Discover Northern Illinois: From Chicago's buzz to Starved Rock's nature, enjoy unique RV stays at Harvest Hosts sites like breweries, vineyards, and more.
Nicknamed, “The Prairie State,” Illinois has so much more to offer than just prairies. It is filled with farmlands, hills, forests, wetlands, and incredible cities, the most noteworthy of which is Chicago. Because of the diversity and size of the state, we will be focusing on Northern Illinois tourism here. Northern Illinois includes the incredible cities of Rockhead, Moline, and of course Chicago, in addition to many beautiful state parks and forests, including Starved Rock State Park. There are also countless Harvest Hosts locations to be found here, each allowing visitors to camp overnight in a unique and serene setting. Continue on for all the best places to visit on your next trip to Northern Illinois and find more RV camping in Illinois.
Be sure to visit:
Chicago, IL
Rockford, IL
Moline, IL
Starved Rock State Park
Rabid Brewing -- Homewood, IL
Balmoral Woods -- Crete, IL
Riverlands Brewing Company -- St. Charles, IL
Skydive Chicago -- Ottawa, IL
Rush Creek Distilling -- Harvard, IL
Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum -- Poplar Grove, IL
Prairie Street Brewing Company -- Rockford, IL
Brown and Rusk Ranch -- Pecatonica, IL
Fergedaboudit Vineyard and Winery -- Hanover, IL
Erie Airpark -- Erie, IL
Lavender Crest Winery, Restaurant, and Event Center -- Colona, IL
TPC Deere Run -- Silvis, IL
Places to Go
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There are so many unique and diverse things to do in northern Illinois, with plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures, city exploration, and tourism in tiny towns packed with culture and history. Here, we’ll discuss some of the most popular places to visit, but you should by all means seek out places further off-the-beaten path for the best Northern Illinois travel.
1. Chicago
Situated along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is known as one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the United States. With almost endless things to do, see, and enjoy, visitors of Chicago are in for a real treat. While a classic Chicago trip surely involves visiting the Willis Tower, the Bean, Millennium Park, and other iconic sites, there are so many more things to experience here.
Visitors will of course want to try Chicago-style deep dish, while sports fans will likely want to pay a visit to the Chicago Cubs stadium. Theater lovers can see a Blue Man Group concert or even see a show at Broadway Chicago. In addition, with a plethora of free and cheap museums to visit, as well as plenty of opportunities for dining, shopping, and more, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy in the city of Chicago. Check out the Choose Chicago tourism page for more help planning your visit.
Camping
If you are visiting Chicago in your RV, there are so many campground options for you to choose from. With a few located right in the city and many more located on the outskirts and in the surrounding towns and suburbs, most visitors will find themselves with many potential sites to choose from. Be sure to reserve your site well in advance for the best selection and options, especially in the summer and fall seasons.
2. Rockford, Illinois
Just south of the Wisconsin-Illinois border lies the small city of Rockford, Illinois. As a city of gardens and rivers, visitors also tend to enjoy shopping, dining, relaxing, and visiting museums and other unique attractions. Between the parks, live music, public art, and beautiful gardens, Rockford is especially iconic in the summertime. Be sure to check out the city’s tourism page for more tips and information to help you plan out your next visit.
Camping
If you are traveling to Rockford in your RV, there are so many beautiful campgrounds. From city parks to resorts, standard campgrounds, and forest preserves, there are multiple options for RVers to choose from when planning their trip.
3. Moline, Illinois
Located along the northwestern Iowa-Illinois border, Moline is one of the Quad Cities. This nickname denotes a grouping of four popular, medium-sized cities. This stunning area is home to farmer’s markets, festivals, breweries, restaurants, bike paths, parks, and the beautiful Mississippi River waterfront. Visitors will be delighted by the awesome variety of activity opportunities and diverse area experiences. Make sure you check out the area’s tourism site for a full list of area attractions.
Camping
Because of this area’s popularity, there are many campgrounds to choose from, with several located on the Illinois side and several on the Iowa side. Options range from RV parks to forest preserves, deluxe resorts, and standard campgrounds.
4. Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park has its own awesome campground, with 133 sites with electrical hookups. Some sites offer 20-amp, while others over 30-amp, with a few 50-amp as well. They also offer a dump station, water, a bathhouse, and a playground. Travelers can make reservations online, and they tend to fill up quickly in the summertime.
Camping
Starved Rock State Park has its own awesome campground, with 133 sites with electrical hookups. Some sites offer 20-amp, while others over 30-amp, with a few 50-amp as well. They also offer a dump station, water, a bathhouse, and a playground. Travelers can make reservations online, and they tend to fill up quickly in the summertime.
Harvest Hosts Locations
In addition to awesome cities and state parks, Northern Illinois is also home to over a dozen Harvest Hosts locations. While visiting this region, be sure to check out a few of these fantastic stops for a unique look at the agricultural and small business side of Northern Illinois.
1. Rabid Brewing - Homewood, IL
Found in Homewood, Illinois, this brewery offers a variety of hand-crafted beers and hard seltzers made on-site, as well as craft sodas and tavern-style pizzas to enjoy in their taproom or to-go. Their taproom and beer field are currently open from Wednesday through Sunday, which is also when they permit Harvest Hosts members to stay. Please note that overnight guests must arrive during business hours and must use the request-a-stay system to book their reservation. In addition, for the comfort of all of their guests and in compliance with local regulations, pets are not permitted in the taproom, on the beer field or off-leash anywhere on the premises. Currently, they offer two pet-friendly spaces for RVs under forty-four feet in length, as well as potable water upon request.
2. Balmoral Woods - Crete, IL
Just about twenty minutes north of Rabid Brewing sits another incredible Harvest Hosts location: Balmoral Woods. Located in Crete, Illinois, Balmoral Woods is easily accessible from Downtown Chicago and northwest Indiana. Rated as one of the best Public golf facilities in the Chicago area, Balmoral Woods is a “must play” course for any avid golfer.They offer a demanding, superbly-conditioned, magnificent round of golf laid out over 120-plus acres of wooded, rolling hills. This course will test the skill of golfers with its 6700-yard, 72.6-rated, 133-slope layout. In addition to an excellent course, the golf club offers a restaurant with plenty of food options. Here, Harvest Hosts members can reserve one of two pet-friendly spaces for RVs of any size.