The most beautiful calm part of the city Come here to hang for a while and escape the hustle of city crowds You'll have a beautiful day guaranteed And please someone renovate that little beach shake That couple easily be done into a two level new hot spot for busy city socialites looking to unwind read more

Ohio Street Beach - One of the most peaceful parts of the city Or in general I felt so calm sitting here - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

A cool little beach close to the Navy Pier and roughly a ten minute walk from my River North hotel, which was near the Grand Street Red Line stop. The water is a little chilly, even in August, but that's okay. The view makes up for it. Chairs are available to rent, but otherwise you'll need to bring any amenities with you - namely towels, sunscreen and snacks. I didn't see concessions, bathrooms or a changing area. I didn't see a lifeguard, either. read more

See all

This is a short walk less than fifteen minutes from our hotel room. It feels so good to go here earlier this morning at 630am. The beach is pretty empty today, probably due to being early in the morning on a weekday. It is smaller in size. There is a restaurant nearby to eat but it has not open yet. A place like this in the city is quite a treat. Downside of this small area is that there is not wash area that I saw, especially when you get sand all over your feet. read more

See all

This very small beach is located near the Navy pier. It's more of a lakeside type beach which is nice, the area is not very big & the best thing here are the lovely city views we stopped by for a few just to check it out & enjoy an hour or two. Can't imagine how this is in the mist of a hot summer day? We came in August & the water was freezing! Over all nice for what it is, enjoyable for a short amount of time. read more

See all

This beach is very close to Navy Pier and right by what is known as "concrete beach," so if you'd like to walk along and take in the views without sand, this is the way to go. It's also close to a beachside cafe and bar and a hotdog stand. It offers great views of the Chicago skyline. It's about a mile away from Oak Street beach, which is closer to old town and near a cool mural project, so you could make a nice walk of it. Not as crowded as North Avenue beach and recommended by locals. read more

Great beach so near downtown CHI! Beautiful views! Easily accessible ! Loved it and can't wait to go back !! Yes read more

Walking around the Navy Pier and the Children's Museum, i came across the beach. I was wondering how people looked like they were coming out of the pool or beach and I realized that there is actually a beach built on to the edge of the lake. Beautiful area, i noticed ppl bbq, while i am not sure if its legal the beach was pretty empty on a Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, i had no idea the beach was open to public, otherwise i would have taken a dip in the lake. Nearby there was a park across from the children's museum that had water fountains for the kids to play in, tons of adults were in the fountain getting wet too. read more

See all

I been coming to Ohio beach and enjoy café oliva there but I just left on a Sunday and the whole place was uncomfortable there a lot of loitering, people drinking on the sand area , males intimidating the public everyone that I saw was not the same crowds from Last year nor the year before.. police need to keep the beach more secure it's out of control if you go you will understand read more

A nice small beach near Navy Pier. The location is wonderful as it is just a few blocks to Michigan Ave. The views from this beach are the best! Not as crowded as Oak Street. No restrooms at the beach!! You have to go to the adjoining Addams park for the nearest restroom. read more

Ohio Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a clean and cute little beach off Ohio Street! We stumbled upon this walking into the city from Millennium park. They have a restaurant on the beach as well. It was clean and peaceful. There wasn't trash on the beach and everyone just went about their business. They had a little walkway that led right to the ocean. We used that to walk on instead of the sand. That was a nice plus because we didn't want to get too sandy. Downside - no outside shower or hose to rinse your feet off when you leave the beach. read more

Ohio Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Just blocks away from the River North or the Gold Coast....you can walk through the underground tunnel at Ohio Street or Chicago Street....good signage and fresh white sand to sink your toes into! Restaurant Caffe Oliva has a bar and latticed dining area with decent food. You can sit at a table overlooking the beach and watch the sunset over Lake Michigan which is truly delightful. There is a bike, running, and walking flat-top surface that allows individuals to travel up along the side of Lake Michigan which is a therapeutic opportunity to escape from the sights and sounds of the city. You can swim and either enter or exit the water along ladders placed periodically along the side of the Lake as well. I loved the variety of footprints that I photographed upon entering the beach area.... read more

