Great Lakes Naval Training Center

Nice location on the water. That's the only good thing I can say. It's full of fulltimers that live here permanently, one guy said he's been here 2 years. The fulltimers have the water view. Electric only, water and dump about a mile down the road. Grounds are unkept and dog feces all over even though there dog stations around. Sadly it looks like base command doesn't care about the campground.

20 dollars a night, electric only. Sewer dump 1 mile down the road, water and bathhouse .5 miles down the road. Washers and dryers 1 mile down the road at the Marina. Block outhouse on rv park, dumpster across the street the worse problem to me is the Gravel road hadn't been filled and graded in years. Numerous potholes upto 8 inches deep. They could use a credit card and get stone delivered but won't. The grass is 2ft tall in places. The management doesn't really care about this place and that is obvious. The outhouse does get cleaned. The dumpster does get dump now and isn't always overflowing with garbage blowing down the street. So there have been a few improvements in the last year. It's really 1 step above being a slum but it could be such more.

Ok, I few updates: Check-in is at 2910 ZEIGMEIER ST, BLDG 13, this is the marina this is also where the dump station is, and non-potable water for tank clean-out is located. They can be reached at 847-688-5417, they will send you a confirmation email with the wrong phone number. We were going to arrive after they closed so we called and were given our site over the phone, not sure what would have happened had we not called, If you are there before they close (1630) come in the main gate which is Farragut until it T's you must turn right (oneway) on Sampson, make a left on Decatur Ave, then turn right onto Mahan rd, this will take you to the marina when you get to the bottom and the water bldg 13 is on the right. Ziegemeier is to the left and will take you past the boat storage and 20amp spots with water, then the beach house followed by the main park. Potable water can be found at the beach house at 2 spots, both are located on the right side of the building (viewing from the street) one is low to the ground on the building with a sign, and the other is 20 feet to the right of the building from a free-standing spigot (your hose). If you are coming in after-hours this is the best way to the campgrounds is: after the main gate take the first left turn lane onto Rodgers St, then take a right onto Bronson Ave, and take a left onto Sampson. Sampson will take you past the Student NEX (exchange) and gas station (easy fillup on the way out with plenty of room). Turn right onto Evans Ave at Paul Jones St turn left and an immediate right onto Ziegemeier camp is at the bottom of the hill on the left. All the roads are narrow and there are a lot of one-way, but minimal traffic, stay out of the housing areas they are one-way with cars parked on the side and are not Rv friendly, and do not get directions from the staff unless you want to visit the housing area. The RV camp is a great location, but if it rains half the sites are flooded ours had 4 inches of standing water, we found some boards and had to cross onto the grass, we had dogs it sucked, a better job grading would eliminate a lot of it. each site had a picnic table and fire ring, everywhere the grass was 6-8 inches tall, standing water in the ditch by the dog area (again grading). Men and women's bathrooms are open pits (no smell around the buildings but it was in the '70s), the beach house has a shower you can use, and so does Bldg 13. 13 also has a small store, laundry, and a rental area (I can't comment), Staff was friendly and regularly driving thru the area, you can't reserve a spot, stone and sand beaches at the RV park, a large sand beach at the beach house but no swimming. Staff said they were hoping the area would be paved by the end of the fiscal year, just hoping it's by someone who knows what they are doing.

It was difficult to find the right entrance to the installation, let alone right building on the installation. It seems to be the Navy way to keep folks confused. Once we got the site, we went down and found it to be a concreted pad with a 30 amp hook up. I knew in advance there was no water or sewage connections. The pad was und 3" of water and the grass in the surrounding area was saturated! The power was out. I contacted the desk and the clerk assured me that there would be someone out to check the power in 2 to 3 hours! I was real upset, Fortunately another camper saw me and recommend I check out the overflow are by the marina. I had a picnic table, 20 amp electric service and a water connection. The place to fill RVs is a water tap on the side of the beach house about a 1/4 mile away from teh main camp sites and the dump station is next to the marina about a 1/2 mile form the campsites. The water connection to clean and flush your tanks froze and broke over the winter and DPW hasn't fixed it yet. Our power failed at this site in the morning and the marina folks sent someone right over and reset everything. After that it was fine. Went to the Commissary and Main NEX which aren't on the installation (another confusion the Navy could fix). It was a nice place to ride bikes and take walks once things settled down. I did rain hard though (which wasn't the Navy's fault). I do like the locals saying that the installation is the Great Mistake!

