Overview
The Far North Suburbs region is an area of greater Chicagoland encompassing many portions of Lake County. The anchor of region is Waukegan, the Lake County seat, though many other communities make the area distinct.
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Chicago)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago — 29 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MKE General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee — 38 mi away (major hub). Directions
The Far North Suburbs can be accessed by any of the following routes:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Waukegan — People's Choice Family Fun Center, Waukegan Harbor, Waukegan Yacht Club.
- Day 2: Libertyville — Lloyd Lewis House, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery, Libertyville High School.
- Day 3: Gurnee — Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago, Pyramid House.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Places in Far North Suburbs
Understand
The history of the Far North Suburbs is invariably linked to the growth of Waukegan as well as the transportation routes that traveled through the area. Waukegan, founded due to its place on Lake Michigan, became an economic engine and spurred initial growth in the area. As the roads between Chicago and Milwaukee transformed into rail lines and, eventually, interstates, Waukegan declined in central importance and the other communities quickly grew.
Cities
- Gurnee — Home to numerous attractions such as Six Flags Great America, Gurnee Mills and Great Wolf Lodge, Gurnee is one of the economic and entertainment centers of the region.
- Libertyville — An upscale suburb, Libertyville is renowned for its downtown area.
- Vernon Hills — A second retail center of the area, Vernon Hills is home to Hawthorn Mall.
- Waukegan — The county seat, Waukegan is the largest city in the region and home to the famous Genesee Theater.
- North Chicago
Get in
Roads
The Far North Suburbs can be accessed by any of the following routes:
- I-94 (tolled): I-94 is the primary north-south connection route through the region.
- US 41 (Skokie Highway): This north-south route runs parallel to I-94 and connects the eastern portions of the region. It meets I-94 at the Wisconsin border.
- US 45: The western north-south route runs parallel to I-94.
- IL 120: The primary east-west route is open freeway between Waukegan and Grayslake.
- Grand Avenue: The primary east-west route through Gurnee, it connects all Gurnee attractions to Waukegan's downtown.
Nearby
Grayslake
City / town · 10 mi away
Lake Forest
City / town · 7 listings · 11 mi away
Kenosha
City / town · 72 listings · 13 mi away
Vernon Hills
City / town · 8 listings · 13 mi away
Highland Park
City / town · 8 listings · 15 mi away
Deerfield
City / town · 9 listings · 16 mi away
Long Grove
City / town · 12 listings · 16 mi away
Buffalo Grove
City / town · 29 listings · 17 mi away
My experience
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