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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Elkhart, IN, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Elkhart?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Elkhart from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Elkhart?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
