Illinois has multiple state parks and campgrounds and shares a border with one of the Great Lakes, making it a wonderful place to explore the outdoors. It’s also a great place to check out some city attractions. You can wander around Millennium Park and check out Navy Pier in Chicago or choose one of the state’s other big cities for your vacation.
Thanks to options for urban camping in Illinois, you no longer need to choose between country and city living. The RV parks below give you convenient access to the city with some nice amenities.
Urban RV Parks in Illinois
Blackhawk Valley RV Resort
Blackhawk Valley RV Resort in Rockford is a hidden gem that has both a miniature golf course and pedal carts. There are weekly and monthly rates and seasonal sites available, and all of them have full hookups for your RV. The campground offers hayrides on the weekends and special events, including Kentucky Derby weekend in May and a haunted house in October.
Things to do in the area include:
- Anderson Japanese Gardens
- Discovery Center Museum
- Burpee Museum of Natural History
- Midway Village Museum
Double J Campground
If you want to know where to go urban camping in Illinois, consider Double J Campground in Chatham, which is just minutes away from Springfield. All full-hookup RV sites come with cable TV and both a picnic table and fire ring. It has both an air-conditioned indoor game room with board games and arcade games and outdoor spots for playing goofy golf and other games.
Wondering what to do while there? Try the following:
- Lincoln Home National Historic Site
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
- Old State Capitol State Historic Site
Illinois State Fairgrounds Campground
Another option is the Illinois State Fairgrounds Campground in Springfield. It is open from the beginning of April through the end of October and lets you stay close to the fair and other events. There are more than 300 full-hookup sites available for RV campers, with discounts for seniors and those in the military.
Attractions in the Springfield area include:
Chicago Northwest KOA
Less than an hour away from Chicago is the Chicago Northwest KOA in Union. All of the deluxe RV spots have water/sewer/electric hookups and let you connect to Wi-Fi and cable TV. When you’re not relaxing on your private patio, you can play a round at the miniature golf course or pick up a bike rental from the store, which also sells firewood and other supplies.
The best attractions nearby are:
Where to Urban Camp in Illinois
- Chicago is a popular choice for urban RV camping in Illinois because there are so many things to do in The Windy City.
- Springfield is also a good choice, offering a variety of attractions, including historic sites linked to President Abraham Lincoln.
- You’ll also find plenty of urban RV parks in Illinois in and around Rockford, which offers a less bustling urban camping experience, but doesn’t skimp on the attractions.
Ease of Urban Camping in Illinois
One thing to keep in mind about urban RV parks in Illinois is that many are on the outskirts of the city or in suburbs rather than the city itself. Most of the large cities have limited space and not enough room for the sprawling campgrounds that you might expect. That said, many smaller suburbs have public transportation that takes visitors into the city.
Even if you could find an RV park in a big city, you may not want to drive your rig there. Many city streets are narrow with low clearance bridges. Additionally, there is a lot of traffic in the big cities, especially Chicago.
That said, the suburbs surrounding Illinois’ cities are very RV-friendly, offering plenty of RV parking and roads that are driveable, even with a bigger rig.
With an RV rental, your urban vacation will be a little more comfortable! After you’ve spent a long day exploring the city, you can relax around the fire at your campsite. Then, retire inside to enjoy all the comforts of home onboard your RV. Plan your perfect urban getaway with an RV rental from RVshare.
