My Favorite Beaches in Chicago

Chicago beaches often surprise out-of-towners. After all, the Midwest seems like an unlikely place for beautiful, sprawling beaches. But don’t be fooled—Lake Michigan beaches are some of the best things to do in Chicago. It’s like the Great Lakes saying goes: “No sharks, no salt, no worries.”

I’m a Chicago local who’s rounded up the best beaches in Chicago based on my personal experiences and research. This guide covers popular spots, expansive parks with amenities, and hidden gems where you can avoid the crowds. Plus, I share helpful tips like where to park, who each beach is best suited for, and more local insights.  

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14 Best Beaches In Chicago

North Avenue Beach

Lincoln Park

📍 Google Maps | North Avenue Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: ParkChicago metered street parking, $2.50/hour | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: Hotel Lincoln

North Avenue Beach is located near downtown Chicago, adjacent to Lincoln Park. This is one of the most popular beaches in Chicago given its proximity to downtown, on-site amenities, and scenic views. 

There’s tons of space to spread out, plus cafes like Castaways and Shore Club Chicago. You can rent stand-up paddle boards and play beach volleyball. There are bathrooms on-site as well. 

North Avenue Beach Pier is my favorite part of North Avenue Beach and a great stop on any Chicago itinerary. This pier extends out from the beach and gives you stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Just know that North Avenue Beach tends to get crowded because it’s close to downtown.

👉 Pro Tip: Get a free, printable version of our 5-day Chicago itinerary!

Ohio Street Beach

Streeterville

📍 Google Maps | Ohio Street Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: Parking garage at 301 E North Water ($14 for 12 hours), limited street parking | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: Loews Chicago Hotel

Ohio Street Beach is a downtown Chicago beach that’s tucked between Streeterville and Navy Pier. Ohio Street Beach is smaller than other popular Chicago beaches. However, its size and location mean calmer waves for swimming. 

The shore has a gradual slope into the lake, so swimmers of all ages and skills can enjoy a dip. There’s ample room to lay out on the beach and soak up some sun. Overall, Ohio Street Beach is a nice beach to stop by if you’re checking out the Lakefront Trail (one of the best free attractions in Chicago) or Navy Pier. 

There’s an on-site cafe called Caffe Olivia, which serves Mediterranean fare and cocktails. There are also restrooms and lockers on-site (just bring your own lock for the lockers).  

Oak Street Beach

Gold Coast/Streeterville

📍 Google Maps | Oak Street Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: ParkChicago metered street parking, $2.50/hour | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: The Drake Hotel

Oak Street Beach is a small downtown beach between the neighborhoods of Gold Coast and Streeterville. This beach sits right below towering Chicago buildings, which gives it a unique city-meets-lake feel. In my opinion, this area is one of the best places to stay in Chicago. 

Oak Street Beach has an open sandy area, as well as a concrete section that runs along the Lakefront Trail. You can lay your towels out on either section of the beach. I mostly recommend Oak Street Beach for sunbathing, dipping your legs in the water, or playing beach volleyball. The water is fine for swimming, but it’s not the cleanest downtown beach. 

There are restrooms on-site, plus a casual eatery, Oak Street Beach Restaurant. Oak Street Beach does tend to be crowded in the summertime. 

Montrose Beach

Uptown

📍 Google Maps | Montrose Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: ParkChicago metered parking lot, $2.50/hour | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: The Guesthouse Hotel

Montrose Beach is one of my favorite beaches in Chicago. There’s ample parking if you arrive early, but the parking lot does fill up fast. There are also beach volleyball courts and kayak rentals available. 

I like visiting Montrose Beach with groups of friends because there’s plenty of space to spread out on the sand. Plus, the designated swimming area is reasonably large. The seasonal beachside restaurant, The Dock at Montrose Beach, is another bonus. It’s nothing fancy but you can enjoy drinks, classic Chicago foods, and live music on its beachfront patio. 

Lastly, there are bathrooms on-site and tons of greenspace if you want to grill or have a picnic. 

