Lake Camping Near Rockford, Illinois, US: 12 Best Lake Campsites 2025

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to website for camping adventures in the United States! If you're looking for a lakeside camping experience near Rockford, Illinois, we've got you covered. With over 114 options available in the area, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the serene beauty of the water. Prices start as low as $25 per night, making it affordable for everyone. Looking for top-rated campsites? Check out East Woods on the IL River (135 reviews), The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun! (136 reviews), and Toadally Natural Garden (127 reviews). These popular campsites offer amenities like toilets, showers, and potable water, and you'll have plenty of activities to choose from, including surfing, hiking, and off-roading. So pack your bags and get ready to experience the great outdoors at its finest!

94% (94)

Top-rated campgrounds

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to website for camping adventures in the United States! If you're looking for a lakeside camping experience near Rockford, Illinois, we've got you covered. With over 114 options available in the area, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the serene beauty of the water. Prices start as low as $25 per night, making it affordable for everyone. Looking for top-rated campsites? Check out East Woods on the IL River (135 reviews), The Vaudeville Urban Farm Fun! (136 reviews), and Toadally Natural Garden (127 reviews). These popular campsites offer amenities like toilets, showers, and potable water, and you'll have plenty of activities to choose from, including surfing, hiking, and off-roading. So pack your bags and get ready to experience the great outdoors at its finest!

94% (94)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Paradise Quarry

97%

(52)

45mi from Rockford · 1 site · Tent, RV · Sugar Grove, IL

Welcome to our beautiful property! This is a very special place, located an hour from Chicago and only minutes from the west suburbs, you will be transported to another time! This has to be the best “swimming/ fishing hole” in Chicagoland and you can have it all to yourself. The property features 20 acres of woods, prairie and an 8 acre lake!!! The lake is crystal clear because it’s so deep (reportedly 125 ft) and is sandy on the bottom. We created a massive beach area with many camping spots to choose from. The kids will love exploring the trails on foot and on bike. Everyone will love lounging under the umbrellas on the comfy chaise lounges and enjoying the views. You won’t want to leave, but if you need to restock, there a gas station 1/4 mile away and full service grocery store and restaurant under a mile away. We even get pizza delivered! There’s a nice driveway of gravel that leads to a nice open field for RV campers. Tent campers can continue to the beach and set up in style. The property was once an active quarry and was then basically abandoned for 40-50 years. Nature took over over, Trees matured, the stocked lake grew some massive fish. A few years ago we started camping out there and just loved it. We’ve worked hard to make it amazing and we want to share it with you.

2. Ice Age Retreat

99%

(57)

47mi from Rockford · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · Palmyra, WI

Surrounded by the Kettle Moraine Forest, we purchased this property in October of 2022 to be closer to nature and to share this property with you. We look forward to hosting you. The forest provides many opportunities enjoy! Close to the Ice Age Hiking Trail, Blad Bluff Scenic Overlook within walking distance of our retreat. Hiking, Moutain Biking, Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shoe, Horse Back Riding and much more

3. Spring Creek Organic Farm

78%

(18)

38mi from Rockford · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · Winslow, IL

Beautiful country setting in the rolling hills of northwest Illinois. Dating from 1890, this land has never been plowed or disturbed. Beautiful nightscapes of stars and constellations and nearby lakes and rivers make this an ideal camping spot. The permaculture gardens and the land need constant care and upkeep. When a tree dies it becomes home to the redhead woodpecker. The hummingbird loves the trumpet vine! We never spray chemicals and would appreciate it if you did not smoke or vape. Lake Le-Aqua-Na is just 3 miles away and reopened in 2022 with brand new roads, nature walks, and swimming hole. Other lakes nearby are Apple River Canyon and Mt Carroll. Shop in nearby Lena, Cedarville or Freeport, IL and Monroe, Wisconsin. Learn more about this land: The trees shade the camping sites at Spring Creek Farm. The wood swing can be enjoyed by guests as they relax and enjoy the view. Birds frequent the property and you may be visited by our ginger male cat as he surveys his territory. Night skies are beautiful, and on clear nights the Milky Way is visible along with the Big Dipper and other constellations. There is an outdoor fire pit to cook meals, or you can use a low copper fire pit for campfire enjoyment. Parking is available on the campground for smaller cars. Please leave your campsite clean so no woodland creatures are harmed and the landscape is kept in a safe condition for the next camper. The Composting Toilet (weather permitting) is available and plenty of potable water from our Spring-fed Well. We recycle in the country so please separate trash, paper, glass, and plastic into separate bags which can be left on the driveway when you leave. Please let Dr. Wanona know if you'd like to join for a gentle flow yoga mat class, 30 or 60-minute massage, or a Permaculture Garden Tour. Add a deeper experience to your stay at Spring Creek Farm!

