Camp Shabbona Woods — Hotel in Thornton Township

Excellent camping ground not far from the city and in close proximity to coffee shops or fast food places whilst giving the feel of camping in the woods and nature preserve. Good for folks getting introduced to camping.

Very helpful staff, the only issue we faced was that the lack of water in the rest rooms and some frantic calls were made by the staff to get the water going again. Please call ahead and ensure that the water issues have been taken care of before you camp.

Sand Ridge nature preserve has hiking trails that can be accessed between 8 AM to 4 PM from the camp grounds. You can also sign up for activities and nature preserve tours like the Frog Watch tour etc led by naturalists.

Dogs are allowed on the camp sites but must be kept on a leash at all times.

Overall, we enjoyed the camping but for the water issues in the rest rooms. I hope FPDCC and the camp site management take care of resolving this...

City camping in a fairly small, pretty new, and very groomed site. About 16 small tent sites and maybe 6 small cabins, plus a large covered picnic area and a small "playground" with balance beams, some stumps to climb on, and a small sand box. All in direct sun. Friendly, helpful staff; comfortable and pretty level tent pads with wood chips; good bathrooms with showers. Water park (pool) maybe 1/2 mile and an inexpensive splash pad within a few miles. Felt abandoned on a Friday night in early summer, but that's no surprise: it's very close to loud traffic and has way too little shade. Felt like a newly clear-cut patch of forest next to a busy street. With a full moon, we didn't even need flashlights because there's so much ambient light. Tent spots #1 and #4 are the best by far -- the only ones with even a modicum of shade. If not for the noise and lack of shade, I would camp...

Beyond a shadow of a doubt the fanciest campground I have ever stayed at. They have clean running water and clean, well-maintained facilities, plus when you check into a tent pad they give you a free small bundle of wood! Each additional bundle is $5 and is available from the office trailer before 10PM.

For the less outdoor-inclined, cabins are available for reservation and, in the event of a thunderstorm, tent campers are encouraged to seek shelter under the overhang on the porch.

Great for bikepacking and South Shore Line train users— it's a couple miles from the station and easy to get to. You'll still hear distant traffic and so it doesn't feel too remote, but still feels like getting out into nature.

Staff is wonderful, accommodating, and truly sweet. Camp Shabbona is excellent— highly...