This campground is actually in two slightly separate locations. The main campground, with 30amp power (but no water or sewer), is the primary camping area with the most spots. The secondary campground is a little down the road, near a boat overflow parking lot. This smaller campground has 20amp and 110 power, and comes with water hookups (but no sewer), and picnic tables. Showers are available at the Beach House, also on the same road (between the main and secondary campground). There is also a very nice beach (Nunn Beach), with several nice spots to have a BBQ, under the shade of trees and with picnic tables. There is also a new playground there for the kiddos. Further down the road (Ziegemeir Street), just past the secondary campground, is the MWR Building, with some rentals available, as well as MWR options for the local area. The MWR also includes: fuel (gas and propane), washrooms, and laundry. Their office: (847) 688-5417 The price, and relative proximity to Chicago, this is a good stop. I wouldn't call the campground great, but it is decent enough.

Somewhat of a challenge to find and because our emailed confirmation gave the address as "Bldg 13," we somehow missed that you have to check in at the main billeting office first (Navy Gateways Inn). The RV park is literally right on the shores of Lake Michigan and check-in is up on the bluff a few blocks from the old administration building with the big clock tower. The potable water to fill your RV tank is also hard to find. Look for a small blue sign on the bottom corner of the Beach House which is about half way between Bldg 13 and the RV park. The closest bath/shower (24 hrs) is there at the Beach House too but since these had only been opened a couple weeks prior, we could not get hot water there. Shower facility at Bldg 13 (the MWR office) was open until 1630. MWR store was closed (season? COVID?) and the little laundry had 2 of 3 pairs of machines working. Folks were nice. On morning of check-out, the RV dump station water did not work so we were unable to flush out our black tank as accustomed :-( and it too is down by MWR, not at the RV park. Still we loved looking at the lake view out our windshield.

I appreciated the previous review. I had no idea that water was not available at the campsite. I arrived with a full tank of fresh water and empty holding tanks. Check-in was fine. The young lady at the Navy Lodge was courteous and familiar with RV check-in. Just follow the directions provided on this website for the main gate and then the map you can download here. I had no problems entering the base and finding the campground (there is always this bit of apprehension). Some of the sites were closed. Some of the sites could use a bit of maintenance. I was lucky and got a nice site and one that did not flood after the big storm we had. I have no complaints. We only did a two-night stopover on the way to Elkhart IN. It was enjoyable. I think $22.00 is an OK fee, but should be a little cheaper since no water and no sewer. Showers were available at the beach house and I was told that fresh water could be gotten at the beach house. I chose not to use either. I was stationed at NTC GLAKES with Marine Barracks in 1970. The building is still there and a recent plaque on a wall commemorating Marine Barracks that closed in 1977. BTW, "Marine Barracks" was the name of the duty station...a spit and polish sort of duty station. As previously mentioned, the base is a bit rough around the edges. I was quite surprised. Typically Marine Corps and Navy bases look pretty sharp. If I were in my previous motorhome (I downsized), I could easily stay there a week and enjoy it.

I have to qualify our visit today. We were not camping. My husband and I were visiting Naval Station Great Lakes to get new ID cards. However, as we always do, whenever we are on the naval station, we take a swing down to the shore of Lake Michigan to take in that beautiful vista after we are done with our business. We had already noted that the old base was not looking as top notch as usual and attributed it to the problems of the world namely Covid-19. The lake shore looked even worse. All the beaches were roped off with swimming prohibited. The beach is one of the best parts of the base and the campground. Large signs prohibiting group gatherings were up as well. A visitor can still pull up and have a small picnic and have some fresh air however. The lawns are not being well kept at this time. As for the campground, the weeds are overgrown. As mentioned in the description of what is available, there are only pit toilets - no water or sewer. There is no mention of showers nearby so your rig had better have a good shower in it. I would only use this campground if I was passing through and then for only one night. For the amenities, the price is not that great. And I really cannot understand why it would be open all year when it is located smack in the midwest winter unless the bluff that towers over it shelters it a lot. I gave "location" a 5 Star because of the beauty of Lake Michigan.

