A swimmable beach right along side one of the country's most major cities?! This past Monday, while on 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. read more

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Certainly is one of the most popular places in summer for Chicago. It has a lot going on around here. 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. read more

Montrose Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great beach and lots of room to spread out. However on a hot day, it is impossible to find legal parking before 4 pm. Car pool, take public transit or come early if you come during the midst of summer. read more

Pretty sight for sunset and sunrise too! It's relatively a low key area of Uptown, but I love it there because of the nice sandy beach and the view of downtown! Before you reach the beach, there's a nice park with lots of trees and grassy areas. There are plenty of parking spaces, but you need to pay for parking! This beach is pet friendly! There is a separate dog beach here too. People bring their dogs and I love them! read more

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What's not to love, its the beach, its Lake Michigan, its what makes Chicago such a great city. Every day during the summer you can find me riding my bike past this beach alone the amazing lake front bike path. PS. they also have a restaurant there that frequently has live music. read more

It's probably one of the largest actual beaches on the Northside. You find plenty of sand, outdoor dining, migratory birds from adjacent nature preserve and an equally awesome dog beach just to the North.theres lots of sports fields, a marina and a skatepark as well. One of my favorite things to do is to start out on the nature preserve trail and walk out to the Montrose beach beacon offering some great views of the city and the lake. Heading south along the water front has the great skyline views. It's a big of an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city all year long. read more

Montrose Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Recently came here to visit and explore this area since going to the beach in the city is really rare for me to do. Getting here is best is you actually live near the beach. Everyone else, you got to park and it's a bit of a walk depending on where you are because it can be really long. Thankfully most parking is free They have a concession stand which is fairly priced to Chicago standards, with decent options. Public bathrooms are disgusting and probably not the ideal place to change either. Half of this place is abandoned as well. We came here on a 70 degree ish day and this place I assure you was packed! Please be smart and keep a good eye on your belongings. read more

I meannnnn lol. It's a beach in Chicago. It does make me sad that there is so much garbage and glass in the sand. My future hubs plays an ultimate tournament here every year and to see people get cut bc of people littering is super depressing and annoying. Tip - get here between 7am-8am for better parking. This beach fills up extremely quick especially when the weather is sunny and hot. read more

Montrose Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's a Chicago beach where many locals go. This isn't California nor Florida beach so comparatively, the bathrooms are dirty. I like Montrose Beach because of it's ease of parking, accessibility of pushing things with wheels (wheelchair, wagon, etc.), and a shore restaurant. Again, it's a family friendly place where many locals go. This isn't like North Ave or Oak St. beach where there are young people without little children and over priced bar. Many little ones (with grown ups) play in the sand and in the lake. The restaurant is reasonably priced for a restaurant near the beach. read more

Montrose Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We love this beach. Weather it is digging in the sand, watching the sunrise, or going for a swim on a hot summer day. Huge beach that is water accessible for most via a nice "sidewalk" that allows strollers and such a way to roll down without getting bogged down in the sand. There are usually ice cream vendors on nice days and two dining options. Paddle Board rentals. The whole nine yards. I have been visiting this beach since childhood when there was no wind we would walk from the harbour and now living in the neighbourhood. read more

Montrose Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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12/17/20 - Montrose Beach? Did you even know there was a beach @ Montrose? As I was walking through the Bird Sanctuary I came out on the east side and was surprised by a large open beach. Like I said I have been to Montrose Harbor before and never realized there is a large beach front along Lake Michigan. As I walked on the beach toward the lake there was quite a bit of wave action rolling in. It's beautiful to see the many faces of Lake Michigan from glass smooth to rolling wave to gale force winds. I noticed a large patch of white area on the beach approaching cautiously as I wasn't sure what was under the snow. As I stepped forward I'm glad I was cautious because I could hear the ice cracking under my feet. There wasn't no real danger other then possibly getting wet feet where there could have been puddles but why take the chance in 30 degree weather. I skirted around this large patch to the south where I could see sand under foot. There is a pier that juts out into the lake and I wanted to go out and get a closer look at the waves rolling in. This proved to be a circuitous route but what the heck I was out for the walk anyway. The concrete pier proved to be a little daunting as the waves would come up on the concrete occasionally. There were some ice patches so I was a little hesitant as there was absolute no one around. Still I went out and was rewarded with some beautiful photo ops and a magnificent view of the beach w/the waves rolling in. It's really cool to discover this beach cause I wasn't even aware that there was one there. Now that I know I'm sure I'll be back again read more

