There are plenty of reasons to love Chicago: a delectable restaurant scene, Walgreens on every corner, a riverwalk filled with beer gardens, etc. However, there’s no denying a break from it all is necessary occasionally. How might you spend a break from the city? We recommend hiking on a serene trail, exploring a charming town, or, most favorably, camping near Chicago!
For your next getaway, whether you love to pitch the tent yourself and make smores or prefer a much more luxurious glamping experience without all the heavy lifting, there are many places for an overnight getaway.
Here are the best places to go camping near Chicago. 
1. Illinois Beach State Park
First on our list stretches along the sandy shore of Lake Michigan in northern Illinois. At Illinois Beach State Park, there are 6.5 miles of dunes and swales, sprawling marshes, forests of oak, and vast arrays of animal life and vegetation. The park offers a full range of recreation opportunities, including camping.
Open from April 1 through December 30, the campground provides 241 Class A Premium sites with electricity and access to showers and sanitary facilities. Upon arrival, you must obtain a camping permit from the park staff and have a camping unit.
📍Address: 1 Lake Front Dr, Zion, IL 60099
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are accepted here
2. Big Foot Beach State Park
With over 100 campsites, it’s no surprise people love camping near Chicago at this location. Big Foot Beach State Park has an upper loop and a lower loop. You’ll find a gravel pad, a fire ring, picnic tables, 34 electric pedestals, a dump station, vault toilets, and a shower building at the upper loop. Tent sites in the lower loop are a short walk from your mode of transportation and include a ring fire and picnic table.
📍Address: 1550 S Lake Shore Dr, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are accepted here
3. Chain O’ Lakes State Park
Chain O’ Lakes has two places for camping near chicago. The first is Class A-Premium areas with a total of 151 sites, including Honey Suckle Hollow and Fox Den. Sites are for $25 per night, except on holidays.
Then, they have three Class B-Premium camp areas, including Turner Lake South, Prairie View, and Mud Lake East, which have 87 sites for $12 each per night. For youth groups, they have Mud Lake West, which accommodates up to 150 youths with a fee of $2 per person (minimum $20 per night).
📍Address: 8916 Wilmot Rd, Spring Grove, IL 60081
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are accepted here.
4. Kettle Moraine State Forest
The Southern Unit at the Kettle Moraine State Forest has several camping areas. Check-in for camping is optional. Campers should go directly to the campsite where they are staying. The campgrounds include Ottawa Lake, Pinewoods, Whitewater Lake, and Horseriders’.
Each campground has different features, whether you want a 24-hour quiet zone or you come camping with your horse. So check with Kettle Moraine State Forest before you go. For winter camping, Ottawa Lake Campground is the only year-round campground in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit.
📍Address: S91W39091 State Rd 59, Eagle, WI 53119
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are accepted here
5. Matthiessen State Park
An equestrian campground for horseback riders and their horses is located west of Route 178 between Route 71 and the Dells Area entrance. The horseback riders’ camping and multi-use trails are open from May 1 to November 1, pending weather conditions. However, know that the equestrian campground is for horseback riders only.
📍Address: 2500 IL-178, Oglesby, IL 61348
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are first come, first serve.
6. Kankakee River State Park
If you’re looking for a pitch camp, Kankakee River State Park has two beautiful, verdant sites at reasonable prices, including Potawatomi Campground and Chippewa Campground. Potawatomi Campground has 110 sites, while 98 sites are offered at Chippewa Campgrounds, and all campsites have picnic tables and camp grills.
📍Address: 5314 IL-102, Bourbonnais, IL 60914
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are accepted here
7. Indiana Dunes State Park
You don’t need to travel all the way to the beaches of California to do a bit of lakeside camping. Like the Illinois Beach State Park, you can still get that experience camping near Chicago. Located less than a mile from the beach and within walking distance of the South Shore Rail Station.
This campground is one of the most popular in the area and fills up quickly. Every site has full electrical hookups, with modern restrooms and shower houses available to every camper.
📍Address: 1600 N 25 E, Chesterton, IN 46304
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are accepted here
8. Camp Dan Beard
Looking for rustic camping near Chicago without traveling too far? Camp Dan Beard features renovated cabins perfect for a group or family. During the warmer months, gallivant throughout the large open field at the campsite. Or use the winter bonfire to make smores and grilled cheese as it gets chillier.
📍Address: 200 Portwine Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are accepted here
9. Camp Aramoni
Camp Aramoni has been dubbed “Illinois’ first and premier boutique campground.” You can expect a five-star luxury experience in a natural paradise just an hour outside Chicago near Starved Rock State Park.
The upscale tents and high-end amenities are situated in a picturesque 96-acre setting where it’s easy to disconnect with hiking trails, yoga, picnics, and other on-site activities along the lush Vermillion River.
📍Address: 809 N 2199th Rd, Tonica, IL 61370
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are accepted here
10. Camp Sullivan
An iconic red barn greets visitors to Camp Sullivan, where large groups can rent bunkhouses, or if you’re looking for privacy, tent campsites are tucked in the woods. With access to the Tinley Creek Trail System, Camp Sullivan is an ideal destination for nature exploration.
📍Address: 14630 Oak Park Ave, Oak Forest, IL 60452
💻 Reservation: Camp reservations are accepted here