Illinois is a beautiful state that is well worth exploring during an RV camping trip. The many historic sites, museums, and other attractions are also worth visiting, as is the bustling city of Chicago.
You will need to do a bit of planning before going RV camping in Illinois, and planning an RV trip can be overwhelming. This guide will share everything you need to know before you head out RV camping in Illinois.
- Finding Campgrounds
- Preparing for RV Camping
- Considerations for Camping in Illinois
- Planning Your Itinerary
- Exploring Outdoor Activities
- Family-Friendly Activities and Attractions
- Safety and Preparedness when RV Camping in Illinois
Finding Campgrounds
Illinois campgrounds encompass everything from luxury parks to rustic campgrounds, and from RV parks in the middle of the city to state park campgrounds in the middle of nowhere.
Exploring Public Campgrounds in Illinois
First, let’s discuss the public camping options in Illinois. These include state park campgrounds and national forest campsites, which are some of the more affordable options for RV camping in Illinois. Don’t expect a lot of amenities, but you’re sure to be pleased with these beautiful camping spots.
National Forest Camping
Curious about the national forest in Illinois? Shawnee National Forest is a beautiful place where you can escape the city and reconnect with Mother Nature while hiking, camping, and more.
RV camping in Shawnee National Forest includes both dispersed campsites and developed campgrounds. The best place to park your RV while exploring the forest is the Oak Point Campground at Lake Glendale Recreation Area. Located in the center of the forest, the campground boasts lake access, campsites with electricity, a boat ramp, and flush toilets.
State Park Camping
State park camping is also an excellent choice. The state parks in Illinois feature lakes, caves, waterfalls, and more. They are ideal places to hike, swim, kayak, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors. They are also perfect for camping.
Our favorite Illinois state park camping is found at Starved Rock State Park. This park features unique waterfalls, lovely hiking trails, and a campground with potable water, a dump station, and electric hookups.
Other great Illinois state parks include Pere Marquette State Park and Giant City State Park.
Exploring Private Campgrounds and RV Parks
Private campgrounds are another great option for RV camping in Illinois. Some are basic, with simple amenities such as showers and dump stations. Others are gorgeous resorts with luxurious glamping opportunities. This means you can choose an RV park that perfectly suits your camping style.
One of our favorite RV parks in Illinois is Sunset Lakes Resort in Hillsdale. This beautiful campground has been around since the 1970s, and once you visit, you’ll understand why people keep going back. Here you’ll find a lovely lake with plenty of opportunities for water recreation, sports courts, a fitness center, and more!
Sycamore RV Resort is another great pick. This DeKalb County park is quiet and peaceful, with an onsite store, clean showers, laundry facilities, and friendly staff. You can fish, enjoy the sunshine at the swimming beach, or play sports while visiting this campground.
Boondocking in Illinois
Are you RV camping in Illinois on a budget? One of the best ways to save money is to choose Illinois boondocking instead of paid campgrounds. The state has a few awesome boondocking spots.
One of our favorite boondocking spots in the state is Jackson Falls Dispersed Camping in Shawnee National Forest. This spot is really only for very small trailers and campervans, but it is beautiful, free, and near some amazing hiking and climbing.
Preparing for RV Camping
Once you have an idea of where you want to camp, you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need for a successful trip. This includes finding an RV that suits your needs and then packing it with all the odds and ends you’ll need for an RV camping trip.
Choosing the Right RV for Your Needs
Wondering how to choose the right rental RV for your trip? We would recommend starting by deciding whether or not you’d like to drive an RV. If you don’t feel comfortable driving a motorhome or towing a trailer, finding an RV that can be delivered may be the right move for you.
If you’re happy to drive the RV yourself, think about whether you prefer a driveable RV or a towable rig. If you choose a trailer or fifth wheel, you’ll need to make sure your vehicle can handle towing it.
