Chicagoland's Other Lakefront Destination
Set on the shores of Lake Michigan where Illinois meets Wisconsin, Winthrop Harbor is home to North Point Marina — the largest freshwater marina on the Great Lakes. Nearly 1,500 slips, a fuel dock, boat ramp, modern shower and locker facilities, a seasonal swimming pool, and a sheltered sandy beach, all now in the trusted hands of SkipperBud's. Cast off with one of our forty-plus charter captains for Lake Michigan salmon and trout, race with the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club, or simply watch the sun rise over your slip.
When you come ashore, the day only gets better. Toast the lake at the Harbor Brewing Co. Lakefront Biergarten, settle in for cocktails and a view at The Tropics, or follow Sheridan Road to local favorites from Stone Creek Grill and Roma Pizza to He Brews Coffee and Cindy's Petite Sweets. Just beyond the docks, 4,160 acres of Illinois Beach State Park offer 6.5 miles of natural shoreline, dune trails, camping, and lakefront lodging; Spring Bluff Forest Preserve invites you up to a 360-degree observation deck over some of the best birding in the county; and the newly paved Robert McClory Trail rolls 25 miles down the coast and north into Wisconsin.
Bring your boat, your bike, your fishing rod, or just your family. Whether you're here for a morning on the water, a beach day, a trail ride, or a quiet evening with the boats slipping past, you'll find your place along our shore.
“Welcome to the Harbor. Welcome to Chicagoland's other lakefront destination.”
North Point Marina: What's All the Hype About?
Tucked into the northeastern-most tip of Illinois, where Lake Michigan meets the Wisconsin line, sits the largest freshwater marina in the country — 140 acres, more than 1,500 slips, and nearly a million visitors a year.
After a winter when the marina's future was genuinely in doubt, it's back and humming for 2026 under new operator SkipperBud's. And you don't need to own a boat to enjoy it: there's a swimming pool and sandy public beach, a fishing pier, bike and kayak rentals, around 40 fishing charters, plus The Tropics Restaurant and Harbor Brewing Co. serving right at the water's edge.
The setting is the whole point. North Point sits on the edge of Illinois Beach State Park — the state's last remaining beach-ridge shoreline — so you can spend the morning on the water and the afternoon walking dune trails, all in one place. Roughly 45 miles from Chicago and 47 from Milwaukee, it's close enough for a day trip and far enough to feel like you actually left.
Watch the video, then come see what the hype's about.
Discover Winthrop Harbor
Spend a day here and you can fish the morning bite, bike the dune trails, swim a quiet beach, and end the evening with a cold pour overlooking the slips. Everything below links to a fuller guide — pick where to start.
On the Water — North Point Marina
North Point Marina is the heart of Winthrop Harbor: nearly 1,500 slips, ranked among the largest inland marinas in the country and by far the largest on the Great Lakes. Set within Illinois Beach State Park's 4,100+ acres of protected shoreline and dunes, it offers a roomy, unhurried atmosphere with smooth access to Lake Michigan. Now operated by SkipperBud's for the 2026 season, the marina delivers the full spectrum of services — slip rentals, fuel dock, boat ramp, storage, repairs, and on-water assistance — alongside a seasonal swimming pool, modern shower and locker facilities, a sheltered sandy beach, the Tropics Restaurant & Bar, the lakefront Harbor Brewing Biergarten, and the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club. More than 40 charter captains run out of the commercial docks.
Charter & Shoreline Fishing
Winthrop Harbor sits at the exact midpoint between Chicago and Milwaukee, at the center of one of the most productive salmon and trout fisheries in North America. Coho salmon headline the spring run (April–June), Chinook become the trophy target in summer, and lake, brown, and rainbow trout fill out the season. Closer in, the piers and beaches give up yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and walleye, no boat required. More than a dozen charter captains depart directly from North Point Marina.
Whether you're booking a guided trip with gear and expertise included, or grabbing a rod and a bucket of bait to cast from the pier at sunrise, the fishing here is as welcoming to first-timers and families as it is to seasoned anglers. Pick up your Illinois license and Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp online before you go, swing by a local bait shop for what's biting that week, and you're set for a morning on the big water.
Fishing Winthrop Harbor →
Natural Attractions — The Outdoor Playground
Illinois Beach State Park spans 4,160 acres and 6.5 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline — the only remaining beach ridge shoreline in Illinois. Spring Bluff Forest Preserve offers 229 acres of sand prairie, oak savanna, and marsh with a 360-degree observation deck and some of the best birding in Lake County. The Robert McClory Trail, newly paved in 2025, runs 25 miles along the lakeshore connecting Winthrop Harbor to Kenosha to the north and the Green Bay Trail to the south.
