Planning to go RV tenting in Illinois? Good name! Illinois is a lovely state that’s properly value exploring, particularly in case you have an RV and are in a position to immerse your self within the stunning pure areas the state has to supply. In fact, the various historic websites, museums, and different points of interest are additionally value visiting, as is the massive bustling metropolis of Chicago.
All that mentioned, you will have to do a little bit of planning earlier than you go, and planning an RV journey could be overwhelming. That is the place our state journey information comes into play. Learn on to study all the pieces you have to know earlier than RV tenting in Illinois.
Getting ready for RV Tenting
The very first thing you’ll have to do? Be sure to have all the pieces you want for a profitable tenting journey. This consists of discovering an RV that fits your wants after which packing it with all the chances and ends that come together with an RV tenting journey.
In case you have an RV of your individual, that is simple sufficient, however for those who don’t personal an RV, you will have to search out an Illinois RV rental.
Selecting the Proper RV for Your Wants
Questioning how one can go about choosing the proper rental RV to your journey? We’d suggest beginning by deciding whether or not or not you’d wish to drive an RV. In case you don’t really feel snug driving a motorhome or towing a trailer, discovering an RV that may be delivered often is the proper transfer for you.
Completely completely satisfied driving the RV your self? In that case, you will have to consider whether or not you favor a driveable RV or a towable rig. Desire a trailer or fifth wheel? You’ll want to verify your automobile can deal with towing it.
With these issues discovered, the final issues to contemplate are dimension, ground plan, and facilities. Be sure that no matter rig you select can match into the campground you’d like to go to and affords the comforts that you have to have a cheerful and enjoyable journey.
Packing Necessities for a Profitable Journey
Upon getting the proper RV rental booked, you will have to contemplate packing for RV tenting in Illinois. Clearly, you will have issues like garments, cleaning soap, and toothbrushes, however you’ll additionally have to pack camp chairs, linens, and an entire host of different issues that you simply wouldn’t usually pack for a visit.
The essential checklist under is a good basis to work with. Add extra as you see match and take off something that can be included along with your RV rental:
- Garments
- Toiletries
- Drugs
- First help equipment
- Bug spray and sunscreen
- Instruments
- Leisure (books, video games, films, toys for teenagers)
- Outside recreation gear
- Electronics and chargers
- Pots, pans, and dishes
- Paper towels
- Groceries
- Flashlights
- Folding chairs
- Mattress sheets
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Pet gear
- RV leveling blocks
- Sewer hose and adapter
- Freshwater hose
- RV surge protector
Don’t know what else you may think about including to your packing checklist? This complete RV packing checklist will assist.
Concerns for Tenting in Illinois
Renting an RV and packing it up are simply the primary steps. The subsequent factor you have to do? Be sure to perceive the ins and out of RVing in Illinois. Usually talking, issues are just about the identical from one state to a different with regards to tenting, however there’s some data it’s best to have that’s particular to RV tenting in Illinois.
As an example, in Illinois, no rig could be longer than 60 toes complete (together with the tow automobile). Trailers should be 53 toes or shorter, and motorhomes cannot exceed 45 toes in size. In all circumstances, RVs should be not more than 8.5 huge and 15.5 toes tall.
Towing a trailer behind your bumper-pull or fifth wheels is allowed in Illinois so long as the overall rig size doesn’t exceed the aforementioned 60 toes. All trailers over 3,000 kilos should have brakes.
It’s additionally vital to notice that trailers should not permitted on boulevards in and across the metropolis of Chicago.
Discovering Campgrounds
Clearly, you will have a spot to park your RV. That is the place Illinois campgrounds come into play. From luxurious parks to rustic campgrounds, and from RV parks in the course of town to state park campgrounds in the course of nowhere, there really is a campground for everybody on this superior state.
Exploring Public Campgrounds in Illinois
First, let’s focus on the general public tenting choices in Illinois. These embrace state park campgrounds and nationwide forest campsites, that are a few of the extra inexpensive choices for RV tenting in Illinois. Simply don’t go in anticipating a whole lot of facilities and also you’re certain to be happy with these stunning tenting spots.
Nationwide Forest Tenting
Curious concerning the nationwide forest in Illinois? Shawnee Nationwide Forest is a lovely place the place you’ll be able to escape town and reconnect with Mom Nature whereas mountaineering, tenting, and extra.
RV tenting in Shawnee Nationwide Forest consists of each dispersed campsites and developed campgrounds. The perfect place to park your RV whereas exploring the forest is the Oak Level Campground at Lake Glendale Recreation Space. Situated within the middle of the forest, the campground boasts lake entry, campsites with electrical energy, a ship ramp, and flush bathrooms.
