Camping spots near Montgomery, Illinois offer options within a 60-minute drive radius for outdoor enthusiasts. The terrain in this area is predominantly flat prairie land with elevations around 700 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide milder temperatures that many campers prefer for exploring the region's forest preserves and waterways.
What to Do
Fishing opportunities: At Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, the lake is known for producing trophy fish. One visitor noted, "The lake has a restaurant and bait shop and boat rentals. The fishing can be fantastic." The park offers both shore fishing and boat access.
Hiking trails: Numerous hiking options exist within the forest preserves. At Paul Wolff Campground, campers can access multiple trail systems. "There are miles of trails. On one hike we were on paved, sifted gravel, grass and single trek trails. There are a lot of loops giving you options. When we left we still hadn't hiked all of them," shared one camper.
Kayaking and boating: Several camping areas provide water access. Camp Bullfrog Lake offers kayak rentals at $15 per hour including life vests. A visitor mentioned, "The kayaks are $15 and hour and include life vests. The lake is pretty small but it was fun to putter around."
What Campers Like
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathrooms and showers. At Big Rock Campground, visitors appreciate the upkeep: "Nice clean bathrooms as well!" Another camper noted, "The flush toilet building was very clean."
Spacious campsites: Many camping spots offer generous site dimensions. Big Rock Campground provides "big, level sites" according to one reviewer who added, "Even though they don't take reservations, there is plenty of space and availability." Another camper described it as having "wide, open spaces for kids to ride bikes and explore wildflowers."
Proximity to Chicago: The reasonable driving distance from urban areas makes these camping spots popular weekend destinations. A camper at Camp Bullfrog Lake shared, "We live 15 minutes away so like to take midweek camping trips to break up the work week."
What You Should Know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak season. At Blackwell Family Campground, a camper advised, "Book early—reservations open online 6 months in advance and book up quickly. Most summer weekends are completely full."
Shade limitations: Several campgrounds lack mature trees for shade. A Big Rock Campground visitor commented, "This is a pretty new camp site, so the trees need some time to get big enough to provide some shade." At Paul Wolff Campground, a reviewer noted, "Full trees around the perimeter, but not a lot for shade over the campsites."
Varying price points: Non-county residents often pay premium rates. A camper explained, "It's expensive, for what is there, if you are not a Kane County resident." Another reviewer mentioned, "For $25-35 per night, you can get a site with electrical hookup."
Tips for Camping with Families
Activity planning: Many campgrounds offer limited on-site activities for children. At Starved Rock Campground, a reviewer advised, "The campground has just 2 small playgrounds, but one is just a swing set. So if you have kiddos, there is not much for them to entertain themselves with at the campground—no hiking trails, no pond or fishing or swimming, no DNR programs."
Wildlife viewing: The prairie and woodland settings provide wildlife spotting opportunities. A camper at Paul Wolff Campground reported seeing "lots of butterflies, gold finches, hawks, deer, flocks of giant sandhill cranes, rabbits, ground squirrels, and of course actual squirrels."
Water access considerations: While several campgrounds have lakes or ponds, not all offer swimming. At Big Rock Campground, visitors can enjoy "duck viewing" and fishing, but swimming options are limited throughout the region.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: RVers should check specific hookup configurations before booking. At Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Resort, a camper noted, "Partial hookups (sewer just outside of park behind hotel). $46/night (+fees) for a pull-through spot."
Water connection challenges: Some campgrounds have water spigots positioned far from RV pads. A Big Rock visitor advised, "The water hookups are kind of far from the individual sites (make sure you have extra hose)." Another camper shared, "I saw where some campers hooked about 150' of hose to spigots behind the loops to run to their campers."
Site sizing considerations: Larger RVs require attention to site dimensions. An RVer at Starved Rock reported, "For a 30 ft travel trailer, our campsite has just enough room for our slide out and awning. The fire pit was well placed and had a grate for cooking."
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