Together, these places form one of the rarest natural landscapes in the Midwest — a living mosaic of dunes and swales, wetlands, and black oak forest shaped over thousands of years by the lake itself. More than 650 species of plants take root in the dunes alone, including colonies of hardy prickly pear cactus, while herons nest in the marshes and migrating peregrine falcons trace the shoreline each fall. It's a landscape made for slowing down: swim or windsurf off miles of clean sand, pitch a tent at the state park's lakefront campground, follow a quiet trail to the water's edge, or pedal the coast from the Illinois state line all the way into Wisconsin. Best of all, it's free to explore and just minutes from the marina — so a morning on the water and an afternoon in the dunes can be the same easy day.
Harbor Eats & Drink
On the lakefront, Harbor Brewing Co. Lakefront Biergarten & Taproom and The Tropics Restaurant & Bar serve craft beer, cocktails, and food with Lake Michigan views right at the marina. Along Sheridan Road, local favorites round out every craving — Stone Creek Grill, Roma Pizza and Pasta, Delhi Bistro, He Brews Coffee Shop, Deck of Flavors, Cindy's Petite Sweets, the Tavern, and more, plus Spark'd Dispensary & Lounge.
Harbor Eats, Drink & Cannabis →
Gear Up — Outdoor Adventure Shops
Before you head out, two local shops have you covered with bait, tackle, licenses, gear, and real local know-how on what's biting: Lake Michigan Angler (1038 Sheridan Rd) and the Outdoorsman Sport Shop (221 Sheridan Rd), which carries both Illinois and Wisconsin licenses.
These aren't big-box stores, they're family-run businesses staffed by people who fish these waters themselves and are happy to point you to the right spoon, the right depth, and the spot that's been producing all week. That kind of advice can turn a slow morning into a cooler full of fish, so pick up your license and Salmon Stamp, grab fresh bait, and ask away.
It's good value, too. Stocking up locally means no last-minute scramble or marked-up prices, and every dollar you spend stays in the community keeping these shops, their expertise, and the Harbor's fishing tradition alive for the next angler through the door. So before you launch, stop in, say hello, and shop local. It's the Winthrop Harbor way.
Outdoor Adventure Shops →
Host Your Next Event on the Lakefront
Perched right at North Point Marina with sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the harbor mouth, the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club is one of the most beautiful event venues on the Illinois shoreline — and one of the most welcoming. A community-minded club whose mission is to support both the boating and local community, the WHYC pairs that warm, neighborly spirit with a genuinely spectacular backdrop.
Whether you're planning a wedding, anniversary, baby or bridal shower, milestone birthday, celebration of life, corporate meeting, or business retreat, the lakefront instantly sets the tone. The Great Room accommodates up to 130 guests for a formal sit-down dinner, with the adjoining classroom and grounds available as well — plus an outdoor function area, full bar, Wi-Fi, ample parking, and AV equipment including a wide-screen projector, TV/DVD, whiteboard, and podium with speaker. The space is ADA accessible, and you're welcome to bring your own caterer.
Rentals are open to non-members. To check pricing and availability, reach out to the WHYC Office at (847) 746-2222 or use the link below.
Get Out Safely
Welcome to the Harbor! Our firefighters and paramedics are proud to call this lakefront home, and there's nothing we love more than seeing families, boaters, and anglers enjoying it. We want you to make the most of every sunrise on the water and every afternoon on the beach and head home with nothing but good memories.
So get out there and enjoy it all, just enjoy it safely. Wear a life jacket on the water, keep an eye on the forecast and the waves, swim only in designated areas, and watch the little ones closely, since there are no lifeguards on duty. Treat the lake with respect and it'll give you a lifetime of great days. We're always here if you need us — welcome, have fun, and stay safe out there.
Water Safety →
Welcome to the Harbor of Love
There's a place where Lake Michigan meets community, where summer mornings start with the tap of halyards against the mast and end with the sun melting into the water. That place is North Point Marina, right here in Winthrop Harbor.
"Harbor of Love" is our love letter to it. The song carries you through a perfect day on the docks — sails catching the wind, boats slipping out toward open water, friends gathering on the pier, grills going, and golden light spilling across the slips at sunset. It's the largest freshwater marina on the Great Lakes, but more than that, it's a feeling: a place to slow down, reconnect, and make memories with the people who matter most.
Press play, and come see why we call it the Harbor of Love.
SkipperBud's Takes the Helm at North Point Marina
The Village of Winthrop Harbor is pleased to announce that SkipperBud's will now serve as the operator of North Point Marina for the upcoming boating season. SkipperBud's is already a familiar and trusted presence along our harbor, having supported the boating community for years through sales, maintenance, and customer service.
SkipperBud's brings with them a proven track record of marina management across the Great Lakes region. Their team is well-versed in the full spectrum of marina services — from slip rentals and fuel docks to boat storage, repairs, and on-water assistance.
For the Village of Winthrop Harbor, this partnership represents a commitment to maintaining North Point Marina as a premier destination on Lake Michigan. Slip reservations, seasonal contracts, and marina services will continue without interruption.