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There's something about Montrose Beach that reminds me of my hometown beach. I grew up near Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. It's spacious, never too crowded and offers several areas for parking. In one place you have gorgeous views of the city. There's a rustic walking trail. The beach bar & grill offers so much fun during the summer. Huge mature trees with the lake as a backdrop leave me thinking of all the good time had here over the decades. Although there is no sandy beach to enter the lake for a swim in the areas I visit, this spot along the lakefront is so relaxing and one of my favorite stops. I head over to this area in all seasons alone or with friends. It's always gorgeous. read more

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It is nice to have a public beach with free parking. Also adjacent to a grassy field. As with most urban spaces there was garbage especially near the beachside restaurant bar. However, the water was clear and I only saw a single solo cup. Generally speaking, I prefer the beaches around Michigan. When in Rome... read more

OMG! This place is so much better now primarily with all the first class sand that seem to go on forever. Previously there was a water peninsula separating the beach area- now it's just all fine sand the kind you sink your toes in. The water is crystal clear! The beach is shallow for a distance so you can walk in the water quite far. Plus facilities are nearby. The Dock an outdoor eating joint with live band every night is right there. Vendors for ice cream or Latin taste is also nearby. You can also take cover in the trees if you don't want to burn. It's near enough the beach. There's also a HUGE dog beach. Really the only drawback is, unless you can walk here - it's best to come BEFORE 9:30am for parking. read more

Montrose Beach - Montrose beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Readers, keep in mind that this review is over an extended amount of time (seven years) but does not reflect this year. I was going through old compact discs full of photos for the past two decades to transfer to cloud accounts, and I found a ginormous collection of me, family and friends at Montrose Beach. I hung out there so much during the past two decades, but I didn't have a boat nor a dog (for the dog beach) at the time. I just used to love walking from one end of Lake Shore Drive (Hollywood) to the other and not stopping until I hit that circular group of benches where the boats docked. It's so pretty there. I would sit (or lay) on one of those benches and read for hours on end. It was a trek to walk there even from three other addresses I had before my current one, but I was constantly doing it at least one to two times per week. I'm hoping it's still as amazing as it was, but the last time I was there was in 2015-2016. I'm having a tough time believing it'd be any different than it always was. I NEVER drove there because parking by beaches is for people far more patient than I am, and I had the same car for 15 years so it's not like I couldn't've done it. I just like walking. More importantly, I am in love with all these pics I found. So I'm just gonna give them a five-star rating and prioritizing visiting here before summer ends to see if I'm still right. read more

This is one of my favorite beaches in Chicago. A lot of space for parking. There's a dog park as well. The views are very beautiful. read more

Montrose Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was surprised to discover Montrose Beach and am so glad we did! It has a very wide sandy area with pockets of water that people can wade and play in. I think they also have windsurfing rentals available because we saw a number of them in the water. They also have a pier at the end of the beach that you can probably fish from. There was lots of free parking available on a weekday. This beach also seems to be less busy than the beaches located closer to the center of Chicago. It is also free unlike the beaches in Evanston. Great place to visit if you have a car! read more

"Here is my 4-Paws review for the dog friendly area of Montrose Beach in Chicago. My owners took me, my sister Maisie and cousin Frankie to #Mondogbeach on a Friday before noon. We had so much fun meeting the many other dogs that were off leash and fetching toys like us. It was a little chaotic at first and hard to tell who was going to retrieve our toys we brought, but a great place to go and a lot of fun. The only thing that could have made our visit better was the beach here is a little bit dirty in some spots, but my owner stopped to read signs for future beach clean-ups. We liked seeing the fun area at Mutt Jackson's but some of the items at the stand including the dog wash seem to be a little over-priced to my owners so they passed on making any purchases. (I'm hoping they will at least get me some doggie ice cream next time maybe)? They have cold drinks for humans too. The parking here was easy on the morning we arrived early during the week but I understand it can get a little crowded and your owner may have to park further down and walk you on a leash until you get to the enclosed beach area. If you can't hold it and you need to you know...do your business...your owner can clean up after you and find plenty of garbage cans to put waste in. I had so much fun retrieving my toys on the sandbar of the beach and even on a day where the waves were record high, you could still run out into the shallow water, if you're a big dog like me. I will definitely be back many times to enjoy this beach!" - Hamish (Beloved Chesador, age 4) read more

