Campground Near Chicago

We liked Fish Lake Beach Campground. Full hook ups, a beach, close to Great America amusement park and close to a Metra station which is the train that will take you to downtown Chicago. It is in Volo, Illinois. We spent a month there and enjoyed it.

Warren Dunes State park in Michigan City, In. It's on Lake Michigan and walking distance to the commuter train station.

We stayed at ChicagoLand KOA, now known as Chicago Northwest...clicky below. It's a nice place for a family event and has FULL HOOKUPS! There's a wild west tourist trap right next door too. Lots of stuff for the kids...Dennis

Chicago Northwest KOA

rk911 wrote:
i'd recommend the Paul Wolff campground in the Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin, IL. electric hookups with fresh water fill and two dump stations. the suburban Metra commuter railroad has a nearby station that will get you downtown.

X2 Paul Wolf camp ground is really pretty nice, especially for large rigs. You are a ways out, but you are in a vary large forest preserve that is not congested like everywhere else in Chicago area.

Be sure to check if RVs are allowed on that section of LSD (Lake Shore Drive). Parts of it are closed to RVs - even to pickup trucks!

Since you have the family with you, another couple of ideas: Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton, IN or Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, IL. Both are about 45-50 miles out of the city but are along commuter rail lines that will take you right into downtown. The parks have electric hookups (also some water hookups at IL Beach) and both parks have decent beaches in them (Lake Michigan). Although IMO Indiana Dunes is a bit nicer CG, both are decent places to stay. Bring bug spray, though. That area of the country has LOTS of mosquitoes.

Bill, that's a marvelous idea, Inever tried that, tho I often "cheat" and park my car in that lot when I have to attend a trade show. I have seen some RV's there...

That lot is at lake shore drive and 31st St, just south of soldier field.
I need to check that out, if that is an allowed place to drycamp, I like it!

You can dry camp "in Chicago" for $30/night at Chicago McCormick Place Marshalling Yard. Other than that, you will be quite a ways out and need to commute by car or rail.
Take a look at RV Parky and you will see what I mean.

I guess a lot of this is dependent on which direction you're coming from and we were on I80 heading east when we stopped. It was an easy off and if you wanted back on as well, but we then headed south down the back roads through the corn fields.

We use jellystone park in millbrook. Nice place, full hookups, not inexpensive.
Stay farfar away fromhideaway lakes in yorkville. nasty place.

csichoice wrote:
I have a meeting in Chicago in a few weeks and I am thinking about taking the family and making it a little vacation. Can someone recommend a nice campground close to Chicago? I have never been to Chicago so any help would be great.

i'd recommend the Paul Wolff campground in the Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin, IL. electric hookups with fresh water fill and two dump stations. the suburban Metra commuter railroad has a nearby station that will get you downtown.