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    Oak Street Beach

    4.3 (156 reviews)

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    Timothy M.

    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!

    Constance M.

    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!

    Beach
    Steve A.

    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.

    View of the beach at night.
    Moo Sun K.

    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.

    Sara M.

    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!

    Ricky P.

    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.

    Beautiful beach day
    Deanna S.

    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!

    Phil S.

    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

    Scott G.

    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

    Beautiful day !!!
    Kristy D.

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

    On my Divvy rental bike with Oak Street Beach (north) in background.
    Daniel B.

    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.

    Maricel J.

    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.

    (photographed by Dave Hong)
    Dave L.

    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.

    Tunnel entrance in this vicinity of Division and Lake Shore.

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

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    Page 1 of 4

    Oak Street Beach Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Oak Street Beach

    Is there much beach glass at this beach?

    Are dogs allowed?

    No dogs allowed-try Montrose Dog Beach-where dogs can swim in Lake Michigan and hang out on the beach-leash free! There is also a self service dog washing station on-site!

    Are there places to hook up a hammock or two?

    No trees on the beach to hook up a hammock.

    Are there places to sit near the water?

    Yes-absolutely you can sit by the water-bring a beach towel, your own beach chair, or you can rent a lounge chair or cabana tent from Boucher Brothers as of July 2019.

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - Oak Street Beach

    While I never get in the actual water because Lake Michigan is cold as HELL, hanging out near the water is always fun.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    North Avenue Beach - Pretty flower

    North Avenue Beach

    (212 reviews)

    Lincoln Park

    North Avenue Beach: Chicago's Premier Urban Oasis Located in…read morethe heart of Lincoln Park, North Avenue Beach is one of Chicago's most iconic and energetic destinations. Known for its unique, ship-shaped beach house and panoramic skyline views, it offers over 50 acres of sand for sunbathing, recreation, and lakefront relaxation. Key Highlights: * The Beach House: This massive, ocean-liner-inspired structure is the hub of the beach, featuring rooftop views, lockers, restrooms, and beachside dining at Castaways Bar and Grill. * Active Recreation: Visitors can take advantage of numerous volleyball courts or rent jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards. The beach is also a primary stop along the 18-mile Lakefront Trail, making it ideal for bikers and runners. * Practical Info: The beach is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with swimming permitted between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. when lifeguards are on duty (Memorial Day through Labor Day). * Accessibility: A dedicated ADA-accessible beach walk ensures the water's edge is reachable for all guests. Top Tips for Visitors: * Transportation: Parking is 20 dollars. Or use public transit, rideshares, or bikes to reach the park. * Food & Drink: While beachside dining is available, please note that alcohol and smoking are strictly prohibited on the sand. * Photos: Head to the water's edge for some of the most "postcard-worthy" views of the Chicago skyline available in the city.

    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

    Montrose Beach - Trees in the park near the beach

    Montrose Beach

    (136 reviews)

    Uptown

    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.

    Fullerton Beach

    Fullerton Beach

    (22 reviews)

    Lincoln 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.

    31st Street Beach - Views

    31st Street Beach

    (80 reviews)

    Douglas, Bronzeville

    Best and most popular of the beaches on the South Side, lots of space and amenities. It also has a…read moregood view of the skyline. 31st Street Beach has a lot of history, both good and bad things. Has room for all kinds of activities and events. There's a beach house with bathrooms and concessions, and there's a picnic area and playground. Also known as Margaret T. Burroughs Beach. In 2015 there was a movement by public officials to rename it. This is the official name it seems. Most people still call it the old one. She was an artist, civic leader, historian, poet, and teacher. Also she founded The DuSable Museum Of African American History. The beach is within Burnham Park. In 1919 it was the site of what caused the race riots in the city. One of the African-American boys swimming accidentally went into the whites only section. The whites attacked him and he drowned, and in the aftermath there was chaos throughout. Has a lot of good features. It's pretty big and there's lots of room for partying or just hanging. There's also seeing the skyline and the views.

    This was my first time visiting 31st Street beach and we stopped by from 10:00-12:30 on a lovely,…read moreovercast Sunday, on Father's Day. The water and the sandy part of the beach were clean, but be careful as there is a lot of litter and trash in the grassy areas. Upsetting that visitors just dump their trash! There are bins provided. We had a great time and even scored cheap parking in the lot, just $6 for 4 hours! We enjoyed pallettas from the popsicle trolley. There are restrooms provided. A great day.

    Rosewood Beach - Pay station and prices

    Rosewood Beach

    (34 reviews)

    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!

    63rd St Beach - Fairly clean beach

    63rd St Beach

    (29 reviews)

    Woodlawn

    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.

    Oak Street Beach - beaches - Updated May 2026

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