My immediate thought when I first turned into this particular Sam’s Club here in Montgomery, on the outskirts of the Windy City as I was barreling northwest towards O’Hare was this retailer is like the Tesla of big box wholesalers with its brand new, sticker smell, freshly laid blacktop, spacious and plentiful parking spots, with valet-like options for those that want to order everything on-line and simply want to show up at the appointed time to have someone deposit everything in the rear of their car. It was sleek, incredibly modern, highly efficient and apparently, everyone was incredibly happy to be there. Not that they were needed, but the lot had both a state trooper and local PD cruiser in the very massive parking lot, so as to stave off even the faintest whiff of trouble.
The lot itself here borders on the gargantuan, so finding a spot to lay-up for a few hours or even the night isn’t going to be a problem at all. Additionally, as you are in the very well-heeled area of Montgomery / Oswego, the most serious crime you’re going to see committed is a toss-up between speeding and J-walking, so while being in pretty close proximity to Chicago, here you can feel incredibly safe & sound. Granted, even in this utopian suburban hang-out, even the traffic feels pleasant and incredibly manageable. And because you are in the suburbs, you will find a ton of amenities that surround you in nearly every direction. The only real downside is that, well, while you are likely trying to pointedly place yourself in the midst of nature, you will undoubtedly come to the realization that you are here in a sprawling suburban retail jungle.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) In the event that you need to load up on anything, within the immediate vicinity, obviously there is this Sam’s Club, but if you don’t have a membership or Sam’s isn't your thing, no worries, as there is a Home Depot and Walmart, but beyond this, just a couple stone’s throw away, you’ll find a Walgreen’s, Binny’s Beverage, JCPenny as well as Menard’s; (2) Once you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the remains of what is inside of your mini on-board fridge or roto-molded Cordova cooler, there’s an endless number of blasé national chain restaurants like McAlister’s Deli, Wingstop, Sonic Drive-In, Jimmy John’s, Potbelly, Noodles & Company, etc., but for something truly great, check out Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant as well as Dos Bros Fresh Mexican Cantina; and (4) Should you want to stretch your legs, take your furry pal to perform his duty or just enjoy some natural green space, then head due west to Waubonsie Lake Park, where you can get some great hiking & biking in as well as cast a line to fetch some white fish for a nice grilled dinner.
While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot:
Convenience: 4
Safety & Security: 5
Quality: 5
Peace & Quiet: 4
Amenities: 3
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
Overnight Parking
