“Summertime-Chi” is popular for many reasons, but perhaps the most prominent being its sandy beaches along the shores of Lake Michigan. The 28-mile-long freshwater shoreline is east of the city and offers ample opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, paddleboarding, beach volleyball, hiking, and much more! There are even designated dog beaches if your furry friends want to have some fun in the sun! Long days in the sun also call for refreshing drinks and yummy food, and luckily you can stop at one of the many beachside bars and restaurants to refuel!
Chicagoans only get four short sun-filled months a year to enjoy the city’s beaches thoroughly, so here are 10 Chicago Beaches Worth Checking Out This Summer:
1. NORTH AVENUE BEACH
Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, North Avenue Beach is arguably the most popular place to enjoy the lake. The beach features an ocean liner-inspired beach house that offers upper decks and portholes to get the best view of the skyline and the lakefront trail. There is no shortage of amenities at this beach; enjoy kayaking, jet skiing, volleyball, paddleboarding, yoga, and much more! North Ave beach is also home to one of the city’s most famous lakefront restaurants, Castaways Bar and Grill, where you can enjoy beachside burgers and ice-cold drinks. Being the most popular beach goes hand-in-hand with being the busiest, so be sure to get there early to grab your spot!
2. MONTROSE BEACH
A bit further north from North Avenue Beach, you will find Montrose Beach. This Uptown beach is just as popular and comes with amenities of its own. Enjoy food concessions, kayaking, volleyball, showers, and restrooms. Two unique features that set Montrose Beach apart are its kiteboarding and dog beach areas. South of the recreational beach area, you can also find a natural dune habitat for many species of birds and endangered plant life.
3. 12TH STREET BEACH
12th Street Beach is a hidden gem on the city’s south side. Located on Northerly Island, beachgoers can relax with more privacy while still enjoying similar amenities offered at the busier beaches. A lakeview beach house offers concessions and restrooms, making it convenient to indulge in as many refreshing beverages as you want!
4. OAK STREET BEACH
Another well-known and popular beach option is Oak Street Beach in the Gold Coast and Streeterville neighborhoods. This beach hosts a variety of volleyball tournaments throughout the summer, which are equally fun to participate in or watch. There are also ample amenities such as chair rentals, bike rentals, restrooms, and a one-of-a-kind view of the city’s skyline. After enjoying your time in the sun, you can cool off at Oak Street Beach Cafe with cold beverages and fresh food!
5. RAINBOW BEACH AND PARK
Located in the South Chicago neighborhood, Rainbow Beach and Park is arguably the most popular southside option for beaches. Not only can you enjoy the beautiful lake, but you can also enjoy the 61 acres of parks and recreation. If that isn’t enough acreage to explore, you can also check out the 9 acres of dune habitat on the northeast end of the beach. This beach’s gymnasium, fitness center, handball courts, and community gardens make it a unique option if you want your beach day to include more than just water and sand!
6. 57TH STREET BEACH
Located in Jackson Park, 57th Street Beach has been hosting beachgoers for over a century! This beach has an ADA-accessible beach walk, restrooms, and restaurants. Visitors love to stop by the Tasty Grill for Mexican food, refreshing beverages, and hot dogs (because “when in Chicago,” duh!).
7. FOSTER BEACH
Foster Beach is located in Lincoln Park and features amenities, including a beach house with food concessions, bike rentals, and restrooms. Visitors can enjoy distance swimming from the Center Tower to the north end of the beach, parallel to shore at the boat line. Pay and display parking lot is available along with ADA accessible beach walk.
8. OHIO STREET BEACH
Located in the Streeterville neighborhood, Ohio Street Beach is right on the Lakefront Trail and faces directly north. Due to its unusual orientation, this beach is an ideal open-water swimming training site. Swimmers can swim to the curve of the beach and never be more than a few feet from the seawall and shallow water.
9. SOUTH SHORE BEACH
South Shore Beach is part of the South Shore Cultural Center, which is highly considered the jewel of the neighborhood. The facility features a solarium, formal dining hall, Paul Robeson Theater, Washburne Culinary Institute, the Parrot Cage Restaurant, and the Dr. Margaret Burroughs gallery. The site is a 65-acre park with a 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, and a circular beach house with restrooms and showers. South Shore also has its own nature sanctuary where visitors can walk along a boardwalk near the beach and observe the emerging dunes, a small wetland, the prairie landscape, woodland, and a variety of wildlife in the area.
10. LOYOLA BEACH
Located in East Rogers Park, Loyola Beach has many recreation programs and a 2/3-mile walking trail along the beach. Popular among Loyola University students, this beach is a perfect place to relax and unwind after a long day of classes. While there is no distance swimming at Loyola Beach, nearby Leone Beach can fill the void!
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