Are you looking for things to do in Gurnee, Illinois? Or you might be thinking, “where is Gurnee, Illinois!” Gurnee is a town just 40 miles north of Chicago. One of the major attractions in this city is Six Flags Great America.
My husband grew up in Gurnee and his parents still live there. Needless to say we have made many visits to Gurnee. We also lived there for a short time. It is a great place to visit and there are some fun things to do in Gurnee!
Let’s explore all the things to do in Gurnee, Illinois!
If you want to save this post for later be sure to pin this to Pinterest.
This post may contain affiliate links that will give me a commission at no additional charge to you.
Directions to Gurnee, Illinois
Directions to Gurnee are pretty easy from both Chicago and Milwaukee.
Coming From Chicago
Without traffic, Gurnee is about a 45-50 minutes drive from Chicago. Gurnee is located right off the I-94 tollway. There are ways to get to Gurnee without taking the toll road if you’re coming from Chicago, but it will cost you a lot of time. It is probably better to just pay the toll and make it easier on yourself.
Now, you will want to pay close attention as you approach the exit. If you are coming from Chicago and miss it you will almost end up in Wisconsin before the next exit. Don’t ask me how I know this!
Coming From Milwaukee
Speaking of Wisconsin, Milwaukee is less than an hour away from Gurnee. So you can see how Gurnee is an attractive location to draw crowds from both the north and the south.
Fun Things to Do in Gurnee, Illinois

Image courtesy of enjoyillinois
Because Six Flags Great America is located in Gurnee this brings millions of visitors to this area each year. Six Flags Great America had 3 million guests in 2017, ranking it the 20th top amusement park in North America for attendance.
There are also some amazing attractions located in Gurnee that are worth checking out, such as Gurnee Mills and Great Wolf Lodge. But before we get to those attractions, let’s talk more about Six Flags Great America.
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is the Midwest’s largest and most exciting theme park. Six Flags has 15 thrill rides, 19 family rides, as well as 11 kiddie rides.
If you are familiar with Six Flags Amusement Parks (they are located across the country) a lot of the theming are superhero’s and Looney Tunes (Bugs Bunny and friends).
Hurricane Harbor
Six Flags Great American has a water park called Hurricane Harbor. Hurricane Harbor is a great way to cool off in the summer.
Admission
General Admission: For adults and kids over 48 inches: $74.99
Child Admission: For kids under 48 inches: $54.99
Children 2 & Under: Free
Six Flags is usually really good about offering discounts and promotions if you purchase your tickets online. I would plan ahead to get a better deal.
Hurricane Harbor: additional $5 to admission ticket
Hurricane Harbor is open Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28, June 2-3, June 9-August 19, August 25-27 and Labor Day weekend September 1-3.
Great Wolf Lodge
Okay, so now that you have a better feel for Six Flags Great America, let’s talk about some of the other attractions Gurnee has to offer. Just one mile from Six Flags Great America is the Great Wolf Lodge.
Great Wolf Lodge is one of the best kid friendly hotels. Great Wolf Lodge gives you a great reason to not only visit Gurnee for the day, but to make a vacation out of it.
Great Wolf lodge is more than a hotel. It includes a water park, arcade, fun attractions (mini golf, rope courses, bowling, and climbing wall), Build-A-Bear, giftshop, interactive parties, meet and greets with the Great Wolf Lodge characters, and MagiQuest (more on that later).
History
A few years ago Great Wolf Lodge purchased an indoor water park called Key Lime Cove in Gurnee. Great Wolf Lodge went in and remodeled it and added more slides. It is an amazing resort.
Age Recommendations for Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge was designed with kids in mind. I would recommend this resort for kids 12 and under. My 13 year old liked some of the bigger water slides and arcade but she would probably have had more fun spending most of her time at Six Flags.
How Long Should I Stay at Great Wolf Lodge
I recommend staying at least two nights. That way you can use the water park at least twice and still have enough time to do all the activities within the lodge.
Water Park at Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee, IL
The water park includes 7 big slides, 4 little slides, a big pool, lazy river, basketball pool area, a splash zone, and a baby area. We loved the water park!
What is nice about the water park is that it is indoors. It is nice to be able to have so much fun in the colder months of the year.
Rooms
Great Wolf Lodge is a themed location. In some rooms, the bunk beds are designed to look like tree houses. One thing that we loved is that Great Wolf Lodge caters to big families. There are rooms that can sleep up to 16 people. This would be a great place to plan a family reunion.
Extra Benefits
Each day, Great Wolf has Yoga, character meet and greets, story time, and a dance party. It also has arcades, rope courses, and bowling. These activities are so much fun!
