Great Lakes Naval Training Center

BAD NEWS/GOOD NEWS. First the Bad -- Less than our expectations: Chaos in finding the campground; no water available near campground; electric is 30 amp only; toilets are awful; no refunds policy for leaving early. Because of a July 09 landslide between the campground and the office/marina area, the dump station is a long way from the RV parking in inconvenient to use. BUT, work is underway on cleaning up the landslide damage, although it may take time to shore up the library now sitting along a cliff. Cell phone service was very poor or non-existent at the campground along Lake Michigan. And the Good – Ed, the manager, said that funds have been approved to put water and sewerage at the sites, and new paved sites will be added, plus toilet house will be knocked down and replaced with a new bathroom facility. He said improvements are ready to start (but AD residents said they heard that last year). More Bad -- We entered the base on Sunday through the main gate (09-13-09) and proceeded to find the RV check-in, which wasn’t open and followed the road to a dead end at the landslide area. We turned around and maneuvered across the base with our trailer looking for the park entrance until we found a policeman who led us to Ziegemeier Road (off Paul Jones near McDonald’s) that got us to the RV park. Our neighbor in a motorhome had entered the main gate, was told to exit and enter at Gate 5. He couldn’t find the RV office until finally finding someone to direct him. He left early, forfeiting a couple of night’s fees. We left early, also. Chaos!

What a shame! A beautiful location right on Lake Michigan, but a poorly run facility. First, there is the issue of getting access to the base. Unlike most other military installations that grant access with your military ID card, Great Lakes requires you to register your vehicle. I waited in line for 45 minutes to get my car registered. Then, your RV must go thru Gate-5, but your car cannot go thru this gate -- it's for trucks and RVs only. Then you have to drive to Building 13 to register for the campground, but that office is located about 2 miles away from the campground (due to a mud slide that closed the shore road). The campground itself has only 20 spaces. All have only 30 amp service with NO water and NO sewer hookups. There is a dump station, but again, it's 2 miles away at the marina. The campground has NO showers and NO water and only pit toilets that stink to high heaven. MWR could do a lot better -- this could be a money maker if they just fixed the place up a bit and added full hookups. There appears to be a number of long-term campers homesteading here and relatively few vacationers.

Lake Michigan was beautiful. The Gate police Officers seemed to change the rules on a daily basis. I seriously question if some of those guys should be carrying firearms. We arrived at a time when there was a mud slide at the Camp Ground. This made it difficult to get around. The Camp Host A Retired Navy Person gave us number combination to a dilapidated building with the showers, which were in terrible shape. He must not like Army people. It wasn't until the last day here when a very really kind young fella, asked us why we were using the old facility to take showers. It is about to be torn down. He went on to tell us about the newer showers located in the adjacent building. The Camp ground needs to some help. Has the potential to be a great Campground.

Visited on June 16-20, 2008. The view of Lake Michigan is awesome. We did not use the shower or dump facilities but aware they are not located at the campground. We took the train into Chicago and was able to park our car in the lot near the gate to the train depot, which was extremely convenient. NEX / Commissary is off base and found it a little hard to find. The gate guards seems to change the entrance rules without notifying the campground office so there is some confusion about which gates to enter through, especially with a big rig. Would definitely recommend this facility for access to Chicago and a place to chill out.

Outstanding location to view fireworks from either the base or looking up and down the beach to the local municipalities. The staff was great and very helpful. We plan on going back over the labor day weekend. The view out over the lake is wonderful. Yes it's a hike to restroom, but the view on the way made up for it. If your going to ride the Metra into Chicago, walk up the hill by the marina and exit the base by the hospital gate. The Metra station is right across the street.

I highly recommend reading all the reviews before this. If you have your eyes wide open, and realize there will be only basic facilities, you should have a great stay at Great Lakes. The one surprise to me was how far away the restrooms/showers were from the campground, about half a mile away. However, the location is excellent, relatively close to Chicago, very close to the train station, and right on Lake Michigan. Our plans had very little time at the campground, so the level concrete pad, the picnic table at our site, and 30 amp electric met all our needs. One other tip, if you plan to travel to Chicago on the train, definately go to METRA (the Chicago train) and CTA (light tail/subway/bus) web sites and read about schedules/fares in advance. I will definately stay here again.

Good campground but water and sewage are a bit of a problem as noted by others. My biggest problem was ill informed and surly base security. They are mostly "rent a cops." I was sent in and out of two gates before I ended up where they thought I should enter. In the process I damaged RV and gate fence. Later while driving my TOAD I was informed that they did not like my base registration and required me to get a temporary pass. If your home installation issues a year sticker with only one digit you are going to have a problem. Now if you are going there for a recruit graduation be ready for the most ridiculous security measures I have ever seen before or after 9/11. Someone here has an ego and budget to match.
Mike Brady, USMC Ret

I agree with most of the reviews; 1) Dump station by Marina - do it before you head to the CG, and it is difficult on weekends/4-days when busy, and fill with water 2) Showers old/rustic, also at the Marina; early morning or evening is best, 3) Easy to manuever RVs through gate five; make sure you have your pass (Main gate Visitor Center), 4) LOVELY VIEW; Wonderful beach (Nunn beach has lifeguards on Th-Su), 5) clean CG with "long drop" potties. 6) A very spread-out base; NEX/Comm "off" base. For families with kids there are little beaches to explore and a large field next to camp for soccer and baseball/frisbee, Nunn beach (for swimming) close by. Bowling cheap on Wed!! Community Center sucks (my kids report); not worth the venture. LAUNDRY; call the Navy Lodge; unless they are swamped, you CAN do it there!! Library usually very busy at nights/weekends with new recruits, but they have movies to check out! No recycling, yet, but they are working at getting bins in the CG. Train easy access to Chicago, and I would definately stay here again!

Got here & someone assigned to site 15 had parked in site 14. (mine) After discussion, I set up in 15. MWR staff told me because of the site mix up, the person parked wrong was leaving Friday, so I would have to move from 15 to 14 after they left! I am not going to do that so will leave a day early!! My initial phone contact was great, but the folks here have no "feel" for RV'ing. Down by Building 13 was crowded, messy, and no place to park TV, let alone when towing the RV. The folks assigned to the RV side of things seem to all be new here & are at a loss to be of much help. The "Pit Toilet" is a 2 holer. With the road closed between Marina & RV Park, it is a long way between them, so head out early!!! It is a pretty spot, but that alone will not bring us back! Was very disappointed with our stay here, but a bit of Command attention could easily change it to a super place to stop/stay.

Excellent campground with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. Sites 9-20 are nearest the water. Make sure you stop and dump tanks and fill your fresh water tank if necessary before proceeding to campground because there are only 30A hookups at site (no water or sewage). There are pit toilets at the campground and showers are located across from Bldg. 13 as are water hookups and sewage dump. There is a nice Marina here with boat (sail & power), canoes & kayaks for rent. Downtown Chicago is approx. 40 mi. away and accessible by train,located directly acrosss from the base. The reservation system is a bit messed up. Campers are routinely uprooted and made to move to another site to make room for campers that are here to watch their children graduate from boot camp. So, if you are here for a long stay pay in advance and make sure that your spot is not reserved by someone else during your stay.