Where to Buy a Lake House Near Chicago

If you grew up by a lake or have been lucky enough to reside near one in later life, you’re bound to understand the unique appeal of lakeside living. From water sports to boat parties, lakeside adventures are something to look forward to.

Buying a lakefront property is a great way to ensure you spend plenty of time outdoors and make the most of weekends. Whether you choose to live by the lake full-time or buy a lake house away from your Monday-Friday dwellings, a lakefront property can transform your lifestyle. 

Your first step is to determine where to buy your lake house. Here, we explore some of the best communities to buy a lake house near Chicago. 

Johnsburg, IL
Within more than 2 miles of shoreline along the Fox River and Chain O Lakes, Johnsburg is the perfect place to buy a waterfront home.  Just 55 miles away from the Windy City, Johnsburg is the perfect location to buy a lake house that will become a conveis convenient and easy to get too.regularly-used getaway home. One of the main reasons people don’t use their second homes is because of distance and effort.  It’s a huge benefit to choose a location you can drive to in just over an hour. 

Many people also choose to move to Johnsburg full time. It’s a commutable distance if you work in downtown Chicago or the northern/northwestern suburbs. It’s the perfect time to consider moving to Johnsburg, with new homes available in several developments. Running Brook Farm offers beautiful ranch-style and two-story homes, and Remington Grove offers a range of homes priced upward of $300K.  Dutch Creek Estates offers estate lots with breathtaking views and Whispering Ridge subdivision also has estate lots on which you can build your custom dream home. The village benefits from a hometown feel, a close-knit community, plenty of local businesses, good schools, and neighborly neighbors. It’s the perfect place to unwind, relax and enjoy life. Johnsburg is one of the best places to buy a lake house near Chicago for all these reasons and more. 

Traverse City, MI
If you don’t mind longer journeys, Traverse City is a wonderful location for a lake house, and is within a day’s drive of Chicago.

Traverse City benefits from access to the extensive Lake Michigan. This lake is a truly beautiful body of water, and for this reason, Traverse city is a fantastic destination to visit and enjoy lakeside living.

However, if you’re looking for a lake house near Chicago, it depends on how far you’re willing to drive, and how regularly. Traverse City is 318 miles from Chicago, about a 5-hour drive. Traverse City also experiences long, harsh winters, during which you’ll be unable to make the most of your lakefront property. 

If you can take extended summer vacations to Michigan, Traverse City is a good option. For more regular visits, Johnsburg is a better choice.

Wisconsin Dells, WI
If you’re a native Chicagoan, you’re bound to have heard of Wisconsin Dells. Our neighbor state is known for its delicious beer and cheese and its fantastic water parks. Wisconsin Dells is a great place to visit with children, as there are so many tourist attractions for them to get excited about. 

One of the best things about Wisconsin Dells is that the indoor water parks are open year-round; even when you can’t enjoy the lake or river (aside from a spot of ice-fishing), there is still fun to be had, for those that love the water.

At 195 miles from Chicago (around a 3-hour drive), it is a significant journey to reach Wisconsin Dells. If you love the idea of living in a tourist hotspot and have young children that require plenty of entertainment, Wisconsin Dells is a great place to buy a lake house – if they’ll happily endure the drive! 

Buy a Lake House in Johnsburg, IL
Johnsburg offers a peaceful lifestyle and lakeside activities that the whole family can enjoy. With plenty of community events, you’ll quickly settle in as a regular visitor or a new resident. Johnsburg strikes the perfect balance of being close enough to the city, with all the benefits of village life.

We welcome you to visit our beloved village to find out if it’s the right place for your lake house. We look forward to meeting you. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep in touch, or give the Village of Johnsburg a call to learn more about life in our community.