As much as I loved living in the city, sometimes you just want to get out of town for some fresh air and a quiet night. Sometimes, going out of cell range is the only way I can unplug, so it’s not unheard of for me to just throw some stuff in the car and find a good spot for tent camping near Chicago. If you are looking for a short getaway from the city, these are my favorite campgrounds near Chicago.

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Try some of these easy backpacking meals on your next camping trip!

Rock Cut State Park

This is one of my favorite spots for tent camping near Chicago. Rock Cut State Park is in Rockford, less than 90 minutes from Chicago. There is a huge lake, hiking trails, biking trails, boat rentals, and concessions. It’s practically right in town, so it’s super convenient if you forgot something or want to go out to eat. For a state park campground, the facilities are quite nice. They have modern bathrooms with showers, tent sites with great lake views, and one adorable little cabin that sits on a hill overlooking the lake. Fall is my favorite time to visit Rock Cut State Park!

• Open year-round, no water November through April
• Restrooms and showers
• 210 Class A Premium Sites, 60 Class B/S Premium Sites
• Reservations online at ExploreMoreIL

Looking for hiking near Chicago? I’ve got a list of great dog-friendly hikes near Chicago.

Starved Rock State Park

Another fun camping spot near Chicago is Starved Rock State Park.  Only 90 minutes from Chicago, it’s a super popular day trip destination along the Illinois River. Pretty much the only way I’d go hiking at Starved Rock in the summer is if I stayed overnight and got out before the day trips crowds arrive. The hiking trails are really great, with cool canyons and waterfalls. Another option nearby is Matthiessen State Park. The campground has showers and flush toilets, plus the convenience of dining options at the Starved Rock Lodge.

• Open year-round
• Showers and flush toilets
• 133 Class A Premium Sites with electricity
• Reservations online at ReserveAmerica.com

Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit

One of my all-time favorite hiking and camping spots in the Midwest is Kettle Moraine State Forest, just over the border in Wisconsin. It’s less than two hours from Chicago, and super convenient for those in the northern suburbs. The Nordic Trails are the best for hiking, and there are several campgrounds for an overnight stay, as well as backcountry shelters along the Ice Age Trail. (these are a great way to try out backcountry camping for the first time!) The campgrounds are very nice, with showers and flush toilets.

• Ottawa Lake Campground
  • Open year-round
  • Two shower buildings, flush toilets (vault toilets in winter)
  • 100 sites, 65 with electric
  • Reservations online
• Whitewater Lake Campground
  • Open mid-May through Mid-October
  • Vault toilets only
  • 63 primitive campsite
  • Reservations online
• Pinewoods Campground(my favorite of the three)
  • Open year-round, no water November through April
  • Showers and flush toilets
  • 101 sites, no electric
  • Reservations online

Chain of Lakes State Park

Chain of Lakes is another fun destination in Northern Illinois, especially for boaters. There are over 150 campsites in the park and even three cute little camping cabins. The park also has horseback riding, fishing, boat rentals, hunting, and some great hiking trails.

Marengo Ridge Conservation Area

Marengo Ridge was a favorite secret camping spot near Chicago. When I lived in Vernon Hills, I could zip out there in under an hour and it felt like nobody else knew about the Thomas Woods campground at Marengo Ridge. When I discovered Airbnb and realized I could rent out my Chicago apartment for money, this was my go-to campground to just get out of the city for a night. It was always super quiet, almost spooky if I were camping alone, but really great when I just needed to get away.

• Open May through October, weekends. Group camping is available from December through March
• vault toilets
• electric and non-electric sites
• Reservations online

Illinois Beach State Park

Located up north near the Wisconsin border, Illinois Beach State Park is another favorite spot for kayaking and camping near Chicago. With miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, this is a great spot for a weekend getaway near Chicago. There’s even a lodge for non-campers! This is one of the best state parks in Illinois!

• Open April 1 through December 30
• Restrooms and showers
• 241 Class-A sites with electricity
• Reservations online for May 1 through September 30

Indiana Dunes National Park

If you haven’t visited “Chicago’s National Park”, what are you waiting for? Like Starved Rock, Indiana Dunes State Park, now National Park, is a very popular Chicago day trip and can get crowded on the weekends especially, so camping there means you can get a head start on the trails, or a chance to stake out the best spot on the beach!

• Dunewood Campground
• Open April 1 through November 1
• Restrooms and showers
• No water/electric hookups
• $25/night, some reservable, some first-come-first-served

If camping is not your jam, then check out my neighborhood guide to find the best hotels in Chicago!

More Chicago Campgrounds to Check Out

For as many Chicago campgrounds as I explored while I lived in Illinois, there are many others I did not get to visit. Here are a few more campgrounds near Chicago.

• White Pines Forest State Park
• Kankakee River State Park
• Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area
• Warren Dunes State Park (Michigan)
• Beall Woods State Park
• Camp Sullivan – Forest Preserves of Cook County

Do you have a favorite campground near Chicago? Tell me about it in the comments!

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