Travel through America’s central regions for hot pizza and cool beer. Dive into a crowded cityscape or venture onto a river for hefty fish.
Find a festival below and then book a stay at a nearby RV Park (click on the links for more information).
Illinois
Walk the Magic Mile in Chicago
The famed Magnificent Mile is the perfect introduction to the Midwest’s largest city. From high-end retilers, to sights like the Historic Water Tower (now a gallery) and Pumping Station, a stroll down the flower-lined boulevard offers the chance to bask in Chicago’s low-key, but cosmopolitan vibe. Head to the observation deck at the top of the John Hancock Center – dubbed 360 Chicago – for panoramic views of the cityscape and lakefront. Millennium Park is another must-see: an iconic green space boasting public art, gardens, monuments, and the wildly photo-friendly sculpture known as the Bean.
Chicago Bean. Photo: Martin Str
Ride or Hike Champagne County
Tired of city life? Head south for sweeping expanses of countryside that invite you to work up a sweat. Featuring five forest preserves, seemingly endless miles of hiking trails and handfuls of gorgeous gardens and parks, this county teems with outdoor recreation opportunities. Time Magazine named it one of the best places to walk or bike in 2015. The 160-acre Sangamon River Forest Preserve is a great place to start your adventures. Here you can enjoy hiking, bird watching, picnicking and stand in the shadow of the towering the Lincoln Ash Tree, one of the biggest in Illinois with a circumference of about 13 feet.
Stay here during your Illinois visit:
Cahokia RV Parque, Cahokia
Leisure Lake Resort, Joliet
Indiana
Angling on the Ohio River
Well-known for its catfish tournaments, the Ohio River is the perfect getaway for anglers looking to take a break from the blackjack table. The area around Rising Sun offers up some of the region’s best fishing holes, while the Markland Dam near Florence is a hotspot for sauger, gar and freshwater drum. Both Kentucky and Indiana recognize each other’s fishing licenses, so anglers in the know will try both banks, especially at popular stretches where Kentucky is known to stock the river with striped bass.
Photo: Logan Wenger Photos
Satisfy Your Need for Speed
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, also known as the Brickyard, annually hosts the Indy 500, the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event. Held every Labor Day Weekend, this open-wheeled racing event attracts top drivers from around the world and is considered by many to be the greatest spectacle of racing. Visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, housing priceless memorabilia, including more than 75 racing cars. Want to play a round of golf with a racing twist? Try booking a tee time at Brickyard Crossing, an 18-hole course with four of its holes located in the infield of the speedway.
Stay here during your Indiana visit:
Ceraland Park & Campground, Columbus
Caboose Lake Campground, Remington
Missouri
Bait Your Hooks in Lakes Around Branson
Branson is renowned for its entertainment, but did you know it’s also a fishing hotbed? Coming up with dinner is never a problem when fishing the cold waters of Lake Taneycomo. Brown and rainbow trout love the water coming through Table Rock Dam, and fishermen cast lines from boats or on the shore of this winding, man-made body of water in the heart of Branson. The town is better known these days for the astounding number of theaters and attractions that line its main drag. Choose from well-orchestrated Broadway shows to concerts or adventure parks. And Silver Dollar City, a historic theme park, offers amusement rides along with demonstrations by authentic craftsmen.
Photo: Shane McGraw
Check Out ‘The Ozarks’
If you’ve seen Netflix’s show, Ozarks, you probably got an eyeful of the beautiful lake scenery that served as the show’s backdrop. Check out the real thing in central Missouri. Lake of the Ozarks State Park sprawls across 17,000 acres and encompasses 85 miles of shoreline, with public access to two beaches and boat-launching areas. If you prefer subterranean environments to water, go underground to the many caves in the area. Formed from geological processes over thousands of years, more than 5,000 caves tunnel beneath the Ozarks region and tempt seasoned explorers from all corners of the world, which explains Missouri’s moniker, “the Cave State.”
Stay here during your Missouri visit:
America’s Best Campground, Branson
Musicland Kampground, Branson
Big Red Barn RV Park, Carthage
Sundermeier RV Park, St Charles
Ohio
Explore Lake Around Columbus
Over a dozen lakes are scattered around Columbus. Right in town, Griggs Reservoir is an easily accessible spot to toss in a line. Just north of the city, Alum Creek Lake provides clear waters and scenic landscapes for angling and boating. The eponymous state park located on its shores provides a variety of recreational activities. Hunters will want to trek east of the city to the Woodbury Wildlife Area or the Dillon Wildlife Area for game.
Take to the Skies in Dayton
The sky’s the limit in Dayton. The Birthplace of Aviation has an astounding array of aviation sites, diverse museums, and opportunities to hike and bike throughout the community. The Gem City is bursting with innovation — more patents have been issued here than in any other city in the country, which could explain why the world’s first “buildbar” — a place for inventors and innovators —started here. Dayton blends big-city amenities with a small-town vibe. Touch down at the U.S. Air Force Museum, the largest military aviation museum in the world. Explore more than 200 planes and hundreds of exhibits spanning the early days of flight to modern technology.
Stay here during your Ohio visit:
Cross Creek Camping Resort, Delaware
Evergreen Park RV Resort, Mount Eaton