The best forest campgrounds near Kankakee, Illinois

When it comes to camping in the forest near Kankakee, Illinois, Mulln-Heim Vineyards (342 reviews), Walnut Valley Realm (230 reviews), and Heritage Farm Stay Adventure (196 reviews) are some of the top campsites in the area. Hipcamp has you covered with over 277 options. Whether you're looking for a secluded spot surrounded by trees or a cozy cabin nestled in the woods, there's something for everyone. With an average price per night of $40 and options as low as $20, camping in the forest has never been more affordable. Popular amenities such as pets, potable water, and trash disposal make your camping experience hassle-free. And with activities like wind sports, wildlife watching, and exploring historic sites, there's no shortage of adventure to be had. So pack your gear and get ready to experience the beauty of the forest with Hipcamp!

97% (512)

Top-rated campgrounds near Kankakee

When it comes to camping in the forest near Kankakee, Illinois, Mulln-Heim Vineyards (342 reviews), Walnut Valley Realm (230 reviews), and Heritage Farm Stay Adventure (196 reviews) are some of the top campsites in the area. Hipcamp has you covered with over 277 options. Whether you're looking for a secluded spot surrounded by trees or a cozy cabin nestled in the woods, there's something for everyone. With an average price per night of $40 and options as low as $20, camping in the forest has never been more affordable. Popular amenities such as pets, potable water, and trash disposal make your camping experience hassle-free. And with activities like wind sports, wildlife watching, and exploring historic sites, there's no shortage of adventure to be had. So pack your gear and get ready to experience the beauty of the forest with Hipcamp!

97% (512)

Top-rated campgrounds near Kankakee

1. Camp Whispering Pines

97%

(86)

44mi from Kankakee · 5 sites · Tents, RVs

The property has sloped grass areas and a level hard packed gravel driveway with 2 pedestals that support 50A, 30A, and 110 + outlets + $5. The property is less than 1 mile from The Cliffs Insane Terrain Off Road Park and is 2.5 miles to downtown Marseilles. Downtown Marseilles has several bars, restaurants, a bowling alley, and ice cream. It also has a boat ramp with access to the Illinois River. A Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial, Walmart 13 miles, We have cheap firewood. We have chickens for farm fresh eggs that are $4 a dozen. Pond is closed for maintenance.

2. Bear Bottom Ranch

92%

(129)

49mi from Kankakee · 4 sites · Tents, RVs

Welcome to Bear Bottom Ranch! Our entrance is marked by 2 cross crossed American flags. Come and enjoy our 32 acres of wooded property where a creek runs through. We have gorgeous oak trees and walnut trees all throughout the property. If you looking for a private camping experience, this place is for you. We usually have a couple horses on the property and I have 3 unleashed dogs that are friendly with people and dogs. We will be at the top of the property. We hope you’ll enjoy our place!

3. Welcome to our Magical Woods

98%

(244)

45mi from Kankakee · 9 sites · Tents

Peaceful and enchanting. Very rustic and private. we are in the best part of the Illinois wilderness. Our woods transport you a world away, yet you are just a short walk from your vehicle and a short drive to Starved Rock, numerous parks, lakes, hiking, fishing and boating sites, stores, and restaurants. We have 4 well spaced campsites complete with fire pit, picnic table and a couple of chairs ready for you at your campsite. Rent 1 or rent them all! Just bring your tent or your hammock! Your initial firewood . lighter, trash and recycling cans, and firestarters are brought to your site before you arrive. Our "camp host" Tiller the big lovable doggo will patrol to scatter any trash pandas that might happen by. We keep track of him using GPS, so we know if He is hanging with you around the campfire. When his collar lights up and plays a tune, it's time for him to come home! Please send him on his way - thank you. We are LBGTQ+, LatinX and Very Family Friendly. Everyone is welcome here. Message us when you are 30 minutes out, so we can you our tractor to help bring your things to your site. Same at check out. Just let us know 30 mins before you are ready to go and we will help you pack out! Sorry you will not be able to drive your vehicle to your site. This keeps the woods quiet for all of our guests. Each site is just a few hundred feet from the parking area. The magical woods is located along the bridle trails behind our horse farm. Sorry, we do not offer trail rides as we have show horses. However you are welcome to arrange a visit to meet the animals when you arrive. We have horses, a miniature horse, a mule, miniature sheep and a very sweet goat named Hairy. There are about 50 chickens wandering the yard all day and we have 3 dogs and 3 cats that are always around. They are used to other dogs. At night we have a lovely lullaby of owls, night birds, insects and frogs. Sometimes you can even hear sounds from the Illinois River and railway a miles away. Barges, trains (not many) tug boats, and the interesting sounds that come with them. Listen carefully, can you tell them apart?

