Located 47 miles north of Chicago in Zion, Illinois Beach State Park lies on the shore of Lake Michigan. Like other state parks, it is free to camp on federal land through "dispersed camping" provided that campers stay on sites that are not part of the 175 premium sites designated by the park.
Designated sites include electricity and access to showers, toilets, picnic areas and hiking trails, among other amenities.
The Illinois Beach State Park is also home to the Illinois Beach Resort and Conference Center.
A fee and a permit are required to camp on designated sites. As of 2010, rates range from $25 a night to $175 a week for standard sites.
Illinois Beach State Park
1 Lake Front Drive
Zion, IL 60099
(847) 662-4811
Located 43 miles from Chicago, Leisure Lakes Resort lies on the Du Page River in Joliet, Illinois. Leisure Lakes is a members-only campground run by its members offering RV campers premium sites with full hookups and a number of amenities, including a 24-acre fishing lake, a 2-acre swimming lake, mini golf, laundry facilities and many others.
Memberships are reasonable with nightly RV rates range from $40 to $45 a night, as of 2010.
Leisure Lakes Resort
21900 Southwest Frontage Road
Joliet, IL 60404
(815) 741-9405
www.leisurelakeresort.com
Located about 50 miles from Chicago in Elwood, Green Fields Campground is a family-owned campground catering to those who visit Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 and need a place to camp during major race weekends.
Green Fields offers large sites with full hookups and shower facilities, a free shuttle bus service to Chicagoland Speedway, and free water fill stations and garbage removal. The campground overlooks the speedway and the lighted grandstands can be seen at night.
As of 2010, nightly RV sites range from $200 to $350 per event during NASCAR Cup Series races, and $100 to $210 for the series or $50 per night per event during Indy Car Series races.
Green Fields Campground
17120 W. Schweizer Road
Elwood, IL. 60421
(815) 722-0342
www.greenfieldscampground.com
