The United States Steel Corporation, also known as U.S. Steel, founded Gary, Indiana, in 1906 to be the home of its new Gary Works plant. The city was named after Elbert Henry Gary, a business executive and lawyer at the company. The booming steel industry allowed Gary to grow rapidly in population and diversity. In 1920, almost a third of the population was foreign-born. More than 100,000 people lived here in 1930, making it the fifth-largest city in the state at the time. By the 1960s, Gary was in an economic decline due to competitive overseas steel suppliers. The city has since moved from steel manufacturing to more recreational endeavors like opening casinos.
Gary's northern border sits on Lake Michigan. You can stand on Lake Street Beach in the Miller Beach neighborhood and see the Chicago skyline from across the water. You'll find Portage and Lake Station to the east and Hobart and Merrillville to the south. The main section of Downtown Chicago, which is often referred to as the Chicago Loop, is about 30 miles away.
The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana cost $300 million to open in 2021. This location has a 1,950-seat performance hall as well as an area with memorabilia from Jackson Five, an American pop band from Gary, and the casino's main entrance has a 37-foot-tall guitar that's modeled after an instrument used by the Jackson family.
Gary is home to 20 historic landmarks ranging from schools to private homes to town halls. The Barney Sablotney House on West 47th Street was built in the Colonial Revival style in 1928. Built in 1925, the 10-story Knights of Columbus Building has previously been a restaurant, hotel, clubhouse, and sports facility. You don’t want to miss out on viewing the four interesting buildings included in the Polk Street Concrete Cottage Historic District. These are examples of Edison Concept Houses that were designed and promoted by inventor Thomas Edison starting in 1910.
Enchanted Shores in Peotone is a popular RV campground that features lovely scenery and beautiful birds. You'll love the horseshoe areas, basketball and volleyball courts, and on-site playground. Visitors have access to nearby bowling, shopping, golfing, and fishing opportunities. RV campsites with full hookups start as low as $40 a night.
Leisure Lake Membership Resort in nearby Joliet is a family-focused RV park. This camp is operated by and for its members. Both camping and day-use memberships are available. Visitors are permitted unlimited usage of the pool, lake, stocked fishing pond, and wifi. Chicago is only 40 miles away.
Family-owned Race View Farms is another camping option in Joliet that's not far from the Chicagoland Speedway. While this campground has limited amenities, it's the go-to option for racing fans. Full hookups and shower facilities are available. No matter where you camp, you're sure to get a great view of the nearby fireworks shows.
Indiana Dunes State Park is home to beautiful beaches, sprawling swamps, hardwood forests, and dunes 200 feet high. More than 16 miles of nature trails allow you to see the diverse habitats and lively local wildlife. The Nature Center here offers fascinating information and daily programs during the summer. You're also welcome to picnic, fish, watch for birds, and swim. The pool costs $3 per person in addition to the park's admission fee. Stop by in the summer to take advantage of the on-duty lifeguard.
The 4,000-acre Kankakee River State Park in northeastern Illinois straddles an 11-mile stretch of the Kankakee River. While you're free to hike, camp, fish, and ride horses don't forget to try some of the more unusual options like metal detecting, archery, and snowmobiling. You'll likely see blackbirds, herons, foxes, black bears, deer, and beavers as you enjoy the local landscape. Of the park's two campgrounds, the Potawatomi campground is more modern as it has plenty of sites with electrical hookups, a dump station, and shower facilities.
Nearly half of the almost 3,000 acres of land in Tippecanoe River State Park is considered protected. This state park is named after the Tippecanoe River, which fosters a naturally beneficial environment for more than 50 endangered species. Seven miles of this river run through the park and are open to fishing. There are 23 miles of trails in the park. Nine of these only allow hikers while the rest encourage bicycling, hiking, and horseback riding. The park's 112-site campground has electrical hookups and can accommodate rigs up to 45 feet long.
The Pullman National Monument just outside of Chicago, Illinois, preserves the history and remnants of a planned company town started in the late 1800s. George Pullman founded this community that promised more efficient manufacturing and improved employee housing. While it never quite lived up to Pullman’s dreams, it still played an essential part in the rise of regional labor unions. Tour the historic district while learning more about the American rail industry and the famous Pullman Strike.
The 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows the 10,000-year-old path of Wisconsin's last glacier. The area is full of distinct geological features like hills, ridges, rivers, and lakes. Millions of bikers, snowshoers, and backpackers take this trail every year to enjoy the lush, untouched surroundings. The completed portions of the trail are currently more than 600 miles long. For the best rock climbing, swimming, kayaking, and canoeing opportunities drive over to Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo.
