The best campgrounds near Skokie, Illinois with hiking

Looking to go camping near Skokie, Illinois and love hiking? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 480 options in the Skokie area that cater to hiking enthusiasts, you're sure to find the perfect campsite for your outdoor adventure. Whether you prefer a secluded spot in the woods or a scenic campsite near a lake, Hipcamp has got you covered. Check out top-rated campsites like Mulln-Heim Vineyards (342 reviews), Purplehaze Acres (295 reviews), and East Woods on the IL River (135 reviews). Plus, with amenities like potable water and trash services, you can enjoy a comfortable camping experience. Prices start as low as $15 per night, with an average price of $40 per night. So grab your hiking boots and get ready for an unforgettable camping trip!

97% (501)

Top-rated campgrounds

Looking to go camping near Skokie, Illinois and love hiking? Look no further than Hipcamp! With over 480 options in the Skokie area that cater to hiking enthusiasts, you're sure to find the perfect campsite for your outdoor adventure. Whether you prefer a secluded spot in the woods or a scenic campsite near a lake, Hipcamp has got you covered. Check out top-rated campsites like Mulln-Heim Vineyards (342 reviews), Purplehaze Acres (295 reviews), and East Woods on the IL River (135 reviews). Plus, with amenities like potable water and trash services, you can enjoy a comfortable camping experience. Prices start as low as $15 per night, with an average price of $40 per night. So grab your hiking boots and get ready for an unforgettable camping trip!

97% (501)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Willowthorne

97%

(251)

37mi from Skokie · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Lynwood, IL

Discover the Charm of Willowthorne: Your Rustic Sanctuary Amid Natural Beauty. Willowthorne invites you to revel in the natural allure and organic rhythm of life on the farm, fostering enduring memories that extend long after your visit. Nestled within a serene 9-acre organic blueberry farm , Willowthorne emerges as an idyllic escape where the sunsets are sublime, and the night sky brims with twinkling stars, and the hosts are charming and delightful. This unique getaway marries the essence of organic farming, educational pursuits, and warm hospitality to create an unparalleled outdoor experience. Catering to tent camping aficionados and retreat groups, our pastoral campgrounds are graced with picturesque views of a tranquil pond and willow trees. While our space welcomes the modest charm of tents, small RVs, and campers, we maintain a rustic essence without power hook-ups, encouraging guests to connect with nature. Each campsite is thoughtfully equipped with a personal fire ring and table for your convenience. Our area offers an incredible variety of recreational and sightseeing activities. Find peace and tranquility among nature or travel just 25 miles north to visit the heart of Chicago! We are central to many Illinois, Indiana and Michigan State Parks and beaches. Several good restaurants and breweries are also nearby. PLEASE NOTE: Please drive slowly and cautiously through our property. We are an active farm with a lot of activity all year round. Please pitch your tent in the designated campground area. In support of conservation of the natural ecosystem, please refrain from broadcast pesticides, i.e. Raid, Yard Guard, etc. Spraying skin, clothing, and personal property with mosquito repellent in your designated camping is fine. Our farm has beehives placed at a safe distance from the campsites to ensure guest safety. Obey posted signs and please stay out of designated work areas OBSERVE FIRE SAFETY. Leave fire ring in designated spot. Never leave fire unattended. No fires on windy days. Extinguish fire before leaving campsite. Please read: https://www.hipcamp.com/journal/everything-you-need-to-know-about-fire-safety For Your Convenience: Firewood: Purchase bundles of wood on site as non-local wood can disrupt the local ecosystem through disease or invasive species. Feel free to collect any small, fallen twigs for kindling. (Wood in stacked piles is not for burning but reserved for mushroom cultivation and other projects.) Honey: We offer honey harvested from blueberry blossoms in spring and the rich flavors of black locust and clover in late summer. Blueberries: Come July, partake in our U-pick blueberry farm, an experience seamlessly woven into your stay. Misc. We also offer a variety of organic garden vegetables and herbs throughout the growing season. Kindly inquire on availability upon arrival if you are interested in any of these farm fresh goodies. Catch-and-Release fishing is welcome. We look forward to having you enjoy the natural beauty at Willowthorne!