4. Private Lake Mary Channel Camping

100%

(6)

45mi from Rockford · 1 site · Tent · Twin Lakes, WI

Tent Camping Site on Lake Mary’s Channel. Private place to pitch a couple tents, hammocks, enjoy a campfire, and most importantly enjoy access to Lake Mary & Lake Elizabeth via a short channel which is only steps from the door of your tent! The channel is shallow, while you cannot swim from the campsite to the lake you can easily launch kayaks and after 850ft of paddling you are out on Lake Mary! 15minute safe sidewalk or quiet neighborhood road walk to Lance Park from camping site. The park also has ample parking. Drive time from camping site to the park is only 2minutes! Lance Park has a wonderful pubic beach swimming area. The water quality of Lake Mary is amazing with great clarity and no algae or seaweed growth. It also has a public boat launch. The park also hosts the “AquaNut” Water Show every Wednesday and Saturday nights in the summer! Lance Park also has a clean and very large handicap accessible porta potty that can be used 24/7. Twin Lakes has a cute Main Street with lots of fun to be had. There are also several restaurant/bars on Lake Mary or Lake Elizabeth. Lake Elizabeth can be accessed by a small waterway that connects the lakes. Kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes can easily float under a lower foot and car bridge. Larger and taller motorized boats cannot move between lakes. This camping site offers such a fun and inexpensive way to get outdoors this summer!

Public campgrounds near Rockford

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Rock Cut Campground

7.9mi from Rockford · 266 sites · Tents, RVs · in Rock Cut State Park

100%

(4)

Shabbona Lake Campground

38mi from Rockford · 92 sites · Tents, RVs · in Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area

100%

(1)

Hickory Hill Campground

41mi from Rockford · 138 sites · Tents, RVs · in Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area

Prairie View Campground

46mi from Rockford · 31 sites · Tents, RVs · in Chain O'Lakes State Park IL

100%

(2)

Turner Lake South Campground

46mi from Rockford · 28 sites · Tents, RVs · in Chain O'Lakes State Park IL

Fox Den Campground

47mi from Rockford · 40 sites · Tents, RVs · in Chain O'Lakes State Park IL

Honeysuckle Hollow Campground

47mi from Rockford · 86 sites · Tents, RVs · in Chain O'Lakes State Park IL

Stories from the community

K

Kasie

November 2025

20 ft campervan

1 night at Ice Age Retreat

Nice private location with great access to trails including the Ice Age Trail. Another site located across field at a good distance allowing plenty of space for all. Will definitely be back.

Heidi

October 2025

23 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Ice Age Retreat

We have stayed here in the past and have enjoyed the peace and quiet. It's a perfect camping spot. Chris is an awesome host!

V

Viviane

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Ice Age Retreat

Chris was accommodating and helpful. The site came with water and wood. A lot of room. Dogs loved it too!

D

Daddy

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Paradise Quarry

Ms. B’s, Quarry is a beautiful private property. Easy to find the property. Very close to town and yet has the feel of being secluded. On an A,B,C grade scale I give it a solid “A”. I would book Ms. B’s property again in the future. I left some fire wood for the next hip campers. Ms. B is good on responding back to messages. Our dogs absolutely loved it. Please clean up after yourself & respect this paradise as we have! Truly this place is worth every penny spent. Also as anything there could be improvements, but really it’s perfectly beautiful as is and the ports potty was extremely clean!

