The best forest camping near South Shore

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97% (115)

Top-rated campgrounds

Daisy’s Farms On Notalotta Acers

1. Daisy’s Farms On Notalotta Acers

99%
(41)
50mi from South Shore · 10 sites · Tents · Big Rock, IL
Local Farm. Close enough to socialize. Far enough away to matter. Next door to “‘More Polish Pottery” in Big Rock IL. Near Dekalb, Sandwich, Plano, Hinkley, Big Rock, Aurora, and Sugar Grove. Many sites, bars, shops, and places to eat. Touching Big Rock forest preserve. Features egg stand. Private setting. Fire pit. Multiple spots to choose from. Great views. Pet friendly. Local showers and pool at local Plano YMCA. May see farm animals up close and personal. Please leave them at site. 11 min or less to Raging Waves Water Park. It’s right down the road! An hour commute or less to Chicago. Open May 1 through Sept 30 (extended due to nice weather so if you can book it. You can stay.) The end of the season this year will be September 30th. And then we will be closed for the winter until May first. Unless otherwise specified. Usually closed for the winter months. Sugar Grove Family Fun Center up the road. Goat Yoga and Wholly Bean close by. Local forest preserve has toilets or bring your own porti-john. Bring your horses. Set up a temp spot. We have the space. And there is riding at the forest preserve right around the corner. Camp with your HORSES! We have a swing set and small child play sets. A trampoline. A tire swing. Y’all are more than welcome to use it. Just be respectful and make sure your children do not harm our land, animals, or gardens. 💕🙏
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$26
 / night
The Mannex!  Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

6. The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

100%
(12)
31mi from South Shore · 1 site · RV · Beverly Shores, IN
The Man's Annex aka the Mannex is located on Scenic US HWY 12 to the South and The South Shore Commuter Rail to the North.  The campsite is very clean, tidy and safe.  The main pebble parking area slopes gently to the North so you will want levelers if you're in a camper.  I have a brand new RV Pedestal complete with 50 and 30amp service, a mechanical timer for the LED lights encompassing the parking area as well as a rheostat so you can dim the lights.  I have a 40" firepit with spark arrestor (please use to be in compliance with local laws) as well as a polywood octagonal picnic table and well water with 100' hose.  Trash and human waste is to be carried out.  Please keep your camper to the east of the blue and yellow birdhouses as access to the building is needed. The location is great!  You're inside the dunes national park and only 1.35 miles to the beach.  Just north of the train tracks is the Calumet bike path.  .35 to the west is a gas station with a bathroom, the south shore train station (day trip to Chicago anyone?), a great restaurant and liquor store as well.  Bikes are HIGHLY recommended to be able to help facilitate your exploring of this very unique part of the country. If you're a birder and you don't already know, bring your binocs, this is one of the best birding towns in the Midwest / country due to the location and it's biodiversity.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$135
 / night
Cozy

7. Harbor Country Cabins

100%
(13)
49mi from South Shore · 2 sites · Lodging · Sawyer, MI
I become owner of this property in 2017. The cabins were built in the late 90's financed by the previous owner. The property was vacant for decades prior to that. In the 1950's, the property was a drive-in motel called the 'Harbert Motel'. We have an arial photo from this time period which showed a number of small bungalows for guests, each with its own carport. I love all the stories I hear from locals who have been around long enough to remember how things 'used to be'. Southwest Michigan has an interesting history and has been a 'destination' from city dwellers for close to 100 years. Even Al Capone and his goon's frequented the area as they moved illegal good during the days of prohibition. Learn more about this land: Breweries, Wineries, Berry Picking, Art Studios, Farmers Markets, hiking trails, biking trails, Lake Michigan boating, kayaking, fishing, canoeing.......all those things and more await you in Southwest Michigan. We have 6 'tiny house' style cabins on 1-acre property we call - Harbor Country Cabins. Harbor Country Cabins is located along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail. Our resort offers a unique lodging and gathering location in the center of Harbor Country, near Southwest Michigan’s premier destination for beaches, breweries, wineries, dining and summer fun. With 12 queen bunk and 4 twin bunk beds spaced across 6 cabins, our property can hold up to 28 people. Price in this listing is for rental of all 6 cabins.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$855
 / night
Organic Vegetable Farm

9. Organic Vegetable Farm

46mi from South Shore · 5 sites · RVs · Demotte, IN
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!
Pets
Campfires
from 
$30
 / night
97% (115)