2. Escape to Nature

98%

(355)

38mi from Skokie · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · Huntley, IL

Each reservation includes firewood that is rough cut. Always call ahead when you are planning to enjoy a local attraction. This property is located on the outskirts of the village of Huntley. It is only an hour west of Chicago. This is a kid-friendly and pet friendly location. Our ducks, geese, turkeys and chickens will visit you, and you'll see likely see deer, raccoon, opossum, wild turkey, sandhill cranes, falcons, hawks, woodpeckers, coyotes and cardinals, all right from your seat in the backyard. What to do here: Hike all over our six acres of wooded countryside and nearby forest preserves and conservation district parks. If relaxation is your goal, order breakfast from our menu and skip the cooking. Downtown Huntley hosts an assortment of festivals, free concerts, and celebrations throughout the year. The Farmer's Market and antique shops are worth the visit. Check out these amazing area attractions! -The Illinois Railway Museum, within 10 miles, is the largest railway museum in the United States. Enthusiasts come from all over to ride on steam, diesel, and electric trains. (http://www.IRM.org) -Tower Hills Stables, Trail Rides, Horseback Riding Camp (ages 5 to 14), Riding Lessons, just 8 miles drive, (https://www.towerhillstables.net/.) -Summerfield Farm and Zoo, a privately owned zoo in rural Belvidere, IL, 3088 Flora Rd, Belvidere, IL 61008, a 30 minute drive. (https://summerfieldfarmandzoo.com/.) -Safari Lake Geneva, 45 minute drive to the north, Visit Safari Lake Geneva, Wisconsin's original drive through animal park. Feed and interact with a variety of animals from the comfort of your car (https://safarilakegeneva.com/). Additional suggestions include Santa's Village Amusement and Water Park in West Dundee, Randall Oaks Zoo, in Dundee on Randall Road, Minor League Baseball with Schaumburg Boomers or Kane County Cougars, Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Sullivan Mobile massage, Belvidere Park in Belvidere, IL, Volo Auto Museum, Department of Natural Resources Bike and Hiking Trails and fishing. When you're ready for a faster pace, head into Chicago, where the city offers unlimited attractions, museums, and amazing restaurants. We do not have full electric and water sites available. Try the Kane County Forest Preserve for this at https://kaneforest.com/location/paul-wolff. Need more ideas of things to do in the area? Ask us! We love being your concierge! Visit our website for additional ideas. HarmonyInnHuntley.com. FAQ FAQ FAQ FAQ 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 Here are some answers to common questions. We provide camping toilets with a privacy tent. Check in starts at 4 PM and check out ends at 11 AM. Late check out is available for purchase as an extra for $10 per hour. ELECTRIC: If you need to use electricity to inflate a mattress or something just for a few minutes, an outdoor outlet can be found on the "lower garage" building. Just look to the left of the west facing garage door. WATER: If you need to use the garden hose to fill a 5-gallon bucket or smaller, you can use the garden hose attached to the back side of the house. Please be sure to turn the water off completely when you are done. CAR BATTERY: If your car battery dies and you need a jump David will help you if he is available. Otherwise, please call a towing service, such as Whitey's Towing. WOOD: We may have rough firewood available at no charge. We recommend campers bring their own hand saw or hatchet to cut it to the desired size. You may bring your own firewood. PICNIC TABLE/PATIOS: Please do not place any cooking device on the picnic tables. You can use a large log for this. Feel free to roll one to a desired spot. You may move the picnic tables if you would like to, we provide a limited number of picnic tables. Campers are not guaranteed that one will be available. Campers may use the patios by the house, we have 2 patios with firepits. INSECTS: If you find ground wasps or bees, just relocate your camp farther away from them. We do try to address these when we are made aware of them. We recommend bringing mosquito repellent. HAMMOCKS: Hammocks are acceptable if you protect the trees from any damage. EXTRAS (after you arrive): Please bring exact cash if you want to purchase extras after you arrive. Hip Camp does not have the capability to add extras after you have made your booking. ARRIVAL TIME: Your host would appreciate a message and phone call with your arrival time so that he can greet you and get you settled upon arrival. Remember, we have an added fee for arrivals after 10 PM.

3. Auch Farm.

100%

(62)

45mi from Skokie · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · Mount Pleasant, WI

Rustic Escape on an 8-Acre Homestead – Pines, Trails & Wetland Views Step into a peaceful, off-grid retreat on our 8-acre homestead—where open grassy fields meet whispering pines, and nature invites you to slow down. Set up camp in the wide-open meadow or follow a quiet trail through the woods to a secluded, wooded site overlooking untouched wetlands. It’s the perfect spot to relax in a hammock, stargaze by the fire, or just kick back and stay a while. We border protected wetland conservation land, offering a truly remote and rustic experience—secluded, yet still close to town for anything you might need. Please note: This is boondocking only. There are no toilet facilities, so we ask campers to bring a bucket, sawdust, and pack everything out. It’s your stuff—we don’t want it! Farm Life Bonus: We share the land with friendly goats and egg-laying hens. You’re welcome to say hello, feed the goats (they LOVE weeds—feel free to pull some and treat them!), and even pick up fresh eggs in the morning ($5/dozen—just ask, as availability varies). This is a back-to-nature experience, perfect for tent campers, vanlifers, and RVers who enjoy space, simplicity, and real connection with the land.

