Do I need a special licence to hire a campervan in Chicago?

For most travelers, a special licence is not necessary to hire a campervan in Chicago. A valid driving licence is required, though, to operate any of our vehicles. If you are a non-EU citizen, an International Driving Permit (IDP) may be required in addition to your home country’s driving licence. Additionally, your licence must match the transmission type of the vehicle (manual or automatic). You can find more details about driving licence requirements here.

Are pets allowed in your campervans?

Yes, our campervans are pet-friendly. Just be sure to add the extra cleaning service when booking. This ensures a professional anti-allergy cleaning is carried out after your trip. Please note that only one pet is allowed per campervan, and it must not exceed 30kg in weight. Also, we are not liable for any legal fees related to traveling with pets. If you’re booking through our marketplace, check the “vehicle rules” section to confirm if the vehicle is pet-friendly.

How many people can sleep in a campervan?

The sleeping capacity of our campervans and motorhomes varies depending on the model and size. Our Class C motorhomes can typically accommodate 4 to 8 people, while our Class B campervans can sleep between 2 to 4 people. Vehicles equipped with a rooftop tent generally have space for around 2 people. For a full breakdown of our models and sleeping capacities, click here.

Where can I stay overnight in Chicago with a campervan rental, and is it safe?

If you're exploring Chicago in a campervan rental, it's essential to be aware of the country’s official camping regulations. Many natural areas are legally protected, so using designated overnight parking spots or official campsites is strongly recommended. This not only helps preserve the environment but also ensures a safe and enjoyable experience. For more guidance on safety and responsible camping, click here.

Is it safe to rent a campervan in Chicago? What protection do I have?

We provide three different protection plans to cover any incidents or damages that might occur during your campervan rental. All Indie Campers campervans come with third-party vehicle insurance, and property damage coverage (which varies based on the country). For marketplace rentals, insurance options may differ depending on the host. For further details on campervan insurance, visit this page.

Can I rent a campervan near me?

Yes, our search filter makes it easy to rent a campervan close to your location by using a 60km radius system. Depending on where you're searching from, you can quickly find the nearest Indie Campers campervan rental pick-up centre.

Do your RV rentals in Chicago come with unlimited mileage?

Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers RV rentals in Chicago include unlimited mileage, allowing you to explore freely and make the most of your road trip! Please note that unlimited mileage applies exclusively to Indie Campers RVs and is subject to responsible use.

Campervan and RV Hire in Chicago

Start your Midwest adventure with an RV hire in Chicago, the official beginning of the legendary Route 66. Drive along the shores of the Great Lakes, explore the forests and lakes of Michigan, or follow the Mother Road west through the heart of America. Choose an Indie Campers RV from the wide range of options available, with unlimited miles, convenient kits, and extras for kids or pets to make your journey comfortable and stress-free. Backed by 4.8-star reviews, Indie Campers makes road trips easy across the U.S.

RV Road Trips from Chicago

Chicago is where Route 66 begins. Stand at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Adams Street in Grant Park and you're at mile zero of the most iconic road trip route in America, with 3,900 kilometres of open road running all the way to Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. That fact alone makes Chicago one of the most significant RV departure points in the country.

The practical case extends well beyond Route 66. Indiana Dunes National Park is 50 miles east, a legitimate national park with 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline that most people have never heard of. Door County, Wisconsin sits 280 miles north, a finger of land jutting into Lake Michigan with 300 miles of coastline, 11 lighthouses, and cherry orchards that bloom in May. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is 430 miles northeast, where turquoise water meets 90-foot sandstone cliffs above Lake Superior. Drive northwest and you're in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Drive southwest and Route 66 walks you through small-town Illinois into Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Lollapalooza fills Grant Park in late July with 400,000 attendees. The Chicago Blues Festival runs free in June. The Cubs play at Wrigley Field from April through October and Wrigley is one of the few ballparks worth seeing regardless of your interest in baseball. Chicago is a city built for departures, and Indie Campers puts you on the road from day one.

What to do in Chicago

Top National Parks and Scenic Drives Near Chicago

Indiana Dunes National Park - The most overlooked national park in the Midwest sits 50 miles east of Chicago via the South Shore Line or I-94. Indiana Dunes protects 15,000 acres of Lake Michigan shoreline, including sand dunes rising up to 200 feet above the water and a surprisingly diverse ecosystem of bogs, marshes, prairies, and oak savannas running directly behind the beach. The park has 50 miles of hiking trails and three swimming beaches open in summer. Mount Baldy, the park's largest active dune at 126 feet, offers views of the Chicago skyline from the lakeshore on a clear day. Download the NPS app and save Indiana Dunes offline before arrival; cell coverage is inconsistent on the lakeshore trails.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - 430 miles northeast via I-94 and US-2, Pictured Rocks is one of the most visually striking stretches of shoreline in North America. The park runs 42 miles along the southern shore of Lake Superior, where sandstone cliffs stained red, orange, and green by mineral deposits rise 90 feet directly out of the water. The Miners Beach area and Chapel Rock are the two most photographed spots on the lakeshore. Kayaking beneath the cliff faces is the way most people experience the park up close; outfitters in Munising, MI hire boats by the hour and by the day.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 280 miles northeast via I-96 and US-31, Sleeping Bear Dunes protects 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline on the northwest tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The Dune Climb is the park's signature experience: a 450-foot sand dune that families climb on the way to a 1.5-mile beach walk to the water's edge. The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a 7.4-mile paved loop with nine stopping points overlooking the dunes, Lake Michigan, and the Manitou Islands offshore. Consistently voted one of the most beautiful places in America. Download NPS app maps offline before entering the park.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - 430 miles northwest via I-94 and US-2, the Apostle Islands are 21 islands scattered across the southwestern corner of Lake Superior. Six historic lighthouses, sea caves accessible by kayak, and winter ice formations that draw visitors from across the country make this one of the most underrated NPS units in the Great Lakes region. The mainland sea caves near Meyers Beach are reachable by kayak from the shore. Bayfield, WI is the gateway town and a genuinely charming small city worth an overnight.
Route 66: Chicago to Springfield (320km) - The Illinois section of Route 66 is the most historically intact stretch of the entire highway and an essential day trip from Chicago before heading southwest in earnest. The original alignment runs through a string of small towns: Joliet (the Route 66 Welcome Center), Pontiac (the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, free), Bloomington-Normal, and Springfield, where Abraham Lincoln's home and presidential library anchor a full day of stops. The Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield claims to have invented the corn dog in 1946 and has been serving them from the same building since. Leave Chicago on US-66 business routes rather than I-55 to stay on the original road.

Get Inspired

Our Road Trips Itineraries

Why Hire an RV in Chicago

Chicago sits at the convergence of more distinct American road trip corridors than almost any other city in the country. Route 66 runs southwest to Los Angeles. I-90 runs northwest through Wisconsin and Minnesota toward the Pacific Northwest. I-94 northeast takes you deep into the Great Lakes and Upper Peninsula Michigan. I-65 south runs straight to Nashville and beyond. The interstate network radiating from Chicago gives you access to more Indie Campers US pick up centres from a single starting point than anywhere else in the network.

The Great Lakes region is genuinely underserved by RV marketing, which makes it a strong contrarian choice. Indiana Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured Rocks, and the Apostle Islands are all within a single tank of petrol from Chicago and none of them have the reservation pressure of the big western parks. A July weekend at Sleeping Bear Dunes is more achievable than a July weekend at Yosemite, and the scenery is comparable.

O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, roughly 30-40 minutes by car in normal traffic and directly accessible via the Blue Line from the city centre. Midway Airport (MDW) is 10 miles southwest, 25 minutes from downtown. Both airports put you at the Indie Campers Chicago pick up centre within an hour of landing.

Illinois fuel prices run close to the national average, slightly above

Why Choose Indie Campers in Chicago

Every Indie Campers booking includes unlimited mileage, 24/7 road assistance, and a Basic Protection Plan as standard. On a Route 66 run from Chicago to Los Angeles that covers 3,900 kilometres, or a Great Lakes loop pushing through four states and 2,500 kilometres of shoreline driving, a per-mile cap would make no sense. There isn't one.

One-way hires are available from Chicago to all active Indie Campers US pick up centres. The Route 66 run to Los Angeles is the most iconic one-way route in the US network. Drop off in Nashville, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, or New York

What's the Best Time to Hire an RV in Chicago?

Spring (April to May) is the window serious road trippers target. Temperatures climb from 7°C in April to 18°C by late May, the Great Lakes campgrounds open without summer crowds, and Door County's cherry and apple orchards bloom from late April through mid-May in a display that draws photographers from across the Midwest. Lake Michigan water temperatures are cold for swimming but the shoreline hiking and kayaking conditions are excellent.

Summer (June to August) is when Chicago and the Great Lakes region hit full stride. Average temperatures run 24-29°C in July, lake swimming is warm by late June, and the campground network is fully operational. Lollapalooza takes over Grant Park in late July, the Chicago Blues Festival runs free in early June, and Taste of Chicago fills the lakefront in July. Indiana Dunes and Sleeping Bear Dunes are at their busiest in July and August; book campgrounds well in advance. The Great Lakes' summer storms can be sudden and severe; check lake forecasts before kayaking or paddling in exposed areas.

Fall (September to October) delivers the best combination of comfortable temperatures (13-21°C), autumn colour along the Upper Peninsula and Door County corridors, and significantly lower campground competition after Labor Day. The Pictured Rocks cliffs in October light are exceptional. Route 66 in autumn is ideal driving weather with no summer heat in the desert sections further southwest.

Winter (November to March) is specialist territory. The Apostle Islands sea caves freeze in January and February and become accessible on foot across the lake ice, which draws thousands of visitors in cold years when the ice is thick enough. The NPS monitors ice thickness daily and posts conditions at the Bayfield visitor centre. Otherwise, winter in Chicago means sub-zero wind chills, closed campgrounds, and difficult RV driving conditions. The deep south Route 66 run toward Texas and Arizona is a logical winter escape route from Chicago.

How Many Days Do You Need for a Chicago Road Trip?

3 to 5 Days

Chicago City + Indiana Dunes (200km round trip, 3-4 days)

Day 1: Pick up RV, drive east to Indiana Dunes (80km, 1 hour via I-94), hike Mount Baldy, overnight at Indiana Dunes Campground
Day 2: Full day at Indiana Dunes — beach, West Beach, Cowles Bog Trail
Day 3: Return to Chicago (80km), Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Wrigley Field neighbourhood
Day 4: Chicago deep dish, Blues Festival or Riverwalk, depot drop-off

Chicago City + Route 66 to Springfield (650km round trip, 4-5 days)

Day 1: Pick up RV, head southwest on Route 66 original alignment through Joliet and Pontiac (150km)
Day 2: Bloomington-Normal, Route 66 roadside stops, arrive Springfield (80km)
Day 3: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Lincoln Home, Cozy Dog Drive-In
Day 4: Return via I-55 (320km, 3 hours), Chicago overnight
Day 5: Chicago city, depot drop-off

7 to 10 Days

Great Lakes North Loop: Door County + Sleeping Bear Dunes (1,400km, 8-9 days)

Chicago → Milwaukee (150km, 1 hr 30 min, 1 night) → Green Bay (180km, 2 hours) → Door County (65km, 2 nights at Peninsula State Park) → cross to Lower Michigan via US-2 or ferry from Manitowoc to Ludington (SS Badger, $110-160/vehicle, check schedule at ssbadger.com) → Sleeping Bear Dunes (2 nights) → traverse north Michigan (150km) → return via I-75 and I-94 (400km). One of the best lake-focused loops in the Midwest.

Where to Refuel and Refill Near Chicago

Fuel Stations

Pilot Flying J — Multiple locations on I-90, I-94, and I-80 around Chicago and throughout Illinois. Pull-through lanes for large RVs, diesel, DEF fluid, dump stations at most locations. Most reliable chain for big rigs in the region
Love's Travel Stops — Strong coverage on I-55 southwest toward Springfield and St. Louis, and on I-90 northwest toward Wisconsin
Shell — Widespread throughout the Chicago suburbs and along state highways. Standard pricing, good coverage for day-to-day fill-ups
BP — Heavy presence in Illinois and Indiana; consistent pricing and widespread suburban locations
Costco — Multiple Chicagoland locations including Schaumburg, Glenview, and Orland Park. Cheapest fuel per gallon in the metro (members only), typically $0.15-0.30 below major branded stations

Average regular unleaded price in Illinois: $3.20-$3.70/gallon. Illinois fuel prices run above Tennessee and Indiana due to higher state fuel taxes.

Illinois and regional fuel notes:

Tips for Hiring an RV in Chicago

Minimum driver age for Indie Campers vehicles is 21. A valid driver's licence is required for all drivers; international visitors must carry an International Driving Permit alongside their home country licence. A credit card in the primary driver's name is required at pick-up for the security deposit.

The America the Beautiful Annual Pass at $80 covers entrance fees to all NPS sites. Indiana Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured Rocks, and Apostle Islands are all fee-based NPS units. If your trip covers two or more of them, the pass pays for itself on the first weekend.

Set up I-PASS or confirm your E-ZPass before picking up the vehicle. Illinois tollways are cashless and violations stack up quickly if you drive through gantries without a registered payment method.

Book Sleeping Bear Dunes Platte River Campground and Indiana Dunes Campground through Recreation.gov before your trip. Both fill up well in advance for summer dates. D.H. Day at Sleeping Bear and Little Sand Bay at Apostle Islands are first-come/first-served; arrive early on summer mornings.

Driving Tips for Chicago and the Great Lakes Region

Speed Limits

Illinois interstates: 70 mph in rural areas, 55 mph in urban zones including Chicago metro
Wisconsin and Michigan interstates: 70 mph rural, 55-65 mph near cities
State highways and US routes: 55-65 mph
Urban streets: 25-35 mph
School zones: 20 mph when children present

Enforcement: Illinois State Police active on interstates. Chicago uses automated speed cameras in school zones and park zones, active 7 days a week 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. First offence $35, second offence $100. Many Wisconsin and Michigan two-lane roads have 55 mph limits that are actively enforced by county sheriffs.

Road Conditions

Excellent: I-90, I-94, I-88, and I-80 are well-maintained multi-lane interstates throughout the Chicago metro and into Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan
Scenic but demanding: US-2 across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a two-lane highway with long stretches between services and significant wildlife crossings. H-58 along Pictured Rocks is paved and accessible for all RV sizes but narrow in sections

Estimated Cost for a Week-Long RV Hire in Chicago

RV hire: $850-1,800 (varies by season and vehicle size; Lollapalooza week in late July increases prices 30-50%)
Fuel: $200-350 (regular unleaded $3.20-3.70/gallon, 600-900 miles typical week, 8-12 mpg = 50-115 gallons)
Propane: $25-55 (if refill needed mid-trip)
Tolls: $20-60 (Illinois tollways are unavoidable on most routes from Chicago; I-PASS or E-ZPass required)
Campgrounds: $140-560 ($20-80/night × 7; NPS campgrounds and first-come dispersed sites on the low end, full-hookup private RV parks on the high end)
Food: $200-550 (groceries vs. restaurants; Chicago dining $15-40/person, deep dish pizza $18-28 per pie)
Activities: $100-350 (Indiana Dunes free entry; Sleeping Bear Dunes $25/vehicle; Millennium Park free; Art Institute $25/adult; architecture boat tour $47/adult; Cubs/Bears game tickets $25-80)
Parking:

One-Way RV Hires from Chicago

Chicago → Nashville (765km, 7 hours via I-65 south) — Through Kentucky with Louisville's Churchill Downs and bourbon country as natural overnight stops. The cleanest Midwest-to-South one-way in the Indie network.

Chicago → Denver (1,700km, allow 2-3 days via I-80 west through Nebraska) — Flat Great Plains driving with the Rocky Mountain front range rising suddenly at the end. Alternatively route via I-70 through Kansas City and the Flint Hills.

Chicago → Dallas (1,500km, allow 2 days via I-55 south through St. Louis and I-44) — Passes through the Ozarks and Oklahoma Route 66 country. Strong mid-distance one-way for a Southern road trip.

Chicago → Atlanta (1,100km, allow 1-2 days via I-65 south through Nashville) — Natural stop in Nashville breaks the drive cleanly. Nashville to Atlanta is another 290km.

Why Start Your RV Trip in Chicago?

No American city puts you at the start of more iconic road trips simultaneously. Route 66 begins here. The Great Lakes loop begins here. The Pacific Northwest run on I-90 begins here. The southern corridor to Nashville, Atlanta, and Miami begins here. Four of the most distinct American landscapes, including the Great Lakes shorelines, the Appalachians, the Great Plains, and the desert Southwest, are all accessible from a single place.

The Midwest's RV infrastructure is practical and affordable. Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan state parks are well-maintained with reasonable nightly rates. The Great Lakes NPS units are genuinely less crowded than their western counterparts. Illinois tollways are the main logistical wrinkle, but once you're past the Chicago metro the roads open up and the driving gets easy.

Chicago rewards a day or two before departure. Eat at Lou Mitchell's on Jackson Boulevard the morning you leave, drive south toward Route 66's first towns, and the trip has already started before you've left the city.