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    31st Street Beach

    4.2 (80 reviews)

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    Latrice A.

    So happy I was able to take part in Yacht Scene this weekend Basically yacht owners and there crew set off to cruise and then dock at designated meet point This particular yacht scene as both all owners from all diversities and areas far and near and have open big party on the water. You have the option to just float and cruise through or you can link up what other bolts and participants can go and visit and tour other boats. Also, people drop their floaties and float devices into the water and just relaxed and made lake Michigan. We even saw a proprietor who owned his own ice cream boat and was going from both to both selling ice cream which I thought was ingenious of him to have a hustle like that. On such a hot day and such large caliber events. It was well over a hundred yachts on the water I absolutely had a blast and was happy to participate since I tried to just rent a boat on my own and it's so difficult to come together . So I was able to link up with someone who owns their own Yacht and just be a guest

    So duh gloom-ay
    Francis R.

    The places you find while cruising down the Lakefront Trail... Running out to here from my place in Streeterville is exactly 4 miles and possibly worth the trek if you're looking for a much less crowded beach. Not to mention the view of the Chicago skyline from the south were pretty epic. PROS: -Much less crowded than North Ave or Oak St beaches -Very clean -Nice views of Chicago from the south -A food shack which seems to be open in the summer -Restrooms -Free to visit CONS: -Couldn't find anything to complain about... maybe a bit out of the way to get to if ya don't have a car? Anyways, I'll definitely be trekkin' out next time I'm feeling a beach day. 'Til next time, cheers. 138/365

    Marina
    Sarah S.

    My new favorite beach! It's way less crowded that any other other beach I've been to in Chicago. My friends always want to go to the beach to hang out & we're usually within inches of thousands of people, mostly drunk & obnoxiously loud. 31st Street Beach is such a welcome change & def where I'm going to suggest my friends go next time we need some rays. Parking is plentiful and located within steps of the beach for just a $1.25/hour. There is a food spot full of people hanging out & music playing. They look to have some nice paths for biking & walking. Docks are filled with boats with friendly owners abound BBQing & hanging out. Beautiful view of the city from Bronzeville!

    Chicago dog at the beach
    Amber M.

    Good beach good food if you need a cab to pick u up 3101 s lake shore drive

    Rashaad H.

    Always a great time! Great place to bring the family for all day fun. The Park is first class, your kids will love every minute.

    Near 31st Street Beach
    Regina D.

    Easily accessible from 290/90/94 and an exit to beach via Lake Shore Drive (South), near McCormick Place Convention Center. Ample metered parking (Park Mobile App) on the premises and additional parking approximately 1.5 blocks West of the beach. Parking areas fill very quickly on weekends and the rear of the West lot is reserved for private boat owners after 12pm. The beach is in good condition, most times, but careless visitors bring their poor behaviors with them. The beach has a cafe, which is a bit overpriced, IMO, but I can only imagine what the facility rental and City licenses are to operate a beachfront business. The cafe has a private (customers only) patio and offers bar service Thur-Sun until 10pm. Some days there are food and craft vendors, but you can pack a cooler, food basket, blankets, umbrella, tents and spend the day there. There are lifeguards and safety personnel on land (daily) and by boat (weekends). Beautiful waking and biking trails which stretch along the entire lakefront. The 31st street harbor is very clean, well-lit and houses private vessels via private access ways. Even if you aren't a boat owner, it's always fun to people watch and live vicariously through actual owners.

    G R.

    Doesn't get better than this, hot sun, cool breeze, blue water, waves lapping at the shore. If it stayed like this I could stay here forever. I wouldn't even care if they towed the car away. Perfection. I prefer the area north of the beach, it's almost deserted due to all the amenities being beach side, food, drinks, and of course restrooms. In addition to the beach there is the harbor, we have a slip reserved now just need the boat. In the meantime Chicago Water Sports rentals has a location there, you can rent a Hobie kayak, paddle board or jet ski and get out on the water. I stopped today after some appointments, and stayed about an hour which was the best 1.75 I spent today for parking. Lucky for me this beach is an easy walk or bike ride from home. I will make it a point to stop here more often.

    Maria R.

