Chicago to Montgomery Road Trip Guide
Introduction
Chicago is the largest city in Middle America. And it’s long been the hub city for many methods of travel. Various airlines have major hubs at O’Hare Airport and many trains coming from the east will often pass through Chicago before making their journey out west. It makes a ton of sense to say that the Windy City might very well be the best starting point for any road trip no matter which direction you are going in.
From the Midwest, this road trip will take us across neighboring Indiana and a couple of states throughout the Deep South. Along the way, you might come across some pretty interesting spots where you can hike, take plenty of pictures, and create the memories that can be told through so many stories. If you love the outdoors, love a good place to eat, and have at least three to five days to travel in an RV or van, this is the road trip you should do.
Point of Interest
Navy Pier
Before you start on your trip down south, there are plenty of sites that you can check out while you are still in Chicago. The Navy Pier might be one of those places. You can enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere by playing games and eating a ton of food. It’s like...well, being at a county fair. Plenty of fun for you or even the family is never in short supply here at this old Navy training station.
Unfortunately, there aren’t too many campgrounds or RV parks that are in the city. Some of them are out of the way and farther north. So if you want to visit the Navy Pier, spend time there the day before you head out.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
From Chicago, we travel all the way down Interstate 65 to Indianapolis. That’s where you’ll find the world’s largest racing circuit. The Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 are the two major races that go on every year here at this race track. If you are a racing fan, there still might be a few races that go on here even if they are not Indy or NASCAR races.
There are some RV parks and campgrounds outside of Indianapolis. But there is a KOA Campground where you can set up shop. All you have to do is go east of the city on I-70. You won’t have to go too far to find it. As long as you have it plugged into your GPS or smartphone, you won’t have any trouble finding it.
Churchill Downs
After spending the day in the Circle City, you’re back on I-65 and heading south. Once you cross the Ohio River into Kentucky, you’ll be in downtown Louisville. That’s where you’ll find Churchill Downs, the home of the famous Kentucky Derby. Just like that, we go from car racing to horse racing. While you are at Churchill Downs, you might want to check out the horse racing museum where you can learn about the history of this sport and the most famous race of them all, the Kentucky Derby.
If you have the time, you can explore downtown Louisville including the Louisville Slugger factory and museum. You can wrap up an eventful day at one of the handfuls of campgrounds located outside of the city. If you loved your experience at the KOA Campground in Indianapolis, you can check out the one located in Lousiville. There are a ton of KOA Campgrounds throughout the country and they are always the best.
Mammoth Cave National Park
If you love caves, why not check out the Mammoth Cave National Park? There are well over 400 miles of caves that span throughout the entire park. Trust us when we say that these caves are huge. Aside from the caves, there are plenty of hiking trails that you can use. Plus, there are 53,000 acres of forest. You’ll hike, walk, and spot quite a lot of wildlife during your time here.
Most national parks will have a lot of campgrounds scattered throughout. If you have a van or a regular size RV, you should have no problem finding space to fit in and spend the night.
Grand Old Opry
Weren’t those caves awesome? After a day at Mammoth Cave, it’s back on the road. The next major city that is worth checking out on the way to Montgomery is none other than Nashville. The Music City is home to the Grand Old Opry. This concert hall has been the site of many performances by country music’s legendary artists along with some of today’s. Near the Grand Old Opry is the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Downtown Nashville is always a lively place with plenty of music and plenty of places to eat. Once you’ve spent the day exploring this city, you can spend some time on the waters of the J. Percy Priest Reservoir. There are a few campgrounds like Seven Points and Safe Harbor RV Resort that are situated on the shores of the water. Plenty of amenities and no shortage of fun for you or the family (assuming you brought them along).
US Space & Rocket Center
Welcome to “Space Camp”! Yes, the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama is the home of the world-famous Space Camp that many a kid has attended throughout the years and decades. If you always wanted to learn about space exploration and know what it was like to be an astronaut, this is a can’t miss place. There are plenty of interactive simulators that you can give a whirl. It will be the closest thing you can get to the real astronaut experience.
If you are looking for an RV park to spend the night, the good news is that you don’t have to go too far. There is a designated RV park located near the US Space & Rocket Center itself.
Summary
After driving from Chicago and all points in between on Interstate 65, you’ve made it to Montgomery, the capital city of Alabama. From the Midwest to the Deep South, you probably made so many memories and new friends along the way. If you want to tour the city, be sure to check out the Alabama State House. They hold tours regularly, so be sure to know the tour schedule so you don’t miss it.
Of course, you can find a good RV park while spending some time in Montgomery. If you have a small or large RV, you might want to check out the Capital City RV Park that is northeast of the city.
