4 Best Campsites in Kane County | Camping in Kane County

Located west of Chicago, Kane County is home to some great camping spots! The Forest Preserve District offers some of the best campsites in Kane County and is committed to preserving and restoring natural areas and improving wildlife habitats. Explore the variety of terrains such as woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. Check out our list of campsites in Kane County below and plan your next adventure!

4. Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve

Kane County Camping for Groups

LeroyOakes
Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve (Kane County Forest Preserve)

Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve is a great place to take your youth group for a nature-filled camping experience! This picturesque forest preserve, located in St. Charles, IL, is comprised of prairie and woodland. It offers almost 9 miles of trail, including the starting point for the Great Western Trail. It is also home to Creek Bend Nature Center, the center of the Forest Preserve District’s Environmental Education program. The nature center offers exhibits you can’t miss such as a prairie biodiversity exhibit and a wetland exhibit that gives an underwater look at the Fox River.

Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve does not rent out campsites in Kane County to the general public; they only rent out sites to organized youth groups. There are 8 campsites available, and each campsite can accommodate up to 25 campers. Total capacity between all 8 sites is 200 campers. You are able to rent more than one campsite. Firewood is provided as well. For more information on how to make a reservation, visit this link!

3. Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls

Best Group Campsites in Kane County

Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls (Alltrails)

Looking for somewhere to bring your youth group camping? Let your members experience the true beauty of nature at Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls. This campground is adjacent to Freeman Kame Forest Preserve and offers opportunities for hiking and other outdoor activities. Note that Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls does not rent campsites to the general public. This campground offers both tent campsites and an indoor lodge.

There are 13 campsites that can accommodate up to 25 campers each (that’s a total of 325 campers). You are able to rent more than one campsite. If you’re looking for an indoor camping experience, check out the lodge! The rustic-feeling Tomo Lodge can accommodate up to 100 people and includes bathrooms, a stove, a refrigerator, tables and chairs, and a wood-burning fireplace. It’s important to note that the lodge does not provide any sleeping amenities, so make sure you bring your own sleeping bags or cots! For more information or to reserve campsites/Tomo Lodge, please call the Forest Preserve District of Kane County camping reservation line at (630) 232-1242.

2. Paul Wolff Campground

Paul Wolff Campground is located within Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin, IL. Burnidge Forest Preserve offers 9 miles of trails where you’ll encounter many different types of plants and wildlife on your journey. They even have a 2.25-mile trail that you can hike, bike, or ride your horse on! If you enjoy fishing, you’re in luck! Paul Wolff Campground offers two different ponds you are able to fish in.

Paul Wolff
Paul Wolff (Daily Herald)

Paul Wolff Campground can accommodate both tent and RV campers. It offers 89 campsites that include 50-amp electrical service, water access, a parking pad, and a fire ring. Each of these sites can accommodate motor homes up to 50 feet long. Paul Wolff Campground also offers 5 equestrian campsites where you can camp with your horse! If you’re looking to camp away from the main area, check out the primitive campsites. These 10 wooded campsites are for tent campers only and do not have electrical service.

Note that this campground does not accept reservations! The campsites are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Paul Wolff Campground only accepts checks and cash for payments, no credit cards are accepted. For more information on this campground, check out the forest preserve of Kane County camping website here!

1. Big Rock Campground

Best Campsites in Kane County

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Big Rock (Enjoy Aurora)

Big Rock Campground is nestled into the beautiful acres of Big Rock Forest Preserve located in Big Rock, IL. Explore woodlands, marshes, creeks, and even a 65-foot deep lake as you hike, bike, or ride your horse on the 10.3 miles of trail this forest preserve offers. If you enjoy fishing or are interested in trying it for the first time, check out the catch-and-release fishing at Siegler Lake! This campground is also conveniently located near Deer Valley Golf Course.

Big Rock Campground is perfect for tent and RV campers. It offers 96 campsites that include 50-amp electrical service, water access, parking pads, and a fire ring. If you’re looking to camp even deeper in nature, check out the primitive campsites! These 9 campsites can only be reached by foot and are for tent campers only. It’s important to note that this campground does not accept reservations; the campsites are available on a first-come-first-served basis. They also only accept cash and checks for payments. To learn more about this campground, check out the forest preserve website!

Additional Nearby Campsites

If we missed one of your best-known Kane County camping secrets let us know! If you haven’t found the campsite for you, take a look at Dupage County camping, Cook County camping, or other campsites in Illinois!

About the Author

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Robbie

Robbie is a Co-Founder and editor at Midwest Camping. Robbie has backpacked over three hundred miles of the Appalachian trail, visited seventeen national parks, and camped regularly for the last two decades.

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