    Big ups to 31st Beach! Went for the first time and despite the afternoon showers, had a great time. There is a garage at the boat harbor that is adjacent to the beach and there is also metered parking nearby. The sand on the beach is a bit gravely but not ridiculously so. It wasn't packed either which is what drives me away from some of the beaches up north. If you come with a little one, there is this awesome futuristic playground near by and some water sprinklers to cool off in. I am definitely heading back with my fam and looking forward to it!!!

    Tony H.

    This beach is cool. They have a restaurant and bar right on the sand. There's usually a DJ on the weekends. Last time I came by they actually had a spin class and a DJ right on the beach, how cool is that. They even have a splash park and playground for the kids. So it's ideal for a bday party for the youngins. There's also the Harbor here which has party rooms, a pool, a Artur ant and bar on the water. One of my favorite beaches in the city.

    Michael C.

    I love the beach and my family loves it even more. We started out at the dock of the marina watching boats and moved to the children's play area which was really unique. Lots of tension features, climbing features, with slides and swings as well as two water features. From there we went to the beach for sand throwing and people watching. It was a lovely day for the beach and the entire family loved the experience. I had not been to this beach before but it was just as good as every other beach in the city I've been to minus the crowding.. It was hard to find a bathroom you did not need a code for. (We never found one) Parking was $6 an hour. Pretty steep if you ask me! There are no free parking or metered parking options here. That's the one draw back. Even for something free like the beach the city has found a way to make you pay. -2 stars for that. Not so humbly submitted, King Michael C.

    Lin H.

    I'm from the Cleveland area, so of course I wasn't expecting TOOOOOO much from a Great Lakes beach. Beaches in Chicago though, whoa, what an upgrade!! This beach was clean and not overly packed full of people. Very family oriented. Parking was so cheap too! My only advice would be to pack and bring your own food, because there was only one concession stand that was over priced. I was hoping for some water front restaurants/diners, but there was nothing nearby.

    Navy Pier from 31st Street Beach
    Sean B.

    EXCELLENT BEACH!! Family friendly. Elevated grass area with shade runs right into the sandy beach. Though small, this beach is not crowded and is very clean. The surrounding area offers a shaded park with playground equipment and concession stand with attached restrooms. There is grilling allowed in the grassy area behind the kids playground with hot coal bins when you are done. Awesome views of the Chicago skyline and Navy Pier. Might be perfect to view fireworks from! There is plenty of parking. If you wait to long in the day to go you may have a bit of a hike to get the beach. You do have to pay to park. It is $1 per hour and you must pre-pay the meter and place the receipt on your dash. The parking meters take coins, cash and credit/debit cards! Easy on/off from Lake Shore Drive. From 55, take Lake Shore Drive south to Oak Brook Blvd. Double back on Lake Shore Drive north and exit 31st Street. Watch for the beach parking sign as soon as you exit.

    On the pier were they have jet skis

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - 31st Street Beach

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    Review Highlights - 31st Street Beach

    I've never been south on lake shore drive and I must say I delightfully surprised.

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    North Avenue Beach - Pretty flower

    North Avenue Beach

    3.9(211 reviews)
    5.3 miLincoln Park

    For sure this is one of the city's most popular beaches. It has the crowds to prove it. North…read moreAvenue Beach is what's along the shoreline in Lincoln Park. Has one of the biggest beach houses ever. The rest of the beach has plenty of fun options. A pretty big beach in area. It's also notable for what's on it. The beach house is shaped like an ocean liner. It has portholes and upper decks like a real boat. Lots of places to drink and eat. Castaways is the most popular place to do both. The first level has burgers and ice cream, and the rooftop has appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and more. Also there's plenty of equipment rentals on the beach. You can rent bicycles, chairs, jet skis, volleyball courts, and wakeboards. Also sign up for the yoga classes. There's other food options including hot dogs and more. A long history about it. In the late 1930s a landfill extension was added to this area, becoming an improvement over a previous beach in this site. Completion was one of the many projects funded by the Works Progress Administration. The beach house was designed to look like a lake ship. Because over the years it deteriorated, it was replaced with a new one. This one has more room for more stuff. Certainly there's a lot going on at this beach. It's always crowded. This is popular for swimming, but there's plenty of bars and restaurants to throw up some shots, and eat some junk or whatever.

