camping close to chicago

[elidodge1]

We would like to visit Chicago in the summer and want to stay on the out skirts and use puplic transit to go to museaums navy pier ect. We are coming from the east coast so would like to stay on that side of town poss I 90 corrider. Thanks Bobby

[EddieZ]

Indiana Dunes State Park is a beautiful park on the dunes of lake Michigan. You should reserve in advance it's on the East side of Chicago in Chesterton, Indiana. The commuter train stops there about every hour and go's all the way to Millennium park. When you come out of the train station you will be on Michigan Ave. close to cloud gate We do this whenever we go to see the Air and Water show at North Ave. Beach.

[dodge_guy]

qtla9111 wrote:
We arrived to Chicago at 3 p.m. Traffic was a mess because of construction. Not a hard drive, just slow. We have friends who live off of 35th St. and they insisted we stay at their house. They have a short but wide driveway behind their house and all the cars and the trailer fit.

Thanks for all your advice though. Chicago looks like "my kinda town".

Glad you made it! you will enjoy it I`m sure. as with anyone (me) who lives in or near a major city for a long time you get to hate it.

I don`t know what kind of sightseeing you will be doing, but make a trip to the Museum Of Science and Industry. very great place!

[qtla9111]

We arrived to Chicago at 3 p.m. Traffic was a mess because of construction. Not a hard drive, just slow. We have friends who live off of 35th St. and they insisted we stay at their house. They have a short but wide driveway behind their house and all the cars and the trailer fit.

Thanks for all your advice though. Chicago looks like "my kinda town".

[lfloom]

My son is in Grad School at University of Chicago. I have never driven to visit him (because we are in So Cal) though I would like to take an extended road/camping trip and include Chicago area and a quick visit with him.

I have stayed in Hyde Park, South Loop and near the convention center. I never felt at all threatened or uncomfortable. I am sure there are bad neighborhoods, as there are in most major cities. But, it is a fabulous town, with much to see and do.

[dewey02]

ericosmith wrote:
It's going to be an awfully long commute involving several modes of public transportation if you're going to plan to camp and see downtown sites. You'll likely spend almost as much time commuting as you will site seeing.

The above post is incorrect information.
See the posts about Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore.
Since it is a commuter line, the train has runs beginning early in the AM and the last returning trip is around midnight, but there are also many throughout the day. The ride from Dunes Park Station to downtown is a bit over one hour. We have FREQUENTLY taken the South Shore into Chicago for a day trip. You can arrive early, stay all day, and return home as late or early as you want to.

The South Shore Commuter Train stops very near the Dunes Parks, and it takes you right into downtown Chicago, where you can walk to sites and shops in the Loop, on State Street and Michigan Avenune. Along the way to downtown, it also stops very near (easily walkable) the Museum of Science and Industry, and also near the Museum Campus (Adler Planetarium, Field Museum of Natural History, and Shedd Aquarium).

[tbred]

dodge guy wrote:

JohnG4706 wrote:

RVUSA wrote:
I just finished a job in Champaign, Ill. For 8 months I read the Chicago news. I would not stay go into the Central to NW section of Chi town unless I absolutely had too. Each and every weekend 5-7 people died from gun shot wounds out of the 15-20 people shot. It hasnt stopped even with winter. It's a very violent town, easily passed mobile Al.

Born and raised in Chicago on the North side...the areas to avoid, West of the loop and the South side. The north side is much better...but even that is changing. On the news the last couple of nights, there were problems in the Lincoln Park and Wrigley Field Area. Chinatown is surrounded by bad neighborhoods...

They say the warmer it gets, the more shootings. I only wish they would take target practice and be better shots....it seems that 90% of the time they hit/kill an innocent bystander...

Do your sightseeing during the day and start heading home at dark.

Good Luck.

I agree, the general downtown/loop/lakefront area is nice! when you start getting out past that, that is where it turns.

With all that said, I stay far away from Chicago as much as I can which is to say I only go downtown once every 2 years! just to much aggravation!

I'm with you dodge guy, we're your neighbors just to the west (South Elgin) and avoid the "big" city at all costs!! Much prefer a drive out west.

[dodge_guy]

JohnG4706 wrote:

RVUSA wrote:
I just finished a job in Champaign, Ill. For 8 months I read the Chicago news. I would not stay go into the Central to NW section of Chi town unless I absolutely had too. Each and every weekend 5-7 people died from gun shot wounds out of the 15-20 people shot. It hasnt stopped even with winter. It's a very violent town, easily passed mobile Al.

Born and raised in Chicago on the North side...the areas to avoid, West of the loop and the South side. The north side is much better...but even that is changing. On the news the last couple of nights, there were problems in the Lincoln Park and Wrigley Field Area. Chinatown is surrounded by bad neighborhoods...

They say the warmer it gets, the more shootings. I only wish they would take target practice and be better shots....it seems that 90% of the time they hit/kill an innocent bystander...

Do your sightseeing during the day and start heading home at dark.