4. A Creek Runs Through It

93%

(15)

32mi from Skokie · 2 sites · RVs · Elgin, IL

I love sharing this beautiful piece of land with other nature lovers. You feel like you're out in the middle of the woods yet if you drive 5 minutes to Randall road there's any restaurant or store you could ever need. I look forward to sharing this space with you!

5. The Commons Oak Savanna

92%

(25)

40mi from Skokie · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Woodstock, IL

Learn more about this land: (NOTE) Greenwood Rd and Illinois Rt 120 are the same...Google uses Greenwood Rd, and the State prefers Illinois Rte 120) Get away from it and commune with nature in a pre-settlement natural oak savanna with oaks and hickories of 200-400 years. 25-acre woodland completely fenced and surrounded by cropland and woods with no homes or roads within a half mile. Experience the land as the nomadic Indian tribes saw it. Trails cross the property. Hawks, owls, turkeys, and occasional bald eagles, along with finches, woodpeckers, doves, and martins fill the sky; while deer, chipmunks, squirrels, and rabbits roam the grounds. Only two camps are available to keep the setting pristine and primitive and a third site can be used behind the sheds if you encounter unexpected weather.

6. The Aloha Ranch

100%

(19)

48mi from Skokie · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Harvard, IL

We have 26 acres of land to have fun on and enjoy nature! Turtles, rabbits, deer, possums, and snakes are just a few of the wildlife that you may encounter. The Kishwaukee river runs along the property bringing a variety of creatures as well as a nice place to cool off on hot days. You can find wild berry trees and beautiful flowers. Enjoy campfires and gaze upon the vast sky full of stars at night. There are multiple camping sites, some surrounded by trees and others in open fields to suit your preference and camping vehicle. Learn more about this land: Welcome to our 26 acres surrounded by the Kishwaukee River. Small trails, secluded yet near food, shopping and activities. Pet friendly, bon fires, barbecuing, gorgeous sunrises and tranquil sunsets. We are a family run small farm with dogs, horses, ponies and chickens. Only 1 hour 20 minutes from downtown Chicago and 1 hour from Ohare airport. Near Wisconsin border, Fox River, Lake Geneva, Rush Creek, Volo Museum & Antiques. Look up things to do in McHenry as well.

Public campgrounds near Skokie

83%

(9)

Illinois Beach Campground

28mi from Skokie · 224 sites · Tents, RVs · in Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park

Dune top view was amazing! You could see the Chicago skyline

92%

(39)

Indiana Dunes Campground

44mi from Skokie · 141 sites · Tents, RVs · in Indiana Dunes State Park

95%

(40)

Dunewood Campground

46mi from Skokie · 66 sites · Tents, RVs · in Indiana Dunes National Park

Channahon Campground

49mi from Skokie · 25 sites · in Channahon State Park

Stories from the community

H

Hazzan Sarah

3 weeks ago

Tent

With kids

1 night at Willowthorne

The view over the lake at sunrise was absolutely beautiful! Even the rain couldn’t detract from how lovely our stay was.

J

Jacob

November 2025

Tent

With pets

1 night at Auch Farm.

Beautiful land, the host has clearly been working hard to create nice camp sites. We enjoyed it so much we booked another night.

E

ERICH

November 2025

21 ft Class B

Weekend Trip to Willowthorne

I had planned on only staying the first night, but it was so peaceful and the host so accommodating that I decided to stay another night. Mike was kind enough to spend some time with me telling me about the land in the history surrounding it, as well as a brief tour of the various gardens and small store where they have fresh honey, jams, etc. lovely place and will love to stay here in the spring to see everything growing!

E

ERICH

November 2025

21 ft Class B

Weekend Trip to Willowthorne

Perfect little getaway from Chicago. The description and pictures are accurate. The hosts were extremely communicative and very friendly. Got to chat with both of them a little bit. Will definitely stay here again!

S

Sarah

November 2025

50 ft fifth wheel

Weekend Trip to The Commons Oak Savanna

Steve was an awesome host. After we got parked he explained some things he had to offer. I got lavender bunches, honey, and a book written by Steve himself. I teared up when he was explaining the true story of a princess he met at the age of 95, who has an incredible story… I am looking forward to reading it. We spent Halloween night here, without any scary stuff happening, and we lived to tell another story. Thanks Steve.

K

KATE

October 2025

16 ft campervan

1 night at Willowthorne

Two nicely laid out large shaded campsites facing a pond. Cute working farm between a field and what felt like busy suburban life driving in. Camp area was pretty quiet but I could hear traffic noises. Tables, grill, toilet and running water for hand washing. They offer organic jams and sauces made there on the farm. A nice little addition that make Hipcamp sites unique.

M

Mary

October 2025

20 ft campervan

1 night at Escape to Nature

Having been on the road the last year and half since retirement, we can honestly say this has been one of the most beautiful campgrounds. It combines a wonderful balance of unspoiled nature, views and peace with any and all nearby resources. Further, if not most importantly - David had been a most attentive and amazing host.