Ohio Street Beach - Variety of footprints in the sand upon entering the beach.... - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Come on! What's not to love?!?! We are so lucky to live next to one of the mid-west's great lakes. Always gorgeous, no matter what season. Always stunning against the bsckdrop of the city skyline. I went for a walk this morning from Division Street to Ohio Street and saw quite a bit of work going on. I was pleasantly surprised to see the trucks and construction was fenced off and out of the way. Many people were walking and enjoying the beach with no interruptions. Busy workers were building Oak Street Cafe. Can't wait to go there again this summer. My favorite time to go is just before dusk. The open air massage cabana is already open for business. Police were very visible on the scene, which makes me feel safe. There has been many incidents along the lakefront but I think the police are aware and doing their job. I would not hesitate to go to enjoy the beach, dine at the restaurants, get a massage or simply go for a walk. read more

See all

I love this beach! I use it mainly as my pit stop while cycling or during a long training run. I have never officially swam at this beach, but I'm sure i will at some point. It is by far the main beach where you see triathletes training at during the summer months. Great things about Ohio Street Beach are that it's close to Navy Pier; great shaded place to relax; has a cafe (Caffe Oliva); it's downtown; and also not too far from Oak Street Beach! Both Oak Street Beach, and Ohio Street Beach are beaches that many of our fit, and outdoor loving tourists that visit Chicago get to see. If you are not in the mood to walk or run no worries because there is a Divvy bike share location here as well. Enjoy read more

See all

What a fun little beach! Lots of open space to lounge or play, a decent slice of water, and pretty clean sand for a city spot. There's also a line of cantinas in the backside with drinks and dining. The crowd is diverse and generally cool. Right on the bike trail and walking distance from Navy Pier and the W Lakeshore. read more

Great beach in the downtown area. It may be difficult to get to, kind of like Navy Pier, but once you get here it is worth it. The views are amazing and there is enough beach for everyone. No public restrooms here. There is a water fountain, a beach-side restaurant, and a cart vendor. Some chairs and other beach equipment are also available for rental. You will find regular beach-goers here as well as your run-bike-swim friends. There is a swimming "lane" where a lot of triathletes can be found training. This beach meets the lake shore drive path where many runners, walkers, and Segway tours go by. read more

Ohio Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not sure I'd go in the water. Heard on the news about number of days water is unsafe. Gorgeous views of the city skyline. You can also rent bikes and go up Lake Shore Drive. There are many bike racks for easy return. Looks like a short walk to Navy Pier from the beach. read more

Good for all seasons because it is so close to downtown. The beach is very shallow so the water takes on the color of the sky and it is often beautiful. The skycrapers of downtown are so close to the beach but the vast lake stretches out in front of you. This is a great urban park. On beautiful summer days it is predictably busy, but on stormy or wintery days it can be just as beautiful as long as you are dressed for the lake winds. read more

Ohio Street Beach - view of Ohio St. Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Out of the three beaches in the area (Ohio, Oak Street, and North Ave.) this one is by far the smallest, however, it's only two minutes from Navy Pier. The views are killer and location is great. I don't know that I'd come spend an entire afternoon here as it's too much in all the hubbub to seem like a real beach, but I wouldn't mind plopping on a towel for an hour or two. It's a great place to get away from the crowds at the pier or crash after a bike ride or run. Total sidenote, but I once saw a guy doing tai-bo here .. completely on his own.. in the dead of winter. I nearly tripped over myself running! Hello! haha read more

See all

I love it Clean Nice ppl You can be Skiny Chunky Fat And no one cares about it But please use a swim suit No shorts or shirts ewwwww Like other north beachs Like Wilson montrose Lawrence...... Ditry beachs Well like i said I love this beach next to the navy pier :) read more

