5 Reasons Why You Should Go Camping This Summer
We’ve got a treat for you:
Outside.
Yes, the same outside from your laissez-faire childhood with the streetlights that beckoned your return home. We promise it’s still there and better than ever.
We’re passionate about getting you back outside to enjoy nature at whatever level you’re ready for.
Lemont Downtown is a close neighbor and dear friend to Camp Bullfrog Lake, a campsite managed by the Cook County Forest Preserve, just steps from the water in the hilly Palos Preserves. It is the perfect spot for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, and birdwatching.
With so many ways to enjoy the outdoors at Camp Bullfrog, we put together a short list of why we think it’s time for you to get back outdoors.
1. it is So Close, yet so far out
You don’t need to worry about snacks or even a substantial playlist for this trip. Camp Bullfrog is located only 20 minutes outside of Lemont Downtown, and just 50 minutes from Chicago. Pack the entire family in your car and tell your friends to meet you there! You can visit for a day, a quick overnight, or plan a weeklong camping experience with reservation rates as low as $22/night.
Online reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance of your stay and can be booked here. To make a reservation via phone, call 855-YES-CAMP (855-937-2267) from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.
2. You can choose your own adventure.
Camp Bullfrog is open year-round and offers campsites for tents and RVs, large and small cabins that sleep between 8-10 people. There are organized group campsites for clubs or non-profit organizations, and you can rent the full campsite for your next wedding, corporate retreat, birthday party, or special event.
If you’re not into sleeping on the ground or need a place to park your RV while you’re traveling through the area, Camp Bullfrog is perfect.
Additionally, the campground has accessible campsites, parking, bathroom and showers, kayaking launch pads, and fishing areas specifically designed for campers with disabilities.
3. Stop into Lemont Downtown for all of your meals or bring local favorites with you.
Most sites at Bullfrog come with a designated fire pit and an area for cooking, if you’re only hoping to roast a few marshmallows while outdoors, pop back in your car and head into town to grab a bite to eat at a few local spots.
Get the camping feel when you stop by Nick’s Tavern for burgers, hot dogs, and beer, Wooden Paddle for wood-fired pizzas and cocktails, and/or Matt’s Barbecue for smoked brisket, ribs, and mouth-watering sides.
We also love the idea of bringing along local favorites like beers from Pollyanna Brewing or a package of freshly ground coffee to roast from Sandhill Coffee to brew in the morning.
No matter what you bring to your campsite, be sure to leave the place as you found it by disposing of all trash and empty cans in the proper containers.
4. Your world could use a little expanding.
While you’re at Camp Bullfrog, take a trip to the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center or Sagawau Environmental Learning Center. View live animals or take a walk, bike ride, or hike on one of the many connecting trails. Each center is full of exhibits on geology, human and natural history, and habitat management that are specific to the area but will inform your understanding of climate change and environmental impact as a whole.
5. We all need the time to reconnect with ourselves and our people in nature.
Hopefully, we all have at least one memory of sitting around a Midwestern campfire telling stories or watching your dinner for the evening go horribly wrong and making a plan to fill up on pb&j sandwiches. Bring your guitar, ingredients for S’mores, and fishing line, and make some memories with your friends and family while you’re just a stones throw away from home.
Camp Bullfrog is located at 900 Willow Road, Willow Springs, Illinois. Be sure to review all rules, restrictions, and updated Covid-19 policies before your trip on the Forest Preserves of Cook County website. If you make it to Camp Bullfrog, be sure to give us a shout on Facebook and Instagram.
