Train: Lake Forest is aptly served by the Chicago suburban Metra rail network. In fact, there are two train stations - one to serve each business district of the city. West Lake Forest is served by the Fox Lake line, which originates from Chicago's Union Station; East Lake Forest - namely, the historic downtown area - is served by the Kenosha line, which originates from Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center. Each business district is practically adjacent to its respective station, and both areas are small enough to be explored entirely by foot. However, do be aware of the train schedule. Metra train service is relatively infrequent, depending on the time of the day and the day of the week, trains may only operate every few hours.
Car: Other than the aforementioned Metra service, this is the only way to access Lake Forest. Should you wish to explore the city's residential areas, you will absolutely need a car.
From Chicago and other North Shore suburbs: Take I-94 North towards Milwaukee, then stay on US Highway 41 North towards Waukegan. Exiting at Everett Road, Westleigh Road, IL-60 or Deerpath will take you into Lake Forest. Make a right on Deerpath (head East) to get to downtown Lake Forest, Lake Forest College, and Lake Forest Beach. Alternatively, if you have some time to kill (or if you are dying to see miles and miles of lakefront mansions) follow Sheridan Road North through all of the North Shore for a more scenic, albeit time-consuming journey.
From Milwaukee and Wisconsin: Take I-94 South towards Chicago, then take US Highway 41 South (past Waukegan) to Deerpath. A left on Deerpath will lead you right into the (purposely secluded) heart of the city.
From O'Hare Airport and inland suburbs: Take I-294 North towards Milwaukee. Get off at IL-60 and make a right (head East). Turn left at IL-43/Waukegan Road, then make a right on Deerpath. Follow Deerpath East into the downtown area and beyond.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Lake Forest (Illinois)
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Lake Forest (Illinois) - updated May 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount Lake Forest (Illinois) hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
Lake Forest (Illinois) Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
