George Ela and Seth Paine were two of the pioneers who came to the Lake Zurich area in the 1830s. During the first few years, New England farmers and German immigrants were the primary settlers in the area. The lake was called Cedar Lake at the time. On September 19, 1896, the town was incorporated under Lake Zurich. The village remained primarily an agricultural community even with the new visitors from establishing the railroad and highway system. It was not until the building of US Route 12 in 1922, and Illinois Route 22 in 1927 that the town became a summer resort community.
In the 1950s, housing development began to change. By the 1960s, an Alpine-style architectural design was popular and strongly encouraged when building a home or business. This theme continued to be used, resulting in various buildings throughout the town having a Swiss look.
Lake Zurich was the site of a landmark legal case in 1988. This case provided clarification about the rights of property owners on private lakes. It verified that one owner of a lakebed could not stop another from enjoying the entire surface of a lake.
Over the years, the resort feel of Lake Zurich has worn off. With a population of over 20,000, the center of the town remains the lake. Many people come to the area to swim, fish, and boat on the lake. Breezewald Park is at Lake Zurich and is known for being a great place to watch breathtaking sunsets. However, you can find a variety of other attractions not associated with the lake, including Paulus Park, Copper Fiddle Distillery, Treehouse, and Clay Monet. The Copper Fiddle Distillery provides excellent insight into how spirits are made.
Alpine Fest – This festival was started in the summer of 1942 to celebrate WWII victories. Today, it welcomes over 10,000 spectators to enjoy carnival rides, parades, carnival games, food, and vendors.
Candy Cane Hunt – Lake Zurich's Lion's Club hosts this December event every year. Visitors are welcome to join the event for free. You can also participate in other fun activities such as drawings, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, face painting, and food.
Rock the Block – In September every year, Main Street in Lake Zurich is closed for a block party. People of all ages gather together to dine, dance, and explore downtown.
A 358-mile drive will get you from Lake Zurich to Gateway Arch National Park. This 91-acre park is one of the smallest national parks, but it's packed with history. It includes the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse. The 630-foot stainless steel arch was created as a monument to the spirit of the Western pioneers. You will want to explore the museum exhibits at the base before riding the tram to the top of the arch.
Indiana Dunes National Park is only 81 miles from Lake Zurich, Illinois. This park is just under 24 square miles making it one of the US's smallest national parks. When visiting, a favorite activity is sitting on the beach and enjoying the sun. With miles of trails, it is hard to pick one, but the Dune Succession Trail has 270 steps to breathtaking sweeping views.
The drive to Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Lake Zurich is 392 miles across Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. This national park can be found along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron. The park is home to about 100 waterfalls. The tallest waterfall in the park is Brandywine Falls, at 65 feet.
Big Foot Beach State Park is located on the shores of Lake Geneva. With a wide array of amenities, this park is popular year-round.
The largest state park in Northern Illinois is the Rock Cut State Park. The park features two lakes perfect for fishing and paddling. Pierce Lake has 162 acres, and Olson Lake has 50 acres.
The 1,550 acres of Shabbona Lake State Park include rolling prairie and a 318-acre lake. It offers picnicking, hiking, fishing, hunting, and camping facilities. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and ice skating are popular activities in this park.
One of the best landmarks in Illinois is Willis Tower. This 108-story skyscraper gives visitors spectacular views and interactive exhibits.
Millennium Park is home to the iconic statue 'The Bean.' This statue's official name is the Cloud Gate Statue, but it is called 'The Bean' due to its shape. You will find even more to do in this 25-acre park.
The 3,300-foot pier of Navy Pier is known for the Centennial Wheel. However, you will also find the Pepsi Wave Swinger, a carousel fashioned after the 1920s carousels.
One of the top picks for an RV park and campground near Lake Zurich is Paul Wolff Campground. It is open year-round and offers fishing, biking, hiking, and horseback riding opportunities in the Burnridge Forest Reserve.
The Sycamore RV Resort has full hookups, clean restrooms, showers, and laundry rooms. They also have a swimming beach.
The Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort focuses on family-oriented activities, including hay rides, outdoor movies, and miniature golf.
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 Lake Zurich, IL, 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 Lake Zurich?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Lake Zurich 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 Lake Zurich?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