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This is a great area to: take a walk or bike ride along the paths; walk your dog; sit on the rocks and ponder about things; fish; bird watch (there is a bird sanctuary on-site); or to grab a bite to eat at The Dock Restaurant. HOWEVER: It seemed pretty muddy near the sandy areas and the quality of the sand does not present itself to the same experience as North Avenue or Oak Street Beach. What I liked: The views of Downtown Chicago, the Lake Front, and Rogers Park are indeed breath-taking; while, still offering its own little sanctuary with silence, peace, and the sounds of birds chirping. Plus there is an attached BIRD SANCTUARY! read more

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This is a small beach just north of the bird sanctuary. This beautiful November day we were in town and wanted to get out to enjoy the weather and keep our distance from others. This happens to be a busy DOG beach and the dogs were loving it. I wish I had my dog. My dog isn't a fan of the water but would love the exploration of this area. It looked like a blast. I was missing my Puggle. Have a great day. Enjoy the photos. read more

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Montrose Beach is great because it is conveniently located in the park. You can barbeque, play lots of games as there is a lot of open grass to run around in. Or you can just be a beach bum and lay on the sand or swim in the lake all day. Its huge so there's always a spot waiting for you. Lots of street parking and also a metered parking lot in the vicinity. We have birthday parties here a lot because you can invite as many people as you'd like! There's also public bathrooms for you to change into your swimsuit, and a cute little outdoor bar to grab a few drinks and some quick bites. There's plenty of trees in the park area so if you're not a sun worshipper like me, there are places to take cover under! Overall, Montrose Beach is a great area to relax and unwind. I definitely recommend it! read more

Montrose Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I don't have a dog so that is not a reason for me to come to this particular beach. Getting away from North Ave Beach is, however. My Son also plays Football (and I coach) at the Montrose Fields too so we get here plenty often. The beach is spacious, well maintained and usually free from the crazy kids you can find further South towards downtown. As a 22+ yr Chicaogoan w a 12 yr old son we've logged in a ton of time at many of the Cgo beaches and this is a good one! read more

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Walking on the lakeshore path, watching the joggers come and go, and laying on the rock for a quiet, comfy nap was a five (5)-star experience, except minus one (1) star for forgetting my travel pillow and blanket. Coming to the Montrose Beach was a spontaneous plan this Sunday afternoon. It has been quite surprisingly for the warm weather in early October. We Chicagoans should take a full advantage of this blessing from our dear Mother Nature because I'm sure that her mood will soon change for the worst! Parking is free if you can find a spot nearby. Otherwise, the CTA busses that serve the inner and outer lakeshore drives should get you there close enough. I'm not an exercise junkie or a gym class hero, so I simply came for the pleasure of appreciating the lovely sky, embracing the gentle breeze, and perhaps a little bit of people-watching if I'm still, somehow, awake. read more

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I was in the area recently for a family reunion of sorts and I was pleased to find that our house was less than a mile from the lakefront path and Montrose Beach. I am a runner so I decided this would be where I would get my cardio on in the mornings. Unfortunately, the weather turned from springtime back to wintertime during my visit....35-40 degrees and snow! But that was not going to stop me! The path close to Lakeshore Drive was clean and well-maintained. I saw plenty of other runners and bikers and I never felt unsafe. I was hoping for nicer weather to be able to enjoy the beach a bit more, but from what I saw it looks like it would be lovely in the summertime! Great views of the city and several other park amenities (track, playgrounds, etc). I believe there is also free parking (the FREE part being the important part) which makes it convenient on another level. read more

Montrose Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of my favorite beaches. Has a great view of the skyline which is simply breathtaking. There's a lot of grassy area to lounge around and have a picnic, if you look around, you may even see an elote cart that sells not only the most delicious elotes I've had, but also Mexican fruit cups which are perfect on a hot summer day. There is also an abundance of parking surrounding the area, and a dog park near by! read more

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I will bump the rating once the weather becomes nicer with the assumption that the sand volleyball courts will be leveled out by Summertime. We came here on a windy 50 degrees day to no nets and sand strewn about. From what I observed, the sand is actually very fine, smoother and softer than the sand at North Ave. I'm sure the Parks crew just has to come and spread the sand around when they put the nets up. There are considerably less courts compared to North Ave, but that just adds to the charm. I didn't observe any trash other than some pieces of concrete, which again will likely be cleaned up once they gear up for volleyball season. It's nice that there's a shelter and restroom facilities nearby, as well as a bar and grill not too far of a walk from the courts. See you in July! read more

Montrose Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Fun area to bike down south from. Beaches, "The Dock" restaurant, city life is all on display as you ride past mueseums, Navy Pier, and more. One of the most scenic rides in Chicagoland read more

I know I speak for my doggies when I say that "Montrose Beach is the bestest beach ever!" Well, specifically, the separate dog portion of the beach. They also wanted me to say that there is just so much open beach to run and play... and then of course, there's all that beautiful water to swim in and even drink -- yum! Other dog owners do a pretty good job of keeping an eye on their dogs and making sure that they pick up after them, but the occasional owner is well, quite frankly, just a slob. I have spent countless hours here trying to convince my dogs that playtime is over... and this beach will always hold a special place in my heart with all of the great memories of those wonderful times! ****FOUR STARS**** read more

Chicago has everything...including beaches! I usually end up going to Montrose Beach because it seems less crowded than the other beaches, and I have a dog. So, the Montrose Dog Beach is an excellent place to go for me to relax and watch pups having fun. If I had describe Montrose Beach in a few words, it would be spacious and lively. If you go to the dog beach, there are a lot of dogs running around. You also run the risk of getting peed on by a dog. However, that's sort of what you've signed up for if you're at a beach for dogs. The beach is pretty clean and people seem to be good about picking up their dog's poop. Although there are usually both a lot of dogs and people at the beach, it never seems overly crowded. There is plenty of space to spread out. One thing that is a downside for me is that the fences on the edges of the beach are pretty low. My dog is hyper and has jumped them or gone through holes in the fences before. So, I am always somewhat on high alert when I go to the dog beach. I've also heard of incidents of dogs getting in fights at the beach. So it is good to be aware of your surroundings and, if you bring a dog, keep a close eye on it. read more

Montrose Beach - Hanging at Montrose Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There are so many beautiful beaches in Chicago but Montrose Beach has become my favorite beach so far. It's a very peaceful and relaxing beach. White sand and blue water keep me coming back here. A popular beach but never too crowded. It's a perfect spot for me to get some sun, relax and empty my brain. I try to come here once a week on my weekend, I want to do this till the summer ends and I wish we will have a longer summer this year. I want to be more tan and working on it, half way through, lol There is a dog beach next door if you would like to go and play with the doggies and make some new friends. I always go there and have fun with them. I love the idea of having a dog beach here, I don't see this often. Those cute doggies love the beach too :) A small bar by the end of the beach on your right hand side when you walk in. They serve all kind of drinks and some great bites. Plenty of space for beach ball, fun! Parking is FREE and plenty of space which I love. Always an empty spot for me when I go there. A short walk to the beach, supper convenience. The beach is only a block away from Lakeshore Dr. and less than 10 mins to downtown. This is my mini vacation beach & It gets me every time ...Love Montrose Beach. read more

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One of my favorite places in the city!! Lots of great walking, grassy areas, beachy areas. It gets crowded when it's nice out but I love that the city has this gem for the public to use. read more

This is my favorite beach in Chicago. Laid-back, family-friendly, and there's a guy that sells tacos from a grill on the back of his bike -- I couldn't ask for more! Also, if you're a little body-sensitive (and I am) you won't feel like a freak of nature on this beach. It's not a fashion show, or a body-building show, or any kind of show at all. It's just a great place to go to get some sun, hang out by the water, and not worry about who's looking at you or what they're thinking about how you look. read more

So, Montrose beach, to me, = dogs and (sand)fleas. Montrose Harbor = boats and sea sickness. Montrose Harbor Beach = quiet elegance. Sand dunes. Unexpected peace. Unexpected. On an early fall day, I walked along the grassy portion of the beach and rested for a while atop one of the hills. It was a bit chilly and there was no one there. I was stunned to realize how far out into the water I could see. I was surprised at the beautiful silence of wind, waves and birds. The intersection of sand and grass, water and earth... all right there off of LSD and a stone's throw away from Uptown madness... it hit me: why haven't I spent more time here? Somewhat contradictory to the inspiration of nature, I found myself happily driving along the streets that abut the beach. I didn't realize there was so much drivable real estate east of LSD. Again, why haven't I been here before? I need to fix this. Being from the bluegrass, sand really isn't my thing but grassy sprawls get my motor runnin'. I didn't expect to find a park in the middle of a beach. But now that I know it's here, game on.* *This review is purely informational. Please don't start coming here and clogging it up. Kthxbye. read more

