Illinois State Parks · Illinois
Chain O' Lakes State Park
Illinois State Parks · Illinois, United States
- 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
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 14° | -14° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 33° | 19° | -12° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 45° | 30° | 8° | 71° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 56° | 39° | 23° | 78° | 5 of 11 |
| May | 68° | 49° | 37° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 77° | 60° | 48° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 82° | 67° | 59° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 80° | 66° | 59° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 77° | 61° | 51° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 60° | 46° | 31° | 79° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 46° | 33° | 6° | 69° | 6 of 10 |
| December | 35° | 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
- North Branch Overnight Cyclist Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 8 mi · 4 sites
- Hickory Grove Highlands Group Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 10 mi
- Richard Bong State Recreation Area · Wisconsin State Parks · 13 mi · 223 sites
- Riverfront Group Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 15 mi · 1 sites
- Big Foot Beach State Park · Wisconsin State Parks · 15 mi · 100 sites
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.