    Chicago has 26 miles of beaches, yes you heard it right, 26 miles of beaches. when you hear…read moreChicago, you imagine the Chicago skyline with the river, and tall buildings, downtown but it also has a fab beach just north of the Mag mile (Michigan Avenue). North Avenue Beach is one of the most popular swimming spots in Chicago. it is a great one for families. Looking onto the water at North Avenue, this beach has it all. To the right is the city view we all know and love, The sandy beach has volleyball courts (like 100s of courts), plenty of space for visitors to stretch out, and multiple things to do nearby. It is a nice spot perfect for relaxing, biking, and running. the beach features a unique and popular beach house which has something for everyone and is permanently docked along this popular beach view from here is amazing and it's other side of the Chicago skyline (opposite to what you see from the Museum campus). John Hancock building dominates this skyline The parking fee is too much though. For 2 hours or less- it was $21 2-4 Hours = $28 Time: 7 AM- 11 PM Daily

    Photos
    North Avenue Beach
    North Avenue Beach
    North Avenue Beach

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    Montrose Beach - Snow on the ground along the lake today.

    Montrose Beach

    3.8(136 reviews)
    9.0 miUptown

    A swimmable beach right along side one of the country's most major cities?! This past Monday, while…read moreon a three day trip to Chicago, I had Montrose Beach at the top of my to-do list. I love how you can park so close, and for free! Even though it was winter, standing along the sand and watching the waves from a distance was just so darn peaceful. I can't wait to come back during the spring or the summer. I hear that there'll be plenty of people windsurfing, swimming and playing volleyball.

    Certainly is one of the most popular places in summer for Chicago. It has a lot going on around…read morehere. Montrose Beach is located north of Lincoln Park. Amenities include bathrooms and concessions among just a few. This also has a dog beach and a bird sanctuary. Big ass beach. It's not like it's actually that big, but for around here it certainly is. The beach has a few ways to get around it, including an ADA accessible beach walk. Dogs have their own part of the beach. Even has a bar and grill you can walk up to and get something. Beach house is modeled after the one on North Avenue. It looks like a lake steamer. The amenities here include concessions, restrooms, and showers, but any good beach has these things. Also has kayak and volleyball rentals. South of here is a bird sanctuary. A lot of migrant birds come by in the spring and autumn. North of the regular beach is a beach just for dogs. Also distance swimming is available north of the boathouse. There's also a non-motorized boat launch. Has a lot of reasons to come whether swimming or something else. It's located between the avenue of the same name and Lawrence. The CTA buses on these streets have the routes extended to here in summer so getting here won't involve so much walking.

    Photos
    Montrose Beach - Enjoying the snow today! First day of Spring!

    Enjoying the snow today! First day of Spring!

    Montrose Beach - Higher waves than usual

    Higher waves than usual

    Montrose Beach - Crossing the parking lot from the park to the beach

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    Crossing the parking lot from the park to the beach

    Fullerton Beach

    Fullerton Beach

    4.4(22 reviews)
    6.2 miLincoln Park

    Before I thought this was just a part of North Avenue Beach. Fullerton Beach is apparently its own…read moreone according to maps. It actually doesn't seem like much of one because there's not even any sand. Apparently there used to be, but now this is just all concrete. There's pretty good views of the skyline and city though. Apparently erosion has ruined it, so that's why it's not much of a beach. It's been replaced by concrete. The good thing is you can go home without an ass full of sand. A bad thing is how hard the ground is. This is concrete after all, so it's not comfortable to lay on. Also the ground gets hot. Hard to believe anyone would rather come here to sunbathe than on a sandy beach not far away from this. A few good things are around here. The Theater On The Lake is a good play to watch a play. Go to a better beach. It's just to the north of one of the city's best and most popular. This also isn't that far from other stuff in Lincoln Park, and you can lie in grass there, and still be able to chill and sunbathe.

    02/04/22 - it's been months since I've been out here by the lake. Just another day in paradise…read moreknown as Chicago w/our magnificent Lake Michigan. Today it's a relatively warm day in February. It's a balmy sunny 24 degrees. The left over snow from a few days ago is floating & freezing on the lake. It's cold but absolutely magnificent. This morning there was some moron walking on the lake near promontory point about 1/2 mile off of the shore. WGN TV was filming this moron walking on the lake. The Chicago Police were called to ask him to come in off of the lake. This is what I call a very dim light that's pretty low on the evolutionary scale.

    Photos
    Fullerton Beach - Me!

    Me!