Magi Quest

Okay, so now let’s talk about MagiQuestion; my son’s favorite. Magi Quest is a wizarding game at Great Wolf Lodge. After you purchase a wand, you will begin a quest. There are kiosks, treasure chest, jewels, and paintings located throughout the lodge. As you find the items you need you will aim your wand and it activates the object.
The game can take about an hour or 2 but does not have to be completed all at once.
Things to Do in Gurnee - Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
Bass Pro Shops are a national chain that is known for its large wilderness themed stores, and selection of its hunting, fishing, and outdoor gear. An impressive Bass Pro is located right in Gurnee, Illinois.
Things to do at Bass Pro
There is a waterfall, aquarium, and archery and pistol range. If you are looking for a free thing to do in Gurnee, Illinois this is a perfect place to check out (though some of the activities cost extra). Most kids like looking at all the displays of boats and out-door gear. There are also fish feedings Fridays at 1:00pm
Gurnee Mills
Bass Pro is located at Gurnee Mills. It is one of the largest outlet shopping areas in Illinois. There are over 200 stores.
On our recent trip we were very impressed with how big it was. The part of the mall closest to Six Flags Great America is about 1.5 miles away. So if you want to get a little outlet shopping done this is a great stop.
Best Places to Eat in Gurnee Illinois
Gurnee has many of the nation wide chains available to eat at. There is a Rainforest Cafe located at Gurnee Mills, which has a great atmosphere, and plenty of dining options surrounding the mall. But if you want to try some of the best food in Gurnee, Illinois, then I have a few other recommendations for you.
Oberweis
I always like to start with dessert. Oberweis is an ice cream and dairy store. You can purchase frozen treats to enjoy onsite or you can pick up an ice cream carton for later.
Kaisers Pizza and Pub
If you are craving pizza Kaisers is the best option in Gurnee. This pizza is delicious. We loved how big each pizza was. They are thin sliced pizza with great toppings.
We love pizza! On our last trip we had to have Kaisers and I guess everyone else thought the same thing because this place was hopping. A sure sign that you are in for a treat!
Tina’s Italian Café and Bake Shop
If you want to support a locally owned and ran business try Tina’s. It is delicious. We love the homemade pasta dishes, gourmet sandwiches, and desserts. This restaurant was highly recommended to us, and I recommend it to you.
Rainforest Café
As I mentioned above, Rainforest Café is a national chain located inside of Gurnee Mills. It is one of those places that has a fun atmosphere that overrides the quality of food. Get ready for a wild time!
The Chocolate Sanctuary
Also, unique to Gurnee is the Chocolate Sanctuary. This is a fancier location. It is great for foodies and chocolate lovers alike. All the food is inspired by chocolate and there are treats from local chocolatiers.
Spending Time in Gurnee Illinois
You could definitely spend a weekend or more in Gurnee, Illinois. Hopefully, this has given you a good idea of how you can plan a trip to Gurnee.
Facebook Community
If you have any questions be sure to join my Facebook Travel Community This great community can help answer any questions you may have about your upcoming trips. Plus, I try to add any great deals or promotions that companies send me!
Barbara
January 21, 2021 9:41 pmLooks like great fun!
Lisa
January 22, 2021 7:33 amIt is a fun place!
kmf
January 21, 2021 11:58 pmGurnee, Illinois is home to two of my favorite things – coasters and chocolate! What a fun place for your husband to grow up in and visit with your own children.
Lisa
January 22, 2021 7:33 amIt is a fun place to go and visit grandma!
Pam
January 22, 2021 10:32 amIt’s been years since I’ve been up to Gurnee! I actually kind of forgot about it. We used to take the kids to the Rainforest Cafe and shop at Gurnee Mills when they were really little. It’s a perfect overnight trip from Indy.
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:24 amThat is cool! Now that they have Great Wolf it is really fun!
Carey
January 22, 2021 6:56 pmWe had family that use to live in Rockford and I’ve been hear of Gurnee. Looks like a wonderful place to visit with the family.
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:25 amChicago is pretty fun but sometimes kids like more of what they offer in Gurnee!
Leigh
January 22, 2021 7:08 pmLooks like a fun place! We have a Six Flags of America here in Atlanta too, and it’s always been a blast to go to. I’ve also always wanted to try a Great Wolf Lodge!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:25 amSix Flags is fun! We have done a pass in the past!
Chantelle
January 22, 2021 8:32 pmThese are all fun, great wolf lodge is such a fun family excursion! It’s cool that it’s so close to Chicago but seems so much smaller and friendly
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:27 amExactly, it is nice to get out of the crowded downtown area
Marianne
January 23, 2021 12:43 pmLooks like an interesting place to visit! You definitely had me at Chocolate!!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:27 amI know right!
