Parking TC in Chicago?

stickbowjoe wrote:
"Thanks RC...." Joe

lol, forced edit it appears. Sad.


No thanks needed Joe, but you're welcome just the same.

Yep, some folks are just a bit uptight and can't see anything other than the way they 'think' it should be. So it goes.

I've have been to many a dinner party, and for that matter, been involved in lot's and lot's of forum threads, both started and butting in. The conversations that evolve, well, they do just that; they evolve. What do people think? reading 4 pages of the same answers and ideas is interesting? FFS, shoot me then.

Still want to visit Chicago, driving or flying. Wouldn't hesitate to drive there. Hey OP, take pitures!

bfast54 wrote:
Here is what I do, when going to chicago for sight seeing....Park truck at Airport,in South Bend, Ride South shore Railroad in,do my thing ,ride back...

I have driven the Dan Ryan, and all the others Hauling Trailers for Delievery in Wisc,and Minn....You just drive with a Heads Up attitude...like you always should, and,drive Many blocks ahead looking..do not drive during rush hour.

You want interesting...drive around Toronto....or Harrisburg,.......D.C..........

Just remember that Rush hour starts at 00:00 and ends at 24:00 ;) :p

Here is what I do, when going to chicago for sight seeing....Park truck at Airport,in South Bend, Ride South shore Railroad in,do my thing ,ride back...

I have driven the Dan Ryan, and all the others Hauling Trailers for Delievery in Wisc,and Minn....You just drive with a Heads Up attitude...like you always should, and,drive Many blocks ahead looking..do not drive during rush hour.

You want interesting...drive around Toronto....or Harrisburg,.......D.C..........

stickbowjoe wrote:
I am STUNNED to hear that Chicago is not safe.

I was under the impression that most privately-held guns were illegal there, so I assumed it was a peaceful, brotherly-loving paradise.

Huh. :)

Joe

Nothing silly there; I think Mr. Joe is just pointing out the obvious to those that need a little help seeing a big picture. Kinda like mood lighting: it doesn't detract from the main picture and focus, but it highlights the issue fairly well. Good old conversation.

Call it enlightenment. Call it a detour focus session. Call it sarcastic instruction. But don't ever call a Constitutional right 'silly'.


Wife and I have been trying to get to Chicago for years. Lot to see there. Sounds like some savvy advice in this thread too.

camperpaul wrote:
There are two State Parks with easy access to Chicago:

1. Illinois Beach SP in Beach Park (the next town North of Waukegan).

2. Chain o' Lakes SP near Spring Grove/Fox Lake.

Commuter train service (METRA) is available from both parks. As previously stated; DO NOT try to drive in Chicago.

Metra offers a "weekend pass" for $7.50 (unlimited rides).

While you are in the area, take the train out to Oak Park where you can take a walking tour of my paper route (almost every house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright).

Edit to add:
"Trucks and RVs are not allowed on Lake Shore Drive or any 'Boulevard'"

not just Lake Shore Drive not allowed on any Drive and some parts of I90/94.

Did it, don't plan to do it again. Ended up parked off of South Lake Shore Drive just south of McCormick Place in the spaces for the park and trail along the shoreline there. Spent alot of time reading Height limit signs when I drove through downtown.

Chicago drivers make Californian's seem tame.

Led 67 wrote:
X10 on South Side Chicago and whatever you do if you find your self sidetracked into Gary IN. GTHO pronto. I used to run a Semi in and out of that area and yes it can get pretty bad on the South Side and worse in Gary.
However there are many sights to see in downtown and other areas as well that are very nice, not to mention the diversity of ethnic quisine, so just watch where you are and use your judgement to stay safe.
Good Luck

I must have missed the bad side of Gary, I replaced my brake pads on the front of my truck at a Autozone on Grant St, in Gary.

67avion wrote:
I live in Illinois and I wouldn't spend time in Chicago without an armed guard. Actually they don't observe the 2nd Amendment for citizens, preferring to let the gangbangers have all the guns. And I'd have lost my mind if you found me tooling around in my TC on Michigan Ave.

