<p>Does anyone know a Campground or RV Site that is (1) safe, (2) not too far from Hyde Park and (3) close to public transportation? It does not have to have a lot of facilities. I searched the web and I looked in an old Woodall’s directory, but so far without any success. We would like to stay in the area at the end of September (2009).</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but I doubt one will find an RV park near Hyde Park. What one might be able to do is to park in hotel/motel lot near Midway airport that allows airport parking (about $10 per day). There is public transportation nearby including the Orange Line to the Loop. If this is a serious post, that is.</p>
<p>Maybe at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore? It’s about 60 miles away. I believe the south shore commuter rail stops there. [Camping</a> in and around the Indiana Dunes](<a href=“http://www.duneland.com/camping/camping.htm]Camping”>http://www.duneland.com/camping/camping.htm)</p>
<p>Maybe camp “rough” as the brits say in Jackson Park? Not too safe though.</p>
<p>Seriously, keep in mind that major urban areas and camping are not a common combination. I hope you realize the size and density of the Chicago area. And the public transit thing makes it particularly difficult. </p>
<p>Even the Cook County Forest Preserve system does not allow adult camping.</p>
<p>Thanks for your answers. I’m European and we actually do have campgrounds in very dense areas. Some of them are rather pretty (like in London). I recently stayed about 10 weeks in the Hyde Park area (in a rented apartment though) and somehow I expected the existence of campgrounds/RV parks a bit North of downtown Chicago.</p>
<p>I will try to find out more about Camping in the Indiana Dunes (although the trip to and from Hyde Park will take a very long time), I am not overly fond of the idea to camp rough in Jackson park. A hotel/motel lot nearby Midway does not sound too appealing. Although public transport is great there (bus 55 brings you directly to Hyde Park). </p>
<p>I think I will have to find other possibilities. The idea was to help our son first with his new apartment in Hyde Park and then to travel during the two weeks thereafter. Maybe it is wiser to rent the RV after having done the work in Hyde Park.</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>Yeah, I was just going to say the Indiana dunes myself. Very nice area, so long as you don’t breathe too heavy (jk). (Gary, IN, home of a ridiculous amount of steel plants, is right up the street).</p>
<p>If you can, also take some time to hit up the Trump Casino out that way, too, or Horseshoe.</p>
<p>TT,</p>
<p>RV rentals here in the states are very expensive. Often, the daily cost of inexpensive but decent hotels (and basic rental car) is quite a bit lower than the daily cost of an RV rental. </p>
<p>In many cases, people choose RV rentals when doing a tour of the western US, where hotels are more widely spaced. In the east, though, finding a place to park the RV is not always easy. As you’re seeing, campgrounds are not that common, especially ones convenient to large metro areas. Even when you find them, fees can be steep. Camping (or parking) rough is illegal in most areas - nothing worse than being rousted out of a shopping center parking lot at 2 AM.</p>
<p>Because October is not prime tourism time, except in fall color areas like New England (and even there, busy time is weekends), motels and hotels are not hard to find, and often less expensive than peak season. So I encourage you to think native…</p>
<p>I have given up the idea of an RV while staying in Chicago. I’m still not so convinced about the two weeks thereafter though. True, hotels/motels are often cheaper (I really did travel a lot in the US). Camping is actually not a favorite way of traveling because of a need to ‘go back to basics’. What I love about camping is the fact that you do not have to go out for a meal when you don’t want to. Also, in my experience, there is an abundance of shops around that have a lot more to offer than what is served in many restaurants. Don’t ask my why, but usually they charge Europeans less for the rental of an RV. Last but not least, even with the extremely high gas prices some time ago, we were still spending a lot less on gas than what we are used to. Thanks again for your replies.</p>