Chicago rises from the flat midwest like an urban oasis of beachfront highrises, jazz clubs and architectural wonders. While it’s certainly possible to spend a lifetime exploring the city’s museums, bar scene and diverse entertainment offerings, owning a boat that you can take out on Lake Michigan or an RV that you can camp on the shore with really allows you to appreciate Chicagoland even more. Unfortunately, owning an RV or boat in the city isn’t always easy. If you’re living in an apartment, parking it outside most likely isn’t an option for you. Even if you’re a homeowner, parking it in your driveway or on the street can leave it vulnerable to the elements along with neighborhood crime. We don’t think that your city slicker status should mean giving up the joy of owning an RV or boat. Search for RV and boat storage in Chicago and you can truly have it all. Before you choose a storage facility, let’s go through what you need to know about RV and boat storage in Chicago.
RV and Boat Storage Basics
So what does RV and boat storage actually look like, anyway? Well, there are actually a few different types of this specialized kind of storage, ranging from basic to fancy. The most traditional type of storage is basically a parking space at a storage facility. This is the easiest to find because many RV facilities have extra space on their property that they’re willing to rent out for this purpose. This type of storage is the least expensive, and while it still typically comes with security benefits (we’ll elaborate on those in a moment) like 24 hour cameras or at least a facility manager who walks around the property once in awhile, it doesn’t come with any kind of covering that will protect your RV or boat from the 37 inches of snow and 36 inches of rain that Chicago sees a year. You can always take your RV and boat storage needs to the next level by opting for covered storage which can range from a parking spot with a roof over it (like you’d see at an apartment complex) to a parking spot with walls around it. This is slightly more expensive and harder to find than the parking lot option. If you want to go all out, you can choose the Cadillac of RV and boat storage, which is also a nice option if you’ve got a vintage car you want to keep safe. We’re talking about an indoor space, which is essentially your own personal garage. These are the most secure, the most expensive and unfortunately, the hardest to find. You should assess your needs based on the size of your RV or boat and how often you use it.
Avoid Lakeshore Drive
If you’ve ever driven an RV through Chicago, or any other city for that matter, you know how hard it can be to navigate the streets with a large vehicle or something extra in tow. You absolutely cannot drive an RV down Lakeshore Drive, so if you’re not already aware of that, keep it in mind when planning out where you’re going to store your RV and what route you’re going to take when you drive it from your campground of choice to the storage facility. Trust us; this isn’t a lesson you want to learn the hard way. One great option for something centrally located is
StorageMart on North Halsted Street. The facility is centrally located and while it’s only a few miles away from Lakeshore Drive, getting there won’t force you to commit the faux paux of driving on it. We hear that
pickup trucks are banned on Lakeshore Drive too and that the reason is some archaic rule having to do with the road being designated for enjoyment rather than commercial purposes. Personally, we can’t think of anything more enjoyable than an RV or boat, but we don’t make the rules. While you shouldn’t run into too many other driving restrictions in Chicago, you will run into plenty of parking restrictions with your RV or boat. Most neighborhoods don’t allow you to park any vehicle over 22 feet on the street unless it’s for loading and unloading purposes. Your storage unit should cover any chance of that rule being broken, but it’s still nice to know that if you ever need to make a quick trip to your house to grab some groceries from the fridge, you should be in the clear when it comes to parking for the short amount of time that it takes to grab your stuff and hit the road.
Why Security Matters
Even if you can park your RV or boat outside of your home, there’s one pretty major downside to doing so. You can’t watch it all day to make sure it’s safe (well, you could but you’d probably end up losing your job and all of your friends). That’s why you should look for a facility with good
security features. Even the basic, parking lot style storage option should still offer you peace of mind. A great storage facility has good lighting at night, a fence to keep unwanted people out and a gate that only allows you, the other tenants and staff members in. Security cameras, security guards and management that lives on-site or at least spends a great deal of time their are other things to look for. If you’re paying to store your boat, RV or any other vehicle, make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