Cindy
January 23, 2021 4:14 pmI’ve never heard of Gurnee! But looks like lots of fun things to do there.
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:27 amIt is a fun little area!
Sydney Delong-Eat Simply Sweet
January 25, 2021 11:46 amLooks like a great town to visit! You’ll find me in the Chocolate Sanctuary!!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:23 amI know right! That is where the good stuff is!
Tiffany
January 25, 2021 12:25 pmI love waterparks- I haven’t been to either of these!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:22 amIf you visit Chicago you will have to go!
Holly
January 25, 2021 12:55 pmI love this part of Illinois! There is so much family fun and history in the area… Great place to visit!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:22 amWe love the Chicago area and go alot because grandma lives there!
Mariah French
January 25, 2021 2:08 pmLooks like Gurnee Mills is the place to go! I have always loved the Rainforest Cafe 🙂
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:21 amThat is awesome, it is a fun environment for sure!
Jill DeMasi
January 25, 2021 3:05 pmWhat a cute town to visit. I would definitely stop at the chocolate store and the Italian bakery!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:20 amGot to have some of those amazing treats!
Sabrina DeWalt
January 25, 2021 4:35 pmI took the kids to an indoor waterpark one Christmas. We had an absolute blast. The boys were so surprised to be able to have a summer activity while it was snowing outside.
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:20 amThat is the best!
Debbie
January 25, 2021 4:50 pmOh yum! The Chocolate Sanctuary!!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:19 amChocolate inspired dishes something unique for sure!
Alexis Farmer
January 25, 2021 5:13 pmGurnee looks like a lot of fun. Sign me up for Six Flags and Great Wolf Lodge!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:19 amI love Six Flags! Great Wolf is fun too!
Chelsea
January 25, 2021 6:03 pmI’ve been wanting to go to Chicago and Gurnee doesn’t look that far away!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:18 amNo, It is not too far from Chicago. Great Wolf is worth it if you have little kids!
Suz | TravelsWithSuz.com
January 25, 2021 7:23 pmLooks and sounds like a great family getaway! Keep on having fun out there!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:18 amYes, we are all about adventure!
Tiffany
January 25, 2021 7:39 pmThis is my neck of the woods! Great recap of this awesome area!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:17 amThat is awesome! Illinois is a great place!
Keirsten
January 25, 2021 7:55 pmI have so many friends that love taking their kids to Great Wolf Lodge. So smart to have an indoor waterpark for all seasons & weather.
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:17 amYes, it is so fun and its a nice getaway in the winter!
Barbara
January 25, 2021 9:05 pmLooks like a lot of fun!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:17 amThere are so many fun places!
Cindy
January 25, 2021 10:45 pmLooks like a fun place to visit.
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:16 amIt is a perfect addition to your Chicago trip!
Sandi Barrett
January 26, 2021 4:56 amTwo of my favorite places – Bass Pro Shop and Ben and Jerrys – win/win
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:16 amYou can’t go wrong!
Cecile
January 26, 2021 10:28 amLook like a great place to visit and fun adventures for any ages.
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:15 amFor sure! Lots of fun things!
Melissa | It's a Joyous Journey
January 26, 2021 10:58 amFun place to visit! I grew up going to Six Flags over Texas.
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:15 amMe too! We would drive to Dallas all the time!
Kristin
January 26, 2021 11:02 amSo many great suggestions. My kids would love these! I’ve never been this area but am going to check it out!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:14 amIf you plan a trip to Chicago and need more family friendly ideas. This is the place to go!
Suzan
January 26, 2021 11:08 amI would fall under the category of “where the heck is Gurnee” lol! Looks like it has a little of something for everyone!
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:14 amI think most people consider it Chicagoland.
Ashley Pacheco
January 26, 2021 1:30 pmLooking forward to taking my little ones to Great Wolf Lodge! Who knew there were such fun places in Gurnee?
Lisa
January 27, 2021 9:13 amI know right! Great Wolf is awesome!
Cathy
January 27, 2021 10:23 amI do know where this is! I was born and raised in Wisconsin and I remember my sister telling me there was great shopping there! She went there quite a bit! Thanks for the info!
Lisa
January 28, 2021 9:14 amIt is really close to the border of Wisconsin.
Elizabeth
January 28, 2021 1:42 pmWow, this looks like such a fun place to visit! I’ve been to Six Flags (in CA) and Great Wolf Lodge (in CO), but I know that every one of them is different so it makes me want to see what they have to offer here. Plus everything else! I need to add it to my vacation list!
Maya
January 30, 2021 12:57 pmWe used to visit often when kids were small haven’t been there lately. Time for a visit , such a fun place.