Top-rated campgrounds

Daisy’s Farms On Notalotta Acers

1. Daisy’s Farms On Notalotta Acers

99%
(41)
50mi from South Shore · 10 sites · Tents · Big Rock, IL
Local Farm. Close enough to socialize. Far enough away to matter. Next door to “‘More Polish Pottery” in Big Rock IL. Near Dekalb, Sandwich, Plano, Hinkley, Big Rock, Aurora, and Sugar Grove. Many sites, bars, shops, and places to eat. Touching Big Rock forest preserve. Features egg stand. Private setting. Fire pit. Multiple spots to choose from. Great views. Pet friendly. Local showers and pool at local Plano YMCA. May see farm animals up close and personal. Please leave them at site. 11 min or less to Raging Waves Water Park. It’s right down the road! An hour commute or less to Chicago. Open May 1 through Sept 30 (extended due to nice weather so if you can book it. You can stay.) The end of the season this year will be September 30th. And then we will be closed for the winter until May first. Unless otherwise specified. Usually closed for the winter months. Sugar Grove Family Fun Center up the road. Goat Yoga and Wholly Bean close by. Local forest preserve has toilets or bring your own porti-john. Bring your horses. Set up a temp spot. We have the space. And there is riding at the forest preserve right around the corner. Camp with your HORSES! We have a swing set and small child play sets. A trampoline. A tire swing. Y’all are more than welcome to use it. Just be respectful and make sure your children do not harm our land, animals, or gardens. 💕🙏
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$26
 / night
The Mannex!  Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

6. The Mannex! Indiana Dunes Nat'l Pk

100%
(12)
31mi from South Shore · 1 site · RV · Beverly Shores, IN
The Man's Annex aka the Mannex is located on Scenic US HWY 12 to the South and The South Shore Commuter Rail to the North.  The campsite is very clean, tidy and safe.  The main pebble parking area slopes gently to the North so you will want levelers if you're in a camper.  I have a brand new RV Pedestal complete with 50 and 30amp service, a mechanical timer for the LED lights encompassing the parking area as well as a rheostat so you can dim the lights.  I have a 40" firepit with spark arrestor (please use to be in compliance with local laws) as well as a polywood octagonal picnic table and well water with 100' hose.  Trash and human waste is to be carried out.  Please keep your camper to the east of the blue and yellow birdhouses as access to the building is needed. The location is great!  You're inside the dunes national park and only 1.35 miles to the beach.  Just north of the train tracks is the Calumet bike path.  .35 to the west is a gas station with a bathroom, the south shore train station (day trip to Chicago anyone?), a great restaurant and liquor store as well.  Bikes are HIGHLY recommended to be able to help facilitate your exploring of this very unique part of the country. If you're a birder and you don't already know, bring your binocs, this is one of the best birding towns in the Midwest / country due to the location and it's biodiversity.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$135
 / night
Cozy

7. Harbor Country Cabins

100%
(13)
49mi from South Shore · 2 sites · Lodging · Sawyer, MI
I become owner of this property in 2017. The cabins were built in the late 90's financed by the previous owner. The property was vacant for decades prior to that. In the 1950's, the property was a drive-in motel called the 'Harbert Motel'. We have an arial photo from this time period which showed a number of small bungalows for guests, each with its own carport. I love all the stories I hear from locals who have been around long enough to remember how things 'used to be'. Southwest Michigan has an interesting history and has been a 'destination' from city dwellers for close to 100 years. Even Al Capone and his goon's frequented the area as they moved illegal good during the days of prohibition. Learn more about this land: Breweries, Wineries, Berry Picking, Art Studios, Farmers Markets, hiking trails, biking trails, Lake Michigan boating, kayaking, fishing, canoeing.......all those things and more await you in Southwest Michigan. We have 6 'tiny house' style cabins on 1-acre property we call - Harbor Country Cabins. Harbor Country Cabins is located along the Lake Michigan Wine Trail. Our resort offers a unique lodging and gathering location in the center of Harbor Country, near Southwest Michigan’s premier destination for beaches, breweries, wineries, dining and summer fun. With 12 queen bunk and 4 twin bunk beds spaced across 6 cabins, our property can hold up to 28 people. Price in this listing is for rental of all 6 cabins.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$855
 / night
Organic Vegetable Farm

9. Organic Vegetable Farm

46mi from South Shore · 5 sites · RVs · Demotte, IN
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!
Pets
Campfires
from 
$30
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field