👉 Local Tip: Montrose Beach has a designated dog beach area on the northern edge of the park. This is a great dog beach for larger dogs who need more room to run and swim, whereas Belmont Harbor Dog Beach (below) is on the smaller side. 

Belmont Harbor Dog Beach

Lakeview

📍 Google Maps | Belmont Harbor Dog Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: ParkChicago metered street parking, $2.50/hour | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace Hotel

Belmont Harbor Dog Beach is located right off the Lakefront Trail adjacent to the Lakeview area. Here, dog owners can enjoy peaceful views of boats in the harbor while their pups play. 

The sandy area is small, but the water is reasonably shallow so it’s comfortable for dogs of all sizes to enjoy themselves. The enclosed harbor is fenced in, so there’s no need to worry about your dog running off. It’s the perfect place to let them cool off after a long walk or run. 

12th Street Beach

Northerly Island Park

📍 Google Maps | 12th Street Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: Pay & display parking lot, limited street parking | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: Homewood Suites

12th Street Beach is a scenic beach located on Northerly Island. It sits right alongside several Chicago museums including Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, and the Shedd Aquarium. 12th Street Beach tends to be less crowded since it’s a little off the beaten path.

I recommend spending an afternoon in this area. Visit Museum Campus and Northerly Island Park, then cool off at 12th Street Beach. There are sandy spots to lay out your towel and you can enjoy the Chicago skyline in the backdrop. There are restrooms on-site and a Mexican taco window called Del Campo’s Tacos where you can grab some food. 

Margaret T. Burroughs Beach (31st Street Beach)

Douglas

📍 Google Maps | Margaret T. Burroughs Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: Pay & display parking lot, $2 for first hour, $7 for 4 hours | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: Hyatt Regency McCormick Place

Margaret T. Burroughs Beach (also known as 31st Street Beach) is located south of downtown Chicago right next to 31st Street Harbor. This is a smaller beach, but it has everything a Chicago beach should have: skyline views, sandy shores, and on-site amenities.

There’s a lifeguard on duty, as well as a cafe, restrooms, and concessions on-site. The adjacent parking lot makes 31st Street Beach easily accessible. The pier house often plays house music and hosts live music events in the summer.

57th Street Beach

Jackson Park

📍 Google Maps | 57th Street Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: No on-site parking, limited street parking west of Lake Shore Drive | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: Sophy Hyde Park

57th Street Beach is located just south of Promontory Point—a Chicago hidden gem. This beach is clean, scenic, and the perfect place for a relaxing day along Lake Michigan. It tends to be less busy than other Chicago beaches. 

Make an afternoon out of 57th Street Beach by having a picnic at Promontory Point, which has grills and grassy areas to spread out. Next, take a short walk on the Lakefront Trail to reach this beach. Spend your afternoon relaxing on the sand or wading in the clear, shallow waters. 

57th Street Beach has restrooms and concessions on-site. Parking is unfortunately limited. However, you can park at the nearby lot for Promontory Point. 

63rd Street Beach

Jackson Park

📍 Google Maps | 63rd Street Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: Pay & display parking lot, $2 for first hour, $7 for 4 hours | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: The Study at the University of Chicago

63rd Street Beach is located in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side. Come here with your family or friends for a chilled-out, fun beach day. 

There’s a convenient parking lot on-site, as well as a beach house where you can grab food and drinks. Fun Chicago fact: the beach house itself is the oldest in the city, built in 1919. Restrooms are available on-site and there’s a small playground for children. 

Be sure to take a walk along the pier for some scenic views. You can also hop on the Lakefront Trail and take a nice walk around the Jackson Park Harbor. 

South Shore Beach

South Shore

📍 Google Maps | South Shore Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: Pay & display parking | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: The Study at the University of Chicago

South Shore Beach is adjacent to the South Shore Cultural Center, one of the most prominent Chicago landmarks. Its namesake park encompasses the beach and several other recreational sites. 

