PCS to Naval Station Great Lakes: A 2026 Guide for Military Families

If you have orders to Naval Station Great Lakes, you are headed to one of the most important training installations in the entire U.S. Navy. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for moving from one duty station to another. Naval Station Great Lakes sits on the western shore of Lake Michigan in North Chicago, Illinois, about 35 miles north of downtown Chicago and roughly the same distance south of Milwaukee. This 2026 guide is written for the sailors, civilians, and families making that move.

A PCS is a lot to manage at once. Our goal is to make the Great Lakes part feel smaller and clearer. We will cover what the installation does, where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, the local climate, and what to do once you are settled in.

What and Where Is Naval Station Great Lakes?

Naval Station Great Lakes is a U.S. Navy installation in North Chicago, Lake County, Illinois. According to the Naval Station Great Lakes About page, the installation is known as the "Quarterdeck of the Navy." It sits on 1,628 acres and includes 1,153 buildings, 39 of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The installation is the largest military installation in Illinois and the largest training station in the Navy. It enables and sustains Fleet, Fighter, and Family by providing base operating support to more than 55 tenant commands. The most well-known of those commands is Recruit Training Command, or RTC, the Navy's only boot camp. Every enlisted sailor in the Navy comes through Great Lakes before going to their first assignment. The installation is also home to 80 percent of the Navy's surface warfare specialty training.

Other commands at the installation include Navy Recruiting District Chicago, Marine Corps Recruiting District Area 9, Marine Air Control Group 48, the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, and Commander, Naval Service Training Command, the installation's single flag command.

In plain terms, Great Lakes is where the Navy makes sailors. If you are stationed here, you are part of a mission that runs year-round and produces thousands of graduates every year.

Where to Live When PCSing to Naval Station Great Lakes

Most families who move to Great Lakes either live in on-post housing or settle in one of the surrounding communities in Lake County. Your choice usually comes down to commute, schools, budget, and the feel you want. Ask your sponsor and the housing office about current on-base availability and wait times.

Approximate one-way drive times to Naval Station Great Lakes. Times vary with traffic and which gate you use.

North Chicago

North Chicago sits right at the gate and offers the shortest commutes on this list, around seven minutes. It is a working-class city with affordable rents and a mix of older homes. Families who want the simplest commute and do not need a lot of suburban amenities often start here.

Waukegan

Waukegan is the Lake County seat, just a few miles south of the installation with a commute of about 12 minutes. It offers a wider range of housing options, more dining and shopping, and a harbor on Lake Michigan. Home values here are lower than in many North Shore communities, which can make the math work well for junior enlisted sailors.

Lake Forest

Lake Forest is a well-known North Shore community about 15 minutes from the gate. It has highly rated schools, a walkable downtown, a Metra commuter rail station, and strong property values. Housing costs are higher than in Waukegan or North Chicago, but some families find the schools and neighborhood feel worth it.

Gurnee

Gurnee sits west of the installation, about 18 minutes away. It is a family-friendly suburb with newer construction, big-box retail, and Six Flags Great America, a major regional amusement park. Commute times are reasonable and housing tends to be more affordable than in Lake Forest or Libertyville.

Libertyville

Libertyville is a well-regarded suburb about 20 minutes from the gate. It has a historic downtown, strong schools, and a quiet feel. Families who want a small-town atmosphere with good services often find it worth the slightly longer drive.

Zion

Zion sits northeast of the installation, also about 20 minutes away, and borders Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park. Housing is generally affordable, and the proximity to the park and Lake Michigan beach is a draw for outdoor-minded families.

Mundelein

Mundelein is about 25 minutes from the gate and offers a mix of established neighborhoods and newer developments. It has a Metra station and is popular with families who commute in multiple directions. Housing costs are generally moderate compared with the lakefront communities to the east.

Naval Station Great Lakes BAH and the Cost of Living

If you live off base, the military helps cover your housing through BAH, which stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment. The amount depends on three things: your rank, whether you have dependents, and your duty station's Military Housing Area, or MHA. An MHA is the geographic zone the Defense Department uses to set local housing pay. Naval Station Great Lakes falls within the Great Lakes, Illinois MHA.

Because rates change each year and vary by rank and dependent status, we do not publish a rate table here. To find your exact figure, use the official DoD BAH calculator: travel.dod.mil BAH Rate Lookup. Enter your rank and ZIP code to see the current rate. Exact BAH rates are verified separately, so always confirm yours before signing a lease or making an offer.

For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in Waukegan was about $246,604 in May 2026, according to Zillow. That is a typical value, not a median sale price. Values in Lake Forest and Libertyville run considerably higher, while North Chicago and Zion tend to run lower. As of the week of June 18, 2026, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.47 percent. Whether buying or renting makes more sense depends on how long you expect to be stationed here, so run the numbers for your own situation.

If you want a local read on a specific neighborhood and its commute to the gate, ask Jacob Christian, a VeteranPCS agent in the Lake County area, for current listings and prices. If you plan to use your VA loan, you can also connect with a VeteranPCS lender.

Schools Near Naval Station Great Lakes

The school district your children attend depends on where you live. Lake County has several districts, and the quality and character of each varies.