See all

Four stars for ease of accessibility and view of the city juxtaposed against the water. The sand is raked frequently as well which is nice. But the overall experience merits three stars, from an east coaster who frequents the Atlantic Ocean in NC. However the place gets busy fast with screaming kiddies and not much room to carve out your own slice of serenity. Public restrooms consist of a port a potty with NO toilet paper. Bring hand sanitizer and be prepared to walk to proper facilities. If I were in the area again I would try out the oster beach or ones more outside of the city. read more

Ohio Street Beach - Early on a Monday it wasn't too crowded - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

"Chicago is a beach town!" This is what my boss said when trying (successfully) to convince us to move from California to Chicago. We used to laugh at the audacity and absurdity of this claim, but you know what? There's something to it. This is a tiny little beach pocketed right off of Lake Shore Drive and Navy Pier and River North -- a perfect little detour on your commute home to the north side. But it isn't crowded. Somehow the crowds have been sucked up north to the Oak Street Beach, leaving this one with a dozen families chilling out on the sand plus a critical mass of aspiring triathletes and other open-water swimmers. (They have an open-water swimming lane and, as of this writing, some lockers for swimmers to keep their belongings.) You're just far enough down that as the breeze blows off the lake, and as you watch the sunset over the rippling water, you can forget about the fact that cars are zooming by on their daily commutes just a few dozen yards away from you. It's shockingly zen. I almost don't want to tell you about it, because I don't want it to become too crowded. But it just wouldn't be right not to share it. read more

It is a pretty beach on Lake Michigan. I didn't stay here long on this trip but was really happy to see this beach in the heart of the downtown of a city. It is a gorgeous place with sand and the water lapping up by your feet. It did seem rather busy as it was a warm summer day when I was there. There were lots of folks in wet suits swimming in the lake when I was there and the walking paths by the beach were busy with joggers, dog walkers and other people. read more

A Diamond in the rough. The Ohio Street Beach is one of those places where, it is hidden; a hidden gem and very cute. It's literally right next to Navy Pier. We had a blast. read more

*Disclaimer* This review is written by a spoiled southern Californian Boy did I scoff when I first moved to Chicago and someone said, "we have beaches here just like California." You take what you can get I guess. While there were no palm trees in sight, there was a small patch of sand, albeit not as soft and fluffy, but sand nonetheless. Beach season had not officially started but it was a beautiful day in Chicago and I was yearning for any semblance of home. So off to the beach I went! Drive and park or uber/lyft? Street parking can be difficult, I didn't even attempt. I found a few spots on Spot Hero for $13 but the cost was the same if I did a round trip lyft line. I had my lyft driver drop me off on Ohio and N. Lakeshore, there is an underground walkway across the freeway and that takes you directly to the beach. The beach is small and the amenities are few and far between. No toilets in sight other than the ones in Cafe Olivia. I guess thats what the lake is for. No place to rinse your feet out. No concessions. What this beach seemed to have an abundance of was sand bugs. I was getting bug bites left and right. What the heck?! I still laid out for 4 hours and got a nice tan but it wasn't the most enjoyable experience! read more

A beautiful beach. It featured lockers, a 'boardwalk like' path and a nice eatery up higher on the sand. The beach itself was very nice, however I was disappointed to find so much trash in the water. Nearby and out further there is a roped off area that people could use to swim laps in. Lifeguards sat in boats on the end of the swimming area watching over the area. Overall it was nice, definitely not anything huge but still a nice little spot. read more

Ohio Street Beach - The beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

An amazing beach by my place that's so gorgeous and peaceful. There is a lovely restaurant and bar, Caffe Oliva that has so many refreshing cocktails right on the beach. If you don't know where to find me on my off days, make sure you check this spot first ;) read more

The fact I live a very brief 2 minute walk away from this beach colours my judgement somewhat - ditto the fact i come from a city which is 2 hours from a rocky beach in a country which gets four days of sunshine per year.... But now I have been to Oak St, North Ave and this beach, I think I can confidently award it five stars. I really like the atmosphere here. There seem to be fewer raucously drunk people, and far fewer squealing small children. It's just nice and chilled out. It has a great view, easy access to paddle in the lake, it's not too big, and it has a nice fruit/juice stand (doesn't smell of fried food). It's also far less busy than either of the other two. Thumbs up from me. read more

