city in Illinois
Honey bee forage in Waukegan, Illinois
Estimated forage here is better than about 5% of sites in Illinois. Against other Illinois sites it stands out most in fall (99th percentile) and lowest in summer (6th). Biggest nearby bee crops: soybeans (nearest 2.4 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 2.4 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 3.4 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Waukegan?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 1 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 Waukegan, 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; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; 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
- Soybeans: about 37 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 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 Waukegan
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Open water.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.33 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.39 mi N.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 98% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Waukegan ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 73rd | 70th | 74th | 82nd |
| Illinois | 5th | 84th | 6th | 99th |
| Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains | 11th | 91st | 5th | 84th |
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 Waukegan: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Park City 2 mi · Gurnee 3 mi · North Chicago 4 mi · Beach Park 5 mi · Green Oaks 5 mi · Gages Lake 6 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 Waukegan (42.3694, -87.8709); 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.