Reviews: Grafton Harbor Marina

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Grafton Harbor Marina

215 W Water Street
Grafton, IL 62037
Illinois River, junction of Upper Mississippi River 0.7 LDB 0 Illinois River, 218.6 Mississippi Rive

4.37(19)
4.37 out of 5 stars

  • Reviewed by: MARK GLOVER , Cool Change, on Sep 28, 2024
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 3.0'

    Rating: 5

    This place is great!!!!! Joe is over the top helpful and informative. All the staff were inviting, friendly and quick to help ! The marina is in great shape with all the amenities!!!! Fuel, pump out , showers , laundry , courtesy vehicle….Nice ship store with wine tasting and oyster bar on premises. Town is across the street and wonderful places to visit. Top of the list is Bobbi G's Martini bar , Brewhaus and Winery, Oyster bar, Loading dock and Grafton Pub. Also the tram ride at Aerie's Resort to the top . Grafton is a great place to " take a break " you won't be disappointed!

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  • Reviewed by: Scott Gregory , My Happiness, on Sep 12, 2024
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 42'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 4

    We were on a T-dock and was able to feel the waves through the floating wall between the marina and river on Oct. 10, 23. The marina staff was great and had clean bathrooms and a great restaurant on-site. We will be back.

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  • Reviewed by: Paul Steindorf , Ohana, on Aug 28, 2024
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 45'
    Draft: 4.5'

    Rating: 4

    Party atmosphere on weekends. Services include fuels, pump out, pool, private bath/showers. Restaurant on site, several others easy walk. A good stop to decompress after coming down the Illinois River.

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  • Reviewed by: Douglas Morrow , Ripple, on Aug 18, 2024
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 39'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    Great marina in the town of Grafton, The Key West of the Midwest. Lots of restaurants and bars and live music, especially on a Saturday night. Very nice pool, individual restrooms and a laundry room. There is a floating winery and store at the dock.

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  • Reviewed by: John Chant , Wild Goose, on Aug 5, 2024
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 42'
    Draft: 3.5'

    Rating: 4

    Great stop! Town and fun all within walking. Marina store is fabulous and has something for everyone, including wines and liquor. We enjoyed the pool, which was clean. Boat club members were nice and welcoming. The marina restaurant Oyster Bar has excellent food!!! I had seafood ravioli. Laundry and showers all in great condition and clean. Good stop.

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  • Reviewed by: Mitch Anderson on Jun 22, 2024
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 38'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 4

    This place is a PARTY on weekends but nice and quiet during the week. Restaurant is good. The Grafton Winery is better and a very short walk. Floating pool is unique but appreciated on a hot day. Good showers.

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  • Reviewed by: Michael Kwiat on Jun 12, 2024
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 47'
    Draft: 3.5'

    Rating: 4

    Nice stop after fighting the current 3 days up the Mississippi River. Plenty of bars and restaurants however most were closed today except for one which had an excellent $6 Cheezburger. Had a courtesy car that we used to reprovision at a Walmart about 25 minutes drive. Very nice pool and I am sure this place rocks on a weekend...

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  • Reviewed by: Lori Pickette on Oct 19, 2023
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 37'
    Draft: 3.0'

    Rating: 4

    Fun stop! Close to town with numerous bars and restaurants. Laundry is $1.50/load. Floating docks are semi-protected from wakes of passing boats. Ship's store is well stocked with most anything you'd need. Courtesy car is available to re-provision. Grassy are for dogs to stretch their legs just off the marina docks.

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  • Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer , Do It Now, on Dec 23, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 32'
    Draft: 2.5'

    Rating: 5

    This is a full-service marina with ample dock space and a friendly, helpful staff. We stayed for four nights at the end of October 2022, taking advantage of their "buy 3, get 1 free" offer for Loopers. We were parked in the transient area just a few steps from the restaurant, marina shop, restrooms, and laundry room. At first I was a bit concerned about noise from the music coming out of the open air bar, but things quieted down after 8 PM. Understand that Grafton is a bit of a party town with quite a few bars/restaurants and there's usually loud music somewhere. But at the end of the season, things seemed to quiet down early, even on Sunday when there were several Halloween parties going on.

    There are ample private restrooms with showers that are kept clean and in relatively good condition. The laundry room is small but sufficient. The restaurant was excellent; we ate there three times. I don't know if the pool was open, but it was too cold to enjoy it during our stay. The place is dog-friendly, with a big open field beside the facility where a dog can really run around after a long day on the boat. We really appreciated the courtesy car, which I took to a nearby town for some shopping and to get my dogs the health certificates they'd need for an airline flight later that week.

