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About Finding tranquil camping locales in the Chicago area requires persistence, flexibility and imagination. Outdoor serenity is attainable in many places around Chicago. But whether those places allow for overnight stays varies, and only a few campgrounds offer a hint of wilderness. Blindly reserving a campsite could result in a peaceful, private respite in the countryside or – speaking from experience – a domestic dispute a few feet away from your tent at 4 a.m. Most of the campgrounds I have visited in the Chicago area offer little privacy between sites, ban alcohol and have limited availability on summer weekends. Still, a few gems exist, and this Web site aims to evaluate area campgrounds and guide people who are seeking a quiet experience in Illinois and surrounding states.
The purpose of this Web site is to prepare
like-minded campers in the Chicago area for successful outdoors
experiences. I have limited camping locations to within a four-hour drive
of Chicago's Loop. The ratings categories and discussions are relevant to
personal interests. I plan to update the site as I visit new camp spots
and re-visit past locations. For detailed information (i.e. directions,
phone numbers, availability, etc.), contact the parks directly. Introduction
A reader wrote in to Outside Magazine not long ago stating that no true outdoor enthusiast would live in Chicago. Time-trialing on the lakefront bike path on a brilliant autumn day likely would change this person's mind. Chicago may be farther from mountains and wilderness areas than any other big city in the United States. And I expected an outdoor recreation vacuum when I moved here. Still, the combination of glacial features, river valleys, upland forests and prairies does offer subtle natural beauty and recreation opportunities. I have scoured Web sites and maps for natural areas in northern Illinois. There is limited public land within an easy drive of Chicago, and that leaves state parks as the primary camping destinations. While the Illinois Department of Natural Resources does its best with a limited budget, state park campgrounds were designed many years ago without regard for privacy, campsite space and vegetation. Most consist of a grassy expanse without much shade and without much of a view. And the IDNR maintains a ridiculous ban on alcohol. Our neighbors to the north in Wisconsin seem to have gotten it right. Brule River State Forest, Buckhorn State Park and Kettle Moraine State Forest offer comfortable sites in wooded settings. The off-season -- from approximately October through May -- is the optimal time to visit many state parks in Illinois. A frigid February night at Apple River Canyon State Park may have been incredible, but I would avoid camping there on a mid-summer weekend. The limited public land also means you likely will share the woods with hunters quite frequently during late fall and early winter. Many areas will be closed to hikers during certain seasons.
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