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

[Matt_Colie]

What we did on a recent visit to MS&I was over night at the Cabela's in Hammond and come morning go up to MS&I and park in the lot to the south and west of the building. We could have gotten public transportation from there to Field and such, but we were just there for that day.

Matt

[Parrothead_Mike]

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.

With that said, downtown Chicago is a beautiful city. The museums and Navy Pier, while not in crime free areas, aren't any worse than any other large city. I've walked Michigan Avenue, visited the museums and Chicago Art Institute, and never experienced any kind of problem....even at night. Certain neighborhoods may be a different story, but downtown, including the museum areas, are relatively calm.

[Lauren]

I won't go into the politics here (but I also lived IN Chicago for 4 1/2 years) but it is a very violent town. I only saw one murder though. And I think they have very strict gun laws - tells you how good the laws are.

[RVUSA]

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.

[Lauren]

DW and I grew up 40 miles west of Chicago and have gone back with the 5er only once. Stayed in Sycamore - OK place.....just do not use the guy with the military name they recommend for repairs. (He lied to me about clearing a repair with Good Sam and I got nailed about $500 - I had a "dicsussion" with him and got about 75% of it back).

But that is 60 long miles from Chicago and closest commuter train is either Elburn or Geneva.

Over the years I have followed any thread on this and always the same thing - nada anything close. The Dunes, up north someplace around Fox Lake or like Sycamore.

[Parrothead_Mike]

Camping in NW Indiana or SW Michigan and taking the train into Chicago will be much better than staying west or north of Chicago. The train takes you right into downtown.

http://www.mysouthshoreline.com/

http://www.nictd.com/systemmap.html

[gxceb0t]

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

[D___M]

We had to attend an event in Whiting, Ind. just below Chicago and we stayed at Indiana Dunes State Park also. It was a nice park right on the lake. As I recall, it was electric hookups only. But we only had to stay a couple of nights so we were not concerned.

[jim_isham]

earlvillestu wrote:
Indiana Dunes State Park is very close to the Dune Park station of the South Shore Line, which runs trains to downtown Chicago. Also Dunewood Campground of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

X2
Indiana Dunes
Here's a link to the South Shore website.
South Shore
Click on Travel and then ChicagoLand. There you'll see a list of Chicago attractions and how to get to them from Milennium Station downtown.

[ericosmith]

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.

[earlvillestu]

Indiana Dunes State Park is very close to the Dune Park station of the South Shore Line, which runs trains to downtown Chicago. Also Dunewood Campground of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

[Dennis_M_M]

Nothing to speak of close to the city, like most large metro areas land is to costly to support RV parks. You will need to get a fair distance away from the city to the West, there is no East unless you want to stay in Northern Indiana.

One good bet would be the new campground at the Kane County Forest Preserve in Big Rock

It's not too far from I-88 for driving into the city. About 15 miles north you can catch a Metra train in Elburn that will take you into the city.