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Lake Forest, IL is an upscale North Shore suburb on Lake Michigan, about thirty-three miles north of downtown Chicago, and home to Lake Forest College. It's one of Chicagoland's most established communities, all tree-lined streets, historic homes, and a walkable downtown built around Market Square, the country's first planned shopping center and a National Register landmark. Students get a quiet, polished setting with the lakefront, public beaches, and forest preserves close at hand, plus the small liberal-arts feel of Lake Forest College. Two Metra stations make Chicago an easy day trip for museums, games, and concerts, so you can have the calm suburb and the big city both within reach.
The walkable center, with historic apartments and homes near campus and the train.
Toward the lakefront, the most polished and sought-after stretch, quiet and close to the beaches.
Popular for the easy Chicago commute and quick access to the rail line.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Lake Forest.
Lake Forest's main transit connector is Metra commuter rail, with two lines serving the area: the Union Pacific North line into Ogilvie Transportation Center and the Milwaukee District North line into Union Station, putting downtown Chicago under an hour away. The neighborhoods near the Metra stations are popular for that easy Chicago commute. Within town there isn't a dense local bus network, so the train is the standout option. Many students plan trips around the rail schedule.
Within town, walking covers campus and the Market Square area comfortably. Biking works well on the quiet residential streets and the nearby forest preserve trails. The leafy, spread-out layout suits cyclists who don't mind a bit of distance. For groceries and the wider North Shore, students pair walking with a car or the train.
Lake Forest is a leafy, spread-out suburb, so a car is genuinely useful here, and many Lake Forest College students keep one. For groceries and getting around the wider North Shore, having wheels makes life easier. Parking is generally available given the suburban setting. A willing roommate with a car can fill the gap if you skip one.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Lake Forest sits at the higher end as an exclusive North Shore suburb. One-bedroom apartments often run around $1,500-$1,900 a month, so most students split a larger unit or look to nearby Highwood and Highland Park to bring the per-person number down.
Browse student housing near each Lake Forest-area university.