Compare campervans, motorhomes and RVs to rent in Chicago, 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.
Chicago puts Indiana Dunes’ Lake Michigan beaches under an hour away, with Wisconsin Dells and the start of Route 66 both realistic for a longer trip. Enter your postcode on the search page, set a collection radius, and you’ll see insured RVs, motorhomes and camper vans from owners and operators across the Chicago area.
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 Chicago
Owners list everything from compact camper vans and Class B RVs to full-size Class A and C motorhomes, and you book whichever vehicle suits your trip through our partner Outdoorsy. See RV rental, motorhome hire and camper van hire for more on picking a size.
Where to camp near Chicago
- Chicago Northwest KOA, Union — full hookups, back-in and pull-through sites.
- Hollywood Casino RV Resort, Joliet — concrete pads, full hookups for big rigs.
- Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort, Volo — a short drive into the metro area.
- Illinois Beach State Park — RV and trailer sites with full hookups on Lake Michigan.
- Starved Rock State Park — about 90 miles southwest via I-80, 133 sites with 30 and 50-amp electric hookups; note a low bridge near the campground approach, so check your vehicle’s clearance before you commit to the route.
Things to see near your Chicago pickup
Before you head out, Millennium Park is free to visit and home to Cloud Gate — better known as “The Bean” — along with the Pritzker Pavilion and the interactive Crown Fountain. Navy Pier juts out into Lake Michigan with a 196-foot Ferris wheel, restaurants and family entertainment. The Magnificent Mile runs alongside both, with more than 450 shops and restaurants within walking distance if you want to stock up before setting off.
Best road trips from Chicago
- Indiana Dunes National Park — about an hour, an easy half-day or full-day trip to Lake Michigan’s beaches and dunes.
- Starved Rock State Park — about 90 miles, less than 2 hours via I-80, 1–2 days. Voted Illinois’ top attraction, with 18 canyons, waterfalls and 13 miles of trails.
- Galena — a scenic drive northwest through increasingly hilly country toward the Mississippi watershed, 2–3 days. Apple River Canyon State Park, about 20 miles from Galena, is a quieter alternative camping base in the same region.
- Wisconsin Dells — about 195 miles, 3 hours, 2–3 days. Waterparks and boat tours through the Dells’ sandstone gorges.
- The start of Route 66 — Chicago is mile zero of the historic highway; the first stretch toward St Louis makes a genuine slice of the full route, 3–5 days.
Driving and parking your RV in Chicago
Most rental RVs stay under 26,001 lbs GVWR, which a standard Illinois driving licence covers without any extra endorsement. Chicago’s downtown surface streets have older underpasses, some clearing less than 13 feet, so it’s worth checking your vehicle’s exact height against the route rather than assuming — the interstates and expressways themselves don’t have this problem. On the expressways, stay in the right lane where possible; Chicago traffic moves fast and tends to tailgate slower vehicles sitting in the left lane. Overnight street parking in Chicago is heavily restricted (RVs over 22 feet can’t park on residential streets, and a 3am to 7am winter ban applies on main streets from 1 December to 1 April), so plan to be at a campground or RV park for the night. Quiet hours for generators and noise run roughly 10pm to 8am across most of the area.
When to travel
Late spring through early fall is the most comfortable season — Chicago winters are cold and many campgrounds close for the season. July and August are busiest around the lakefront and Wisconsin Dells.
RV rental near you — other locations
Wisconsin · Michigan · Illinois · or search any US location on the main RV rental search page.
RV rental Chicago — FAQs
Where can I pick up an RV near Chicago?
Owners list vehicles across the Chicago metro area and into northern Illinois. A 20–35 mile radius in the search shows the full choice.
Can I park or camp somewhere other than a campground?
Some truck stops, Walmart locations and rest areas allow overnight RV parking outside city limits, though rules vary by municipality and it’s always worth checking signage or asking first — this doesn’t include hookups, and overnight street parking within Chicago itself is heavily restricted.
How do I pay Illinois tolls in a rented RV?
Illinois Tollway roads around Chicago are electronic. If you have no I-PASS or E-ZPass, use Pay By Plate: enter the licence plate, payment details and travel dates within 14 days of your trip to avoid fines and fees. It can take up to 30 days for tolls to appear on your account. The Illinois Tollway says this suits rented, borrowed or temporary vehicles. See Illinois Tollway Pay By Plate.
Can I camp in an RV at Indiana Dunes National Park from Chicago?
Yes. Dunewood Campground is in Beverly Shores, Indiana, about 50 miles south-east of downtown Chicago. It has 67 sites, 54 of them drive-in sites for RVs and tents (some with RV length limits). There are no hookups, but there is a dump station. It is open from 1 April to 1 November and booked on Recreation.gov up to six months ahead. See the NPS campground page.
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.