Illinois State Parks · Illinois

Chain O' Lakes State Park

Illinois State Parks · Illinois, United States

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Group sites
Yes
Drinking water
Yes
Showers
Yes
Pets
Yes
Elevation
728 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 5
Cell coverage
T-Mobile good · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Nearest town
Spring Grove
Address
8916 Wilmot Road, Spring Grove, IL 60081
Phone
(847) 587-5512
Activities
Camping, Group Camping

About

Chain O' Lakes State Park is an Illinois DNR state park in the Northeast region of Illinois. Camping site types: Class A Premium (showers, electricity, vehicular access); Class B/S Premium (showers, vehicular access, no electric). Also offers: Youth group camping. One of six IDNR "Premium" campgrounds (Chain O'Lakes, Illinois Beach, Kankakee River, Rock Cut, Starved Rock, Shabbona Lake) with premium-rate Class A/B site pricing. Rent-A-Camp equipment rental (a furnished large or extra-large tent, $8 or $12/stay plus the site's camping and utility fees) is offered at this park per IDNR's own Camp Classifications table. Pets ARE allowed (leashed, with water, never left unattended or in a parked vehicle) - IDNR's general statewide practice, confirmed via Starved Rock State Park's own IDNR FAQ. Reservable online through Illinois DNR's own Explore More Illinois system (camp.exploremoreil.com, redirects to the live recreation.exploremoreil.com/IllinoisWeb/ booking platform). Advance booking requires at least 3 days' notice; most sites are reservable May 1-October 31 (some year-round - confirm per park).

Fees

Class A Premium: $25/night ($35 holiday weekends) - showers, electricity, vehicular access. Class B/S Premium: $12/night - showers and vehicular access, no electric. Youth group (Class Y): $2/person/night, $20/day minimum. Reservation fee $5/reservation (non-refundable) plus first night's camping fee; camping fees refunded if cancelled online 3+ days before arrival. Discounts (about half the listed camping fee, full utility fee still applies) for Illinois residents 62+ or disabled with a Class 2/2A card; Illinois disabled veterans and POWs camp free aside from the utility fee; no entrance fee to any Illinois state park (dnr.illinois.gov).

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January28°14°-14°56°11 of 11
February33°19°-12°62°11 of 11
March45°30°8°71°10 of 11
April56°39°23°78°5 of 11
May68°49°37°83°0 of 11
June77°60°48°92°0 of 11
July82°67°59°94°0 of 11
August80°66°59°90°0 of 11
September77°61°51°86°0 of 11
October60°46°31°79°1 of 10
November46°33°6°69°6 of 10
December35°25°-6°64°10 of 10

Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.

Nearby campgrounds

All public campgrounds in Illinois · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.