North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 serves North Chicago and parts of the installation footprint. Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 is a large urban district covering Waukegan. Families who choose Gurnee fall under Gurnee School District 56 for elementary grades and then Woodland School District 50 before feeding into Warren Township High School District 121.

Lake Forest School District 67 and Lake Forest High School District 115 serve Lake Forest and are consistently ranked among the higher-performing districts in Illinois. Libertyville School District 70 feeds into Libertyville High School District 128. Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 and supporting elementary districts serve Zion.

Boundaries shift, and attendance zones can vary by address within a city, so confirm the assigned school for any specific home before you commit.

Healthcare: Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

On-base medical care is provided by the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, or Lovell FHCC, located at 3001 Green Bay Road in North Chicago. Lovell FHCC is the nation's first integrated Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense medical facility, combining resources from what was previously the North Chicago VA Medical Center and the former Naval Hospital Great Lakes. It provides a wide range of primary care, specialty clinics, and support services to both active-duty military beneficiaries and veterans.

You can also find Lovell FHCC listed on TRICARE's facility finder as your on-base military treatment facility. Set up your TRICARE plan early in your PCS. Update your information in DEERS, choose or transfer your plan, and arrange referrals before you arrive so there is no gap in care. Getting this step done early is one of the simplest ways to reduce stress when you land.

Climate and Things to Do

Naval Station Great Lakes sits on Lake Michigan, and the climate reflects that. Winters in Lake County are cold and can be intense. The National Weather Service Chicago office tracks the local climate and documents lake-effect snow events that can drop several inches along the shoreline within hours. Expect cold winters with lake-effect snow, warm and humid summers, and real spring and fall seasons. If you are coming from a warmer climate, the first winter will be an adjustment.

The flip side is that you are on one of the Great Lakes, and that brings real recreational value. Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park, in nearby Zion, is the only remaining beach ridge shoreline in Illinois and stretches 6.5 miles along Lake Michigan. It offers swimming beaches, hiking trails, camping, and miles of natural dunes. It was the first Illinois Nature Preserve, designated in 1964, and was also named a National Natural Landmark in 1980.

Six Flags Great America in Gurnee is a large regional amusement park about 18 minutes from the gate, popular with families in warmer months. And Chicago is roughly 45 minutes south by car or about an hour by Metra commuter rail from several North Shore stations, putting major league sports, world-class museums, restaurants, and Lake Michigan's lakefront path within easy reach on a weekend.

Plan Your PCS to Naval Station Great Lakes

A smooth move comes down to good information and the right people. If you are still mapping out the basics, start with our overview of what military bases are in Illinois. If you have or expect orders to another Illinois installation, our guide to PCS to Scott AFB covers the southern part of the state. To keep your timeline on track, use the ultimate PCS checklist and timeline for active-duty military personnel. When you are ready to choose your team, read how to choose the right real estate agent for your military PCS move. And if you are thinking about buying, start with our complete guide to buying your first home with a VA loan and what are the benefits of a VA loan.

Jacob Christian
Libertyville, IL
Retired
Keller Williams North Shore West

Get in Touch

Know another family with orders to Great Lakes? Share this guide with your military network so they can plan their move too.

For agents and lenders across the state, connect with our VeteranPCS network in Illinois.

Frequently Asked Questions

What MHA or area is Naval Station Great Lakes in for BAH?

Naval Station Great Lakes falls within the Great Lakes, Illinois Military Housing Area for BAH purposes. Your rate depends on your rank and whether you have dependents. Look up your exact figure with the official DoD BAH calculator using your rank and ZIP code.

Where do military families live near Naval Station Great Lakes?

Common choices include North Chicago and Waukegan, which are closest to the gate; Lake Forest and Libertyville for well-regarded schools and a quieter feel; Gurnee for newer construction and moderate prices; and Zion, which borders Illinois Beach State Park. On-base housing may also be available, so ask your sponsor and the housing office about current options.

What is the weather like near Naval Station Great Lakes?

Winters are cold with real lake-effect snow, especially close to Lake Michigan. Summers are warm and humid with mild temperatures near the water. Spring and fall are distinct seasons. The National Weather Service Chicago office tracks local normals and events if you want to review averages before you arrive.

Where do I get healthcare at Naval Station Great Lakes?

Medical care is centered at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center on base in North Chicago. It is the nation's first fully integrated VA and DoD medical facility. Set up your TRICARE plan early, update DEERS, and arrange any referrals before you arrive so your care does not lapse.

Which school district will my children attend near Great Lakes?

It depends on where you live. North Chicago is served by District 187, Waukegan by District 60, Gurnee by District 56 feeding into Warren Township, Lake Forest by its own K-12 districts, and Libertyville and Zion by their respective districts. Confirm the assigned school for any specific address before you commit.

Is there a commuter rail option near Naval Station Great Lakes?

Yes. Metra's North Line (Union Pacific North line) runs along the North Shore and has stations in Lake Forest, Waukegan, Zion, and other nearby communities, with service to Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center downtown. Travel times from North Shore stations to downtown Chicago typically run 50 to 90 minutes depending on the station and the train. It is not a direct route to the base, but it gives families a car-free option into the city.

This content is for informational purposes. Consult a professional for personal financial decisions.