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Gurnee is a village in Illinois. It sits at the midpoint between Chicago and Milwaukee. It's best known as the home of the Six Flags Great America amusement park, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago water park, the Gurnee Mills shopping mall, and a Great Wolf Lodge location. As such, Gurnee sees over 23 million visitors every year.
Get in
[edit | edit source]By car
[edit | edit source]Interstate 94, a north-south artery linking Chicago and Milwaukee, runs right through Gurnee. Gurnee is also accessible via US 41, US 45 and Illinois 21.
By train
[edit | edit source]Two Metra lines serve Gurnee, albeit indirectly. The Union Pacific North Line between Kenosha and the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago serves Waukegan, and the North Central Service between Antioch and Chicago Union Station serves Grayslake. Washington Street links the two stations, with Gurnee in between.
By bus
[edit | edit source]Several Pace bus lines serve the Gurnee area, including the 565 which runs from the right near the Metra station in Waukegan all the way to the Gurnee Mills area.
By plane
[edit | edit source]Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the closest airport to Gurnee. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is the next closest.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Grand Avenue, which is part of Illinois State Route 132, is the main strip of the town. Six Flags Great America and the Gurnee Mills Mall are both located on Grand. Washington Street is the other primary east-west thoroughfare.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Pyramid House, 37921 N. Dilleys Rd, Wadsworth. Actually a private home, this house is a great drive-by sight or you can tour it on a limited schedule. Its magical chakras did not save it from a fire in 2018, so tours are unlikely being offered right now.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Six Flags Great America, 542 N Route 21 (at Grand Ave./Route 132), ☏ +1 847-249-1776. The largest amusement park in Illinois, open seasonally from April to November. One of the most visited amusement parks in North America, it features over 40 rides including 16 roller coasters across the 275-acre property. It is home to first-of-its-kind and record-breaking rides such as Batman: The Ride, the first inverted roller coaster, and American Eagle, which remains the tallest, fastest, and longest racing wooden roller coaster in the world. USD$45 to USD$55.
- 2 Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago, 542 N Route 21 (adjacent to the Six Flags Great America theme park), ☏ +1 847-249-1776. Over 25 water slides, a large 500,000-gallon wave pool named Hurricane Bay, and an interactive playground named Skull Island. Hurricane Harbor Chicago operates as a separately-gated attraction from the theme park. USD$30 to USD$39.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Gurnee Mills, 6170 Grand Ave, ☏ +1 847 263-7500. Over 200 stores, 14 movie theatres and 20 places to eat.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Gurnee has a wide variety of chain and local restaurants and eateries.
- 1 Five Guys, 6310 Grand Ave, Ste 102, ☏ +1-847-855-1220. Five Guys is a fast casual restaurant chain focused on hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries.
- 2 Salutos, 7680 Grand Avenue, ☏ +1-847-356-6900, fax: +1-847-356-4334. Upscale Italian restaurant serving a wide variety of pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and unique entrees. Unlimited salad & bread-sticks can be had. One of the few non-chain restaurants in Gurnee.
- 3 Portillo's, 6102 W Grand Ave, ☏ +1-847-264-5060. 10:30AM-midnight.
- 4 Tina's Italian Cafe and Bake Shop, 5101 West Washington Street, ☏ +1-847-244-9001.
- 5 Gurnee Donuts, 4949 Grand Ave #9A, ☏ +1-847-249-4757, gurneedonuts@gmail.com. 6am - 2pm, closed on Mon. Donut shop popular among locals. Show up early for the best selection—they are usually out by closing time. Also serves decent coffee.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Comfort Inn Gurnee Hotel, 6080 Gurnee Mills Circle E, ☏ +1 847 855-8866. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Hotel has an indoor pool, and includes grab-n-go breakfast and WiFi. Small dogs allowed (up to 20 lbs.) Non-smoking.
- 2 Baymont Inn And Suites Gurnee, 5430 Grand Avenue, ☏ +1 847-505-0029. Located across the street from the Six Flags Great America Amusement Park providing hours of family entertainment. Near Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall.
- 3 Great Wolf Lodge (formerly KeyLime Cove), 1700 Nation Dr, ☏ +1 844 482-9653. Wilderness themed hotel near Gurnee Mills.
Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Gurnee |
| Milwaukee ← Kenosha ← | W  E | → Waukegan → Chicago |
| Milwaukee ← Kenosha ← | N  S | → Waukegan → Chicago |