Has anyone mentioned that they sold the rights to parking meters to some sketchy outfit that jacked the rates and sent back some walking around money to the pols. Woe unto you if you get a parking ticket.

OTOH you may make it unscathed. Not likely, but stranger things have happened. If you get through OK then you should try Detroit. Now that's the big leagues.

Been there, done that. Michigan is a mess, looped through there several times while Dawn went to Navy Pier.

I am STUNNED to hear that Chicago is not safe.

I was under the impression that most privately-held guns were illegal there, so I assumed it was a peaceful, brotherly-loving paradise.

Huh. :)

Joe

I'll throw in one more reason to stay out of the city: there are numerous low clearance bridges throughout the city. Some are in the downtown area but at least one is right off an exit from the southbound Dan Ryan.

Unless you are really good at backing up through traffic (or always wanted an open-top camper), leave it and take the train.

Hi I asked a friend and here's his response

I have several suggestions for campgrounds, but as for parking downtown Chicago, I don't- never drove into that part of the city in 32 years. There are some limitations on trucks in the city, particularly along Lake Shore Drive, that he should be aware of. I'd recommend for his parking questions, he post in the "campgrounds & parks" (similar name) section of the forum. There are others on here who are from the Chicago area who may be able to give him some ideas regarding parking.

As for campgrounds, his best bets will be a good 30-40 miles outside the city. (There are none in the city of Chicago to my knowledge.) If he is traveling there in the winter, he will have trouble finding much of anything closer than Utica, IL; very few northern IL campgrounds are open off-season. OK, assuming he's going during camping season, I'd recommend either Indiana Dunes State Park (near Michigan City, Indiana) or Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, IL. Both are near commuter rail lines into the city (which is by far the best way to travel into the city, IMO, and will make the parking question moot.) Both are popular, Indiana Dunes especially, and he will need advance reservations. Sites have electric hookups and the CGs have showers; no other hookups available, unless things have changed in the last 3 years. If he wants FHUs, he'll have to go a bit farther - Chicago NW KOA in Union, IL or (I think it's called) Hickory Hollow - something like that - in Utica, IL would be best bets there. The state parks are much nicer, IMO. Hope this helps!

I live in Chicago have lived here for fifty years (in the actual city, not the suburbs). I think it is the greatest city in the world. Many things to do and see and more great restaurants than you could visit in a lifetime. And yes, like all major cities there are parts that you would not want to be in. I agree with some of the previous posters it is better to take public transport to get around the city, especially when you are visiting the city center. If you must drive into the city. Your parking choices street parking or surface parking lots. There are mostly parking structures in the area around Willys (by the way we Chicagoans still refer to the building as Sears Tower) with very low clearance (<7'-0"). All street parking is paid parking by the quarter hour, I believe with a maximum parking limit of two hours. I would not park there unless you get lucky and find a really large spot to pull into. There are some surface parking lots just across the river to the west of Willys Tower, in Greek town. You could park there. You can usually park for about $20 for the day and walk to Willys it is around a mile walk. The nice thing about parking here is that you are in the middle of Greek Town. This area is along Halsted St. just to the west of downtown and Willys. This area is famous for the many great Greek restaurants that are located here. All of them very authentic. I would highly suggest lunch or dinner there. There are five main restaurants along this strip, all of them are on my recommended list. Make sure you get the flaming cheese appetizer when you go there. This dish was invented in Chicago at the Parthenon restaurant. The Parthenon is my favorite but a bit more upscale than the other four. Personally for me, Giordano's and the other famous place Gino's East are over rated (tourist place). Personally I like Connie's pizza myself.
The whole area is very congested especially during the week and the drivers are pretty aggressive, especially around RVs.
As far as camping pezvela is on the money about Illinois Beach State Park and Chain o' Lakes State Park. Water and dump stations are open by the end March early April. If you have any questions PM me.