Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Gurnee, IL

Situated just west of Waukegan on the North Shore, Gurnee is highly regarded throughout the Chicagoland area for its exceptional visitor attractions.

The most prominent of these is Six Flags Great America, recognized as one of the most frequented amusement parks nationwide, featuring record-breaking roller coasters and adjacent to the Hurricane Harbor water park.

Furthermore, Gurnee Mills serves as both a shopping mall and outlet center, boasting nearly 200 stores, two food courts, and a variety of attractions ranging from a cinema to an ice arena.

The area also offers abundant natural beauty, highlighted by the numerous Lake County forest preserves and Illinois Beach State Park, located only 15 minutes away.

1. Six Flags Great America

Recognized as one of the top 20 most-visited amusement parks in the United States, Six Flags Great America opened in the mid-1970s, initially operated by Marriott before becoming part of the Six Flags brand in 1984.

The park features nine themed zones, offering a range of rides, carnival-style games, and thrilling shows.

For thrill-seekers, many of the roller coasters are located in Yankee Harbor, County Fair, and Southwest Territory.

Must-try attractions include Goliath, once the fastest wooden roller coaster worldwide (72 mph), and The Joker, an innovative 4D free-spin coaster.

However, the highlight ride is Maxx Force, launching you from 0 to 78 mph in just two seconds while also holding the world record for the tallest double inversion and the fastest inversion.

2. Hurricane Harbor Chicago

During the 2021 season, the water park associated with Six Flags Great America became a separate admission venue. Covering 20 acres, Hurricane Harbor features two expansive pools, a lengthy lazy river, a surf simulator, and a remarkable 25 water slides.

Families are well-accommodated with two designated children’s areas featuring sprays and engaging climbing structures.

For older children, the park offers excitement through the funnel-shaped Tornado, the twin Superloops at Five Bomber (maximum speed of 40 mph), and the newly introduced Tsunami Surge, recognized as the tallest water coaster globally at 86 feet.

3. Great Wolf Lodge

This expansive, all-inclusive resort opened in Gurnee in 2018, housing a massive water park accessible through day passes.

With over 80,000 square feet, the facility features numerous slides, a zero-depth play area for younger children, and the spectacular Fort McKenzie, a multilevel interactive play structure with a large tipping bucket.

The ambient temperature is maintained at 84°F, creating a tropical atmosphere in winter, while outdoor pools are available throughout summer.

Another highlight at Great Wolf Lodge is the entertainment park, offering a ropes course, arcade, climbing wall, and various other activities.

4. Gurnee Mills

Drawing shoppers from both Chicago and Milwaukee, Gurnee Mills ranks as the third-largest mall in Illinois, merging an outlet mall with a conventional shopping experience.

The mall features nearly 200 stores, with outlets providing discounts of up to 70%. Popular chains include Kohl’s, Macy’s, Forever 21, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dick’s Sporting Goods, H&M, and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World.

Additionally, factory stores for brands like Guess, Gap, Nike, Adidas, Vans, Polo Ralph Lauren, Disney Store, and Abercrombie & Fitch can be found here. Gurnee Mills also hosts two food courts alongside various other attractions, including a movie theater, escape room, and a new ice arena.

5. Illinois Beach State Park

While Gurnee boasts many grand attractions, it is easy to overlook the proximity of the Lake Michigan shoreline a few miles to the east.

Illinois Beach State Park, encompassing 4,160 acres, showcases the lakeshore as it appeared 200 years ago. The park uniquely preserves the beach ridge shoreline, characterized by its dunes, swales, marshes, and woodland.

The dunes are notable for housing over 650 plant species, including various wildflowers that flourish in spring and summer.

During the summer months, the park serves as a favored beach destination, and it includes numerous trails suitable for hiking and biking. Visitors can also extend their stay at the campground in the southern unit, offering 244 Class A sites, alongside the 96-room Illinois Beach Resort.

6. Betty Russell Community Park

One of the premier public parks in Gurnee is conveniently located just off N Dilleys Rd, near Great Wolf Lodge.

This park is excellent for families with children, offering a wonderful playground featuring a slide that winds down a slope. Additionally, it provides picnic areas and a skate park for older kids.

Further amenities include baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, pickleball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, and a trail system linking this park to several others in the vicinity.

In winter, an outdoor ice skating rink operates at the park, while summer brings community activities hosted by the Warren-Newport Public Library for children.

7. Only Child Brewing Company

This family-operated craft brewery was established in 2013 and relocated to its current 4,000-square-foot facility two years later.

The taproom, open seven days a week, allows patrons to witness the dedication that goes into creating Only Child’s beers. This space is welcoming to both children and dogs, and it features a diverse selection of small-batch beers on tap.