State Park Tenting
State park tenting can also be a superb alternative. The state parks in Illinois characteristic lakes, caves, waterfalls, and extra. They’re ultimate locations to hike, swim, kayak, fish, and benefit from the nice outdoor. They’re additionally excellent for tenting.
Our favourite Illinois state park tenting is present in Starved Rock State Park. This park options distinctive waterfalls, pretty mountaineering trails, and a campground with potable water, a dump station, and electrical hookups.
Different nice Illinois state parks embrace Pere Marquette State Park and Large Metropolis State Park.
Exploring Personal Campgrounds and RV Parks
Personal campgrounds are one other nice choice for RV tenting in Illinois. Some are primary, with easy facilities equivalent to showers and dump stations. Others are beautiful resorts with luxurious glamping alternatives. This implies you’ll be able to select an RV park that completely fits your tenting fashion.
Considered one of our favourite RV parks in Illinois is Sundown Lakes Resort in Hillsdale. This stunning campground has been round for the reason that Seventies, and when you go to, you’ll perceive why folks preserve going again. Right here you’ll discover a pretty lake with loads of alternatives for water recreation, sports activities courts, a health middle, and extra!
Sycamore RV Resort is one other nice decide. This DeKalb County park is quiet and peaceable, with an onsite retailer, clear showers, laundry services, and pleasant workers. You possibly can fish, benefit from the sunshine on the swimming seaside, or play sports activities whereas visiting this campground.
Boondocking in Illinois
Are you RV tenting in Illinois on a finances? Probably the greatest methods to save cash is to decide on Illinois boondocking as an alternative of paid campgrounds. The state has a couple of superior boondocking spots.
Considered one of our favourite boondocking spots within the state is Jackson Falls Dispersed Tenting in Shawnee Nationwide Forest. This spot is admittedly just for very small trailers and campervans, however it’s stunning, free, and close to some wonderful mountaineering and climbing.
Researching Campground Choices and Making Reservations
The choices listed above are superior, however they’re removed from the one locations to camp in Illinois. For much more glorious choices and to e-book on-line, strive looking websites equivalent to RoverPass, BookOutdoors, Campspot, and The Dyrt. You may additionally take a look at Harvest Hosts and Hipcamp for some significantly distinctive campsites that you simply received’t discover anyplace else.
Planning Your Itinerary
Alright, now it’s time to begin planning your itinerary. There may be a lot to see and do in Illinois, you undoubtedly received’t have any hassle discovering cool issues so as to add to your to-do checklist. Whether or not you’re absorbing the fast-paced metropolis lifetime of Chicago or enjoyable in one of many state’s many rural areas, you’re going to have a tremendous time.
Options and Sights in Illinois
Each journey ought to embrace at the least one scenic drive. Taking such a drive actually places you in contact with the gorgeous and distinctive options of that place and permits you to discover hidden gems. Our favourite scenic byway in Illinois? The completely beautiful Nice River Highway.
Whether or not you cease by them whereas taking a scenic drive or make a degree of touring to them, you’ll additionally wish to add a few of Illinois’ iconic landmarks to your itinerary. Willis Tower in Chicago is a good one, as is the aforementioned Starved Rock State Park.
Illinois’ nationwide websites are additionally must-see points of interest. Considered one of our favorites is the Lincoln Dwelling Nationwide Historic Web site the place you’ll be able to study all about our sixteenth president with a enjoyable and informative tour.
Festivals, Gala’s, and Occasions in Illinois
Wanting so as to add a bit extra pleasure to your Illinois journey? Why not take a look at a native occasion? Illinois hosts various glorious festivals, performances, and festivals all year long.
Unsure how to decide on an occasion? A few of our favorites embrace Lilac Time in Lombard in Could, Edwardsville Route 66 Competition in Edwardsville in June, Nice River Tug Fest in Port Byron in August, and Popeye Parade and Picnic in Chester in September.
Exploring Outside Actions
Exploring the good outdoor might be the perfect a part of RV tenting in Illinois. Due to this fact, it would be best to make certain to construct time for it into your schedule. Whether or not you favor hitting the paths, having fun with the water, or watching native wildlife, you’re in for a deal with whereas in Illinois.
Mountain climbing, Biking and Nature Trails
Probably the greatest methods to actually see the fantastic thing about Illinois is to move out on one of many state’s many trails. Mountain climbing is one approach to go about this, however many desire driving a motorcycle. Both method, you’re certain to take pleasure in your time exploring Illinois pure areas.
Hikers will love the paths under:
In the meantime, cyclists may desire one of many following:
Don’t assume any of those trails is best for you? That’s okay! Head to AllTrails and use the search perform to search out the proper hike or bike experience for you.
