Lake Forest
Market Square, ravines and two Metra lines.
Market Square, Lake Forest · Teemu008, CC BY-SA 2.0
To the Loop
28mi
Straight-line miles from downtown Lake Forest.
Metra
2 stations in town.
County
Lake
About 17 square miles.
ASG here
0
Homes we list here now.
Living here
Life in Lake Forest.
Lake Forest was laid out in 1857 around Lake Forest College, with curving streets that follow the ravines down to the lake. Its downtown centers on Market Square, a 1916 shopping center by Howard Van Doren Shaw, and the city has houses by Shaw, David Adler, Frank Lloyd Wright and others.
Forest Park Beach sits below a bluff-top park, Lake Forest Open Lands keeps nature preserves with walking trails across the city, and Middlefork Savanna holds a large tallgrass savanna.
Near the lakeBig parksLocal shopping streetsHistoric architectureQuieter side streetsTrails and biking
The homes
What you'll find.
Historic estates and early twentieth century houses on large wooded lots in the east, Tudor and Georgian homes near downtown, postwar and newer subdivisions west of the tollway, and townhomes and condos near the stations.
Single-family homesHistoric estatesTownhomesCondos
Getting around
How far is everything?
Metra stops at Lake Forest and Lake Forest stations on the Union Pacific North (UP-N) and Milwaukee District North (MD-N) lines, toward downtown Chicago. The two Lake Forest stations are separate: the Union Pacific North stop is downtown, and the Milwaukee District North stop is on the west side. The Tri-State Tollway (I-94) runs along the west edge and US 41 through the middle.
Straight-line miles. Tap one to draw it on the map. No train times; check Metra for schedules.
Places to know
Start here.
- ShoppingMarket SquareHoward Van Doren Shaw's 1916 square of shops facing the station.
- Lake and riverForest Park BeachThe city beach, with a park and paths on the bluff above.
- LandmarksLake Forest CollegeThe college campus on the east side of town.
- ParksMiddlefork SavannaLake County forest preserve with tallgrass savanna and trails.
- ParksElawa FarmA historic farm beside Middlefork Savanna, with gardens and programs.
- Arts and cultureGorton CenterArts center in a 1901 school building, home to a theater company.
For sale now
On the market in Lake Forest.
Live from MRED through our home search. ASG listings open their own page; the rest open in our home search. Sources
In the news
What's being built and sold.
- Patch · Oct 8, 2026Lake Forest Council Approves 3-Unit Condo Building On Oakwood AvenueRead at Patch
Recent real estate headlines from Google News, linked to the outlets that published them. Sources
Nearby
Around Lake Forest.
Questions
Good to know.
What is Lake Forest known for?
Lake Forest was laid out in 1857 around Lake Forest College, with curving streets that follow the ravines down to the lake. Its downtown centers on Market Square, a 1916 shopping center by Howard Van Doren Shaw, and the city has houses by Shaw, David Adler, Frank Lloyd Wright and others.
What kind of homes are in Lake Forest?
Historic estates and early twentieth century houses on large wooded lots in the east, Tudor and Georgian homes near downtown, postwar and newer subdivisions west of the tollway, and townhomes and condos near the stations.
How do you get to Chicago from Lake Forest?
Lake Forest is about 28 miles from the Loop as the crow flies. Metra stops at Lake Forest and Lake Forest stations on the Union Pacific North (UP-N) and Milwaukee District North (MD-N) lines, toward downtown Chicago. The two Lake Forest stations are separate: the Union Pacific North stop is downtown, and the Milwaukee District North stop is on the west side. The Tri-State Tollway (I-94) runs along the west edge and US 41 through the middle.
Which school districts serve Lake Forest?
Most of Lake Forest is served by Lake Forest School District 67 and Lake Forest Community High School District 115. District lines do not always follow town lines, so check the district for any address. We do not rank schools; the Illinois Report Card has each school's own data, and we're happy to look one up with you. Open the Report Card.
What towns are near Lake Forest?
The closest towns with our guides are Lake Bluff, Highwood, Bannockburn and Highland Park.
Looking in Lake Forest?
Let us show you around.
Our agents know Lake Forest street by street. Tell us what you're after and we'll line up the homes, on the market and off it.
Sources
Written by our team from public sources. Places change; call ahead.
- Homes for sale
- Live MRED listings, distributed by MLS GRID.
- News
- Google News, linked to each outlet.
- Boundaries
- U.S. Census Bureau, TIGERweb
- Metra
- Metra. Distances are straight-line.
- Schools
- We don't rank schools: Illinois Report Card
Photo credits 4
- Market Square, Lake Forest Teemu008, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Village Hall, Lake Bluff Uptown Historic District Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Downtown Highwood Etombari, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rosewood Beach, Highland Park Ronincmc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, under the licenses shown.
Listings are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. We describe places, homes and transit, not the people who live there.