4. Organic Vegetable Farm

35mi from Kankakee · 5 sites · RVs

At Perkins' Good Earth Farm, we offer a peaceful, scenic place to rest with convenient electrical hook-ups (50/30/20 amp options). Our on-site farm store features our own USDA Certified Organic produce, along with other locally sourced foods, grab-and-go soups and salads made in our farm kitchen, gourmet hardneck garlic, and a weekly veggie adventure through our CSA program. Guests can enjoy our beautiful half-mile trail that winds through woodland and native prairie. Leashed animals are always welcome! Campsites are open year-round. Our farm store is open with regular hours from May through mid-November (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9–5 and Saturday 9–12, plus Fridays 9–5 in June–September). Even when the store is closed, items are still available for order and pickup through our online store. On the day of your arrival, we’ll send self-check-in instructions, including how to make after-hours purchases from the online store. One last tip: we strongly recommend avoiding Chicago traffic during rush hour—or altogether, if you can!

5. Angel Creek

98%

(151)

49mi from Kankakee · 21 sites · Tents

Angel Creek is a carefully manicured, forested primitive campground that provides an array of tent camping spaces suitable for couples, family gatherings, and everything in between. Owned and managed by the Garcia family, campers will undoubtedly recognize and appreciate the meticulous hard work and attention to detail dedicated to each site, hiking trail, and overall experience at Angel Creek.

6. Walnut Woods Farm

100%

(3)

47mi from Kankakee · 1 site · Tent

7 acres with a mile of winding trails on a working horse farm, featuring two ponds (one stocked for fishing) and a rustic hike-in private campsite. The property offers two small private campsites and a fenced area for horse camping. Explore pristine fenlands, a young black walnut grove, a small prairie restoration, and more. An archery range and horse camping are also available. Owners live on-site and are happy to help if needed, but never intrusive. And yes — therapy chickens are available for cuddles! 🐔❤️

7. Hruby Ranch Woods Camp -Eagles Nest

93%

(57)

36mi from Kankakee · 2 sites · Lodging

Learn more about this land: Come enjoy a stay at the rustic Hruby Ranch. 50 acres of private land to explore. A cozy comfortable excursion tent with queen bed. There are trails throughout of which you are free to explore. And our animals will surely delight. A fire pit is always a wonderful way to end the day. Located 12 minutes from I 65 and 15 minutes from downtown Crown Point and 20 from Valporaiso. If the beach is more your style, we are 25 minutes from the Indiana dunes and Lake Michigan! We are in winter/inclimate weather conditions, all stays are hike in and out approximately 150yards from the barn and stable areas.

8. Earth Mama’s Farm

16mi from Kankakee · 1 site · Tent, RV

A small rural farm tucked away in the beautiful black oak savanna prairie ecosystem. The farm features several acres of native prairie restoration, along with hiking trails in nearby woods. The campsite is set within the prairie restoration area along a wooded edge — a perfect location for those seeking starlit Midwest skies, the sounds of native birds and wildlife, and scenic views throughout their stay. Located about 30 minutes from town, you’ll have easy access to major stores via all paved roads while still escaping the hustle and bustle of urban life. Enjoy a fresh country experience in this beautiful part of Illinois, once part of the historic Grand Kankakee River Valley Marshland. A fire pit is provided at the campsite, with firewood included in your fee.

Camper favorites near Kankakee

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Organic Vegetable Farm

35mi from Kankakee · 5 sites · RVs

At Perkins' Good Earth Farm, we offer a peaceful, scenic place to rest with convenient electrical hook-ups (50/30/20 amp options). Our on-site farm store features our own USDA Certified Organic produce, along with other locally sourced foods, grab-and-go soups and salads made in our farm kitchen, gourmet hardneck garlic, and a weekly veggie adventure through our CSA program. Guests can enjoy our beautiful half-mile trail that winds through woodland and native prairie. Leashed animals are always welcome! Campsites are open year-round. Our farm store is open with regular hours from May through mid-November (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9–5 and Saturday 9–12, plus Fridays 9–5 in June–September). Even when the store is closed, items are still available for order and pickup through our online store. On the day of your arrival, we’ll send self-check-in instructions, including how to make after-hours purchases from the online store. One last tip: we strongly recommend avoiding Chicago traffic during rush hour—or altogether, if you can!

