Hey there, beach lovers!
It’s finally summer, and that means we have a small window of time to enjoy the lakefront before winter crashes the party at the end of the year.
Chicago has 26 miles of shoreline and dozens of beaches along Lake Michigan, so there are lots of options whether you want to play volleyball, go paddling, or just sit in the sand and people watch while you work on your tan.
We’re The Ben Lalez Team, and we’ve travelled through pretty much every neighborhood in the city. Although we’re experts in real estate, we also know all the best spots to enjoy everything Chicago has to offer.
In this guide, we share the best urban beaches in the city, and we hope you find a favorite to enjoy this summer!
North Avenue Beach
1600 N. Lake Shore Drive in Lincoln Park
This is Chicago’s most famous beach. Here you’ll find the Art Deco beach house that was built in 1934. If you’re into volleyball, you’ll see everything from serious tournaments with teams that have matching jerseys to random pickup games that go all afternoon.
Features: Volleyball courts everywhere, bike rentals, kayak rentals, jet ski rentals, the Castaways Beach Bar, and the Shore Club up on the beach house roof. The Lakefront Trail runs right behind everything.
Most popular with: Active people, volleyball fans, and anyone who wants the Chicago beach experience.
Scene: There’s music blasting from the beach bars and the downtown skyline right in front of you. It gets busy on summer weekends, so if you want a decent spot, you’ll need to arrive early.
Quick facts: If you’re into volleyball, check the tournament schedule to see when events are happening.
Oak Street Beach
1000 N. Lake Shore Drive in Streeterville
This is smaller and more upscale than North Avenue, sitting right next to the Magnificent Mile. The sand area isn’t huge, but the skyline views are incredible. You’ll see lots of people taking photos of the waterfront.
Features: Beachfront cafe, chair and umbrella rentals, bicycle rentals, and volleyball courts. Don’t forget to take a photo of the famous rainbow mural.
Most popular with: Tourists, couples, and families. This is a good beach if you’re mixing beach time with shopping or sightseeing in the area.
Scene: More relaxed than the bigger beaches. Evening visits are really nice when the downtown starts lighting up.
Quick facts: During summer, the Paris Beach Bar and Whispers Beach Club set up seaside cabanas right on the sand.
Montrose Beach
4400 N. Lake Shore Drive in Uptown
Montrose is Chicago’s biggest beach, so it feels more like a beach park than just a regular beach. There are areas that are protected bird habitats so you’ll get the experience of a regular beach as well as some nature.
Features: The Dock restaurant with outdoor seating, bike rentals, volleyball courts, launch area for kayaks and canoes, and Chicago’s only official off-leash dog beach on the north end. They also have a beach wheelchair available for accessibility.
Most popular with: Dog owners, families looking for more space, birdwatchers, and kiteboarders. It’s the only beach in the city where kiteboarding is allowed.
Scene: Relaxed and community-focused with lots of locals who come here regularly. You’ll see families barbecuing and dogs running around in the water.
Quick facts: Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary is right next to the beach and attracts tons of migratory birds in the spring and fall. The dog beach section is completely fenced and off-leash, so your dog can actually run free and splash around.
Foster Avenue Beach
5200 N. Lake Shore Drive in Edgewater
This is a wide, clean beach with a more natural feel. The pink concrete beach house from 1934 is pretty hard to miss when you’re driving by. It has that natural, undeveloped feel while still offering all the amenities you need.
Features: Historic beach pavilion with food concessions, bike and scooter rentals, changing areas, showers, beach wheelchair for accessibility, plus there’s a playground and ball fields just behind the dunes.
Most popular with: Nature lovers, families who want playground access for their kids, dog owners, and fitness enthusiasts.
Scene: Casual neighborhood beach with more character than some of the others. You might catch drum circles or someone playing acoustic guitar at the beach house patio on summer evenings. Tall red pines and wildflowers give it a different look from the more urban beaches.
Quick facts: Locals call the pink beach house the “Pink Palace” and it’s actually a historic landmark. The dune trails behind the beach have some rare native plants if you’re into that kind of thing.
Kathy Osterman Beach
5755 N. Lake Shore Drive in Edgewater (people also call it Hollywood Beach)
This is a wide sandy beach with calm, shallow water that’s perfect for paddleboarding and just wading around. The LEED-certified beach house from 2010 is modern and won some environmental awards. This is also Chicago’s unofficial LGBTQ+ beach.
Features: Two paddle and kayak launch areas, concessions, restrooms, a modern beach house with showers, and a splash fountain playground for the kids.
Most popular with: The LGBTQ+ community, dog owners, paddle sports lovers, and anyone looking for a welcoming, peaceful environment where they can relax.
Scene: Open and inclusive, very laid-back. It’s normally less crowded than the more central beaches. The water is clear and shallow, and there’s usually some music from friendly groups gathering on the sand.
Quick facts: The silver LEED-certified beach pavilion has a rooftop deck and actually won design awards when it was built. This is also the northern terminus of the 18-mile Lakefront Trail, so it’s a popular starting or ending point for long bike rides.
Loyola Beach
1230 W. Greenleaf Avenue in Rogers Park
This is one of the quietest beaches on the lakefront, located next to Loyola University. Next to the beach is Loyola Park with 21.5 acres of recreation space, including fields and courts.
Features: Sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, playground, picnic areas, restrooms, and showers. The park has a historic fieldhouse from the 1920s, baseball fields, and basketball courts.
Most popular with: Families, college students, nature lovers, and anyone looking for a peaceful spot away from the tourist crowds. Birdwatchers and joggers really like the 2/3-mile lakeside loop path.
