Source: Jim Boyce/Daily Southtown
Summer is the perfect time for Chicagoans to escape the hectic city life filled with appointments, meetings and deadlines and chill out, well, outdoors.
Campers don’t have to take a long road trip to Wisconsin, Michigan or Indiana to pitch a tent. They don’t have to rough it either or spend a ton of money on their outdoor adventure. They can venture just beyond the city limits to spend a few nights in the tent or even rent a cabin.
For the first time in 50 years, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County has opened up its gates for public camping. As part of a $29 million project, funded by general obligation bonds, the forest preserve created three new campsites and revitalized two more for a total of five to be open to campers this summer.
“We know we lose a lot of people in the summer who travel out of state to go camping. With 69,000 acres and very unique habitat in the state of Illinois, there’s no reason people shouldn’t be able to do that right here in Cook County,” said Lambrini Lukidis, spokeswoman for the forest preserve.
Two campsites – Camp Sullivan in Oak Forest and Camp Shabbona Woods in South Holland – are currently open with tent pads and cabins and offer gear rental and free activities such as archery, campfires and nature hikes. Camp Reinberg in Palatine opens Friday and the other two – Camp Bullfrog Lake in Willow Springs and Camp Dan Beard in Northbrook – will open in mid to late July.
Before opening up the campsites to the public, only scouting groups were able to camp out on forest preserve property, Lukidis said. The forest preserve did a survey and found that there was a lot of interest in camping outdoors, she said.
“The goal is to get more people out in the preserves and make a connection with nature,” Lukidis said. “Unlike a city park, you’re really immersed in nature.”
The Chicago Park District doesn’t allow overnight camping on park property unless it is hosting a program and such programs are limited to families.
Chicagoans looking for a relaxing rustic getaway that isn’t too far from downtown, get ready to pack a bag and head to these campgrounds in Illinois.
Source: Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune
CAMPSITE: Chicago Park District sites: Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. on Aug. 22; Gompers Park, 4222 W. Foster Ave. on Aug. 29; and North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Road on Oct. 3.
DETAILS: The park district’s camping program was designed for novice campers and families, not adults only. At least one child must participate in each group. Hot dogs and marshmallows will be provided to campers for their campfires. The outing begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday and ends at 10 a.m. Sunday on designated camp dates.
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN: Approximately 7 miles west to Garfield Park Conservatory, 11 miles northwest to Gompers Park, 13 miles northwest to the North Park Village Nature Center.
LODGING: Tents will be provided, but campers need to bring sleeping bags and brown-bag lunches.
RESERVATIONS: chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/camping/
COST: $50 per group (up to six people allowed in each group)
GEAR RENTAL: Tents are free to use and equipment for campfires will be provided.
AMENITIES: Fishing, fire building program and guided nature hikes. Gompers Park has an outdoor pool, baseball fields, football field, basketball courts, tennis courts and a roller hockey-skating area. The North Park Village Nature Center features trails.
RESTRICTIONS: No grilling, no alcohol, no pets, no Wi-Fi.
SHOWERS/BATHROOMS: Bathrooms but no showers.
Source: Warren Skalski / For the Chicago Tribune
CAMPSITE: Camp Shabbona Woods, 15810 S. Torrence Ave., South Holland, Ill.
DETAILS: Camp Shabbona Woods was the first Cook County Forest Preserve campsite to open Memorial Day weekend. The campsite is a short walk west to Sand Ridge Nature Center, where campers can access trails ranging from a quarter mile to 2 miles long that pass through prairies with colorful wildflowers. Nearby is the Green Lake Family Aquatic Center, which has a mini water slide, lazy river and splash pool.
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN: 22 miles south
LODGING: There are 16 tent sites. Each tent site has a mulch tent pad, picnic table, lantern post and fire pit with a grate. The tent pad accommodates a 10-foot-by-10-foot tent, which can fit six people. The tent sites are a short distance for the main parking lot.
In addition, there are four cabins. Each one has bunk beds and accommodates up to eight people. The one-room cabins have ceiling fans, porches, picnic tables and fire rings with grates. (BYO linens for the cabins. Mattresses are provided.)