Angel Creek

98%

(151)

49mi from Kankakee · 21 sites · Tents

Angel Creek is a carefully manicured, forested primitive campground that provides an array of tent camping spaces suitable for couples, family gatherings, and everything in between. Owned and managed by the Garcia family, campers will undoubtedly recognize and appreciate the meticulous hard work and attention to detail dedicated to each site, hiking trail, and overall experience at Angel Creek.

Walnut Woods Farm

100%

(3)

47mi from Kankakee · 1 site · Tent

7 acres with a mile of winding trails on a working horse farm, featuring two ponds (one stocked for fishing) and a rustic hike-in private campsite. The property offers two small private campsites and a fenced area for horse camping. Explore pristine fenlands, a young black walnut grove, a small prairie restoration, and more. An archery range and horse camping are also available. Owners live on-site and are happy to help if needed, but never intrusive. And yes — therapy chickens are available for cuddles! 🐔❤️

Hruby Ranch Woods Camp -Eagles Nest

93%

(57)

36mi from Kankakee · 2 sites · Lodging

Learn more about this land: Come enjoy a stay at the rustic Hruby Ranch. 50 acres of private land to explore. A cozy comfortable excursion tent with queen bed. There are trails throughout of which you are free to explore. And our animals will surely delight. A fire pit is always a wonderful way to end the day. Located 12 minutes from I 65 and 15 minutes from downtown Crown Point and 20 from Valporaiso. If the beach is more your style, we are 25 minutes from the Indiana dunes and Lake Michigan! We are in winter/inclimate weather conditions, all stays are hike in and out approximately 150yards from the barn and stable areas.

Earth Mama’s Farm

16mi from Kankakee · 1 site · Tent, RV

A small rural farm tucked away in the beautiful black oak savanna prairie ecosystem. The farm features several acres of native prairie restoration, along with hiking trails in nearby woods. The campsite is set within the prairie restoration area along a wooded edge — a perfect location for those seeking starlit Midwest skies, the sounds of native birds and wildlife, and scenic views throughout their stay. Located about 30 minutes from town, you’ll have easy access to major stores via all paved roads while still escaping the hustle and bustle of urban life. Enjoy a fresh country experience in this beautiful part of Illinois, once part of the historic Grand Kankakee River Valley Marshland. A fire pit is provided at the campsite, with firewood included in your fee.

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

B

Brian

3 weeks ago

Tent

4 nights at Bear Bottom Ranch

Site 1 was perfect. We had a couple nice days before the snowstorm hit to enjoy the trails and bonfire pit. We were there to winter camp so snow was a plus. Plenty of down limbs if run short on wood. Stores were close and bbr was easy to find. Recommend if you like privacy.

Jimmy

November 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Bear Bottom Ranch

Extremely private as described. Nice area. We didn't get to spend much time there but we would recommend it to anyone looking for a private spot. 2WD accessible even with a sedan. Thanks!

J

James

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Welcome to our Magical Woods

Fantastic piece of land and fantastic people! It was quiet and beautiful, perfect kind of spot for cozy and secluded camping. Heidi couldn’t have been more nice and helpful, it was really a phenomenal experience. Can’t say enough good things, definitely try this out!

Leticia

November 2025

31 ft Class C

Weekend Trip to Camp Whispering Pines

Russell was very accommodating and had great communication with us the whole time. We had a great time staying at his property!

E

Eric

November 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Welcome to our Magical Woods

Easy to get to, great spot, tons of room. It's a horse farm with lots of friendly animals running around. (But the camping area is down a small trail and secluded). Heidi brought us fresh eggs in the morning and the roosters made sure we didn't over sleep and waste our day. I'd def come back here. Thanks

J

Jennifer

November 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Walnut Woods Farm

Suzanne, Jeremy and roommates were AMAZING! I love their property and the work they have put in to it to share with others. They spent so much time with me, teaching me! The horses , chickens (Beta ❤️), stocked pond and mowed paths. Beautiful!