I came here with a group of friends on a Saturday afternoon. Although Montrose Beach wasn't as crowded as North Avenue Beach, it was still difficult to find parking (the bf circled around for ~45 min). However, parking was free. Oh and did I mention there were random shards of glass from broken beer bottles scattered around the beach? read more

This beach is pretty awesome. The best part, of course, is the free parking! It might be a bit difficult to find a spot, but I'll circle around for a while to save $$ on parking! I didn't go down to the water, but I love all the grassy picnic spots up and down this beach. Makes a great place to spend a sunny afternoon! I've also attended a few festivals here in the distant past and I know they hold concerts occasionally, which I think is awesome. read more

This is my favorite beach in Chicago. It's vast, and even on the big summer holidays (memorial day, the 4th, labor day) you can find a spot to grill with your friends and still have plenty of room to play frisbee. The people that come to Montrose I have always found to be friendlier than at other beaches, and there's plentiful beachfront to swim. The dog beach portion is well maintained and I believe it is the largest dog beach in the city proper, so plenty of room to either let your pup run around or watch them play if you don't have a dog. There's also a decent beach bar (The Dock) which has good food and drinks. Overall, I am lucky to live a 10 minute walk away, because in the summer, I'm here all the time! read more

Nice place to launch and land a kayak though it's a bit of a carry. Good break wall near the bird sanctuary. read more

Montrose Beach - Launching a nash kayak at Montrose beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I come here mostly to run, and take in the views of Montrose Harbor, and Lake Michigan. This area has free parking ; along with the option to do many other things that are in the area. Me being a runner I'm attracted to Cricket Hill, and also the Track field, which is in short distance from Montrose Beach. This area is one of the many peaceful places along the Lakefront where you can run, swim, tan, walk your dog, meditate, or read a book on one of the concrete benches along the outline of the beach. There is also an open area where you can play flag football, fly a kite, or throw your Frisbee. Located in between the beach and harbor there is a bike share pick up or drop off if you're interested in getting a bike ride in if you don't own a bike to ride. Enjoy! read more

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Montrose Beach is probably my favorite 'major' beach in the city. The beaches more south, specifically North Ave, tend to get super busy and chaotic - which I'm not a fan of. The beach here is fairly long with lots of space to set up for a day in the sun. There are guys with ice cream carts walking up and down the beach as well (cash only). You can also stop at the restaurant for some drinks and food, or the concession stand for a quick snack. Since the recent influx of rain, much of the beach is covered in water - still plenty of sand to lounge - they have a long elevated ramp to allow people to cross this mini lake and get to the real beach, however, it smells terrible! People, especially kids, like to play in that water...I wouldn't recommend that. The views at the beach are great and if you walk around to where the boats are docked, you can see the beautiful Chicago skyline. Another perk? Free parking all around the beach. I haven't come here on a weekend in awhile, but weekday parking is easy. If you haven't had a chance, this is definitely a beach to check out! read more

Visited Montrose Beach today for the first time with friends and co-workers. Of the beaches in Chicago, I don't mind this one so much. It does get a bit crowded and free parking is nearly impossible to find (there are so many people that visit this park and beach!). But overall, I did enjoy when was there today. We had enough room to sit and enjoy the sun without being overcrowded or cramped next to another group of people. The area near the water was very crowded, especially with families and little ones. So plan ahead if you've wanting to visit. The sand here is ...well.. I would say typical of the beaches in the Chicago area. Tough to walk through barefoot as there was a lot of rough objects (rocks, glass, etc.). If you are sensitive to this bring flip flops or shoes. Other than that though, there is PLENTY to do here -- jetskiing, paddleboarding, volleyball, and room for any other beach games you and your friends like to play (handball, frisbee, bags, etc.) I'm happy with the variety of activities and the availability of the food in the restaurant nearby. read more