RESERVATIONS: fpdcc.com/camping/camping-reservations
COST: $30 a night for Cook County residents to pitch a tent Sundays through Wednesdays and $35 a night if staying Thursdays through Saturdays.
It costs $50 a night for Cook County residents to stay in a cabin Sundays through Wednesdays and $80 a night to stay Thursdays through Saturdays.
GEAR RENTAL: Yes, campers can rent tents, flashlights, portable chairs, binoculars and sleeping bags. Equipment rental packages range from $70 a night for one camper to $227 for six nights for four campers. Individual camping gear items can be rented too.
AMENITIES: Nature trails, 24-hour staff and police presence
RESTRICTIONS: Pets are allowed in the campground but not inside cabins and must be leashed. Alcohol is allowed but no glass bottles. Campgrounds close at 10 p.m. Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. No Wi-Fi. No outside firewood is allowed to help prevent the spread of the Emerald ash borer, but a complimentary bundle of firewood is provided. Campfires are only allowed in designated fire pits.
SHOWERS/BATHROOMS: Yes, both.
Source: Jim Boyce/Daily Southtown
CAMPSITE: Camp Sullivan, 14630 Oak Park Ave, Oak Forest, Ill.
DETAILS: The first phase of Camp Sullivan opened in June with bunkhouses and rustic cabins inside the 612-acre Tinley Creek Woods. A big red barn that greets campers is being renovated to include an indoor climbing wall. Trails are within walking distance, including the 10-mile Tinley Creek paved trail. Nearby are the Tinley Creek Bicycle Trail, Turtlehead Lake and Arrowhead Lake. The George Dunne Golf Course is a short drive away.
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN: 27 miles southwest
LODGING: Two bunkhouses are available on-site to rent. Each bunkhouse has bunk beds that sleep 36 people. There’s a kitchen, dining area, bathrooms with toilets and showers, ceiling fans, picnic tables and a fire pit.
Also, there are eight cabins on-site, and each one can fit eight people in bunk beds. The one-room cabins have ceiling fans, porches, picnic tables and fire rings with grates.
The 15-tent campsites open July 15. Tent pads will accommodate a 10-foot-by-10-foot tent, which can sleep six people. There will be picnic tables and fire rings by the tent pads.
Also coming mid-July are 10 RV/tent campsites with electricity but no dumping station. RVs up to 40 feet long will be able to pull up to a gravel parking space with a tent pad.
RESERVATIONS: fpdcc.com/camping/camping-reservations
COST: $100 a night for Cook County residents to rent bunkhouses Sundays through Wednesdays during the summer and $200 a night Thursdays through Saturdays.
It costs $50 a night for Cook County residents to stay in a cabin Sundays through Wednesdays and $80 a night to stay Thursdays through Saturdays.
The tent campsites will cost $30 a night for Cook County residents Sundays through Wednesdays in the summer and $35 a night Thursdays through Saturdays.
It will cost $35 a night to rent an RV/tent campsite for Cook County residents on Sunday through Wednesday in the summer and $50 a night on Thursday through Saturday.
GEAR RENTAL: Yes, campers can rent tents, flashlights, portable chairs, binoculars and sleeping bags. Equipment rental packages range from $70 a night for one camper to $227 for six nights for four campers. Individual camping gear items can be rented too.
AMENITIES: Trails; indoor climbing wall, camp store and dining hall in the barn (coming next year); outdoor ropes challenge course (in planning and design phase); 24-hour staff and police presence
RESTRICTIONS: Pets are allowed in the campground but not inside cabins and must be leashed. Alcohol is allowed, but no glass bottles. Campgrounds close at 10 p.m. Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. No Wi-Fi. No outside firewood is allowed to help prevent the spread of the Emerald ash borer, but a complimentary bundle of firewood is provided. Campfires are only allowed in designated fire pit.
SHOWERS/BATHROOMS: Yes, both.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources website
CAMPSITE: Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park, 1 Lake Front Drive, Zion, Ill.
DETAILS: The state park is located close to the Wisconsin border in northern Illinois near Six Flags Great America and the Gurnee Mills outlet mall in Lake County. It stretches 6.5 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and offers sand dunes, swimming beaches, trails and fishing.