S

Santos

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Bear Bottom Ranch

I loved hearing the owls and seeing the horse in the morning. This was a lovely piece of land and I would definitely recommend camping here.

S

Shannon

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Welcome to our Magical Woods

My friend and I had the best time here. Our campsite felt nice and private. We could spot a few other campers through the bare fall trees, but everyone was far enough away that it still felt peaceful. The walk from the parking area to the campsites isn’t bad at all. When we arrived, they even helped us bring our supplies to the site on a tractor. The wagon by the porta-potty was very helpful when we were packing up, although I’m sure we could have asked for help from the tractor, too. In the morning, I walked out to my car and saw all the horses grazing in the sunlight. It was such a serene moment, I almost forgot where we slept! We had big plans to go hiking in the nearby canyons, but honestly, we were having so much fun on the farm that we never left. The dogs, especially Tiller, were total sweethearts. Heidi was super friendly and gave us a tour of the barn and all the animals. She was so patient and kind, we had a lot of tour questions, especially about the barn cats! We bought firewood and fresh eggs from Heidi, and they were delivered right to our site, making everything feel easy and relaxed. We felt safe and welcome the entire stay--Tiller even curled up at our campsite for a while, keeping us company like a little protector, so sweet. Heidi and her family are awesome hosts, and we’re already talking about when we can come back!

D

Drew

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Welcome to our Magical Woods

This is our 3rd time camping here. We love the land. And Heidi is an amazing host who always goes above and beyond

Julia

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Welcome to our Magical Woods

We enjoyed our stay. The description was perfect and Heidi was very helpful in helping us take our gear to our site. We had a wonderful night's stay. The load of wood provided was really nice. The fresh eggs were a nice extra too!

C

Carlos

October 2025

12 ft pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Bear Bottom Ranch

Un lugar hermoso que se disfruta lo unico traer tu propio generator si quieres luz

E

Egan

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Welcome to our Magical Woods

We had a great time and would definitely come back. Lots of options for hammocks. It’s a pretty quiet area and an easy drive to nearby state parks. Enjoyed Tiller stopping by a few times to say hello. Heidi is super nice and available if you need anything.

Chelsea

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Welcome to our Magical Woods

My family and I loved camping on Heidi's land. It was our daughter's first time camping, she is 6 months old. They have dogs on their property and my daughter loved the pomeranian. All of their dogs were super friendly and great with our daughter. We had the camp site next to the ravine, very beautiful. The site was big, lots of space. Heidi and her husband were wonderful hosts! We definitely recommend the stay! The property was easy to find and we had good cell service.

E

Estefania

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Walnut Woods Farm

One of the best camping experiences I’ve ever had 🌿. The place feels super safe, cozy, and peaceful; we truly enjoyed a real camping experience with lots of privacy and connection to nature. Suzanne was so kind from the moment we arrived, and even helped us carry our things to the campsite with a tractor. We also got to meet her beautiful horses and give them treats 🐴💛. Another highlight was the flexible check-in and check-out times, which made everything so much easier and stress-free. That was one of the main reasons we chose this spot, and it really made a difference. We left feeling delighted and are already looking forward to coming back!

R

Ryne

September 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Angel Creek

Martin was an amazing guy who dropped off firewood to everybody before it got dark out, he checked up on everything multiple times and let us know that he would talk to some louder campers without us even asking him. Overall site C was awesome and me and my two friends already made plans to go again some time soon. 10/10

T

Tim

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Angel Creek

The camp site was very nice with lots of trails to explore. this was my grand daughters first camping trip and she loved it. She couldn't stop talking about it. She is already planning another trip next year. Tthe only drawback, and I am sure Omar could not control this. Somewhere off site there was a party going on with a motorcycle running until at least 2 am. Noisy neighbors are a problem every where.

J

Jay

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Angel Creek

Great sites with privacy and good spaces for hiking.

Vanisa

September 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hruby Ranch Woods Camp -Eagles Nest

The Hruby Ranch was everything we were hoping for and more. You can tell immediately that there is a lot of love put into the property. It is very well maintained and easy to do our overnight getaway, having comforts of home and still outdoor camping feeling. Seeing both sunset and sunrise from our site was so special. The animals were our kiddos favorite along with the trampoline! Thank you Tom and Ally for the hospitality, we hope to make this at least an annual getaway.