M

Megan

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Private Lake Mary Channel Camping

My family and I had an awesome time camping at Steve’s thoughtfully laid out campground. The ground was soft and level so the tents were super comfy. Lots of seating on stumps surrounding a clean fire pit. Watching the moon reflect on the water was magical!

D

David

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Ice Age Retreat

Great site! Host is friendly. Plenty of firewood, well-maintained compost toilet. Good access to hiking and regional attractions. No complaints.

D

David

October 2025

21 ft travel trailer

1 night at Paradise Quarry

We picked this site because it was private with only one site and a small lake. The weather perfect! We would go back again. A small draw back that should be fixed is the gate. As stated in other reviews, it is very hard to open! Very hard. Also out of now where three people showed up to fill in a hole. We were not expecting visitors. A little earlier an we all would have been very embarrassed

M

Malaika

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private Lake Mary Channel Camping

Steve’s campsite was a lovely quiet spot that was private enough that we felt comfortable sleeping in the tent without the cover up. It was really peaceful and the trees covering the spot made it very secluded despite being in a neighborhood! Steve was very responsive and attentive as a host. 11/10 would stay there again!

K

Katie

September 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Ice Age Retreat

Great spot to relax and view the stars at night! It feels really secluded when you get to your site, there’s 1 more in the vicinity but you still have plenty of privacy. You may hear some road noise during the day but it gets quiet and serene as it gets dark. Host was kind and communicative, she even came by around checkout to see if we needed any help. All around a great time, I can’t wait to spend another night here again in the future

C

Christian

September 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Ice Age Retreat

Quiet and secluded campsite with lots of space. The site came with lots of good firewood which was super nice to not have to worry about.

J

Josh

September 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Paradise Quarry

Great spot, plenty of room and we caught some fish!

J

Joseph

September 2025

20 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at Ice Age Retreat

We camped w a 20 ft trailer rv. It was a nice quiet semi remote site. Nature and peace n quiet. And mosquitoes. We had tiki torches n citronella n spray n really enjoyed our stay. Firewood was supplied n great quality. Until it rained, lol. Definitely will be coming back again. Thanks for the great spot

P

Pat

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Ice Age Retreat

Beautiful place. And great location -- near the Ice Age Trail, and Old World Wisconsin. Great hosts!

C

Clark

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Paradise Quarry

Had a great time camping here - enjoyed the views and the paddle boards. Great spot for a campfire and plenty of places to sit! Anyone who complains of bugs… it’s the great outdoors get over yourself!

Krista

September 2025

Tent

With kids

1 night at Paradise Quarry

We’ve stayed two years in a row, and will most likely make this place a tradition! It’s perfect for a weekend camp get away.

Y

Yasmine

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Private Lake Mary Channel Camping

This spot is perfect for a one tent camp. You could tell the owner put a lot of work into this spot. The two dogs we brought did really well off leash and loved diving off the docks at Lake Mary. Check out Cup of Joe in town for good coffee. Make sure to bring your kayaks ( we did not ) as the little creek does take you straight to the lake. Lastly this spot is hidden within a neighborhood just as an fyi, but I definitely think it’s worth trying out.

N

Nicholas

August 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Ice Age Retreat

Very quiet and secluded. Free firewood available so that was nice. Lots of bugs when we were there, but we were prepared.

W

William

August 2025

16 ft car

With pets

3 nights at Ice Age Retreat

Good spot for us. Places to walk, nice cleared area to camp. Thank you.

C

Christian

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Ice Age Retreat

The location of this campsite is prime for exploring the South Unit of the Kettle Moraine Forest. It felt very private and secluded. The water situation was confusing, the spigots were not working but there was an unmarked water jug left by the toilets.

Cute little trail labeled the Enchanted Forest.

Kris

August 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Ice Age Retreat

Great little spot so close to the ice age trail. I was able to walk over to the trail which was great. Plenty of room and nice view of night skies! Loads of firewood. There were even a few trees for my hammock. Would definitely book again.