village in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Gurnee, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 4% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (98th percentile) and lowest in summer (6th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.6 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.6 mi SW, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.8 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Gurnee?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Gurnee, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on May 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, soybeans; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Corn: about 71 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SW, blooms early Jul – early Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 34 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Gurnee
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.24 mi NE; open water 0.24 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 77% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Gurnee ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 69th | 66th | 73rd | 78th |
| Illinois | 4th | 80th | 6th | 98th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 6th | 86th | 4th | 73rd |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Gurnee: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Park City 3 mi · Gages Lake 3 mi · Grandwood Park 3 mi · Waukegan 3 mi · Third Lake 4 mi · Old Mill Creek 5 mi
All towns in Illinois · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Gurnee (42.3701, -87.9368); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.