Scene: Calm and park-like with a more relaxed atmosphere. You’ll hear the waves and birds, and casual conversation instead of loud music and crowds. It’s perfect for reading a book or just sitting and listening to the water.
Quick facts: The 1920s fieldhouse has a gym and boxing center that’s still active. This beach also runs an ABA junior lifeguard training program, so you might see teenage lifeguards practicing their skills during the summer.
Leone Beach
1222 W. Touhy Avenue in Rogers Park
This is a smaller, quieter beach just north of Loyola with about 250 feet of shoreline. The brick pavilion used to be a pumping station, which gives it some character. It’s squeezed between high-rise apartments and feels like a neighborhood secret that not many tourists discover.
Features: Playground, kayak and canoe launch ramp, restrooms, spray fountain for kids, and the old brick fieldhouse that can be rented for events.
Most popular with: Kayakers and canoeists, families, and people interested in Chicago history. The calm waters make it especially good for beginners trying out paddle sports.
Scene: Quiet and very local with a neighborhood feel. Not many tourists go this far north, so it feels like a community gathering spot. Mornings are peaceful with walkers and joggers, while summer afternoons bring families for picnics.
Quick facts: This is home to Chicago’s Junior Lifeguard program, which was named after Sam Leone, a legendary lifeguard supervisor. The pavilion building dates back to 1900, making it one of the oldest lakeside structures in the city.
Margaret T. Burroughs Beach
31st Street & Lake Shore Drive in Bronzeville
This beach has some of the best skyline views of any Chicago beach. The sand area is narrow but sits next to a protected marina, with grassy areas and picnic areas above. The 31st Street Harbor marina is right there if you’re into boating or just like watching boats come and go.
Features: Small boat harbor and launch, concession stand, picnic tables, playground, fishing pier, and the Harbor Store.
Most popular with: Water sports enthusiasts (jet ski, kayak, and paddleboard rentals are available), anglers, picnickers, and sunset watchers.
Scene: This feels more like a water activity park than a traditional sunbathing beach.
Quick facts: The harbor was part of Daniel Burnham’s original plan for Chicago and finally opened in 2012 with 300 boat slips. There’s also a large public art installation called “Windform” sculpture in the park area next to the beach.
63rd Street Beach
6300 S. Lake Shore Drive in Jackson Park/Woodlawn
This is a spacious beach with a gorgeous stone bathing pavilion that was built in 1919. The beach goes east along the lake with grass areas on the west side where families can spread out. During summer, Reggie’s sets up a stage for free weekend music shows that add a really nice community vibe.
Features: The 63rd Street Bathing Pavilion has Belly Up Jamaican concessions, showers, lockers, and meeting rooms. There are also beach chairs available, a children’s fountain and play area, a spray park, and a kayak launch.
Most popular with: Families, culture seekers who appreciate historic architecture, and music lovers who come for the weekend shows that feature everything from reggae to blues.
Scene: Historic but community-oriented with a really friendly atmosphere. On summer days, you’ll hear great music from the stage.
Quick facts: The pavilion is a designated Chicago Landmark and was recently restored to its original beauty.
Ohio Street Beach
600 N. Lake Shore Drive in Streeterville
This is a small, hidden gem between Navy Pier and downtown Streeterville. The beach faces north, so the waters are calmer and more sheltered than most other spots along the lake. It’s small with room for maybe 50-100 people at a time.
Features: Beach chairs and umbrellas available for rent, restrooms and changing areas, lifeguard on duty during summer hours. There’s no on-site food, but Navy Pier and nearby restaurants are just a short walk away.
Most popular with: Visitors wanting a quick, scenic stop, office workers grabbing some sun at lunch hour, swimmers who prefer calm water, and anyone looking to take some skyline photos.
Scene: Relaxed and somewhat hidden despite being right downtown.
Quick facts: This is where you want to go for the best skyline photos from beach level. The north-facing location means calm water, which is great for swimming when other beaches are choppy.
Promontory Point
55th Street & Lake Shore Drive in Hyde Park
Even though this place isn’t a traditional beach, it’s one of Chicago’s most beautiful lakefront spots. The shoreline here is rocky with smooth stone pavers, but it’s a favorite place for picnics, wading, and swimming.
Features: Benches, open lawn areas, a few BBQ grills, and basic restroom facilities. There are no concessions or formal beach rentals since this is more of a park than a beach.
Most popular with: Couples looking for something romantic, photographers, architecture and landscape buffs, and University of Chicago students and faculty.
Scene: Calm with views of both the skyline and Lake Michigan. It’s a great place to find some peace in your day.
Quick facts: This was designed by landscape architect Alfred Caldwell in 1937 and became a designated Chicago Historic Landmark in 2020.
Making The Most Of Your Beach Day
Getting There and Parking
Most beaches have limited and expensive parking, especially on summer weekends. The Lakefront Trail connects all the beaches and is perfect for biking if you want to avoid parking.
CTA buses are the most convenient way to get to the beaches, and some are even walking distance from L stops. If you’re driving, arrive early in the morning or find parking in nearby neighborhoods.
Safety and Conditions
Remember that Lake Michigan can have surprisingly strong currents and undertows, so it’s important to only stay within designated swimming areas.
You’ll find lifeguards on duty at most beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day, usually from 11 am to 7 pm.
The Chicago Park District website posts daily updates on beach conditions and any closures due to high bacteria levels, so make sure to check those out before leaving for the beach.
Finding Your Beach Neighborhood
Whether you’re visiting Chicago for the summer or thinking about making this city your home, we know these lakefront neighborhoods better than anyone else.
Want to get to know the city more? Give us a shout, and we’d be happy to help you explore what each area has to offer beyond just the beautiful beaches – the restaurants, schools, transportation, and all the other factors that make a neighborhood worth calling home.