The Lincoln Home National Historic Site in downtown Springfield, Illinois, preserves the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned. Lincoln and his wife lived here for almost two decades before he became president. It began as a one-story home before he added a second floor to accommodate the three sons born there. This house has been restored to the way it was back in 1860. Along with exploring the main home, you can also check out the visitor center and two additional historic buildings. This site offers regular living history events and other demonstrations during the year.
Hoosier National Forest encompasses 202,814 acres of rolling hills, lakes, streams, and overflowing reservoirs in southern Indiana. Several nearby communities have existed in this thriving forest for centuries. Mountain bikers, horseback riders, and hikers are welcome to traverse the 265 miles of nature trails. Head to the Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area to find 50 RV campsites with water and electrical hookups. They're open from April 15 to October 15 every year. You can also kayak, canoe, raft, or tube on many of the rivers and lakes.
Huron-Manistee National Forest spans nearly one million acres in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. You'll find a variety of distinct habitats here like bogs, coastal marshlands, oak savannas, and remnants of sand prairies. The cold-water watersheds are full of trout species. There are also 330 miles of trails for hikers of all experience levels and athletic abilities. Of the 200 species of animals that live here, visitors often spot rabbits, deer, black bears, moose, coyotes, and bats. Don't forget to take a look at the 238 plant species in the forest's wildflower sanctuary.
Ottawa National Forest starts around the southern shore of Lake Superior and extends almost one million miles to Wisconsin. The part of the forest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has 2,100 miles of off-road trails and 18 stunning waterfalls. Explore near the community of Ironton to find 2,000 miles of streams and rivers as well as 500 named lakes. The best trout and walleye fishing can be found in the three lakes at the Lake Ottawa Recreation Area. For exceptional wildlife viewing, take your time meandering down the Deer Marsh Interpretative Trail. Along with fishing, hiking, and camping, you can also canoe, picnic, stargaze, find EarthCaches, snowshoe, and cross-country ski.
Indiana Dunes National Park is less than 30 minutes away from Gary. This area was once a national lakeshore before becoming a national park in 2019. It's home to 20 square miles of countryside as well as 15 miles right along Lake Michigan. Take your time hiking and exploring the dunes, forests, rivers, prairies and wetlands. Feel free to fish, hike, camp, bike, ride horses, stargaze or enjoy the bustling wildlife. The effortless access to Lake Michigan allows you to swim, lounge, sunbathe and enjoy a variety of water sports.
About 302 miles southwest in Missouri, you'll find Gateway Arch National Park. This park is famous for its 630-foot, stainless steel arch that marks where Lewis and Clark started their journey in the 19th century. Make your way to the top of the arch for breathtaking vistas of St. Louis. The park spans 91 acres along the Mississippi River and includes modern-day museums as well as historic buildings. Take a tour of the Old Courthouse where the Dred Scott case was heard in the mid-1800s. The National Park Service also offers riverboat cruises throughout the year. It's best to reserve your tickets well in advance as many events and programs here book up fast.
Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the country's most-visited national parks. Millions of people stop by every year to see the park's 100 gorgeous waterfalls. One of the most prominent sites is the 65-foot Brandywine Falls, the tallest waterfall in Northeast Ohio. If you're not interested in walking the 125 miles of trails, consider taking a ride on the park's scenic railroad. Other fun things to try include stargazing, golfing, kayaking, bird watching, horse riding, and picnicking.
In most areas, the price to rent a motorhome is around $200 a night and the price to rent a towable trailer is around $120 a night.
What does RVshare Protection cover with my Gary, IN RV rental?RVshare's protection plan standard package covers up to $300,000 in comprehensive and collision coverage based on the value of the RV. It also includes free 24/7 roadside assistance and free towing and tire service. For more information on RVshare insurance, click here.
What is included in my Gary, IN RV rental?You should find any amenities that are included with your rental in the listing details. But it never hurts to check in with the owner before you arrive at the RV or have it delivered to ensure you have everything that is needed to have a fun and enjoyable trip!
Can I have my Gary, IN RV rental delivered to a specified location?Many owners on RVshare.com offer delivery, and will even set it up for you at the campsite. Choose the 'Delivery' filter to narrow down your search results to RVs that can be brought to your home or destination. Check the listing details for any information regarding extra fees for delivery, or ask the owner if you are unsure.