Good Luck.

I agree, the general downtown/loop/lakefront area is nice! when you start getting out past that, that is where it turns.

With all that said, I stay far away from Chicago as much as I can which is to say I only go downtown once every 2 years! just to much aggravation!

[JohnG4706]

RVUSA wrote:
I just finished a job in Champaign, Ill. For 8 months I read the Chicago news. I would not stay go into the Central to NW section of Chi town unless I absolutely had too. Each and every weekend 5-7 people died from gun shot wounds out of the 15-20 people shot. It hasnt stopped even with winter. It's a very violent town, easily passed mobile Al.

Born and raised in Chicago on the North side...the areas to avoid, West of the loop and the South side. The north side is much better...but even that is changing. On the news the last couple of nights, there were problems in the Lincoln Park and Wrigley Field Area. Chinatown is surrounded by bad neighborhoods...

They say the warmer it gets, the more shootings. I only wish they would take target practice and be better shots....it seems that 90% of the time they hit/kill an innocent bystander...

Do your sightseeing during the day and start heading home at dark.

Good Luck.

[qtla9111]

gxceb0t wrote:
There is always the mccormick place marshalling yards. Cheap and right downtown, but just a big empty parking lot without hookups.

It looks like we will be staying at this place. It looks convenient, has public transit, is secure and reasonable at $30 a night.

If anyone has anymore info on this place or another good option for Chicago, please post it.

Thanks in advance.

[Sue_Bee]

I have to emphasize that there will only be a tent campground at Northerly Island, and it will be limited to certain times, and most sites will be limited to various youth groups. Campground does not equal RV park.

Sun times

Northerly Island is currently open to camping four times a year, with 40 spots available for reservations by families, individuals or groups. That’s 160 camping opportunities.


After the improvements, 900 camping slots will be added to the mix. That is, camping will be offered six times annually with 100 slots available with another 300 reservations set aside for children’s groups.

Camping slots will be earmarked for “at risk” inner city kids, many of whom have never before had the opportunity to camp out.

The 300 camping slots for kids will be reserved for 12- to 15-year-olds in the Wilderness Camping Program and timed to coincide with schedule breaks for year- round schools. Participants will get two weeks of instruction in sailing, survival skills, shelter and fire building and leave with a sleeping bag, a fishing pole and a compass.

The idea of the island is not to have a bunch of RVs and assorted vehicles there, it is earmarked now to be a natural area, and, also, since trucks are not allowed on Lake Shore Drive, how would any towed RV get there?

[journey15]

texacokat wrote:
I must politely disagree with Jason in Moline. I fear the Indiana tollway more than Chicago gangs! Haha

The Northerly Island cg is definitely in the works. Good friends of ours owns a cg ( near Moline btw! ) and report that Chicago Park District is emailing all the listservs they can find...looking for vendors to contract for cg operations, reservations, food service, etc.

Check out these articles

Http://www.chicagonow.com/chicagoland-outdoors/2012/08/camping-comes-to-downtown-chicago/

Http://www.cbslocal.com/2012/08/16/plans-for-northerly-island-park-set-to-go-ahead/

Cg owner friend predicts lots of camping spaces will be reserved by tourists parking for the day. Cheaper than downtown public parking AND this cg will have a shuttle to all the popular sites!

And Lauren, I've only been in Naperville since 1989...and this town is nothing like it was then. Can't imagine how the old timers feel...

The CBS local link does not work.

[texacokat]

I must politely disagree with Jason in Moline. I fear the Indiana tollway more than Chicago gangs! Haha

The Northerly Island cg is definitely in the works. Good friends of ours owns a cg ( near Moline btw! ) and report that Chicago Park District is emailing all the listservs they can find...looking for vendors to contract for cg operations, reservations, food service, etc.

Check out these articles

Http://www.chicagonow.com/chicagoland-outdoors/2012/08/camping-comes-to-downtown-chicago/

Http://www.cbslocal.com/2012/08/16/plans-for-northerly-island-park-set-to-go-ahead/

Cg owner friend predicts lots of camping spaces will be reserved by tourists parking for the day. Cheaper than downtown public parking AND this cg will have a shuttle to all the popular sites!

And Lauren, I've only been in Naperville since 1989...and this town is nothing like it was then. Can't imagine how the old timers feel...

[jason4598]

I drive across the Indiana toll road and I 80 in Illinois every day early in the afternoon. There is generally no traffic issues.

[Itching2go]

jim isham wrote:
If the OP comes in from the east, on the Indiana Toll Road, they could leave at the Chesterton/Valparaiso Exit and it's 7 miles north to Indiana Dunes State Park.

X2
The OP is coming in from Maryland, presumably on the Indiana toll road. Staying in northern Indiana would mean they avoid the nasty traffic west of the Gary/Hammond area. Indiana Dunes is a great place and close to the South Shore to get into downtown Chicago, but it's not the only campground in the area if there are no sites available, or full hookups are desired.