RV Rentals Champaign, Illinois

Explore Champaign, Illinois in an RVshare RV Rental

Originally called West Urbana, Champaign, Illinois was founded in 1855 when the Illinois Central Railroad laid its track in the area. When the new town acquired a city charter in 1860, it was renamed Champaign after Champaign County. The first Farm Aid concert took place in Champaign in September of 1985. The concert took place at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium and drew over 80,000 people, raising over $7 million for farmers in the process.

These days, Champaign has a population of around 90,000, which makes it the 10th-most populous municipality in the state. In addition to being home to the University of Illinois, the city is known for its wonderful art museums, impressive sports venues, and diverse selection of restaurants, bars, and breweries. One of the first places many visitors head to is the downtown area, where there are a variety of sidewalk cafés, independent stores, and cultural venues. Many also take time to visit the university to tour the campus or take a walk through the serene arboretum.

While in the area, it's definitely worth checking out at least a couple of the diverse museums. A few to consider are the Krannert Art Museum, the Spurlock Museum, and the Champaign County Historical Museum. Or, if museums aren't to your taste, you could stop by the William M. Staerkel Planetarium or catch a live show at the historic Virginia Theatre.

If you're visiting during spring or summer, there are quite a few nice destinations for outdoor fun as well. One example is Crystal Lake Park, where you can spend the day fishing, boating, hiking, or just enjoying a picnic on the shores of the lake. Alternatively, you could take a peaceful nature walk or take advantage of the excellent bird-watching opportunities at Busey Woods.

Events Near Champaign, Illinois

• Dark History and Horror Con - Champaign's annual Dark History and Horror Con event takes place in mid-August at the I Hotel & Conference Center. The convention showcases history's darker elements, as well as artwork, authors, horror, and more!

• Urbana Sweetcorn Festival - This annual festival draws around 50,000 attendees each year to celebrate Illinois sweetcorn. The event is happening in downtown Urbana in mid-August.

• Springfield Pridefest - All are welcome to attend Springfield's annual festival celebrating the LGTBQ+ community. Taking place in downtown Springfield in mid-May, the festival features vendors, live music, food, drinks, a drag show, and lots of fun!