RV rental Chicago

Camper rental Chicago tips for the savvy traveller 

The problem for RV travellers visiting Chicago is there are no RV parks near downtown, but the rural areas near Chicago – Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin – offer a wide range of RV camping options. Be prepared when coming into the city that you may need to arrange alternative transport and accommodation until you pick you your Chicago RV rental.  

Some pointers for driving an RV rental in Chicago  

• Chicago is an enormous city with very busy roads. Before you hit Illinois’ highways, remember to familiarize yourself with your vehicle and ask the team at pick-up if you have any questions about your motorhome rental or driving in the region. Winging it is not advised in this bustling part of the USA.  
• Route 66 starts in Chicago and is a well-worn state highway. If this is your planned route, make sure you get out of your camper often enough to mingle with the locals, eating at greasy spoon diners, and frequenting the roadside attractions. This is a big part of the RV rental road trip experience.  
• Pay attention to weather reports, highway closures, and roadworks that may disrupt your travel plans. An updated navigational system is ideal, as are good old fashioned maps if power or service happens to fail.  

You’re going to love Chicago 

Chicago is an easy-to-navigate city grid, so park up the RV and stroll through the magnificent architecture—just remember to look up. Chicago is not just about buildings and skyline, but it also has numerous state parks and national parks, beaches and green spaces. There are nearly 600 parks, 26 miles of shoreline and 33 beaches to choose from. 

Some nearby must-see attractions for your Chicago journey include: 

• Local eats - Chicago is a town after any foodie’s heart, you must try a deep-dish pizza. Gino’s is good, but the buttercrust and signature sausage of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria is also popular in the city. Hot dogs are another great option. What you’re looking for is a beef version on a poppy seed bun with yellow mustard, pickle relish, peppers, kosher dill pickle spear and celery salt. 
• Navy Pier - With a Ferris wheel, museums, restaurants and fireworks during the summer, Navy Pier is a 50-yard playground on the shorefront of Lake Michigan is an exciting must-do for the whole family. 
• Museum Campus - A 57-acre lakefront park that will easily while away your hours, this park surrounds three of Chicago’s world-class museums: Field Museum (where you’ll see the largest T-Rex ever found), Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium. While the museums are incredible, admiring the outdoor sculptures and views of Lake Michigan can be just as enjoyable. 
• Lincoln Park Zoo - Looking for something fun and free to do in the city while on your RV Rental Chicago tour? Check out the Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the country, and enjoy a full-day experience with their wide variety of animals and various special events and shows.

RV rentals Chicago: Where to go 

Rent a RV, hit the dusty trail and discover Chicago, IL.

Lake Michigan Circle Tour

If you were to do this highly popular 900-mile tour that passes through Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan with no stops, it would take roughly 14.5 hours. But you may want to make many stops along the way to visit places such as Traverse City (the cherry capital of the US), Green Bay, and the Door Peninsula.  

Shawnee National Park

Spanning almost 290,000 acres, this gorgeous outdoor wonderland offers an abundance of energetic activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, and rock climbing. Positioned 6 hours south of Chicago, it is also has the Garden of the Gods—a particularly stunning area with natural rock formations.  

State Parks

Starved Rock State Park is just under 2 hours from Chicago. This gorgeous state park is known for its picturesque waterfalls and canyons. Here you can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and so much more.  Illinois Beach State Park and Chain O Lakes near the Wisconsin border are great options to get into the woodlands. You may also try fishing or canoeing and enjoy the 3000-acre park.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

The largest part of prehistoric earthwork in the Americas can also be found in Illinois, almost 4.5 hours from Chicago. A UNESCO World Heritage site and a National Historic Landmark, it is where an estimated 10,000 – 20,000 inhabitants lived around AD 700 – 1400.