Always a joy to catch the sunrise here. Overlooking it when I lived here was such a pleasure and returning now it still has the same magic early on a crisp spring morning. read more

On of my absolute favorite beaches in Chicago! Oak Street Beach has a very nice skyline view of Chicago. It's easy to get there by car or bus or train. Also walking distance from the nearby hotels. Right off of Michigan Avenue. Love the sandy beach area! You can rent a chair and/or beach umbrella for a very reasonable fee. Or you can bring your own! There is a restaurant on the site, and a shack where you can get hot dogs and drinks. There was dj music on the restaurant patio in this August when I was there. I really loved this beach and I will definitely return when I come back to Chicago. read more

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Great beach. Lifeguards on duty in the summer. Whispers is there for snacks and drinks. Volleyball courts set up with lots of people, and street parking nearby with mag mile shopping read more

Oak Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What an amazing vibe and relaxing experience. Was definitely packed but it had the feel of a classic summer city afternoon in the park. The only thing I wish was better was the rules on how to rent the volleyball courts and nets. It's a little difficult to navigate the website. Other than that, it was perfect! read more

Oak Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This trip we came for the beach, a run, and to see the fireworks. Oak Street beach is definitely our favorite. We had a great time! read more

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Certainly one of the best beaches if only for the views of the skyline, and that's just one thing about it. If you like urban beaches, this should be on the list. Oak Street Beach is located in the Gold Coast, a wealthy area to be sure. Also it's along the bike trail so you can get here without a car. There's also rentals for chairs among other things. Among the amenities is the Oak Street Beach Café. It's also along the Lakefront Trail that's popular for bicycle riding. The beach has rentals if needing these. Lots of other things to rent. These include chairs and volleyball. Best thing though is the skyline. The beach has the best views. An interesting history. It began as a landfill extension of Lincoln Park. Chicago's Drainage Canal was completed in 1899, which diverted sewage water away from the lake. This improved the lake's and this beach's conditions for bathing and swimming. For a small beach it's big enough to have tons of people on it. It's also a popular stop along the Lakefront Trail. This is most popular for swimming, but the best thing about it is the location, and the skyline provides some great views. read more

Oak Street Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty cool urban beach. Even at night there's a lot of light so you can enjoy the view. Way to is a bit sketchy though. read more

Oak Street Beach - View of the beach at night. - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A perfect spot for a beach day! Easy to walk to and find a spot. Perfect for reading and picnic or playing games with friends! A nice oasis from the city life! read more

Oak Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Beautiful beach. Great views. Lots of amenities available. My only issue was the amount of garbage on the beach that people leave behind. Wish it was cleaned and left clean by people. Also the Concrete Beach next to it was awesome also. read more

Oak Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The music selection needs more variety and the beach parking lot sucks. No organization, no professionalism from the staff.

In my opinion best beach in the city. Has so many options with city and lake views, restaurant and concessions, DJ on one end, chair rentals, volleyball, restrooms, and usually very clean. Even nice to sit in the concrete pier at times if want to avoid the sand. Excellent city beach for any individual or groups! read more

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Cute place to walk around or soak in the sun! I checked this place out on a weekend and it wasn't too crowded, which was shocking because the weather was great! Loved the view of the city and there's also some restaurants that you can check nearby. Lots of people swimming, tanning, or just vibing with friends. read more

02/17/22 - As I was driving down Lakeshore drive this morning I couldn't help but notice the waves as they were crashing up on Oak Street Beach & onto Lake Shore Drive. I had to park and take a walk out to get some pictures. The wind was really kicking creating some beautiful waves. This coupled w/the frigid temperatures was creating some incredible wave & ice formations along the shore line. I love Chicago & Lake Michigan the best dam city in America 5 years in a row. Even though I agree this was Conde Nast that rated Chicago read more

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Took a visit to this beach located near Gold Coast during the week. Really relaxing. This is a great spot if you wanting to get away from the crowds. read more

This is a good place to bag some rays or go for a swim. Not a big beach as beaches go. We walked along the lake from Lincoln Park to Millennium Park and it was quite scenic. Check it out. Listed in Drive Across America: https://www.yelp.com/collection/4_4-FCUBHEQBq43u7DXRig read more