Among the twelve options available at the time of writing are a Mexican lager (Uno Más), German Pilsner (Rasenmäherbier), Sour Red Ale aged in Pinot Noir barrels (Rouge), a Hazy IPA (Dad Jokes), a Double IPA (The F-Word), and a citrus Berliner Weisse (Hullabaloo). If uncertain about your choice, you can opt for a flight.

8. Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve

Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve ranks among the largest forest preserves in Lake County, sprawling across more than 1,250 acres. This area remains largely undisturbed by roads or intensive development, featuring open prairie, wetlands, and stands of mature oaks.

The prairie habitat is especially significant, thriving with native grasses and wildflowers. A multi-use trail, spanning nearly eight miles, meanders through the preserve, traversing bridges, boardwalks, and tranquil groves.

In wetland areas, visitors can observe yellow-headed blackbirds, commonly found in large numbers here. A dedicated bird observation area with an elevated stone platform is conveniently located a short walk from the Drury Lane parking area.

9. Top Shelf Ice Arena

The Top Shelf Ice Arena, located at Gurnee Mills, offers a versatile skating and hockey facility that is open year-round. Regular public skating, freestyle, and stick & puck sessions are available for casual skaters.

Moreover, those wishing to enhance their ice skills have access to a range of classes and private lessons for all ages, whether they aim to refine puck handling or simply gain confidence on the ice.

Additionally, the facility serves as the home ice for the local Warren Township High School team, as well as Vipers Hockey, an organization based in Lake County. Skate rentals for public sessions are priced at $5.

10. Launch Trampoline Park

The Launch franchise, with locations spread across the country, has transformed a warehouse in Gurnee into a vast activity center filled with attractions. The main features include trampoline courts, which even extend to the walls.

In addition to trampoline areas, facilities for dodgeball and knockout gaming can be found, along with a foam pit. The Krave restaurant offers freshly baked pizza to order, and a selection of arcade games is also available.

At the time of writing, new attractions were being added to the park, including a basketball area, slacklines for tightrope walking, battle beams, tumble tracks for acrobatics, and an upcoming bowling alley.

11. Marcus Gurnee Mills Cinema

Opened in 1993, this multiplex theater at Gurnee Mills underwent updates shortly thereafter and currently features 20 screens.

All screens have recently been equipped with luxurious recliners, ensuring a comfortable environment to enjoy the latest films.

Additionally, patrons can enjoy one of the premier 4DX screens in the nation, providing an immersive experience with motion seats and advanced ambient effects such as vibrations, wind, mist/rain, and scents.

12. 60 to Escape

Located in Gurnee Mills, 60 to Escape is among the region’s most sought-after escape room attractions. The challenge involves a time limit of 60 minutes and accommodates two to eight players, with six themed rooms available.

Each room presents an immersive adventure that combines problem-solving skills and teamwork to navigate through an innovative array of codes, puzzles, and clues.

The themed challenges include disarming a bomb, assuming the role of a jewel thief, restoring power to a secret government facility, lifting a curse in a haunted manor, exploring ancient ruins, and unraveling a mystery at a retro arcade.

60 to Escape is celebrated for its well-crafted challenges, high production values, and friendly, helpful staff.

13. Extreme Flight Simulation

In the same complex as Only Child Brewing, Extreme Flight Simulation offers a unique, high-tech experience. It is the only company in the Chicagoland area providing state-of-the-art flight simulation experiences to the public. Participants can fly a 737NG flight deck to any destination globally, accessing over 25,000 airports.

This experience appeals not only to gamers and novice pilots but also to anyone interested in the cockpit experience of an airline.

Flights range in duration from 30 minutes to two hours, and the establishment additionally offers a virtual reality room and a virtual escape room.

14. Lambs Farm

A short drive from Gurnee, Lambs Farm represents an exceptional attraction reachable within 15 minutes.

This non-profit organization provides employment opportunities and residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities, tracing its origins back to the early 1960s when it initiated operations with a pet shop.

Currently situated on a scenic 70-acre site, Lambs Farm maintains a pet shop and animal shelter, alongside a petting zoo, amusement rides, a miniature train, a bakery, and a restaurant, as well as a miniature golf course, thrift store, country stand, and bakery.

15. Gurnee Days

One of Gurnee’s major summer events, organized by the Village and the Park District, typically takes place in late July or early August.

The festivities are usually centered around Viking Park and feature a variety of enjoyable and often competitive activities suitable for all ages.

Common highlights of the event include amusement rides, numerous food vendors, a petting zoo, face painting, a bike rodeo, a 5k run, a beer garden, music and dance performances, a softball game between fire and police departments, and demonstrations by teams such as the police K9 unit.

A defining feature of Gurnee Days is the parade, which begins at noon and travels along Old Grand Avenue.