    The town has lots of shops and restaurants but was very quiet during the week so late in the season. It picked up on the weekend with a lot of folks apparently coming up from the St. Louis area, making the town quite crowded on Saturday and Sunday.

    A good stop to refresh after a long trip down the Illinois River. Highly recommended.

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  • Reviewed by: Brian Wicks on Sep 23, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 27'
    Draft: 2.0'

    Rating: 5

    Great marina and staff. We enjoyed the pool. Popular stop for Loopers - we had a huge gathering for docktails. We used their courtesy car to get some provisions. Bathrooms were clean and roomy.

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  • Reviewed by: Patricia And Steven Stanley , Calypso, on Sep 20, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 39'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 4

    We stayed at Grafton Marina for 2 nights. The staff are friendly and professional. The marina has floating composite docks, an "Oyster Bar Restaurant," ships store, pool, laundry, pump out, gas (no diesel), clean bathrooms + showers and a courtesy car. It's a popular marina on the weekends for locals and there was a lot of boat noise, music and wakes.

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  • Reviewed by: DeeDee H on Aug 28, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 34'
    Draft: 3.0'

    Rating: 5

    Great marina and area. Nice covered docks and individual restrooms with showers. Floating pool and restaurant on site. Many restaurants and shops in walking distance. Loved the chair lift to the winery. Courtesy car was the newest we've seen. Fun place.

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  • Reviewed by: Linda McCormick on Aug 19, 2022
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 39'
    Draft: 3.5'

    Rating: 3

    A busy marina, especially on weekends. Has a floating pool, individual washrooms and showers. Lots of choice in restaurants, a small farm stand with some fresh produce but otherwise no groceries. No fuel.

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  • Reviewed by: Jeffrey Skoda on Oct 14, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 65'
    Draft: 6.0'

    Rating: 4

    Very nice marina in a good location. Staff was excellent and the docks were nice. They will not tell you they don't sell fuel until you ask. It has been 2 years from what I understand.

    WG Editor Comment:
    Waterway Guide marina listing states they do not sell fuel.

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  • Reviewed by: Rob Dare , Liberty Call , on Oct 4, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 46'
    Draft: 4.5'

    Rating: 4

    A party marina that is a lot of fun. H dock did observe the quiet hours of 11PM to about 7AM but the rest of the time it was noisy. Nice covered docks and wide walkways. Finger piers on both sides. The only facilities are up by the office which was a long walk. Lots of good restaurants with good music. Nice courtesy car makes re-supply easy. Well stocked ship's store. Plenty of nice areas to walk a dog.

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  • Reviewed by: Bill Mcmahon on Sep 30, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 40'
    Draft: 3.5'

    Rating: 4

    Good place to rest before traveling down the Mississippi. Big marina with a store and restaurant. The individual shower rooms have a sink and toilet and are clean. However, if you are at the far end, on E or F dock, the facilities are a long walk away. Wifi works, but is slow.

    Covered, solid floating dock with finger piers on both sides of the boat, unless you are on a tee-head because you are over 20' tall.

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  • Reviewed by: Robert Webb , Doc's Aweigh, on Aug 2, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 54'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    An entertaining and delightful spot. Solid and maintained docks/power, gated, great store and excellent restaurant on site. Staff helpful and friendly; and they have the nicest courtesy vehicle we've been in [drove 16miles to Walmart for groceries/supplies]. Had a prop problem and they have diver available and we had it fixed. Weekends are a bit wild with lots of party boats going to the restaurant, but it settles down by 11pm. No diesel for sale [post flood], but would definitely stay again.

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  • Reviewed by: Brian Chapin , Tug Life, on Jul 21, 2021
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 25'
    Draft: 2.0'

    Rating: 5

    Friendly and relaxing marina. Super office and helpful dock staff. NO fuel available here for some time. Closest fuel is in St Charles, MO. Pumpout available.Great restaurant and bar on-site with river views (closed Mon & Tues). Unique store offers bourbon and wine tastings, liquor and clothing sales. Limited groceries in town, but loaner car allows you to go to Walmart in Jerseyville 16 mi away. Very clean individual restroom/showers with keypad access.. Convenient laundry. Pool opening shortly.

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  • Reviewed by: Larry Kreissler , Bucket List, on Sep 3, 2017
    Vessel Type: Power
    LOA: 40'
    Draft: 4.0'

    Rating: 5

    Our home marina. Joe and Jan are fabulous owners. A loaner van is available. Lots of local shopping but for supplies, the van will be needed for a trip to Walmart. AT&T service with 4G. Verizon is weak at best.

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