Oak Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Clean, beautiful water, walkway and bike path. This is a gem! The beach is very clean. No trash. Friendly people all around to talk to. I was visiting from out of state and was captivated by this place. Bring your swimsuit, beach towel, chairs, snack, and just relax. July is the perfect time to check it out. read more

A beach within a city ...... how do y say no ? If you hurry u can catch the last minute bands and Dan beach events.... read more

Oak Street Beach - Beautiful day !!! - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Call me ignorant, but I had no idea Chicago had beaches and they're pretty amazing too! I highly recommend renting bikes from the Divvy station at Michigan and Oak (at the top end of The Magnificent Mile) and going for a ride on Oak Street Beach's Lakefront Trail along Lake Michigan. It was the most memorable part of our Chicago trip to me. The weather was amazing (late summer, clear skies) and the views were spectacular. Since it was warm/hot out, the beach and trail were packed with people sunbathing, out in the water, playing volleyball, etc. The scene looked like something from a California or Florida beach, nothing I would ever think to associate Chicago with. A bevy of yachts pulled up close to the pier and there were even long-distance swimmers exercising/training. Just a lot of activity which added to the overall happening atmosphere of the place. What I love most about this beach is how it's sandwiched between the lake and the city skyline. Check out my photos to see how beautiful it looks. Also, I recorded a couple videos: - https://youtu.be/wnv2NVJVkNE - https://youtu.be/e0Fajb9TkEo If you've never been to Chicago or Oak Street Beach before, this beach is definitely worth a visit. read more

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Beautiful city, with a beautiful little nearby beach, I can live here...coming from LA. Love the fact that I am in the city and the beach at the same time...I love Chicago...plus the weather was great (when we came),97 degrees! Definitely got my CHi-TAn on. read more

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I was fascinated that a construct like Oak Street Beach existed. It was easy to close my eyes, listen to Lake Michigan, and forget I was in a big city. Turning around, I could check out the skyscrapers lining the beach. (I wonder what it'd be like to have a beach embedded in downtown Philadelphia.) Friday afternoon I didn't find it too crowded. Folks were playing volleyball, and I bought a few ice cream products from a roving ice box vendor to ward off the humidity. Didn't have sandals, so I was happy to stroll along the conveniently cement walk - occasionally dodging aggressive bikers, of course, and confusedly managing to avoid any that yelled, "Your left side!" If I lived in town, I'd return to bask on the beach, and catch a tan. read more

Oak Street Beach - (photographed by Dave Hong) - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A small patch of beach in the most busiest part of the city just walks away from Navy Pier and the Big Michigan Ave. strip. 76 degrees on a Summer Saturday and the beach is crowded with Chicagoans and visitors seeking fun in the sun and splash dash in the cold lake beach water. Sit on the beach or across the "proceed-with-caution-or-you-will-be-run-over-pedestrian/bike-pathway" grassy area where you can watch cars zoom by on Lake Shore Drive. Tons of people watching can be done in all directions while you relax to the soothing sounds of big city life. If you are looking for an easy way to cross over to the beach, there is an underground tunnel entrance on Lake Shore Drive and Division corner. Once on the other side, lots of fencing around the perimeter area to water due to renovation of some kind. Look for entry points as you walk along the pathway. Careful crossing the pathway. Expect a crowded beach in the summer weekends. Still a great time to be had alone or with family. From here go discover other points of interest along the pathway towards Navy Pier and beyond. read more

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There's a great old song called "Summer in the City". There was a popular TV show called "Sex in the City". But honestly, have you ever heard of a "Beach in the City"? But yes, here it is, a huge magnificent beach framed by the Chicago skyline. Well, one and one is two Six and two is eight Come on baby don't ya make me late Baby don't you wanna go Back to that same old place Sweet home Chicago read more

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Beaches in the city!?? When I first knew of this I had to go because I love beaches and also the city life. Chicago is my favorite city (outside of New Orleans) and has been for many many yrs. It has everything you can want in a city including beaches. Of all the beaches that line the lakeshore Oak Street Beach is my favorite. The location can't be beat with it being just a hop, skip, and a jump away from office buildings, shopping malls, and residential towers. The beach is pretty clean and there is usually lots of space for you to move around. But the best part of the beach to me is the awesome views of the skyline. Chicago and skyscrapers are synonymous with each other and seeing those skyscrapers right behind you while you are relaxing at the beach is pure bliss! read more

