Known for The Windy City of Chicago, Illinois has multiple state parks and campgrounds and shares a border with one of the Great Lakes. 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. These RV parks give you convenient access to the city with some nice amenities.
Urban RV Parks in Illinois
Blackhawk Valley Campground
Blackhawk Valley Campground 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.
Double J Campground
If you want to know where to urban camp 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.
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.
Jellystone Park of Chicago
Yogi Bear welcomes you at the entrance to Jellystone Park of Chicago. All RV sites offer full hookups, but the park also has a handful of tent sites and some rental cabins. You’ll find two swimming pools that are close to a miniature golf course, along with a basketball court and dog park.
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.
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. You can see a live show and enjoy a delicious meal at Medieval Times or check out the exhibits in The Art Institute of Chicago. Navy Pier has tons of fun rides and dozens of shops and restaurants within walking distance. Animal lovers can visit the Lincoln Park Zoo for free or stop by the Shedd Aquarium. You can even get tickets to a Bulls or Bears game.
Known as the Land of Lincoln, Illinois is home to several attractions connected to President Lincoln, many of which are in Springfield, where he once lived. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is one of the top places to learn about his life and see artifacts he left behind. It’s close to the Lincoln Home, which is a landmark with public tours of his former home. You don’t need to spend your whole trip learning about history, though, as Springfield is also home to Knight’s Action Park and the Henson Robinson Zoo.
You’ll also find plenty of urban RV parks in Illinois in and around Rockford. Staying here puts you close to the Anderson Japanese Gardens with its gorgeous landscaping and the Rockford Museum, which is just one part of Riverfront Museum Park. With nearly 150 acres, the Midway Village Museum is the best attraction for those with an interest in World War II. It has more than 20 recreations of WWII buildings and hosts various events every year.
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. Though it’s hard to find campgrounds and RV parks within Chicago and other big cities, you’ll find tons of options when you stay up to an hour away. Many smaller suburbs have public transportation that takes visitors into the city.
As restaurants in Chicago and Springfield can charge high prices, you may want to make at least one meal per day in your RV. Military meals such as MREs come in multiple flavors and don’t take up much space. You can bring enough meals that each member of your family finds a few they like. Don’t forget about your pets, either. While some places in big cities welcome pets, others do not allow you to bring pets other than service animals. You may need to find a pet daycare facility or a similar site that lets you drop your pet off and pick it up on your way back to the campground.
Stop worrying about your next Illinois urban camping trip and start planning today. Check our blog to find the ultimate RV travel tips.
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.
