Things-to-Do/Outdoor-Activities/Family-Camping

Family Camping

The family campground at Blackwell in Warrenville has more than 60 wooded and semiwooded sites (PDF), including sites for tents, trailers and motor homes (link).

All sites have electricity but none have sewage or water hookups. Each site has a gravel parking pad, fire ring and picnic table and is close to portable toilets, running water, and trash and recycling containers. There's a shower house with flush toilets and a dump station for recreational vehicles with self-contained waste systems. Outside firewood is not allowed, but you can buy firewood for $7 a bundle with cash or credit card at the campground office.

UPDATE: Work on Creek to Affect Camping at Blackwell

Since 2015 the Forest Preserve District has been working along a stretch of Spring Brook Creek to remove underwater barriers and return natural twists and turns to over a mile of the waterway. Fish and freshwater mussels are able to move further and further upstream, and wildlife in general is benefiting from a revitalized aquatic habitat.

The project is now moving into Blackwell. As a result, family campsite availability will be limited in 2019, although there will be some openings on select Friday and Saturday nights.

Daytime visitors may hear some noise, see dust or encounter closed trails, but the Forest Preserve District hopes these temporary conditions will be offset by the outdoor experiences visitors will enjoy when work is completed.

To check family campground availability, call Visitor Services at 630-933-7248.

Family Campground

From May 2 – October 27, 2019

May 2 – October 27	Thursday 1 p.m. – Sunday noon
Memorial Week: May 26 – June 2	Sunday 1 p.m. – Sunday noon
Fourth of July Week: June 30 – July 7	Sunday 1 p.m. – Sunday noon
Labor Day Week: September 1 – 8	Sunday 1 p.m. – Sunday noon

Permits & Fees

Purchase family campground permits for Thursday – Saturday nights online 24/7 up to four full calendar days in advance. For other options, download our family campground permit application (PDF) or call Visitor Services at 630-933-7248 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. To reserve extended holiday dates that include Sunday – Sunday, call Visitor Services at 630-933-7248. Phone reservations must be made at least three full business days in advance.

Campsite Reservations

Fees are nonrefundable regardless of the reason you cancel (even for the weather), but you can change your reservation once up to one week in advance through our Visitor Services at 630-933-7248 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. for an additional $5.

Same-Day Reservations

If a site’s available, you can reserve it between 1 and 7 p.m. for use that night with cash or credit card. If you're camping and want to extend your stay and your site's available, just reserve it before noon on your original checkout date.

Campsite

DuPage resident
$20 site/night

Nonresident
$20 site/night

Senior citizens 65 or older are entitled to one free permit for one consecutive two-night stay per calendar year.

Campground Rules & Regulations

For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, you must follow these rules and regulations, which the Forest Preserve District may change at any time.

As the permit holder, you must be 21 or older and remain on-site for the duration of your stay.
Arrive at the campground between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the first reserved day and leave by noon on the last reserved day.
Do not bring alcoholic beverages into the forest preserve or campground; they are strictly prohibited.
The forest preserve is open from one hour after sunrise until one hour after sunset. Your group must remain in the campground when the forest preserve is closed. Guests are only allowed at your site when the forest preserve is open.
Do not trench around tents, attach clotheslines or lanterns to trees, or otherwise disrupt the natural environment.
Do not bring outside firewood or cut or collect live or dead wood. You can purchase firewood for $7 a bundle at the campground office.
Keep ground fires within designated fire rings. Extinguish fires and make sure they’re cold to the touch before you leave your site.
Keep your site clean and dispose of trash in the appropriate garbage or recycling containers. After you pack up, make sure your campsite looks as it did when you arrived.
If you’re using stereos or similar equipment, only do so between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and only at volumes that do not disturb other campers. Use gasoline or diesel engines or generators only during these times as well. Keep all noise to a minimum after 10 p.m.
If you bring a pets, stay with them at all times and do not tie them to any trees, plants, buildings or equipment. Always keep them leashed and quiet, and pick up any pet waste.

As a permit holder you agree to abide by these rules and regulations as well as all Forest Preserve District ordinances and administrative orders and state statutes. You also understand that the Forest Preserve District may fine you or revoke your permit without refunding your permit fee if you supply false information on your application or fail to comply with any rules, regulations, ordinances, orders or statutes.