Illinois Beach State Park

Illinois Beach State Park ranks 10th on the list of best places to go camping near Chicago. If sandy shores along Lake Michigan are more your thing, you definitely want to try out one of these 241 camping sites on your next weekend trip. Illinois Beach is 4,160 acres of ridge shoreline. The only one left in the state still has natural dunes and swales, not to mention additional land with oak forests and a large swath of vegetation and animal life. Don’t feel like you’re limited to hiking and camping, because this park has scuba diving, swimming, geocaching, the Zion Bike Trail, and more! When planning a short weekend getaway, you might want to keep this gem front in mind.

Set on 6.5 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, you can enjoy picturesque stretches of sand, dunes, marshes, forests, and hiking trails before heading to the campground in the southern portion of Illinois Beach State Park to get some rest. With 241 sites, there's lots of room for tents, RVs, cars, and trailers—and they all have access to electricity, restrooms, and showers.

Pitch your tent a stone's throw away from the longest public swimming area of any state park. During the campground's peak season, May through September, you'll need a reservation and permit to access more than 240 sites with showers, firewood, and electricity. In addition to relaxing on the beach, campers can explore the unique landscape of sand dunes, marshes, forests, and cacti-speckled prairies or take advantage of rugged bike trails.

Location: 39150 Illinois Beach State Park Rd, Zion, IL 60099, United States

Google Rating: 4.5/5