With those things figured out, the last things to consider are size, floor plan, and amenities. Make sure whatever rig you choose can fit into the campground you’d like to visit and has room for everyone on your trip.
Packing Essentials for a Successful Trip
Once you have the perfect RV rental booked, you will need to consider packing for RV camping in Illinois. We’ve compiled a packing list for any type of event you may be traveling to in an RV.
Considerations for Camping in Illinois
Renting an RV and packing it up are just the first steps. The next thing you need to do? Make sure you understand the ins and out of RVing in Illinois. Generally speaking, things are pretty much the same from one state to another when it comes to camping, but there is some info you should have that is specific to RV camping in Illinois.
For instance, in Illinois, no rig can be longer than 60 feet total (including the tow vehicle). Trailers must be 53 feet or shorter, and motorhomes can not exceed 45 feet in length. In all cases, RVs must be no more than 8.5 wide and 15.5 feet tall.
Towing a trailer behind your bumper-pull or fifth wheels is allowed in Illinois as long as the total rig length doesn’t exceed the aforementioned 60 feet. All trailers over 3,000 pounds must have brakes.
It’s also important to note that trailers are not permitted on boulevards in and around the city of Chicago.
Planning Your Itinerary
Alright, now it’s time to start planning your itinerary. There is so much to see and do in Illinois that you won’t have any trouble finding cool things to add to your to-do list. Whether you’re soaking up the city life in Chicago or relaxing in one of the state’s many rural areas, you’ll have an amazing time.
Features and Attractions in Illinois
A scenic drive puts you in touch with the beautiful and unique features of the place you’re visiting and allows you to discover hidden gems. Our favorite scenic byway in Illinois is the gorgeous Great River Road.
You’ll also want to add some of Illinois’ iconic landmarks to your itinerary. Willis Tower in Chicago is a great one, as is Starved Rock State Park.
Illinois’ national sites are also must-see attractions. One of our favorites is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site where you can learn all about our 16th president with a fun and informative tour.
Festivals, Fairs, and Events in Illinois
Looking to add a bit more excitement to your Illinois adventure? Why not check out a local event? Illinois hosts a number of excellent festivals, performances, and fairs throughout the year.
Some of our favorites include Lilac Time in Lombard in May, Edwardsville Route 66 Festival in Edwardsville in June, Great River Tug Fest in Port Byron in August, and Popeye Parade and Picnic in Chester in September.
Exploring Outdoor Activities
Exploring the great outdoors is probably the best part of RV camping in Illinois. Whether you prefer hitting the trails, enjoying the water, or watching local wildlife, you’re in for a treat while in Illinois.
Hiking, Biking and Nature Trails
One of the best ways to really see the beauty of Illinois is to head out on one of the state’s many trails. Whether hiking or biking, you’re sure to enjoy your time exploring Illinois natural areas.
Hikers will love the trails below:
- Starved Rock and Sandstone Point Overlook Trail in Starved Rock State Park — Moderate
- Dells Canyon and Bluff Trail in Matthiessen State Park — Moderate
- Little Grand Canyon Trail in Shawnee National Forest — Moderate
- Garden of the Gods Observation Trail in Garden of the Gods Wilderness — Easy
- Waterfall Glen Trail in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve — Easy
Meanwhile, cyclists might enjoy one of the following:
- Waterfall Glen Trail in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
- Sag Valley Yellow Trail Loop in Swallow Cliff Woods
- Palos Orange Trail in Wolf Road Woods
- Herrick Lake Trail in Warrenville Grove Forest Preserve
- Lake Defiance Trail in Moraine Hills State Park
Fishing, Boating, and Water Activities
Whether you prefer boating, fishing, swimming, or seeking out waterfalls, there is an Illinois water-based activity that you’ll enjoy.
For all the anglers out there, we have to recommend a few of Illinois’ amazing fishing spots. Rend Lake near Mount Vernon is one of our favorites, but the state also offers access to Lake Michigan and all of the fish found there.
