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need a place to overnight in Chicago. UPDATED

btilfan
Explorer
Explorer
going to drop off the granddaughter at her dorm (Roosevelt University) near grant park then return the next morning to pick her and all of her stuff up and return home.
We will need a parking lot or truckstop to spend the night while she packs.
does anyone know of place where we could safely spend the night.

UPDATED...
Made the trip, navigated downtown between the EL posts. to the school. tight but doable. then spent the night In Hyatt parking lot about 15 miles west for $25. Was able to park in the street for about 2 hours while she packed up and loaded into the MoHo.
Roosevelt university Chicago.
Whew!
2007 Damon Astoria Pacifica
My next hobby.
32 REPLIES 32

Jaybird
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Explorer
THE DOWNTOWN HILTON!!! 🙂
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tropical36
Explorer
Explorer
Wadcutter wrote:
Before you make the trip in a motor home are you sure you will be allowed by the city of Chicago to take a motor home down the streets near Roosevelt U? There are a lot of streets that do not permit large vehicles such as RVs or even pickup trucks. RU is in the downtown area where traffic is controlled. They strictly enforce those prohibitions against larger vehicles and pickups. CPD won't hesitate to stop and write tickets and a ticket is not like a permit to continue. They'll get you out of the area. It would be pretty discouraging for you to drive from NE just to get there and find out CPD won't let you get close to RU.
Just a suggestion that you might want to be positive you can do it before you try.

Yeah and who knows for sure.
Last time I was downtown, there were two large class A's parked on the street around the 6 or 700 block of S. Wabash. Not sure what they were doing there, but most likely not for R and R.
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."

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btilfan
Explorer
Explorer
never thought of street restrictions. I know they have buses that load and unload in that spot. I'll have to check that out.
2007 Damon Astoria Pacifica
My next hobby.

Wadcutter
Nomad
Nomad
Mike134 wrote:
Wadcutter brings up a good point about B trucks and larger. Not sure it applies to RV plates. How tall are you?
https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/10180/213749/Chicago_FreightSystemPlanningInfoMAP_20120229_version1-0r.pdf/80759ecf-74d7-446f-92dd-2f87dcf7df98

RV plates use to be exempt, treated like passenger car plates. Guys would buy a pickup, put a topper on it, call it an RV, and get RV plates. If they licensed it as a truck they were restricted but licensed as an RV they were allowed. It wasn't legal as just putting a topper on a pickup doesn't make it an RV but there were a number who tried it. Many of them got the ticket for improper registration so they didn't win.
Camped in every state

Mike134
Explorer
Explorer
Wadcutter brings up a good point about B trucks and larger. Not sure it applies to RV plates. How tall are you?

https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/10180/213749/Chicago_FreightSystemPlanningInfoMAP_20120229_version1-0r.pdf/80759ecf-74d7-446f-92dd-2f87dcf7df98
2019 F150 4X4 1903 payload
2018 Adventurer 21RBS 7700 GVWR.

Wadcutter
Nomad
Nomad
Before you make the trip in a motor home are you sure you will be allowed by the city of Chicago to take a motor home down the streets near Roosevelt U? There are a lot of streets that do not permit large vehicles such as RVs or even pickup trucks. RU is in the downtown area where traffic is controlled. They strictly enforce those prohibitions against larger vehicles and pickups. CPD won't hesitate to stop and write tickets and a ticket is not like a permit to continue. They'll get you out of the area. It would be pretty discouraging for you to drive from NE just to get there and find out CPD won't let you get close to RU.
Just a suggestion that you might want to be positive you can do it before you try.
Camped in every state

btilfan
Explorer
Explorer
Will probably make the trip at the end of the month. have not decided on a place to stay yet but looks like I have options.
2007 Damon Astoria Pacifica
My next hobby.

dedmiston
Moderator
Moderator
btilfan wrote:
going to drop off the granddaughter at her dorm (Roosevelt University) near grant park then return the next morning to pick her and all of her stuff up and return home.
We will need a parking lot or truckstop to spend the night while she packs.
does anyone know of place where we could safely spend the night.


Hi btilfan - When is your trip? Are you there already this weekend? I'd love to close this thread once you've found your haven and moved your granddaughter.

Good luck to you.

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captbru
Explorer
Explorer
McCormick Place downtown Chicago shows overnight RV parking in lot B,
no hookups. Worth a phone call


McCormick Place

tropical36
Explorer
Explorer
Something wrong here, so we'll skip this one, with dressing up my previous post....
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."

07 Revolution LE 40E_Spartan MM_06 400HP C9 CAT_Allison 3000.

Dinghy_2010 Jeep Wrangler JKU ISLANDER.

1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal Chevy Model 6350 (Sold)

tropical36
Explorer
Explorer
Mike134...He's looking for a safe place to park overnight. I grew up in Chicago and that is NOT someplace I'd park overnight. But you knew that from 1000 miles away. My suggestion of the truckstop/parking on the interstate 30 minutes away still stands.
Hey, I'm thinking a Walmart is a Walmart and with them having security if needed.
I do know Chicago very well from spending time there years ago. Also with a visit back, not so long ago, but can't say I'm familiar with all the hazardous places or safe havens.
However if this particular WM has a questionable reputation for safety, then by all means, the OP should seek shelter, elsewhere.
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."

07 Revolution LE 40E_Spartan MM_06 400HP C9 CAT_Allison 3000.

Dinghy_2010 Jeep Wrangler JKU ISLANDER.

1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal Chevy Model 6350 (Sold)

Mike134
Explorer
Explorer

I live over a 1000 miles from there, but what's that got to do with it?

He's looking for a safe place to park overnight. I grew up in Chicago and that is NOT someplace I'd park overnight. But you knew that from 1000 miles away. My suggestion of the truckstop/parking on the interstate 30 minutes away still stands.
2019 F150 4X4 1903 payload
2018 Adventurer 21RBS 7700 GVWR.

tropical36
Explorer
Explorer
Mike134 wrote:
tropical36 wrote:
btilfan wrote:
OK, she has quite a bit as she is not returning, that's where the moho will come in handy, lot's of room.
I get it, everything is closed. I was hoping for a walmart or truckstop somewhere within about a 20 mile radius. We'll drop her off, go spend the night and return next morning to pick her up. If we can't take moho it will take two cars and a motel.

thank for all the suggestions.

OK, get on the horn with this Walmart
and for hearing what they have to say. Shouldn't be more than about 10 miles or so, from where you need to be....


Your kidding right? Where do you live from there?

I live over a 1000 miles from there, but what's that got to do with it?
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."

07 Revolution LE 40E_Spartan MM_06 400HP C9 CAT_Allison 3000.

Dinghy_2010 Jeep Wrangler JKU ISLANDER.

1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal Chevy Model 6350 (Sold)

Mike134
Explorer
Explorer
tropical36 wrote:
btilfan wrote:
OK, she has quite a bit as she is not returning, that's where the moho will come in handy, lot's of room.
I get it, everything is closed. I was hoping for a walmart or truckstop somewhere within about a 20 mile radius. We'll drop her off, go spend the night and return next morning to pick her up. If we can't take moho it will take two cars and a motel.

thank for all the suggestions.

OK, get on the horn with this Walmart
and for hearing what they have to say. Shouldn't be more than about 10 miles or so, from where you need to be....


Your kidding right? Where do you live from there?
2019 F150 4X4 1903 payload
2018 Adventurer 21RBS 7700 GVWR.