Campgrounds and RV parks near South Wilmington, IL

South Wilmington sits in Grundy County in north-central Illinois, roughly an hour southwest of Chicago and within easy reach of the Kankakee and Des Plaines river corridors. The area is flat farmland cut by rivers, forest preserves, and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, so most camping options are river-adjacent state park sites, private RV resorts geared to Chicago-area families, and no-frills waypoints off Interstate 55 and Interstate 80. The closest full-service state option is Potawatomi Campground at Kankakee River State Park, a Class A campground with showers and electricity, set in a wooded stretch along the Kankakee River with a dump station on site. Private options within a short drive include Leisure Lake Membership Resort and Hollywood Casino Hotel and RV Resort near Joliet, plus Chicagoland Speedway/Lakeside Campgrounds and Martin Campground. Expect a mix: a state park with paddling and trails, membership and casino resorts with full hookups and shuttle access, and functional overnight parks near the interstates for travelers passing through.

Reservations are taken for Kankakee River Class A, BE, and C campgrounds online through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources ExploreMoreIL system. Reservations cannot be made online within 2 days prior to the actual date; this is when the walk-in period for sites begins, and walk-ins are first come, first served. You must be 18 years old to rent a campsite and must be able to establish your camp at the time you obtain a permit. Private resorts book direct. Hollywood Casino Hotel and RV Resort takes reservations through the property, with a minimum age of 21. Leisure Lake Membership Resort is primarily a private membership park, with limited availability for non-members. Martin Campground and Chicagoland Speedway/Lakeside Campgrounds handle bookings by phone or website; race-weekend sites sell out early.