Major city · United States
Libertyville
Use Libertyville as a one-night Metra base for Six Flags Great America or a Lake County stopover, not a trip on its own: downtown is walkable in an hour.
Libertyville is a village in the Far North Suburbs of Illinois, about an hour from Chicago on the Metra Milwaukee District North line and roughly 45 minutes by car up I-94. Its draw is a compact, walkable downtown of brew pubs, a coffee roaster and a Frank Lloyd Wright house, plus easy access to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee and the Lake Michigan shore towns. Most visitors spend one night, or use it as a cheaper bed than Chicago for a Six Flags day.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow), Jul–Aug (humid, Six Flags crowds)
- Airports
- ORD · MKE
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Libertyville911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Libertyville Police non-emergency847-362-8310
- Poison Control (US)1-800-222-1222
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Libertyville, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyLibertyville is a low-crime suburban village and feels safe day and night around downtown.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 847-362-8310 Libertyville Police non-emergency · 1-800-222-1222 Poison Control (US)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportORD Chicago O'Hare International (About 30–40 min by car via I-294/I-94; no direct rail link to Libertyville, so rent a car or take a rideshare.).
- Getting aroundDowntown Libertyville is walkable: the Metra station, Milwaukee Avenue restaurants and Hansa Coffee are within about 15 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a downtown café$3–6
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, mid-rangeAdd 18–22% tip.$25–45
- BeerBrew-pub burger with a beerBefore tax and tip.$20–30
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
- Budget bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$70
- Mid-range bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$95
- High-end bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$130
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$140 · High US$260
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ORD Chicago O'Hare International (About 30–40 min by car via I-294/I-94; no direct rail link to Libertyville, so rent a car or take a rideshare.) · MKE Milwaukee Mitchell International (About 1 h by car via I-94; useful if you are combining Milwaukee and Lake County.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
Feb
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Mar
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Apr
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
May
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Avoid
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Sep
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Oct
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Dec
not flagged
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)), coolest Jan (−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C) low), wettest Apr (11 rain days), driest Sep (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Libertyville: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
10 rd
Feb
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
9 rd
Mar
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
10 rd
Apr
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
11 rd
May
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
11 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
10 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9 rd
Aug
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9 rd
Sep
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
8 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
9 rd
Nov
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
10 rd
Dec
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Downtown Libertyville is walkable: the Metra station, Milwaukee Avenue restaurants and Hansa Coffee are within about 15 minutes on foot. For Six Flags, the lakefront or the hotel strip you need a car or rideshare; Pace buses cover parts of Lake County but run infrequently, so check schedules before relying on them.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Gurnee (Six Flags Great America)
goDoor to door: About 20–30 min
Car or rideshare north on I-94/US-41, about 15 min
Buy dated tickets online; summer weekends have long queues at opening.
Waukegan
goDoor to door: About 20–30 min
Metra Milwaukee District North or a 15-min drive east
Lake Michigan harbour and a small downtown; combine with a lakefront walk.
North Chicago
skipDoor to door: About 15 min
Metra Milwaukee District North, two stops south
Little for visitors beyond the naval base and transfer links.
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min
Metra Milwaukee District North from Libertyville station, about 1 h 10 min
A full day; check the last train back before you commit to an evening.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown Libertyville (Milwaukee Ave)
Walk to restaurants, bars and the Metra station; almost no hotels, so this is a base for eating and drinking, not sleeping.
Buckley Road / Route 137 strip
The hotel cluster: Holiday Inn Express and Sonesta Simply Suites, with parking and quick I-94 access.
Milwaukee Avenue north
Motel 6 and the car-dealership strip; cheapest beds, a longer walk from downtown.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–170 excl. bed
- High
- $170+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel room (Holiday Inn Express class)1 × 1 night × US$150 | US$150 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140 | US$280 |
| Metra round trip Libertyville–Chicago2 × US$13 | US$26 |
| Six Flags Great America one-day ticket2 × US$85 · date and online pricing varies | US$170 |
| Rideshare Libertyville–Gurnee, each way1 × US$20 | US$20 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$68 |
| Trip total≈ US$372 per person per day, bed included | US$744 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at checkout. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a downtown café | $3–6 |
| Brew-pub burger with a beerBefore tax and tip. | $20–30 |
| Sit-down dinner, mid-rangeAdd 18–22% tip. | $25–45 |
| Metra ride to Chicago, one way | $6–7 |
| Rideshare across town | $10–18 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Metra Milwaukee District North trains are hourly or less outside rush hour and stop running late; check the last train back before a night in Chicago.
- Six Flags Great America is in Gurnee, about 15 min north by car — not walkable from Libertyville.
- Winters bring snow and ice on sidewalks and I-94; summer afternoons can bring severe thunderstorms.
- Some budget motels on Milwaukee Avenue get poor guest reports: read recent reviews before booking.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Libertyville Police non-emergency
- 847-362-8310
- Poison Control (US)
- 1-800-222-1222
Pocket card
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LibertyvilleLibertyville
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Police non-emergency847-362-8310
- Poison Control1-800-222-1222
Embassy
No embassies in Libertyville; consulates-general are in Chicago, about 45 min south.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Metra Libertyville → Chicago: about $6–7 one way, about 1 h 10 min
- Rideshare Libertyville → Gurnee: $15–25, about 15 min
- Independence Grove entry: free for county residents; $6 Mon–Thu, $12 Fri–Sun for others
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the Metra station? — Where is the train station?
- Can we get the check, please? — The check, please
- Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Libertyville. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow), Jul–Aug (humid, Six Flags crowds) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for ORD and MKE: drive times field-checked, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster map for downtown Milwaukee Avenue with Metra station, Hansa Coffee and the brew pubs.
- Place pages with verified hours (Lloyd Lewis House, David Adler Music and Arts Center, Independence Grove) and eat pages with last orders.
- Six Flags day fixture so the Gurnee run can go green.