Best Campsites In Chicago, Illinois

1. Chicago McCormick Place Marshaling Yard

McCormick Place Marshaling Yard in Chicago is one of the best RV parking camping grounds in the city. This place offers 24-hour security and is located close to the Chicago City Center and Millenium Park. It is a truck yard that suits best for urban camping. The campsite is located close to Lake Michigan and it has an expansive indoor arena. This is a great spot to park your RVs in the middle of Chicago and explore its attractions. The fact that it is just a few minutes’ drive from Downtown, attracts a lot of visitors to this campsite.

Chicago McCormick Place Marshaling Yard

Address: 3050 Moe Dr, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

Website: Chicago McCormick Place Marshaling Yard

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Campsites near Chicago

2. Camp Sullivan

Camp Sullivan is an amazing space for outdoor fun, tucked in the woods near Tinley Creek Trail System. This red barn camping resort offers bunk beds and a bathroom for guests to stay. Guests can also pitch a tent on the expansive grounds around the barn. There is also an activity barn at Camp Sullivan where you can do wall climbing and other interesting activities that are in store for you. There is also a dining hall and camp store on the premises. You can also explore Turtlehead Lake and Arrowhead Lake from this campsite.

Camp Sullivan

Address: 14630 Oak Park Ave, Oak Forest, IL 60452, United States

Website: Camp Sullivan

Opening hours: 9am - 10pm (daily)

3. Camp Bullfrog Lake

Camp Bullfrog Lake is known for its breathtaking hiking, walking and biking trails. This campsite offers a wonderful array of activities such as fishing, ice-fishing, cross-country skiing and of course boating. Nestled inside the Palos Preserves, this camping site with its beautiful Bullfrog lake waters and hilly forests is a must-go camping spot in Illinois. The campsite has amenities like a parking area, showers, small and large camp cabins, an RV campsite with power-back up, outdoor tent campgrounds, group, and full campground rentals.

Camp Bullfrog Lake

Address: 9600 Wolf Rd, Willow Springs, IL 60480

Website: Camp Bullfrog Lake

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

4. Illinois Beach State Park

Illinois Beach State Park is one of the popular and most-visited campsites near Chicago. This park spans a distance of 6.5 miles (10.46 km) along the sandy beach of Lake Michigan and it is packed with a wide array of outdoor activities. Check out the rich flora and fauna, a huge stretch of marshes, dunes, and swales of the beach ridge shoreline. Some of the recreational activities in store for you at Illinois Beach State Park are biking, camping, cross-country skiing, fishing, geo-caching, scuba diving, swimming, and hiking.

Illinois Beach State Park

Address: 1 Lake Front Dr, Zion, IL 60099, United States

Website: Illinois Beach State Park

Opening hours: 8am - 8pm (daily)

5. Indiana Dunes State Park

Indiana Dunes State Park stretches for about 2,182 acres (883 ha) of unique Hoosier landscapes filled with a rich history. This park has over three miles (4.8 km) of the southern shore of Lake Michigan in its premises. This campsite is popular for its large sand dunes that were formed over a period of thousands of years and it is a natural habitat to a number of plant and animal species. This place has a number of easy and moderate hiking trails worth exploring. Other activities include birding, swimming, cross-country skiing, nature walks, outdoor camping and picnics.

Indiana Dunes State Park

Address: 1600 N 25 E, Chesterton, IN 46304, United States

Website: Indiana Dunes State Park

Opening hours: 7am - 11pm (daily)

6. Turkey Run State Park

If you are a person who is fond of nature and its incredible beauty, escape into the woods of the Turkey Run State Park. This campsite is known for its scenic beauty and breathtaking views of the Sugar Creek. There are numerous trails amidst thousands of years old forest cover in this park. The park has a staffed nature center that will help you with going on nature walks and other events in the park. Enjoy the starry sky at the planetarium in this park, as you camp under the sky. You can play tennis, take a relaxing dip, go fishing or hiking at Turkey Run State Park.

Turkey Run State Park

Address: 8121 Park Rd, Marshall, IN 47859, United States

Website: Turkey Run State Park

Opening hours: 8am - 11pm (daily)

7. Mississippi Palisades State Park

Mississippi Palisades State Park is a wonderful camping site located in North-western Illinois. This park has 241 campsites of which 110 have electricity connections. The park has both open and shaded camping sites. There are showers and toilets for guests at the camping area. You can do a number of activities at this campsite, such as Cross Country Skiing, hiking, picnicking, hunting, rock climbing, geocaching, fishing, and metal detecting. Enjoy a day of fun-filled outdoor activities at the Mississippi Palisades State Park.

Mississippi Palisades State Park

Address: 16327A IL-84, Savanna, IL 61074, United States

Website: Mississippi Palisades State Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

8. Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park is known for its unique trails and lodges. This park holds a lot of history and it is an amazing spot to go camping near Chicago. The park’s beautiful waterfalls that pour out during spring and rainy days are a major attraction for campers. There is also a 13-mile (20 km) trail in the park, offering scenic views of its forests and the Illinois River. You can purchase your camping essentials at the on-site campground store. There are more than 100 campsites in this park. You can also find cozy accommodation at the lodges and cabins in the park.

Starved Rock State Park

Address: 2688 E. 873rd Road. Oglesby, IL 61348

Website: Starved Rock State Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

9. Van Buren State Park

Van Buren State Park is yet another great spot for camping near Chicago. This park is located in the south of South Haven in Michigan. The park has 220 camping sites. It offers various outdoor activities such as picnicking, swimming, walking, biking, boating and more. The park has clean showers and restrooms. There are a number of large sand dunes and greenery at Van Buren that will awe you.

Van Buren State Park

Address: 23960 Ruggles Rd, South Haven, MI 49090, United States

Website: Van Buren State Park

Opening hours: 8am - 10pm (daily)

10. Kettle Moraine State Forest

Located at less than two hours’ driving distance from Chicago, Kettle Moraine State Forest has 750 campsites and amazing trails for you. This park has a hilly and glacial terrain that helps in fun activities such as hiking, off-road biking, and cross country skiing. There are 100 miles (160.93km) of forest cover that you can explore through its several trails. This forest has three swimming beaches and five different campgrounds spread across the area.

Kettle Moraine State Forest

Address: N1765 Highway G, Campbellsport, Wisconsin 53010

Website: Kettle Moraine State Forest

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Explore the outdoors of Chicago

The US state of Illinois has a rich nature cover that attracts people from across the country to go camping and experience life in the woods. You can pitch a tent under the beautiful skies of the city or have a comfortable stay inside an RV or opt for reserved accommodations in these campsites in Chicago, Illinois.