    Fullerton Beach - Beach

    Beach

    Fullerton Beach - Beach

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    Beach

    Rosewood Beach - Pay station and prices

    Rosewood Beach

    3.8(34 reviews)
    24.3 mi

    Getting beach ready! Not only myself (preparing for a summer beach vacation), but Rosewood Beach…read morerecently got a clean up and seemed ready for visitors. It's been awhile since I've updated my experience at Rosewood. This review is based on a recent walk I took to get some fresh air and much needed exercise. After parking the car in Downtown Ravinia and walking to Rosewood beach and back to the car (round trip about 1.3 miles), I noticed a bunch of beach updates that are worth mentioning. First of all, gear up, because the beach is open this year and you'll be able to swim! It's a private beach and not free, so you'll have to follow this link (https://www.pdhp.org/beaches/parking-2/) for resident and non-resident fees. This year you can purchase a swim pass and a parking decal. I entered via the dirt path that leads down to the beach so I could make my way back up the stairs for a good stair climb. The path was nicely cleaned up and breathtaking all on its own. Surrounded by lots of foliage and overlooking the ravine, I walked until I met up with the beach boardwalk. The boardwalk is all cleaned up and nicely refreshed. Looks like it did when it first opened! The beach sand is all freshened up and ready for summer. The play structures for kids are covered (but not sanitized). The best part? The steep, really-great-for-your-legs staircase now has handrails! This is such a huge plus for when you can't quite make it up and need to lean over a rail to hold yourself up (don't judge). It was a nice quiet walk, since the beach isn't actually open yet, but it will get crowded for certain. Parking lots have meters.

    Amazing that I can walk here from my house. I am very lucky to live here. This beach is amazing,…read moreyou get great views of Chicago, Waukegan, and water. The recent remodel and rebuild are beautiful. It is nice and quiet her in the winter, all you hear are the waves, the wind, and your breath. Wait until spring!

    Photos
    Rosewood Beach
    Rosewood Beach - Covered but there's a sign that says not sanitized.

    Covered but there's a sign that says not sanitized.

    Rosewood Beach - Kids buried in the sand. Good thing they have a shower!

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    Kids buried in the sand. Good thing they have a shower!

    63rd St Beach - Fairly clean beach

    63rd St Beach

    4.3(29 reviews)
    4.3 miWoodlawn

    Went here for a community event cleaning the beach of debris. We skirted the other wooded (grassy)…read morearea as well. It was in September and windy. I think during the summer it would be nice here and fairly large. Nice view of the north side of the city.

    11/19/20 - REVIEW 998 Chicago's 18 mile Lakefront is stunning along w/the urban planning by Daniel…read moreBurnham's master plan to utilize the lakefront shoreline & make it accessible to the public. The 63rd Street Beach is just another outstanding example of this master plan. As I was walking south from Promontory Point there is a vast stretch of open paths for walking, running & biking extending in both directions north and south. As you near 63rd Ave there is a beach that extends to a building that I later found out is the Eric Hatchett Pavilion/63rd Avenue Beach House. This is part of The Chicago Park District but is currently closed to the public. As you approach there is a welcome sign to The 63rd Street Beach Natural Area. The approach to the 63rd street beach as you head south are paths lined w/prairie grass. The path leads to the lakefront and a breakwater/pier that extends out about 3/10 of a mile from the beach. It starts out perpendicular to the shore then halfway it bends at an obtuse angle. I walked to the end & was rewarded w/an awesome vantage point in any direction I looked. To the south you can see Promontory Point & the Chicago Skyline to the east the water intake & Indiana across Lake Mi. The west is the 63rd Avenue Beach, The Beach House & Jackson Park. This pier serves as a breakwater to mitigate the destructive power of the water. It was pretty brisk outside w/the wind blowing south to north @ about 20mph. I could see how strong the current was carrying out along the pier. If a person would go off the pier the current would carry them out into the lake. I really had to hang onto my phone tightly & step carefully because of the wind. This was a very cool experience walking the pier. Fortunately the waves weren't strong enough to wash up on the pier and besides the wind there wasn't any lake water washing up and over when I was out there. This is just another beautiful example of the development of Chicago's lakefront for public use.

    Photos
    63rd St Beach - Entrance view

    Entrance view

    63rd St Beach - Jet ski rental was $100 for 3 mins

    Jet ski rental was $100 for 3 mins

    63rd St Beach - Beach

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    Beach

    31st Street Beach - beaches - Updated June 2026

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