RV Rental Elkhart, IN

Popular RV Rentals Near Elkhart, Indiana for Any Budget

Hop in an RV rental near Elkhart, Indiana to check out the city and surrounding areas! You can find lots of travel trailers for rent in this part of the Hoosier State, most of which have received five-star ratings from renters. Other popular RV options in the Elkhart area include Class C motorhomes, which can sleep eight to 10 people. Many Elkhart RV rentals offer delivery and can be instantly booked. 

RVshare’s Top Vacation Destinations Near Elkhart, Indiana, No Matter the Duration

South Bend, Indiana, located just minutes west of Elkhart, is the home of Notre Dame University. If you have a day or two to spend in South Bend, be sure to explore the Studebaker National Museum, which is dedicated to cars of times past. You can also stop by Four Winds Casino South Bend for high-end dining and gambling opportunities, or visit the Potawatomi Zoo and Kennedy Water Park in the summer for all-ages entertainment. If you'd like to continue the journey west, check out this idea for a road trip from Elkhart to Billings, Montana.

Just east of Elkhart is Shipshewana, Indiana, home to the locally renowned Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery. This restaurant serves home-style dishes from a location adjacent to the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center. At Blue Gate, you can catch local plays and big-name musicians. If you're in the area between May and September, be sure to check out the Shipshewana Flea Market, a collective of local craft and food vendors. You can stay a few nights in this town at places like Shipshewana Campground or Shipshewana RV Park. 

When you have just a few hours to spend outside of Elkhart, head over to Bristol, Indiana, where you can self-tour the Elkhart County Historical Museum. You could also spend an afternoon enjoying the walking trails at Pipewort Pond Nature Preserve. For a much-longer road trip adventure, consider heading south and driving from Elkhart to Miami, stopping at amazing cities like Nashville and Atlanta along the way. 

Explore Elkhart, Indiana in an RVshare RV Rental

The area that is now Elkhart was first occupied by Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi tribes. In 1821, a local doctor purchased the land for this town from a half-French, half-Potawatomi chief and established Elkhart as a rival town to the nearby Pulaski village. Over time, Elkhart grew larger than Pulaski, gaining an official post office whereas Pulaski did not. Today, Pulaski is a part of the Elkhart city area. 

In 1851, Elkhart's first railroad was built, and in 1852, Elkhart's first passenger train ran. After the town's railroad was up and running, the city's population boomed as many factories and mills moved in. Then, in 1934, Elkhart's first RV factory opened up, and the town soon began producing enough RVs to earn its nickname of "RV Capital of the World," a moniker it still holds today. 

When visiting Elkhart, check out the city's National New York Central Railroad Museum to learn more about the town's historic railroads and train cars. You can also check out the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum on Elkhart's outskirts to see the history of recreational vehicle and motorhome manufacturing in the city. While you're there, tour vintage RVs like a 1930s Chevrolet Housecar. Another local must-see is the Midwest Museum of American Art, which is known for its Norman Rockwell lithographs. 

Any time you're in Elkhart, be sure to stop by the Wellfield Botanic Gardens, which is full of flowers in the warmer months and is decorated with lights in the winter. Events are regularly scheduled at these gardens, and there is a play area for children to enjoy. Another great stop is the Hall of Heros Superhero Museum, where you can view comic-book and superhero memorabilia, plus a replica Bat Cave.

Discover Nearby Towns and Cities

Fort Wayne, Indiana - Fort Wayne is known for the top-rated Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. Another attraction worth visiting is the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory.

• 60+ Restaurants

• 60+ Gas Stations

• 2 Nearby Rest Areas

• 4 Nearby Campgrounds

• 7 Museums 

Chicago, Illinois - Chicago is a metropolitan area that's famous for its cityscapes on Lake Michigan and the Art Institute of Chicago.

• 100+ Restaurants

• 100+ Gas Stations

• 6+ Nearby Rest Areas

• 12+ Nearby Campgrounds

• 15+ Museums 

Grand Rapids, Michigan - Grand Rapids is located on the Grand River in central Michigan and is known for its many breweries. 

