining their Forest preserves and campgrounds. They charge a fee for non-residents, but it's worth it. Not spectacular, but very pleasant and relaxing. Sites are open, but well spaced. Plenty of shade. Hike-in sites are on the riverbank, about 200 yards from parking.  
 The Sugar river is scenic, and easy to paddle up or down, so you can do round trips without having to arrange drop-offs.   
The Pecatonica river is nearby as well. A good day trip is Monroe, Wisconsin, home of the National Cheese Museum and Alp &amp; Dell Chees works, a great place to shop for chees lovers. Van Eyck Orchard is a great stop as well.

Great for canoeing/ kayaking

Spent 3 days here as part of a trip to Galena. The showers are nice and cleaned regularly. Host is constantly driving around making sure firewood is available to campers and is very reasonably priced. Great location right along river, however it was very low this time of year. Will defiantly return.

NIce Forest Location in Northern Illinois

This site is great, but seems like a local party spot. A large group was allowed to be noisy well past quiet hour, I went over to talk with them and they still were bumping music until at least midnight. No one seems to care about being quiet. 

Great sites 

We visited in Early June this time, and this time had a campsite on the East side under the very, very tall pine trees (sites 32-47). Less privacy between sites, but a beautiful  effect.  
Last time we camped in site 65, next to the path to the playground &amp; walk-in site parking which was busy. You might want to choose a sit away from the pit toilets for the usual reasons, but also to avoid the light from the streetlights over them.  
The river was low this time, so we didn't do any canoeing, but we saw many people tubing from Sugar River Adventures  having fun, Walking a tube over a sandbar is nothing compared to dragging a canoe.  
BIGGEST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE there's a farm nearby that has Peacocks, and they screamed until well into the night. we thought it was bobcats attacking wild turkeys until the lady at the front gate set us straight. I hope this is only a seasonal mating thing and not a new feature.  
One more note, biggest picnic tables we've seen, and our site had two.

Second visit was as enjoyable as the first 3 yrs ago

We had a great time in this hidden gem.  It is run by the county and was much more than we expected from a county run facility.  We had a very nice cam site that allowed us to pull through with our pop up.  There are very tall trees around the entire campground giving you some respite from the sun and the heat.  The bath house is easily within walking distance from anywhere in the campground.  Many people that we met have been coming back for years (this was our first time there).  They have fire rings and picnic tables and firewood for sale at the entrance.  They allow dogs and the ranger is frequently visible throughout the day.  You are a short distance from the river and the surroundings are wonderful.  You are 20 minutes away from stores and restaurants if you happen to need them and also a short drive to Wisconsin.

Beautiful Place to Camp

We camp here several times a year. The sites are well kept and pretty spacious. It’s rarely crowded and I never feel like I’m on top of other people. The shower house is pretty basic but clean. The primitive sites are where it’s at! First come first serve and they fill up quick. 

Photos of Sugar River Forest Preserve

Real photos from real campers