Camping in DuPage County Forest Preserves
Discover the outdoor camping adventures awaiting you at several camping areas in DuPage County forest preserves. Top-notch campgrounds placed in scenic, natural areas available for families and organized youth groups. Family camping is available at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville that boasts a 67-acre lake, while youth group camping is available at a variety of preserves throughout DuPage County.
- Programs for Happy Campers (484 KB PDF)
Youth Group Camping
Youth group campgrounds are located at:
- Blackwell in Warrenville
- Churchill Woods in Glen Ellyn
- Greene Valley in Woodridge
- Pratt's Wayne Woods in Wayne
- Waterfall Glen in Darien
A youth group cabin is available at Herrick Lake. You may view a map of the Blackwell youth group campground.
Unless otherwise specified, youth group campgrounds are open daily, year-round to organized youth groups supervised by adult leaders. Organized youth groups are defined as follows: organized with by-laws, Articles of Incorporation on file with the Secretary of State, insured on forest preserve property, leaders must be 21 or older, youths must be 17 and under, and groups must maintain a 1:10 (leader/youth) ratio for the duration of their stay. Groups can enjoy everything from jamborees to semi-wilderness camping and environmental education activities in DuPage forest preserves.
Campsites have latrines, refuse and recycling containers, firewood and water pumps nearby. There is no electricity. The campgrounds are semi-primitive camping areas for tent camping only. Fire rings and picnic tables are available at all sites. The location of public phones is posted on visitor information signs at the youth group campsites.
Family Camping
There are 60 wooded and semi-wooded sites available at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville. Click here for a map that shows the sites available at the campground, along with the facility's rules and regulations. The campground is open weekends only, Friday and Saturday nights, May through the end of September. Additional nights are available during holiday weekends.
Campsites are available for motor homes, car trailers and tents. Campers are limited to eight people, two tents and one vehicle per site.
All campsites include a gravel parking pad, fire grill and a picnic table. Firewood is available for purchase at the campground entrance. Latrines, water pumps and refuse containers are within easy walking distance from any campsite. Restrooms with showers and campsites with electric hookups are available; however there are no sewage or water hookups.
A dump station is available for recreational vehicles with self-contained waste systems. A food vending and boat rental concession is operated in the boat launch parking lot from May through the end of September. For more information, call (630) 933-7200.
A public telephone is located at the Family Campground entrance and at the main entrance. In the event of an emergency, go to the Family Campground entrance or call 911.
Camping rates are as follows:
- In-county residents: $15
- In-county residents (campsites w/ electricity): $20
- Out-of-county residents: $25
- Out-of-county residents (campsites w/ electricity): $30
Senior citizens are allowed one (1) free permit per household per camping season.
Camping Rules & Regulations
- Preserve hours: one hour after sunrise to one hour after sunset.
- Campers are restricted to the immediate areas of the campground after normal preserve hours, except in an emergency.
- Campers cannot check in or return to their campsite after the preserve is closed.
- Guests may visit campers at the Family Campground during normal preserve hours.
- Permit holder must be 21 years of age or older and must remain on site the entire night.
- Family campers must arrive at their campsite between 1-7 p.m. on the first reserved day and must leave by noon of the last reserved day. Youth groups should schedule their arrival time when applying for a permit and must leave by noon of the last reserved day.
- Cabin groups must arrive by their stated arrival time for check-in.
- Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all forest preserves and campgrounds.
- Cutting or collecting live or dead wood in the forest preserves is prohibited.
- Ground fires must be contained in fire grills and completely extinguished when leaving the area.
- Campsites must be kept clean. Dispose of trash in waste/recycle containers.
- Tent trenching, attaching clotheslines or lanterns to trees, or any other disruption of the natural environment is prohibited.
- Radios, stereos and other sound amplification devices may be used at volumes that do not disturb neighboring campers between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The use of gasoline and diesel engines or generators are also restricted to these hours.
- Pets should be leashed and quiet at all times and never left unattended. Please clean up after your pets.
Advance Reservations
Reservations for youth groups or family campsites can be made either by mail, in person at the District Headquarters in Wheaton, or by phone using a Visa or Mastercard. Cash, check or Visa/MC can be used for in-person and mail-in reservations. All reservations must be made at least 3 business days in advance. Holiday weekend reservations should be planned several months ahead to avoid disappointment. Reservation changes are subject to a one-week notice and $5 fee. Permits are not refundable. The Forest Preserve District is not responsible for cancellations due to weather conditions. For more information, call (630) 933-7248.
For detailed information on camping reservations, call (630) 933-7248 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
On-Site Reservations
Family campers may be able to extend their camping stay by applying for an on-site permit before noon on their last day. New arrivals can pick up a one-night or weekend permit between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the night they want to begin camping, subject to availability.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5000, Wheaton, IL 60189-5000
email: forest@dupageforest.com (630) 933-7200 Fax: (630) 933-7204 TTY: (800) 526-0857