Despite not being near the ocean, Illinois actually has a few awesome beaches to choose from. Our favorite is located within Illinois Beach State Park on the shore of Lake Michigan, but Sunrise Park in Lake Bluff also happens to be an excellent beach for watching the sunrise.
If waterfalls are what you’re after, you’ll be happy to learn there are many of those as well. We’ve mentioned Starved Rock State Park a few times as a great place to find falls, and the Jackson Falls in Shawnee National Forest are wonderful as well. We also love Thunder Bay Falls and Giant’s Bathtub Falls.
Wildlife Viewing and Photography
Thanks to all of the beautiful natural areas scattered across the state, Illinois is home to lots of wonderful wildlife such as foxes, deer, raccoons, and many types of birds. You can head to any of the many state parks or the Shawnee National Forest to see some of these friendly critters.
Other great places for wildlife watching include Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Cache River State Natural Area, and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
Family-Friendly Activities and Attractions
Looking to visit Illinois with kids? Rockford and Springfield are both excellent places to check out as a family. Of course, there are many family-friendly attractions in Chicago as well, and the parks and other natural areas we listed above are good for kids too.
Here are some of our favorite attractions for kids in Illinois.
Historical Sites and Museums
We love adding an educational aspect to our trips, especially when we travel with kids. One of the best ways to do this is by visiting NPS sites. In Illinois, the Pullman National Monument is one such site and a great way to learn a bit of history. For more history, you could also visit the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.
Museums are another great way to squeeze some learning into your getaway. Illinois is home to tons of good museums. Some of our favorites include the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the Field Museum in Chicago, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.
Amusement Park, Zoos, and Wildlife Refuges
You could also choose to visit one of Illinois’ amusement parks. Six Flags Great America outside of Chicago offers tons of thrills, as well as some kiddie rides for the younger set. Meanwhile, Raging Waves Waterpark in Yorkville is the biggest waterpark in the state and gives guests a great way to cool off in the summer.
Even more family fun can be found at the zoos in Illinois. We especially love Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium – the third-largest aquarium in the country.
Safety and Preparedness when RV Camping in Illinois
Obviously, you will want to be prepared for any issues that may come up while RV camping in Illinois. For this reason, we highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the type of severe weather that you could see during your visit. It’s also good to know what kinds of wildlife you might come across. Knowing these things will allow you to properly prepare.
Weather Conditions and Natural Disaster Preparedness
If you visit in the summertime, you won’t have to deal with any of the winter weather that Illinois can see. That said, you will still want to be prepared for the midwestern storms that can hit in the spring and summer. These thunderstorms can bring dangerous lightning, large hail, strong winds, flooding, and even tornadoes.
The best ways to prepare for these weather events include using a weather app with push notifications, packing a “bug out” bag with flashlights, a radio, and other essentials, and always knowing where the nearest storm shelter is. It’s also a good idea to avoid parking your RV in areas that are known to flood.
Wildlife Encounters and Precautions
Fortunately, Illinois doesn’t play host to a whole lot of dangerous wildlife. That said, you will want to watch out for rattlesnakes, copperhead snakes, and black widow spiders. Additionally, if you happen to see a skunk or a river otter, be sure to keep your distance, as these super adorable critters can actually be quite dangerous.
In addition to wildlife, you will also want to actively avoid poisonous plants found in Illinois. These include poison ivy, poison oak, and other similar plants.
More Inspiration for Your Illinois Travels
- The Top 10 Amusement Parks in Illinois
- Urban Camping in Illinois
- Top 10 Waterfalls in Illinois
- Luxury Camping in Illinois
- Glamping in Illinois
- Fishing in Illinois
- Top 10 Beaches in Illinois
- Top 33 Bucket List Destinations in Illinois
- Boondocking in Illinois
- Top 10 Landmarks in Illinois
- Top 10 Places to See in Your RV in Illinois