Fishing, Boating, and Water Actions
Clearly, you will need to reap the benefits of the entire stunning water present in Illinois. Whether or not you favor boating, fishing, swimming, or in search of out waterfalls, there’s an Illinois water-based exercise that you simply’re going to adore.
For all of the anglers on the market, now we have to suggest in search of out a couple of of Illinois’ wonderful fishing spots. Rend Lake close to Mount Vernon is one in every of our favorites, however we additionally recognize that the state affords entry to Lake Michigan and the entire fish discovered there.
Hoping to move to the seaside? Regardless of not being close to the ocean, Illinois truly has a couple of superior seashores to select from. Our favourite is positioned inside Illinois Seashore State Park on the shore of Lake Michigan, however Dawn Park in Lake Bluff additionally occurs to be a superb seaside for watching the dawn.
If waterfalls are what you’re after, you’ll be completely satisfied to study there are a number of of these as properly. We’ve talked about Starved Rock State Park a couple of instances as an excellent place to search out falls, and the aforementioned Jackson Falls in Shawnee Nationwide Forest are fantastic as properly. We additionally love Thunder Bay Falls and Large’s Bathtub Falls.
Wildlife Viewing and Pictures
Due to the entire stunning pure areas scattered throughout the state, Illinois is house to a whole lot of fantastic wildlife equivalent to foxes, deer, raccoons, and plenty of varieties of birds. You possibly can head to any of the various state parks or the Shawnee Nationwide Forest to see a few of these pleasant critters.
Different nice locations to do some wildlife watching embrace Crab Orchard Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, Cache River State Pure Space, and Midewin Nationwide Tallgrass Prairie.
Household-Pleasant Actions and Sights
Trying to go to Illinois with youngsters? Rockford and Springfield are each glorious locations to take a look at as a household. In fact, there are the various family-friendly points of interest present in Chicago as properly, and the parks and different pure areas we listed above are superior for teenagers too.
Listed below are a few of our favourite points of interest for teenagers in Illinois.
Historic Websites and Museums
We love including an academic facet to our journeys, particularly once we journey with youngsters. Probably the greatest methods to do that is by visiting NPS websites. In Illinois, the Pullman Nationwide Monument is one such website and a good way to study a little bit of tremendous fascinating historical past. For extra historical past, you would additionally go to the Lincoln Dwelling Nationwide Historic Web site, which we talked about earlier than.
One other nice approach to squeeze some studying into your getaway? Museums, in fact! Illinois is house to tons of excellent museums. A few of our favorites embrace the Museum of Science and Trade in Chicago, the Area Museum in Chicago, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.
Amusement Park, Zoos, and Wildlife Refuges
You may additionally select to go to one in every of Illinois’ superior amusement parks. Six Flags Nice America outdoors of Chicago affords tons of thrills, in addition to some kiddie rides for the youthful set. In the meantime, Raging Waves Waterpark in Yorkville is the largest waterpark within the state and provides friends a good way to chill off in the summertime.
Much more household enjoyable could be discovered on the zoos in Illinois. We particularly love Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo and the Shedd Aquarium, however Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield can also be good, as is Cosley Zoo in Wheaton.
Security and Preparedness when RV Tenting in Illinois
Clearly, it would be best to be ready for any points that will come up whereas RV tenting in Illinois. Because of this, we extremely suggest familiarizing your self with the kind of extreme climate that you would see throughout your go to. It’s additionally good to know what sorts of wildlife you may come throughout. Understanding this stuff will will let you correctly put together.
Climate Circumstances and Pure Catastrophe Preparedness
In case you go to within the summertime, you received’t must take care of any of the winter climate that Illinois can see. That mentioned, you’ll nonetheless wish to be ready for the midwestern storms that may hit within the spring and summer season. These thunderstorms can carry harmful lightning, giant hail, robust winds, flooding, and even tornadoes.
The perfect methods to organize for these climate occasions embrace utilizing a climate app with push notifications, packing a “bug out” bag with flashlights, a radio, and different necessities, and at all times figuring out the place the closest storm shelter is. It’s additionally a good suggestion to keep away from parking your RV in areas which are recognized to flood.
Wildlife Encounters and Precautions
Thankfully, Illinois doesn’t play host to an entire lot of harmful wildlife. That mentioned, it would be best to be careful for rattlesnakes, copperhead snakes, and black widow spiders. Moreover, for those who occur to see a skunk or a river otter, make sure you preserve your distance, as these tremendous lovable critters can truly be fairly harmful.
Along with wildlife, additionally, you will wish to actively keep away from toxic vegetation present in Illinois. These embrace poison ivy, poison oak, and different comparable vegetation.