Make a day out of South Shore Beach by combining it with other park activities. Lay out on the sand, swim, and play volleyball at the beach. Take a walk through the South Shore Nature Sanctuary or get active on the tennis courts or golf course. And don’t forget to stop in the beautifully preserved cultural center. 

South Shore Beach has a beach house with restrooms and showers. There are a few places to grab food and drinks throughout the park, along with Chicago restaurants nearby. Parking is available on-site.

Rainbow Beach

South Shore

📍 Google Maps | Rainbow Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: Pay & display parking | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: The Study at the University of Chicago

Rainbow Beach is the next beach south of the above-mentioned South Shore Beach. It features a nice, long stretch of sand and distant views of the Chicago skyline. 

You’ll find recreation areas like baseball fields, tennis courts, and playgrounds here. There’s also a natural dune area and grassy areas to picnic. Beachgoers will enjoy easy, on-site parking, as well as restrooms and a concession stand with food and drinks. 

Foster Beach

Edgewater

📍 Google Maps | Foster Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: Pay & display parking lot, $2 for first hour, $7 for 4 hours | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: The Guesthouse Hotel

Foster Beach is located on Chicago’s far North Side along the Edgewater area, just north of Montrose Beach. This beach is scenic and home to many recreational activities. It’s a great spot for families and friends to gather for a fun-filled beach day. 

The beach itself is on the smaller side, but it’s sandy and the shoreline is shallow, which is good for younger children. Foster Beach is surrounded by recreational areas like an outdoor gym, basketball courts, and even a trapeze park where you can take classes. 

There’s a parking lot on-site, as well as restrooms and concessions. Plus, there’s a nice stretch of running and biking paths that connect to the Lakefront Trail. 

Kathy Osterman Beach (Hollywood Beach)

Edgewater

📍 Google Maps | Osterman Beach Website | 🅿️ Parking: ParkChicago metered street parking, $2.50/hour | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: Hampton Inn Chicago North-Loyola Station

Kathy Osterman Beach (also known as Hollywood Beach) is just north of Foster Beach in Edgewater. This North Side beach is known for its openness, clean water, and large sandy area. You can even catch distant views of the Chicago skyline from Hollywood Beach Pier. 

The park surrounding Hollywood Beach is well-maintained, and you’ll find the northern trailhead for the Lakefront Trail here. It’s a great place to begin or end a bike ride in Chicago. 

If you’re driving in Chicago, parking here isn’t the most convenient. You’ll likely need to find nearby street parking. However, this beach has restrooms and concessions at the beach house. 

👉 Local Tip: Hollywood Beach is especially popular with the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re concerned about safety in Chicago, note that there’s a welcoming atmosphere. However, I’ve heard that sometimes, people go topless at Hollywood Beach. Nudity isn’t technically allowed, but it’s something to keep in mind. 

Loyola Beach

Rogers Park

📍 Google Maps | 🅿️ Parking: Pay & display parking & ParkChicago metered street parking, $2.50/hour | 🛎️ Where to Stay Nearby: Hampton Inn Chicago North-Loyola Station

Loyola Beach is technically closer to Evanston than downtown Chicago. However, it’s a nice beach to visit if you’re a local and want to take a mini day trip from Chicago. It’s clean, uncrowded compared to other Chicago beaches, and perfect for visiting with friends and family. 

Loyola Beach is big with ample space to spread out. It’s largely surrounded by trees and dunes, and there’s a decent amount of shade. It’s the perfect place to spend a long beach day and have a picnic. 

Parking isn’t the easiest but there are a couple of paid lots, and you can find street parking nearby. There’s a concession stand, Ropa Cabana, but I recommend packing a picnic or grabbing something nearby. There are restrooms on-site.

FAQs

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Chicago beaches are truly some of the greatest things about the Windy City. Not to mention, the lakefront beaches make summers fun and one of the best times to visit Chicago. Have you visited any of these beaches in Chicago? Let us know in the comments!