Best Lake Beaches in Illinois

Located in the southern portion of Chicago, Rainbow Beach – also previously known as Rocky Ledge Beach and Lake Michigan Beach – is a curve-shaped beach with light brown sand and a nearby rocky breakwater. This beach is a part of a larger recreational park named Rainbow Beach Park. Rainbow Beach is open between 11 am to 6 pm.

Located in a recreational park named Burnham Park in Chicago, 31st Street Beach Chicago – officially known as Margaret T. Burroughs Beach and also known as Burroughs Beach and Margaret Taylor Burroughs Beach – is a small and popular beach along Lake Michigan with light brown sand and nearby breakwaters.  31st Street Beach is open between 6 am to 11 pm.  Known as one of the best beaches in Chicago, this beach is a must-see for tourists and locals alike.

Located near the neighborhood of Streeterville in Chicago, Oak Street Beach is a popular small beach with light brown sand, a gradual sloping incline, and a backdrop of high-rise buildings along Lake Michigan.

Oak Street Beach has been listed as one of the “The 25 Best Chicago Beaches” by Time Out Chicago, has been listed as one of the “25 Best Beaches in the USA” by Travel + Leisure magazine, and was named the 22^nd best beach in the United States by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.

Located in the neighborhood of Streeterville, Ohio Street Beach is a small north-facing beach with light brown sand and nearby sea walls along Lake Michigan.

Ohio Street Beach has been listed as one of the best 25 Chicago beaches by Time Out Chicago and it has also been listed by Lonely Planet magazine as one of the best nine beaches in Chicago.

Located near Chicago’s neighborhood of Edgewater, Kathy Osterman Beach – also known as Osterman Beach, Ardmore Beach, and Hollywood Beach – is a slightly wide beach with light brown sand and a nearby breakwater.   Kathy Osterman Beach is part of a larger recreational park named Lincoln Park (which is not to be confused by a nearby city of the same same).  The southern part of Kathy Osterman Beach is popular with the members of the LGBTQ community. Kathy Osterman Beach is open between 6 am to 11 pm.   

Located near the neighborhood of Oakland in the South Side of Chicago, Oakwood Beach – also called 41st Street Beach – is a curve-shaped beach with light brown sand, a cement pier, and a nearby famous mermaid statue. 

Oakwood Beach is a part of a larger recreational park named Burnham Park, and is open between 6 am and 11 pm.

Located in Chicago’s neighborhood of Uptown, Montrose Beach – also known as Montrose Avenue Beach – is a popular beach with light brown sand and a nearby curved cement pier.  Montrose Beach is a part of a larger recreational park named Lincoln Park.

Montrose Beach has been listed as one of the “The 9 best beaches in Chicago for a taste of the lake life” by Lonely Planet magazine and it was also listed as one of the “The 25 best Chicago beaches” by Time Out Chicago magazine.  It is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  Montrose Beach is open from 6 am to 11 pm.