Tourism
Welcome to Winthrop Harbor Via METRA
Leave the city behind and wake up at the lake.
Winthrop Harbor is a lakefront village at the far north end of Illinois, and getting here from Chicago is easy. Board Metra's Union Pacific North (UP-N) line at Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago. Then sit back and watch the North Shore go by until you reach Winthrop Harbor — the last Illinois stop before Wisconsin. You won't have to deal with the expressway, tolls, or parking.
Our station sits between downtown and North Point Marina, the largest marina on the Great Lakes, so the lake is waiting as soon as you step off the train.
Make a Day of It
North Point Marina
Walk the docks, watch the boats come and go, and enjoy the Lake Michigan views.
Illinois Beach State Park
Explore 6.5 miles of shoreline and more than 4,000 acres of dunes, wetlands, and prairie.
Fishing
Cast from shore, or book a charter to fish for salmon and trout out on the lake.
Robert McClory Trail
Bring your bike and ride this path through northern Lake County.
Birdwatching
Visit Spring Bluff Forest Preserve and the lakefront, well known for migrating birds.
For restaurants, events, and more ideas for your visit, go to discovertheharbor.com. discovertheharbor.com
Before you go: Check train times at metra.com. Weekend and holiday trains run less often, so plan your ride home ahead of time. metra.com
Metra Station Parking
Winthrop Harbor residents and visitors driving in from nearby can park at the station. You can use the free Kiss 'n Go spaces, pay the daily rate, or buy a 6-month pass.
FREEKiss 'n Go Parking
The small lot next to the station has free Kiss 'n Go spaces for dropping off and picking up passengers.
- 10-minute limit, with extra time allowed when a train is running late.
- Please use these spaces instead of stopping on the street.
FREEAccessible Parking
The accessible spaces in the small lot are free. You must display a valid state-issued disability parking permit.
Daily Parking — $1.75/day
The large Metra lot costs $1.75 per day from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
How to pay:
- Park in any space not marked "Reserved" and note your space number.
- Walk to the deposit boxes at the southeast corner of the station, near 7th Street.
- Put the exact amount ($1.75) in the slot that matches your space number. No change is given.
Parking more than one day? If your car will still be parked at 6:00 a.m. the next day, pay for every day in advance ($1.75 × number of days).
6-Month Parking Pass — $175
Regular commuters can buy a 6-Month Parking Pass for $175. Only a limited number of passes are available — when they're all taken, you can join a waiting list.
How to apply:
- Step 1: Pick up an application at the Metra station, Village Hall, or download it.
- Step 2: Submit in person at Village Hall (830 Sheridan Road, Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), by mail with a $175 check payable to Village of Winthrop Harbor, or via the after-hours drop box outside Village Hall.
Pass rules:
- Passes run the first to last day of a 6-month period (e.g., Jan 1 – Jun 30).
- Pass holders must park in spaces marked "Reserved."
- Hang the pass from your rearview mirror — visible at all times.
- You may move the pass between cars, but only one car per day.
- No refunds or partial credits for unused days.
- Lost or stolen pass replacement costs $20 — report in person at Village Hall.
Lot Rules
- Fines: Cars parked in violation will be ticketed. The fine is $25 per offense.
- Vehicle size: Only standard cars, vans, and single-axle pickup trucks may park in the Metra lots. Larger vehicles are not allowed at any time.
- Liability: The Village is not responsible for damage to or theft from vehicles. Owners park at their own risk.