• 60+ Restaurants

• 60+ Gas Stations

• 2 Nearby Rest Areas

• 4 Nearby Campgrounds

• 5 Museums 

Best National Parks Near Elkhart, Indiana

Indiana Dunes National Park, located just miles from Elkhart, is home to 15 miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline. Once considered a national lakeshore, this relatively new national park is also home to on-site campgrounds and plenty of hiking trails among its famous dunes. 

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio features nearly 100 waterfalls and hiking and biking trails for many miles. Famous for its lush forest and rolling hills, this park is also known for once being home to over 500 generations of Native Americans. Today, visitors can fish, kayak, and canoe in the park's many running streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. 

Mammoth Cave National Park, in Kentucky, is home to the world's most extensive known underground cavern system. This system is made up of over 400 miles of cave trails, all of which visitors can explore with a park ranger or tour guide. You can even experience some tours of the cave system on bikes. Some hot spots to check out include the Frozen Niagara, an area of flowstone formations, and Gothic Avenue, a section of cave covered in signatures from the 1800s.

Popular State Parks Near Elkhart, Indiana

Across the Indiana and Michigan border sits Van Buren State Park, a 400-acre park named after United States president Martin Van Buren. This park along Lake Michigan features sandy beachfront, walking trails, and woodland. 

Potato Creek State Park is located near South Bend in Indiana and offers access to 327-acre Worster Lake. This park is known for its fishing opportunities, but it also has plenty of multi-use trails through forests, wetlands, and prairies. 

Close to Winamac, Indiana, Tippecanoe River State Park is a 2,761-acre state park encompassing the Tippecanoe River. This river is designated one of the top 10 rivers in the U.S. for preservation — it supports over 50 endangered species. It's perhaps easiest to fish the river on the park grounds. Other activities at this park include hiking, biking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, and camping. 

Must-See Monuments and Landmarks Near Elkhart, Indiana

The Ruthmere campus is a historic mansion in Elkhart, with daily guided tours of the house and museum. Live music is often performed at this historic house, and a gift shop and cafe are on-site. 

The Beardsley Fountain is located in downtown Elkhart and includes a statue and plaque commemorating a founder of the city. The fountain is surrounded by homes that are listed on the National Historic Register. 

One quirky local artifact is the Elkhart Tooth Brick, a brick made from cement and the pulled teeth of a local dentist's patients. The brick is on display inside an antique shop on North Ward Street. 

Upcoming Events Near Elkhart, Indiana

• Elkhart County Fair - In nearby Goshen, the Elkhart County Fair, considered one of Indiana's best, is hosted annually in July.

• Elkhart Jazz Festival - Since 1988, Elkhart has hosted a week-long jazz music event during the first week of summer, usually with well over 100 performances yearly.

• Float Fest - Also in Goshen is the annual Float Fest in August, a festival featuring musical performances on boats that float the Millrace Canal.

Popular POI Activities Near Elkhart, Indiana

• Island Park - Located on a small island in the St. Joesph River, Island Park has plenty of space for recreation plus playgrounds, picnic shelters, and a bandstand where local musicians often play. 

• Mishawaka Riverwalk - The Mishawaka Riverwalk is a long, paved trail along the St. Joesph River. It features walking bridges between multiple river islands. 

• NIBCO Water and Ice Park - The NIBCO Water and Ice Park is the best spot for ice skating in Elkhart in the winter. It offers a splash pad during the summer.

RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks and Campgrounds

There are plenty of campgrounds in Elkhart for you to check out while you're in town. One popular option is Elkhart Campground, a 25-acre campground with full hookups for all RV types. Another great choice is the South Bend/Elkhart KOA, a campground with 61 full-hookup campsites and a pool. 

Best RV Dump Stations Near Elkhart, Indiana

When you need to dump your RV's tanks near Elkhart, consider using a dump station near South Bend. One great stop is Spencer Park in Logansport, which offers dump services for free. Another option is the Elkhart Environmental Processing Corp, a station that provides dump services for $10. 

Popular RV Storage Facilities Near Elkhart, Indiana

If you'd like to store your RV, you have a couple of storage facilities in Elkhart to choose from. One great facility is StayLock Storage on County Road 9, which has secure fencing and an electronic key-in code. Another option is 20 East Self Storage, which has lots of large, well-lit spaces for RVs.