Check-in staff don't care about the campground. They stated it's run by MWR, but they don't work for MWR. The roads in the campgrounds are gravel and have pot-holes again. The sites are very close together. Many people living in the campground taking most of the 50amp sites. Although our friends were told the campground was full and they couldn't get a reservation, a site was empty the entire time. The reservation staff didn't offer an overflow site, probably because they can't be reserved. Overflow sites are located closer to the Marina and have water and 20amp electric. The RV Park doesn't have any water or sewer in it. The dump is at the Marina and requires a bit of maneuvering for the RV. Fill-up with water at the overflow sites. Grass was mowed while were there, so tall grass isn't a problem anymore. WiFi worked fine. This campground could be better, but the prices would probably be increased. It's not fancy, but fine the way it is for a short stay.

<div>We spent the weekend at this campground as we attended the Recruit graduation. The directions on the homepage of military campgrounds out dated for as soon as you get through the main gate all you have to do is follow the signs to Bldg 62. Bldg 62 has reserved temp parking for your RV. The staff at the hotel was extremely helpful and gave us a base map showing all the places on base. Now for the reason for the low score on the amenities/facilities; the site only has electric. Make sure that your tanks are full of water for you have can fill your tanks up at the Nunn Beach bath house and dump your tanks at the Marina which is had to pull up to in order to dump. The rest rooms at the campground are primitive (a toilet over a hole-no flushing water and bring you own spray or hold you breathe). The showers are located down the street at Dunn Beach house and no privacy. A shower curtain for the shower but dressing was exposed. The female head had only one toilet working. This campground had a wonderful view of Lake Michigan for you are right on the water. If staying less than 3 days this campground is do able; any length of stay longer would recommend looking a different place to stay or stay in the hotel because of the inconvenience of no water or sewage hookups. TV reception was great for you can get channels from both Chicago and Milwaukee. </div>

Nice relaxing campsite on the water. Beaches are nice to walk on. We were told that they are going to upgrade the RV campsites very soon. They currently have only electric at the sites. The staff at the lodging facility were very friendly, however, they were not aware of the best gates to utilize to gain access on base. Additionally, as stated in an earlier post, the gate guards seemed to make up there own rules. Example: They told me that my retired ID card, with my social security number on it, needed to be changed out to a new ID card without the SS#. No problem, right? Well, the following day, at the same gate, the guard said, "Your ID card is suspended. I should not let you on bases. You need a new card." He then said, "I should confiscate this card, but, get it replaced by tomorrow." Of course when I went to get it replaced, the ID card personnel stated that this was not true. They stated that the guards are just trying to get people to get new cards. Other than that experience, the campground and base facilities were very nice. Good gyms, close BX, however, the large BX and commissary are off base.

I found the previous instructions a little confusing, so I hope to give you more details here. As stated, enter through the Main Gate off of IL-137 (Buckley Rd). Just ID's were needed. Once you depart the Main Gate, go 0.2 miles straight ahead (to the end) and make a Right on Sampson. Then get into the left lane and make an immediate left onto Decatur. Go 0.1 miles and make a Right onto Mahan (just past the white gazebo on the left). Go down the hill to the Stop sign (0.2 miles). Straight ahead from the Stop, about 60 feet, is the sewage dump on the right (the Marina Building with showers is also there on your right). Turning left at the Stop sign will put you on Ziegemeier Rd. At 0.3 miles there water fill is at the Nunn Beach Pavilion on your right, and the Campground is another 0.4 miles on your right. As suggested, somewhere around here, call MWR (847-688-6675) and get your site number and go set up. After that, you can drive your car to check in at the Navy Lodge at Bldg. 62. which is NOT in the area of the Campground. The Campground is nice! Verizon Cell & data are excellent! The Restrooms at the Campground are pit toilets. The showers are in the Marina Bldg. and were very clean. The NEX is on-base, the Commissary and Package Store are off-base. All-in-all a nice stop.