Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where is Lake County, Illinois?
A. Lake County is ideally situated halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee.

Q. How far is Downtown Chicago from Lake County? 
A. Based on Gurnee, IL and Six Flags Great America, Lake County is approximately 60 miles from Downtown Chicago.

Q. How far is Downtown Chicago from Naval Station Great Lakes?
A. Naval Station Great Lakes is approximate 42 miles from Downtown Chicago. The easiest way to Chicago is to take the Metra Commuter Rail System, the Union Pacific North Line, which is located right outside of Great Lakes.

Q. Which is the closest airport to Lake County and Naval Station Great Lakes? 
A. O'Hare Airport is approximately 30 miles away, which is a 50 minute car ride. General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee is approximately 42 miles, a 55 minute car ride

Q. Is there an Amtrak station close to Great Lakes Naval Station? 
A. No, the best thing to do is take the Amtrak to Union Station in Downtown Chicago, then walk to Ogilvie Transportation Center and take the Metra Union Pacific North Line to the Great Lakes station located right outside of the base.

Q. Do any hotels offer shuttles to Naval Station Great Lakes? 
A. Yes, some of them offer shuttles and discounts on room rates for military families. View our Hotels page for list of all the hotels in Lake County. Great Lakes Naval Station is located in North Chicago.

Q. What can I do with my recruit after graduation? 
A. You'll find so much to see and do in Lake County, Illinois that you'll want to stay for a few days. While on base, we encourage you to visit the Great Lakes Naval Museum which showcases the rich history of the United States Navy. Depending on how much liberty your sailor has, you could travel to Chicago where you can visit Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, world-class museums and much more. Right here in Lake County, you can experience the thrills of Six Flags Great America, shop at Gurnee Mills Mall, Hawthorn Mall or stroll the cobblestone paths of Long Grove Historic Village. If you and your sailor love cars, the Volo Auto Museum offers over 300 classic, antique and muscle cars, including the county's largest display of Hollywood TV and Movie cars. View our Family Fun section for a list of all our area attractions.

Q. When does Six Flags Great America open? 
A. Six Flags Great America will usually open the first weekend in May, but you should check their yearly schedule.

Q. When does Hurricane Harbor open and is it included in the price of admission for Great America? 
A. Hurricane Harbor is open Memorial Day weekend - Labor Day weekend and yes, both parks are included in the price of admission.

Q. When is Six Flags Fright Fest? 
A. Fright Fest runs throughout the month of October on Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday.

Q. How much are Six Flags Great America tickets? 
A. General admission is $61.99, children under 48" are $41.99 and 2 and under are free. Check out their website for online specials.

Q. Are there hotels close to Six Flags Great America? 
A. There are many hotels within a 5 mile radius of Six Flags with many offering Six Flags packages. View our Hotel page of a list of area hotels.

Q. Where is the closest campground to Six Flags Great America? 
A. Illinois Beach State Park is approximately 13 miles away, Fish Lake Campground is approximately 15 miles away and the Chain O'Lakes State Park is approximately 22 miles from Six Flags Great America.

Q. Besides Six Flags Great America, what else can a family do in Lake County?
A. Whether you have young children or are just young at heart, Lake County, Illinois has a plethora of activities the whole family will enjoy. Take a chocolate factory tour of the Long Grove Confectionery, enjoy a train ride at the Jelly Belly Factory, experience the petting zoo at Lambs Farm, or stroll our natural beauty on one of the many nature trails at our Lake County Forest Preserve. Shop till you drop at Gurnee Mills Mall, Hawthorn Mall or stroll the cobblestone paths and store in Long Grove Historic Village. Our Family Fun section has a list of attractions waiting to make your dream vacation come true. You can't go wrong when you're in Lake County.

Q. How many hotels are in Lake County?
A. More than 8,500 rooms at 60 plus hotels, motels, resorts and bed-and-breakfasts. Most of the major chains are present and many of the properties have been recently renovated. Some of the area properties are Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Hyatt Deerfield, Embassy Suites Deerfield, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Chicago North Gurnee, Marriott Suites Deerfield and the Roxana Bed & Breakfast.

Q. Are there any restaurants located on a lake? 
A. Yes, there are several restaurants located on lake. Just to name a few - El Puerto Mexican Restaurant, Harbour Club and Port of Blarney.

Q. What do I do if I miss a toll? 
A. You have 7 days to pay online at www.illinoistollway.com without a penalty.

Q. Where is the Visit Lake County office? 
A. We are located at 5465 W. Grand Ave. Suite 100, Gurnee, IL 60031

Q. What is a Convention & Visitors Bureau? 
A. Visit Lake County markets the region as a premier destination to stimulate visitor spending and overnight stays, generating a substantial economic impact for all Lake County communities. We are a non-for-profit agency that sells the destination to meeting and sports planners, reunions, group tours and leisure travelers. We do not charge residents or visitors for our services.

Q. What are the average temperatures in Lake County based on time of year? 
A. Below is a chart with helpful weather information for Chicago.  For daily weather forecasts, visit www.weather.com.