Big Rock Campground

As someone who normally camps in state parks with only electricity hookups, this site was a welcome treat.

Rig: 2020 Micro Minnie 1700BH + Ford F-250

Campers: 2 parents, 3 boys ranging from 7 years old to 2 years old

Campsite Pros: Water + 50amp hookups. Wide, open spaces for kids to ride bikes and explore wildflowers. Duck viewing. Quiet. Almost 100 improved sites. Full bars on Verizon. Amazing sunsets. Sites seem to be mostly level.

Cons: Walkup only - no reservations taken. $35 a night is a bit steep. AT&T signal is spotty at times. Water hookup is far behind camping pad - bring extensions!

This was the very first place I brought my brand new airstream and was thrilled at the wide open layout and ease of backing in the sites. A lot of thought was put in to the design of the campground. Not much shade since it is new, but staff is very friendly and the bathrooms are exceptionally clean. No showers which is surprising given the price! Also, water is quite far from site - make sure you have 50-75 feet of hose. I am staying in 12-14 day increments as I wrap up work and head out to full time RV life. Cell service is slow (1 bar of AT&T). Short hiking trail from campground to lake. You can bike the trail also. Water park is nearby - look for Groupon discounts (I found 2 for 1 deal). Sites are gravel and level with a picnic table and fire pit.

I paid $35.00 a night because I'm from out of town. Not a busy park, even when it picks up on the weekend, there's still plenty of sites available. Because a newer campground, the trees they planted are still too young to offer any shade or any kind of forest-feel, unlike its brethren Paul Wolff Campground to the north.

Strangely, I found at my campsite the water spigot about 30 feet away from my trailer's hookup, and my hose was too short. Parking blocks at each site prevented me from backing the trailer any further. So, I was hosed, I guess. But, I already had a half-full water tank on board, so I managed fine. However, before I checked out of the campground, I moved my trailer to another site that had a closer water spigot, and filled my tank. However, days later, and hundreds of miles down the road, I notice a light "sulfur" odor in the water. Just keep that in mind.

Otherwise, a peaceful campground. It has a hiking trail that meanders far. There is a pond here, I swear I thought I saw someone with fishing poles. There are no sewer hookups, but it has a dump station. The dump station does not have potable water. Verizon 4G came in at 2/5 bars, and with WeBoost I saw it fluctuate between 3-4/5 bars. There is residential just across the street, and hence it subtracted from that "campground" feel. If I came back to this area, I'd try Paul Wolff Campground, to see if I could get better shade.

Also too many toll roads getting to this campground. I know that's a Chicago thing, but man!

After the success of Paul Wolff CG in Elgin (at Burnidge FP), the Kane County Forest Preserve District decided to build a second RV campground at Big Rock Forest Preserve just off I-88 and 10 minutes west of Aurora.

The area is very rural and quiet. In fact, the campground is surrounded on 2 sides by corn and soybean farm fields. But the Forest Preserve District is trying to restore some of the fields to native prairie and there are some trails through wooded sections as well.

Sites are mostly water/electric, flat, and open, but there are a half dozen walk-in tent sites that are carved into the woods and prairie for privacy. There is also a ring of campsites for horse campers.

There are clean flush toilets & vault toilets, but no showers. There is a 2-lane dump station upon exit.

Chicago & the western suburbs are easily accessible via I-88, or by catching a METRA train to downtown from Elburn or La Fox (about 10 miles away).

Like Paul Wolff CG, Big Rock is first come, first serve only and limits stays to 14 days with a 7 day wait before you can return again. Fortunately, you can stay at the other campground during those 7 days making it possible to spend a month or more alternating between these 2 wonderful Kane County campgrounds!