Chicago Trip Advice

[BrianVV]

Greetings!

We're renting a Class C RV soon from Cruise America and plan to travel west from Ohio. Our first stop is Chicago and I'm a bit nervous with driving the RV there. We'd like to do more walking around the city to let our kids get an appreciation for the size of Chicago and what it's like. I'd love to hear suggestions for about a 4 hour Chicago trip before we look to camp somewhere on the western side.

Thanks!
Brian

[maillemaker]

I want to go up there to the Museum of Science and Technolgy. Wondered how to RV it.

[jeffcarp]

While I agree with the suggestions to camp well outside the city and take the train in, you said that you only had 4 hours to spend downtown. The train ride is going to take 2 hours of that 4 hours.

If you truly only have 4 hours to spend downtown then the only option in my opinion is to use the McCormick Place marshalling yard as a parking spot and then either use the L trains or Uber to get around to some sites.

It's going to be very difficult to spend 4 hours downtown and still get in and out of town without some significant traffic. Your only real chance is to target 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as your time downtown.

You would also need to call ahead to make sure that there's no significant events at McCormick Place in case they will not let you in the marshalling yard.

After leaving there for the day then I would head west on 80, not 88, and get out to Joliet or LaSalle or some of those towns in that area

[VoodooMedicineM]

Indiana Dunes, South Shore RR Good idea

[RoadAbode]

Love Chicago the times I have flown in for work projects, and it's so walkable. I'm not an expert, but have thought of camping with the family in or near the Indiana Dunes Area, and taking the Southern Shore Line (we love train rides) in for a day trip to Chicago. Currently I think kids up to 13 are free. Don't know if that type plan would work for you?

[STBRetired]

Just an FYI. If you are going to stay at the Joiliet casino, be aware that there are 2 casinos in Joliet. Only the Hollywood casino has parking for RVs. It's close to I-80 between the Larkin Ave and Houbolt Rd exits.

[PartyOf_Five]

Feel free to msg me for more help in Chicago- we're lifers here and it's not all that bad.

If the RV is new to you, I would head in from Ohio towards Urbana, IL then take interstate 57 North towards Chicago. This is the easiest way into the area without paying told and coming the way you are, though it is longer than I-65.

Warrenville has a nice campground open on weekends at Blackwell forest preserve- book early. The other camping options are good too- anything private is further out.

Rather than renting a car, or dealing with the inconvenience of the train (www.metrarail.com), if suggest you take Lyft to get around. The train is cheaper/ free for kids, and a nice experience- but you need to be comfortable navigating between stations, Gates/ tracks, etc. And they run less frequently than in the weekdays.
Once downtown, all the suggestions are good and there are plenty more in guidebooks, online, or message me. With the challenges of an RV in Chicagoland, you may just prefer a hotel, or try an alternate destination- like Amish / RV areas around Elkhart, IN.

Enjoy your trip!

[MontanaBBQ]

We stayed in the McCormick Place truck marshaling yard for a couple nights in 2017. We're planning another visit this summer. We don't tow a car, so we walked and used Uber/Lyft to get around. The location is very convenient for exploring all that downtown Chicago has to offer.

http://www.mccormickplace.com/attendees/parking.php

I learned about it here:

https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/downtown-chicago-rv-camping

It is not an RV park. There are no electric/water/sewer hookups. It is dry camping in a parking lot with semi trucks, buses, and other RVs.

[Bordercollie]

Most large cities have limited RV overnight facilities and do not allow parking of RV's in the street. Indoor parking facilities have low ceilings, RV's cannot park. Definitely have a GPS to find your way through and preferably around big cities. Beware of your RV side mirrors tangling with adjacent truck mirrors. Don't make the common mistakes of leaving the TV antenna cranked up and and/or trying drive through a fast food place with low clearance.

General advice, don't try to find an RV park after dark unless you have called ahead and reserved a spot. Some Walmarts and truck stops welcome RV'ers that merely want to park and sleep. Overnight RV parking at some Walmarts is prohibited by law in some localities. Use judgment about safely parking overnight where you won't be bothered.

[jcsb]

We live near Cincinnati. I would suggest you skip Chicago and plan to make it a separate trip. Not knowing where in Ohio you are, I would suggest I 70 till you get west of the Mississippi river. You can do that with 1 overnight. From there you have several options 90, 80, 70, or farther south.

As far as Chicago goes, it can easily be a 1 day or less drive from any where in Ohio. Take your car and find a suburban hotel or motel and take the commuter train into the city. Spend a whole day or more and head back home.

[AJR]

I don’t know your plans after Chicago. So here are some suggestions.

Do not take I90 through the city. Take I290 around it.

EZ-pass or IPass will save you money.

Second vote for Paul Wolff campground. Then use the train.

Four days, not four hours, would give the family a good taste of the city.

If you are heading further west on I80 the casinos may be a better option.

[VoodooMedicineM]

When you get Union Station head east 1 block and take a boat ride to Navy Pier.

[Sam_Spade]

Janss wrote:
Would never want to drive the motorhome in the city.

You should heed this advice.
There are lots of ways you can get yourself in trouble on the crowded and narrow streets.

[VoodooMedicineM]

Joliet Casino is good then I would take a commuter train to Union Station.

[pushtoy_2]

I have lived in the area for most of my life..i would stay at the JOLIET casinos they have a nice campground and rent a car for the day Chicago is no place for an RV. great stuff too see but no place to park an RV. if you go downtown stay on the main streets.. great food there