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For Lake Forest, Libertyville, and the rest of Lake County, Waukegan National is often the quickest way into a private jet. It's also convenient from southern Wisconsin. The airport has a 6,000-foot, 150-foot-wide main runway with an instrument landing system, a U.S. Customs office on the field and, as of October 2026, a new airport-run FBO. One advisor handles the aircraft, the timing, and the details.
| Identifiers | FAA: UGN · ICAO: KUGN · IATA: UGN |
| Location | 2601 Plane Rest Drive, Waukegan, IL 60087. The FAA lists it 35 miles N of downtown Chicago |
| Owner | Waukegan Port District (public airport) |
| Main runway | 5/23: 6,001 ft × 150 ft (FAA; the airport rounds to 6,000 ft), ILS approach to Runway 23 |
| Second runway | 14/32: 3,750 ft × 75 ft |
| Control tower | 6:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. local (contract tower) |
| Attendance | Continuous |
| FBO | North Shore Jet Center (the sole FBO since Oct 1, 2026; operated by the Waukegan Port District) |
| U.S. Customs | On-field, user-fee. Regular hours Mon–Fri 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Central |
Airport data as of FAA information effective Oct 1, 2026, and waukeganairport.com, checked Oct 24, 2026.
Aerial view of Waukegan National Airport (UGN). Imagery: USGS / USDA NAIP (public domain).
Lake County and the northern North Shore. Free-flow drive times (estimates, no traffic):
| From | Approx. drive (no traffic) |
|---|---|
| Lake Forest | ~25 min |
| Libertyville | ~25 min |
| Kenosha, WI | ~25–30 min |
| Highland Park | ~30 min |
| Northbrook | ~35–40 min |
| Winnetka | ~40 min |
| The Loop | ~1 hr |
Estimates come from a routing engine without traffic. If you're south of Highland Park, Chicago Executive (PWK) is usually closer.
Corporate travel. The airport calls itself a base of operations for "Chicagoland's Fortune 500 Flyers." The main runway is rated for heavy business-jet weights: per the FAA, 95,000 lb single-wheel, 120,000 lb double-wheel, and 200,000 lb double-tandem.
Returns from abroad. Customs is on the field, so international arrivals can clear at UGN instead of routing through a larger Chicago airport.
What that means in practice (advisor guidance, not a published spec): Waukegan suits turboprops, light, midsize, and super-midsize jets, and many large-cabin jets. For heavy, long-range departures, the operator's performance planning confirms whether 6,000 feet works on the day. If it doesn't, DuPage (7,571 ft) or Gary/Chicago (8,859 ft) are the longer-runway options.
North Shore Jet Center: 3550 N. McAree Road, Waukegan.
On October 1, 2026, the Waukegan Port District began running its own FBO, North Shore Jet Center, after Signature Aviation's lease ended. North Shore Jet Center is part of the Avfuel Network. The airport lists services including customs and immigration clearance support, de-icing, catering, concierge, valet, and on-site rental cars. The FBO has announced plans to remodel the current terminal within about a year and to build a new executive terminal in 2031.
Control tower: 6:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. local. The airport is attended continuously, and outside tower hours aircraft operate under FAA procedures for a closed tower.
Every charter is quoted for the specific trip: aircraft, routing, dates, and any airport or customs fees. Request a quote or call (847) 902-9004 and your advisor will build one for you.
The Executive Air Space Agency is an independent Stratos Jets franchise providing private aviation advisory and air charter brokerage services. As an air charter broker, the agency is not a direct air carrier: we do not own or operate aircraft or exercise operational control of any flight. All flights are performed by FAA-licensed Part 135 direct air carriers. Through Stratos Jets, established in 2007, clients have access to a nationwide network of vetted charter operators and Risk-Managed Private Aviation™ standards.