Oak Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Beach is close to the city and has nice walking/biking trails The water is so close to the sidewalk you really do not need to get into the sand and get all sandy so see and feel tthe wave breeze. It is a small beach so if you are looking for a huge ocean type beach this is definitely not it. It is more if a cove type situation in thst it is a little pocket. But it is very nice to sit and enjoy some time there. Lots of people taking their dogs out , people swimming, relaxing and reading or playing volleyball. read more

Pros: Great beach within walking distance from our hotel. White smooth sand Beautiful lake views Lifeguards (including one in a boat on the water) Cons: Super busy Kids weren't attended to by buzzed and drinking parents (we got sand and beach balls thrown at us) Ice cream guy while convenient and a novelty could continue to walk down the beach instead of standing in the same spot and ringing his bells for 5-10 min. ***Under construction and hard to find the entrance*** read more

I don't know what it's like in the summer, but I was here on Oct 4 when it was 50 degrees and windy, and Lake Michigan seemed angry. I love the view of the city from the beach. read more

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My hubby and I loved exposing our boys to our old stomping grounds in the city, and our tour wasn't complete without some serious people watching at Oak Street Beach. After leading our kiddos through the fabulously grungy underground tunnel that passes under Lake Shore Drive, we took advantage of a gorgeous evening and parked ourselves on the cement wall and sat there for probably an hour checking out all the sites until dusk. The beach is walking distance from Water Tower, so if you're a tourist, it's great to know you can easily make your way over to this beach from your hotel or the Mag Mile. There was a ton of security at the beach when we were there. We saw families at the beach, couples on dates, people biking, skating, jogging, walking, and rollerblading. At this beach you can play volleyball if you bring a net (I think you can rent one too). You can rent Divvy bikes so you don't have to bring your own. And, if you're lucky you'll catch the ice cream man pushing his cart. In general the Gold Coast is a great area to explore with gorgeous architecture beyond the beach. Walk the neighborhood, stop at the beach, and then make your way back to the shops on the Mag Mile. Top tip: If you're walking on the bike path, keep a look out. The bikes travel fast and tend to weave in between people. Keep a close eye on your kids! read more

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Great place to go chill on a summer evening. Gets crowded on weekends and holidays. Best time to go to a deserted version of this beach would be 7AM when it's just you and seagulls and other people who think like you read more

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I love this beach! I went for the first time on Saturday and the weather was perfect. There were a lot of people playing games, laying out, walking their dogs, and enjoying the weather. The water is really blue and looks pretty with all of the boats. I highly recommend visiting Oak Street Beach! read more

I took advantage of the beautiful weather and walked along the lakefront. I was worried the construction on the path would be bothersome but it was not. The beach area was clean as many people enjoyed dipping their toes in the water. The path was busy but not too crowded to walk at your own pace. Construction on the beach restaurant was evident, as it is getting ready for high season. The massage cabana was open for business. If the weather holds up I am going to head back to the beach for an open air massage! Parking is difficult. You'll need to park elsewhere and walk over. There is a bus stop at Inner Lakeshore Drive and Division. Then you just walk through the tunnel to the beach. read more

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Great clean beach within walking distance from shopping on Michigan Avenue. There's always something going on here. Vendors will walk through selling various items. Great location!!! read more

Nice little hidden gem off of south shore drive in Chicago! Not really known to those outside of Chicago but this is truly a beautiful stretch of beaches right off the highway on Lake Michigan. The water is truly beautiful and resembles the look of an ocean beach! read more

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This is why I LOVE my Chicago :) This beach is a MUST visit if you get the opportunity on your agenda. I highly suggest getting there early (opens at 11 AM) because blanket spots are taken quickly. This to me is the BEST BEACH in Chicago because it is walking distance from all hotels and the Magnificent Mile. If you are not already in downtown/North Lake shore area, you have my sympathies because bumper-to-bumper traffic/parking are BRUTAL! The views of the city are wonderful. I did not see broken glass/debris in the sand like other beaches I have been in Chicago. Overall, this is not Florida by any means, but for a city beach, right in the middle of Downtown Chicago, it is as good as it gets for escaping those hot days and getting the wind off the lake :) **Hint** for you tourist, put into your gps "The Drake Hotel". This will put you near the beach and you may luck up and find parking, as people come and go all times during the day ;) read more