This beach is not nearly as well known as say....Oak Street or North Ave, but it's BETTER than both of them. Unless you like drunk ex-fratboys and fake boobs, terribly-behaved children (last year, some little shit was just randomly throwing clumps of wet sand at people), and lots and lots of broken glass. Ohio Street Beach is close to my work, which means I can go during lunch. The sand is clean, the view of the city is AWESOME, and it's way way way less crowded. I am a FAN. read more

It's a smaller beach compared to North Ave Beach or Oak Street Beach, but it's also quieter and less crowded. It has a convenient location and is close to several bus routes. Super chill and relatively quiet, especially considering it's location by downtown. Grab a book and relax yall. Beautiful views (it faces north) and it sits just below some amazing buildings. The water is less than perfection and I have noticed a fair amount of trash, but it's not something that bothers me too much. Good sand, good sun, good location and good atmosphere. read more

This beach needs two reviews. (1) Thursday and Friday afternoons, anytime Saturday or Sunday. Horribly crowded with visitors treating the sand like their personal ashtray, sending pungent clouds of tobacco smoke floating over the masses. Minimum Body Mass Index of 30 required for entry, except on even numbered days if you're under 25. Unsupervised teens from the 'burbs scampering around with alcoholic beverages hidden in gatorade bottles wondering if they can buy some pot from the shady looking guy by the bushes at the east end of the beach. Boats in the adjacent "playpen" blast techno-pop and blare their horns. A hot, sticky, noisy mess. (2)Weekdays before noon, weekends before 7:30am Borderline tranquil, the human rubbish has yet to show up and the lifeguards have baked under the sun long enough to get testy. One can lie out on the sand without risk of some hooligan mis-aiming his football and hitting you. read more

I didn't have to work last Saturday at all, so I decided to take my much neglected swimsuit and beach towel and head to Ohio Street Beach. And I am very glad that I did...given the amazing weather on the weekend, the beach wasn't too crowded at all. I did a basic layout on the hot sand, trying to relax and get some sun, but the water was quietly but constantly teasing me and calling my name, "Faustaaaaa, Faustaaaa" So i ditched the even skintone in favor of running around in the Lake. Much better. Even though I felt like a child because I was running and laughing and splashing with what probably looked like an imaginary friend. It was a day well spent in the sun. And I even got tan too! I'm sure you'll be finding me here quite often the rest of August and hopefully, September. read more

Secret hideaway in the middle of downtown Chicago. Just a short walk from Navy Pier is an incredible beach! We were there over the July 4th weekend and were pleasantly surprised. The beach was crowded, but by no means too crowded. There were a ton of boats out on the water playing music, but it made for a great beach party atmosphere. There is also a great bar at the start of the beach for food and a couple of drinks. Great added bonus for summer :) read more

See all

Out of the three beaches nearest me - North Ave, Oak, and Ohio, I consider Ohio Street Beach to be the best. It's much more quiet, friendly and tame. My two cousins came to visit over the 4th of July weekend with their sons, aged 3, 4, and two 17 year olds. During the day they wanted to go to the beach and I knew exactly where to take them. The adults hung out under the shade on the cement ledges at the edge of the beach while the little bitty ones built sand castles and made friends with the other children at the beach. Everyone had a fabulous time and it was nice that there was a BBQ stand nearby where we could purchase ice cold water and Gatorades. The port-o-potties were also surprisingly clean. At least at 11am... Overall, this is a great place to take visitors since Navy Pier is nearby also. You have a full days worth of activities just in those two locations. All within walking distance. read more

One of my favorite beaches in Chicago...close to everything: Navy Pier, mag mile, restaurants, and Olive Park. Not to mention the view is spectacular! The best part of this beach is that it doesn't get too crowded, especially during work hours. So ditch work for a day and soak in the sun at Ohio Street Beach!! Ps: There's an outdoor eatery called Caffe Olivia nearby that's practically on the beach. :) read more