A

Ash

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Auch Farm.

great place to stay. it was a private and easy to get to camp spot, goats and bees near by. Thank you Ron

E

Eva

October 2025

Tent

With pets

1 night at Willowthorne

Absolutely loved Gosia and Mike! It was such a great experience and so close to the city!!!

F

FannyGo

October 2025

15 ft travel trailer

With kids

Weekend Trip to Escape to Nature

We got one of the 3 spots, all the way at the end of their property. The grass was so beautiful that I was jealous! All the birds were so cute! Especially the ducks with the white fluffy heads. Those were adorable! They didn’t let us pet them, but were very well into our lettuce. It’s 9min away from a shopping area with Walmart, Walgreens and all kinds of food places. Be aware of the bees. They have beautiful flowers and happy bees. Tons of bees that are not shy at all.

Meaghan

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Auch Farm.

We had a great time camping on Ron's land. Lots of great places for kiddos to walk around and explore, plus they had fun visiting the chickens and goats. Would love to come back!

Julia

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Escape to Nature

The site was nice and having free firewood is a nice perk. Other campers were courteous, but we decided not to stay the second night that we had booked. The road noise from nearby highway was a reminder of how close we were to suburban life.

J

Jonathan

October 2025

13 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to A Creek Runs Through It

When we pulled up to the site, Kristen made sure we knew exactly where to park and gave us the layout of her land. It was nice to be able to park our camper there while we visited the nearby town. This site was quiet and private. We felt very safe here. Kristen communicated well and we knew everything we needed to know before even showing up. We would definitely camp here again!

M

Mary

October 2025

20 ft campervan

1 night at Escape to Nature

This property is a chill experience with a beautiful pastoral view. We were the only campers out of 4 sites for 3 days. There were occasional road/neighbor sounds but the camping area is set way back and behind the Inn so the campsites are fairly private. The hosts were very respectful and helpful when approached for information.

M

Mary

October 2025

20 ft campervan

1 night at Escape to Nature

We enjoyed several nights camping here on this beautiful, quiet and peaceful property in our self contained RV. There was plenty of firewood to enjoy each night and good internet was a plus. The road into the property is rustic and grassy and might be challenging after a lot of rain. Our host was very friendly and helpful. Seeing the ducks and turkeys roaming free was really charming.

M

Mary

October 2025

20 ft campervan

1 night at Escape to Nature

This was the most natural campsite that we have stayed at so far. We were fortunate to have beautiful weather (no rain that might have made access challenging) and we had privacy as the only ones camping during a weekday. The old growth trees and horses in pasture added to the natural beauty. The site was effectively administered by a host that was friendly and helpful. Our 21' L 10' H Minnie Winnebago just fit into the level grassy site although the small road there was a wee bit bumpy and had low hanging branches. We enjoyed a fire every night and watched the farmers harvesting the corn field by day.

M

Mark

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Escape to Nature

I only camped for one night here but I want to book another 5 consecutive nights later this week. This is a very beautiful property. David, the host, was very pleasant and accommodating. I can see why Escape to Nature received the high marks that it has. Any fellow Hipcampers will not be disappointed. Book it ! Mark

a

amanda

October 2025

35 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Auch Farm.

First impression I thought I was lost, that’s the point right? Very responsive to communication and flexible. Escorted by farm tractor to location, let me see different sights to pick from. I picked tucked in the woods for some seclusion. Brought my two dogs and they loved running in the 3 different fields close by, we even visited the goats multiple times to give them some weeds. 2 other sites were being used but you would never know it. Would visit again for a quick getaway.

Motor Camping Near Woodstock, IL, ca. 1930

B

Brian

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to The Commons Oak Savanna

The Commons Oak Savannah is a beautiful property and was the perfect setting for our 1930's themed camp-out. The hilly 1/2 mile cow lane from the highway back to the campsite passes through fields and woodlands and lends a feeling of travelling to a distant place and time, and we had no problem negotiating it our 1928 Model A Ford. The site itself is surrounded by woods with ancient oaks to the north, east and south, and we enjoyed the magnificent sunset over the open fields to the west. Darkness brought the sounds of screech owls and even the distant yips and howls of coyotes. The site itself was large and well mowed, and we found an abundance of wood in the brush pile concealed in the tall grass next to the lane. Prospective campers may want to note that there is a small group of well-maintained honey bee hive boxes adjacent to the site, but they ignored us completely and did not even stray into our camp. The host, Steve, was very congenial, with excellent communication via both hipcamp messaging and phone texting, and his interest in helping us enjoy our experience was readily apparent. I heartily recommend The Commons Oak Savannah to campers seeking a tranquil and authentic experience and hope to return many times myself.