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN: 48 miles north
LODGING: There are 241 campsites. Each campsite has an electric hookup and can accommodate up to two tents and four individuals. Additionally, the Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center has 96 rooms.
RESERVATIONS: reserveamerica.com for the campsite and ilresorts.com for resort rooms.
COST: $25 per night and $35 on holidays for the campsites. Rates vary for the hotel.
GEAR RENTAL: No
AMENITIES: Fishing, swimming, hiking trails. Firewood is available on site.
RESTRICTIONS: Quiet pets are allowed in the campground on a leash but are not allowed on the beach. There is a partial ban on alcohol at some spots in the campground—alcohol is not allowed on the beach, trails or picnic areas. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. No Wi-Fi.
SHOWERS/BATHROOMS: Yes, both.
Source: Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune
CAMPSITE: Channahon State Park, 25302 W. Story St., Channahon, Ill.
DETAILS: Just outside Joliet in Will County, campers can take in the scenic views of the Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail accessible from Channahon State Park. The park allows only “primitive tent camping,” so campers will have to carry their gear to their campsite.
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN: 52 miles southwest
LODGING: Tent camping on the grass with fire rings, picnic tables and grills in the camping area. A short distance away is a water fountain and toilets.
RESERVATIONS: No
COST: $6 per night (up to four people per tented site).
GEAR RENTAL: No
AMENITIES: Horseshoes near the picnic area, hiking trails, fishing, canoeing
RESTRICTIONS: Pets must be kept on leashes at all times. No electricity. No Wi-Fi. Buy firewood from a local vendor.
SHOWERS/BATHROOMS: Yes, bathrooms. No showers.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources website
CAMPSITE: Chain O’Lakes State Park, 8916 Wilmot Road, Spring Grove, Ill.
DETAILS: Located in McHenry County, Chain O’Lakes is billed as a “water wonderland.” The park borders three natural lakes and the Fox River and has its own lake within its borders. It has 6 miles of trails to hike and bike and 8 miles of trails to ride horses.
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN: About 67 miles northwest
LODGING: There are 151 campsites that offer electric hookup and 87 sites without electricity.
Three cabins are available. Each cabin has two bunk beds and one double bed and comes with electricity, a table, six chairs, a picnic table and a cooking/fire grill, but no bathrooms inside.
RESERVATIONS: reserveamerica.com
COST: $12 per night for campsites without electricity, $25 per night and $35 on holidays for campsites with electric hookup, $50 a night for cabins.
GEAR RENTAL: No
AMENITIES: Hiking, biking and equestrian trails; archery range; fishing; concession stand; boat and canoe rentals; guided horse rides.
RESTRICTIONS: No alcohol on campgrounds. No Wi-Fi. No dogs or other pets allowed at cabin sites. Pets must be kept on leashes at all times. Campers can bring their own firewood or purchase on-site.
SHOWERS/BATHROOMS: Yes, both.
Source: Scott Strazzante/ Chicago Tribune
CAMPSITE: Starved Rock State Park, 2668 E. 875th Road, Oglesby, Ill.
DETAILS: One of the most popular camping destinations in Illinois, the scenic Starved Rock State Park offers more than 12 miles of hiking trails, canyons, cliff overlooks, rock formations and waterfalls. The state park is on the south side of the Illinois River in LaSalle County.
DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN: Roughly 100 miles southwest
LODGING: There are 133 campsites that come with a gravel parking spot, picnic bench and grill pits. Each campsite can accommodate up to two tents and four individuals. The Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center offers 69 hotel and lodge rooms plus 21 cabin rooms.
RESERVATIONS: reserveamerica.com for campsites and starvedrockstatepark.org for hotel and cabin rooms
COST: $25 per night and $35 on holidays for the campsites. Rates vary for the hotel and cabin rooms.
GEAR RENTAL: No
AMENITIES: On-site camp store, electricity, guided tours, fishing, boating, canoe rental. Firewood is available on-site.
RESTRICTIONS: Alcohol is prohibited in the campground. No rock climbing. No bicycles allowed on hiking trails. No ground fires. No Wi-Fi. Leashed pets are allowed.
SHOWERS/BATHROOMS: Yes, both.
Sources: Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Chicago Park District, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
