Camping/Parking around Chicago

Really!!!? Are you sure you were in Chicago? LOL

But seriously. Naperville is more than 15 min. From woodfield mall in Schaumburg. More like 40 minutes!

Great to hear!

Thanks everyone for all of the ideas. We made the trip last weekend and had a great experience.

We went to Schaumburg Mall and then boondocked at the Cracker Barrel in Naperville 15 minutes away. The restaurant is located in a business park so it was very quiet on Saturday night and Sunday.

We purchased a parking pass online for the Adler lot at Soldier Field. No problems driving in on the interstate from Naperville and Lakeshore Drive was busy but not crazy as it was Sunday. Grabbed a taxi at the Aquarium and $7.00 later we were on Michigan Avenue.

It was so easy we vowed to make the trip again!

kknowlton wrote:
I cannot even imagine trying to park an RV in the city, much less drive it in there. Closest CG to Schaumburg I think might be the Chicago/NW KOA out in Union. Do NOT drive in the city with anything more than the toad.

Been there, done that, drove through downtown, too, and a whole lot on Lake Shore Drive. My only beef is that the google navigator doesn't have a "Vehicle Height" feature, which would have made it alot easier.

Usually ended up parking out near soldier field at the parking lot for the park there.

I live across the street from the Paul Wolff campround - we were there last weekend. It is very close to the Metra, but it does not come to the Big Timber location on weekends. Also Paul Wolff does not accept reservations. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions and I'll be happy to try to help you out!

Milt wrote:

You could try Indiana Dunes S P or Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to
park and camp, there's a train station nearby that runs into the city.
There are two casinos in Gary that might allow you to park and again take the train into the city.
Milt

You would still have to drive over 100 miles to get to Woodfield Mall.

You don't want to take the MH into the museums or Navy pier.
They are on Lakeshore DR. I won't drive the truck on that street and that's where the museums and Navy pier are. In places it feels like a three lane road that was converted to four.
At best you could get to Science and Industry Museum Taking Stony Island Ave from the Chicago Skyway, but check with the museum as I think most of their parking is in an underground ramp.
You could try Indiana Dunes S P or Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to
park and camp, there's a train station nearby that runs into the city.
There are two casinos in Gary that might allow you to park and again take the train into the city. I've never been to the casinos so don't know how they're setup.
Good luck with your trip
Milt

Also there is Sycamore RV Resort in Sycamore IL. it is farther out, but still close enough to drive.

I'm not from Chicago and only visited while passing through on work about 20 years ago, so these are just thoughts and I'll let the locals decide how crazy I would be. Idea is only from looking at maps.

I would go in about 5am to beat the traffic and park at the mall. Either actually stay up or at least leave a light on and be ready for the security guard to knock on the door. If you tell them you are waiting on the stores to open and can name a few, I would think they wouldn't give you a problem. You can then do your shopping and take breaks back at the RV. Then either leave about 8pm after the traffic thins back out.

You could even leave the motorhome there for a few hours during the middle of the day while you run down to Michigan Ave. Just wouldn't have the cab pick me up from the motorhome.

A second vote for Paul Wolff campground. I use it every year as a base to visit the kids in Chicago.