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***This beach is right next to Magnificent Mile--rare to have a real downtown steps from the water and because Lake Michigan is so big, it feels like you are really next to the ocean*** I am not sure what the parking situation is around here. read more

I came here while visiting Chicago and I enjoyed my experience here. The water was so beautiful and clean. They also have a restaurant and bar if you need. They also have rental umbrellas but they close at 5. The only negatives things are the sand was a bit rocky and some people were smoking on the beach. This is beautiful beach had a great backdrop of the Drake Hotel. It was adorable. Great place for pictures! read more

Oak Street Beach - Backdrop - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just about every trip to Chicago ends up that we go for at least a drink, a seat, a view of Lake Michigan and this place which is a small piece of escape from the big cityscape that is the metropolis of the city of broad shoulders. A little stretch of beach that you may dream you're someplace else and not in a really big city on a lake? Still it's a small strip of what makes this city nice even if there's more beach on other parts of the city like North Ave but Oak street is special being so close to some of the nicest neighborhoods in town and being much smaller. Where else can you get a view of a palm tree and the John Hancock Center in the same shot? Are the palm trees still there? I didn't check... I tried to get a beer at the bar the last time I was there at the little bar there and they weren't serving yet last time. I was still on eastern time what can I say? The path will have people on some sort of wheels, stay off that and treat it as a street before trying to cross. This place I've always felt safe here. There's usually police on quads or something like that in the area too. It's a nice place to take a break and hear little waves crash if it's windy enough. read more

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Oak Street Beach has long been a favorite of mine. It's in a corner location and only minutes of walking from the best shopping spots on Michigan Avenue (think TopShop, Bloomie's, Water Tower, etc.). Another plus about the location is that it's almost exactly in the middle between North Ave Beach and Navy Pier. Bored? Walk 3/4 mile left or right, and you'll get a dramatic change of scenery. There's a great beachfront restaurant here during the summer months (Memorial - Labor Day), so if you're craving a quesadilla or a little cocktail, you won't have to walk more than 10 feet! I lived in Southern California for over four years, but I still love Chicago beaches more. read more

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This is my favorite beach in Chicago. If you are looking for an area of relaxation with stunning views and clean beaches, then this is your place. Luckily this beach is just a few minutes away from me so it's an easy bike ride. Your best bet would be to rent a chair for the day, it's only $10 and totally worth it. It comes with a comfy blue cushion. If you're looking for shade, you'll have to rent an umbrella which will run you $30. I've spent many days lounging and enjoying the summer here. If you're an out of towner, this is a must see on your list of activities. It's just lovely. There's a little beach bar and area for bathroom and snacks right there as well. read more

Oak Street Beach - Location. Location. Location. Who wouldn't want to spend a nice day at the beach in Chicago summer? - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I loved this beach. I came on a Thursday morning with my boyfriend. It was an easy walk from our hotel on the Magnificent Mile. We had a lot of room to sun bathe on the beach close to the water. It started to get a little crowded after noon, but there was still plenty of room for everyone. Clean. The only trash I came across was trash that the wind blew from where other people set up, so I guess the trash actually came across me. Safe. Four lifeguards were watching everyone. Two on the beach, two on boats in the water. Family friendly. Plenty of people of all ages were here and there. Great people watching! Nobody got cray cray or naked. There are restrooms in the tunnel to get back to downtown. The women's smelled a little funky, but it was clean. Also, Sprint set up charging stations for those of you who cannot function without technology. Overall, great beach that is so close to downtown! read more

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Love the location also the fact that there's street parking (usually) available by Drake hotel. Food & alcohol are Chicago prices at the restaurant area. Beach food is mediocre of course! Oh, and you cannot leave with any drinks to the water. Cops on ATV ride around to patrol any funny business. So hide your alcohol read more

Oak Street Beach - Beaches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois