RV rental in Illinois

Affordable Campervan hire in Illinois

Illinois was made for campervan road trips. You can start in the middle of Chicago (where most people start), eating deep-dish pizza and taking pictures of the fantastic skyline. Then drive out into the open highway, watching the city disappear in your mirrors. Soon, the skyscrapers give way to open fields and roads that go on forever.

Campervan hire in Illinois means you are free to chase those picture perfect midwest sunsets, stop at roadside diners that look like they are out of a movie, or pull up at a quiet state park where the only noise is your campfire. You could follow the legendary Route 66, check out the river towns dotted along the Mississippi, or head into the Shawnee National Forest. The choice is yours.

Finding cheap campervan hire in Illinois is easy with CamperDays. We have partnered up with local providers to bring you the best deals. Pack your bag, pick your campervan, and get ready to hit the road.

Top tips for your Campervan trip to Illinois

Before you hit the road and rent a campervan in Illinois, there are a few things to keep in mind. Summer can get very hot and humid. Autumn is the best time to visit, as the leaves and autumn scenery are amazing. The further south you drive, the more rural things become, so always plan your fuel stops.

• 

  Driving

  If you are picking up your motorhome rental in Illinois, avoid rush hour in the morning and after work. Once you leave the city, driving is a lot easier, with scenic highways and well-maintained roads. Keep an eye out for toll roads, as there are a few around Chicago.

• 

  Family friendly-activities

  In Chicago, you’ve got the Field Museum, home to Sue, the biggest and most well-preserved T-Rex on the planet. Navy Pier is also a fun place as it's full of rides that the kids will love. For something different, check out Casey - a place full of roadside attractions including the world's largest rocking chair, pitchfork and mailbox.

• 

  The Outdoors

  There are so many lakes across Illinois, with two of the best being Lake Shelbyville and Rea Lake. They both have plenty of campsites nearby with places to take lovely long walks, and quiet places to just enjoy the view. Shawnee National Forest (in southern Illinois) is also another popular location that feels like another world with its famous Garden of the Gods rock formations.

Best Campervan routes from Illinois

Illinois to Missouri
We couldn’t include a campervan for hire in Illinois route without including Route 66. Start in Chicago (where you will most likely pick up your van) and head southwest, calling at iconic roadside attractions. Grab a milkshake at a proper American diner, fill up at iconic gas stations, and stop for a picture at the Gemini Giant. This towering green spaceman makes everyone stop in Wilmington. At the end of your drive, you’ll cross the Chain of Rocks Bridge, a mile-long bridge that crosses the Mississippi River.

Illinois Great River Road
This route starts in Gelena, a lovely old town. From there, it follows the Mississippi along the state's western border where you’ll get some of the best river views in the country. Along the way, stop at the town of Quincy, a place filled with historic mansions and a lovely waterfront. After that, Alton is a great place to park and check out the limestone bluffs that tower over the river. Grafon (550km from Gelena), a lovely laid-back riverside town, is a good place to end your river road trip. This route is Illinois at its most scenic.

Chicago to Shawnee National Forest
If you want to get away from it and check out the rugged beauty of southern Illinois, this is your road trip. Pick up your motorhome for hire in Illinois and head south on I-58 and stop in Springfield, the hometown of Abraham Lincoln. Here they have the Cozy Dog Drive-In, the birthplace of the corndog. After Springfield, things become more rural and before you know it, you will arrive at Shawnee National Forest. Here are some incredible rock formations, the Garden of the Dogs and plenty of great camp sites. No city chaos, no traffic noise, just fresh air, your campervan, and you.

Sites of interest and excursions in Illinois

Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park is 150km southwest of Chicago, full of canyons, waterfalls, and hiking trails. If you hire a campervan in Illinois around Autumn, you will get to see some of the best fall foliage you have ever seen. The forest comes alive with shades of orange, red, and gold, which makes it look like it's out of a postcard. It's equally as good in any other season though. Take a boat tour along the river, hike, or just relax with a picnic.

Abraham Lincoln’s Home, Springfield
You won’t be able to go anywhere in Springfield without being reminded that you are in Abraham Lincoln's town. In the middle of the city is a two-story house where Lincoln lived, and the entire neighbourhood is almost frozen in time with historic buildings, and makes you feel like you have gone back in time. If you love anything history-related, we recommend you stop here if you are passing nearby.

Cahokia Mounds
Here’s a fact for you. Cahokia was once the biggest city in North America, but this was over 1000 years ago. The ancient mounds that people used to live in here are still here, the biggest being over 100 feet tall. You can climb to the top of this for great area views. It's worth stopping here, as it gives you an idea of what America was like before all the skyscrapers arrived.

Compare the prices for different campervans, locations, and dates in our price comparison tool and find the most affordable option for your trip.

USA

campervan hire

Australia

campervan hire

France

campervan hire

Iceland

campervan hire

Ireland

campervan hire

UK

campervan hire