Compare campervans, motorhomes and RVs to rent in Illinois, listed by private owners and local rental businesses. See prices, photos and reviews for RV rental in the USA, then book online with insurance included.
Illinois puts Chicago’s skyline within reach of the original Route 66, the sandstone canyons of Starved Rock and the rolling hills of Galena — a genuine mix of city and Midwest countryside from one pickup point. Enter your Illinois pickup details on the search page and you’ll see insured RVs, motorhomes and camper vans listed by owners and local operators near you.
Every vehicle is listed by its owner — private owners and local rental businesses — and booked through our partner Outdoorsy, with insurance and payment protection on every booking.
RV, Motorhome and Camper Van Rental in Illinois
The choice runs from compact camper vans that suit Chicago’s dense city streets to full-size Class A motorhomes with a kitchen, bathroom and slide-outs. A camper van is the easier choice for anything touching downtown Chicago; a larger motorhome is fine once you’re on I-55, I-80 or I-90, which put most of the state within a half-day’s drive. Most pickup points sit in the suburbs rather than downtown itself.
Rental cost depends mainly on vehicle class, season and rental length — a camper van is consistently the cheaper option, a Class A or large travel trailer the most expensive, and per-night rates usually drop the longer you book. Summer weekends push demand and prices up across the state; enter your dates above for a live quote rather than a generic average.
Pickup cities in Illinois
- Chicago — the only major pickup point in the state, well placed for Route 66, Starved Rock and Galena alike.
Best road trips in Illinois
- Starved Rock State Park — about 95 miles southwest of Chicago, under 2 hours. Sandstone canyons carved by glacial meltwater, 14 with waterfalls, an easy day trip or overnight.
- Route 66 through Illinois — the historic route runs about 300 miles from Chicago to the Missouri border. Classic diners, roadside attractions and small-town Americana; 2–3 days covers the state’s stretch properly.
- Galena — about 165 miles northwest of Chicago, roughly 2.5 hours. Rolling hills, historic downtown and a genuinely different landscape from the flat prairie most of the state is known for; worth a night or two rather than a same-day return.
- Springfield — about 200 miles southwest, roughly 3.5 hours. Illinois’s capital and the heart of Lincoln historic sites.
- The Mississippi River towns — running along the state’s western border, reachable via Galena in the north or further south toward Quincy, a scenic add-on for a longer trip.
Driving around Illinois
Chicago’s downtown traffic and tolled expressways are worth planning around with a larger rig; most itineraries base at a suburban campground and visit the city by car or transit rather than parking an RV downtown. Illinois is otherwise flat and straightforward to drive, with a dense interstate network linking Chicago to the rest of the state. Winters bring genuine snow and cold, especially with lake-effect conditions near Chicago; most RV travel here runs April through October.
When to travel
Late spring through October is peak season, with summer weekends the busiest stretch for Starved Rock and the Route 66 corridor. Fall brings good color, especially around Galena’s hills. Winter camping is very limited given the cold and lake-effect snow risk near Chicago.
RV rental near you — other locations
Missouri · Washington · or search any USA location on the main RV rental search page.
RV rental Illinois — FAQs
Can I drive an RV into downtown Chicago?
It’s legal but impractical — tolled expressways and dense traffic make it easier to base at a suburban campground and reach downtown by car or public transit instead.
Where can I pick up an RV in Illinois?
Owners and operators list vehicles across the Chicago metro, mostly in the suburbs. Widening your search radius shows the full spread of vehicles near you.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving an RV around Chicago?
Probably. The Illinois Tollway is all-electronic, so there are no toll booths to stop at. You can use an I-PASS or E-ZPass transponder, or pay online by plate within 14 days of travel, which is available for rental vehicles. Ask the owner how tolls are handled on your booking before you collect the vehicle. See the Illinois Tollway Pay By Plate page.
How far is Starved Rock State Park from Chicago?
Starved Rock is about 95 miles southwest of Chicago, roughly an hour and three-quarters via I-80, and it makes an easy first night out of the city. The park has a campground, and the Illinois DNR lists camping reservations on its park page. It is popular at weekends and in autumn, so book ahead. See Illinois DNR.
Planning a road trip? See our Route 66 RV road trip guide, with a day-by-day route, where to stay and driving tips, or browse more road trips.