Ohio Street Beach - Summer is here!!! - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Having passed it dozens of times on Lake Shore Drive and on the lakefront path, I had always been intrigued by this beach. This week I finally took the plunge (ha ha!) and stopped in for a quick swim. There are two distinct types of people who go to Ohio Street Beach. The first is your average beach-goer. Families and young people just looking for some fun in the sun. The second type is the triathlete in training. On any weekend morning you can see the athletes suiting up in their wet suits and going out for a long training swim. I'm no triathlete, but I did want to try swimming with them. They tend to hang out by the bike racks where they change into their swim gear. I was initially worried about the safety of my own gear, but once I figured out how to lock my gear bag up to my bike, i was less concerned. The area is relatively safe, especially early in the morning, but do lock up your things as securely as possible. The last thing you want is to find your cellphone or ipod (or worse - your towel!) gone after you come out of the water. One thing I had never realized before is that the water along the shoreline doesn't get much deeper than 4 or 5 feet even as you go several hundred yards north from the beach. That makes swimming much less daunting. If you get tired, just stand up and take a breather for few minutes. The shore is monitored by lifeguards from the beach north to about Chicago Ave. Further than you'd ever want to swim! There's a string of swim lane markers in the water, but I couldn't tell which side of the lane lines I should be swimming on. There didn't seem to be any general accepted etiquette on where to swim. Just out and back. It honestly felt a bit dangerous because in the open water you have less warning that someone is coming towards you than in a clear pool. There are few amenities at Ohio Street Beach. There's a drinking fountain and a small stand that sells refreshments - when they're open, which is not often. Worse, I couldn't spot a portapotty or any changing area. Ohio Street Beach is generally quieter than North Ave or Oak Street, which is nice. The view is sparkling! Both Olive Park which juts out to the east and the skyscrapers of the city to the west are beautiful. Lake Point Tower stands like a monolith as a southern border to the beach. Because they're so close, the downtown buildings do start to cast their shadow on Ohio Street earlier than some of the other beaches, so it's best to visit in the morning. Have fun! read more

This beach is much smaller than Oak St. Beach or North Ave Beach, but if you're looking for a chill place to hang out, this is your spot. It's much more quiet than the other beaches, so it's a good place kick back and read a book or just lay back and and soak up the sun without worrying about heaps of devil children running around everywhere. Beautiful views of the city too. Overall, it's clean...as far as the Chicago beaches go. Though I did spot a tampon applicator lying in the sand. Oh Chicago you continue to amaze me over and over again... read more

Lovely lovely place for a yoga class! Sunday's at 930am and Thursdays at 7am. www.cathyleggettyoga.com.

As a triathlete in training, I can attest that this is the best place to get open-water swimming experience in Chicago. The swim lanes are great (out on the right, back on the left, Eliezer). The water is surprisingly clear, considering it's Lake Michigan, and it's never terribly crowded. One complaint is the fact that many of the boats on a nice weekend day create a fair amount of wake, even though they're not supposed to use motors inside the breakers. So be ready for waves if it's populated with boats. Swimming distances are: 1/4 mile from the beach to Chicago Ave, and 1/2 mile if you go to the end. Not sure who runs it, but for those other triathletes in training, they rent wetsuits for $5.00 (plus a photo ID as collateral) Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. The usually have a good selection of sizes. Personally, I don't think a wetsuit is a requirement in this scenario, but a good opportunity to try one if you're new to the concept. read more

My husband and I took our two small children here after a long day at Navy Pier. We had NO idea there was a beach RIGHT here! Since then we've tried to make it an annual trip to Chicago with the kids to enjoy a few hours of beach time. BEST view of the skyline. Recommended!! read more

I was pleasantly surprised by two things at this beach: (1) It's MUCH less crowded than any other beach I've been to. Very relaxing, very quiet - perfect for laying out and not being disturbed. (2) There's a swimming lane roped off. This makes me happy for reasons I cannot explain, except for that perhaps deep down I really want to be a triathlete? I don't own a wetsuit, but maybe one day if I'm feeling brave (and if the water isn't too chilly!) I'll give it a go. read more