31st Street Beach(Margaret T. Burroughs Beach and Park)

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.

31st Street Beach has lifeguards from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day – during this time, lifeguards are on duty here between 11 am and 7 pm.  In addition to lifeguards, 31st Street Beach and the area around it have many other amenities including benches, restrooms, grassy recreational areas, walking paths, biking paths, basketball courts, a harbor, fishing docks, baseball fields, showers, Wi-Fi connection, a nearby skate park, barbecue areas, tennis courts, concession stands, rental facilities for watersports equipment and watercraft, and playgrounds.

Dogs are not allowed at 31st Street Beach.

31st Street Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, wildlife watching, picnicking, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, surf-skiing, jet-skiing, boating, scuba diving, and biking.  If you are planning to swim, kayak, canoe, snorkel, or paddleboard near 31st Street Beach, we recommend being careful because the water here can have unpredictable and dangerous rip currents.  Please also note that swimming near 31st Street Beach is permitted only within the designated swimming areas and when the lifeguards are on duty.  Water-related rescues and deaths have been reported near this beach.

If you like taking pictures with beautiful views, 31st Street Beach offers amazing views of Lake Michigan and the city of Chicago. 

31st Street Beach offers wheelchair access for visitors with disabilities and it has an accessible walkway for people with disabilities.

Getting to 31st Street Beach is easy – this beach is located near 3100 South Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive.  There is a paid parking lot near this beach.

We recommend visiting this beach early because it can sometimes get crowded.

This beach received its official name – Margaret T. Burroughs Beach – in 2015 and it was named after African-American poet, historian, artist, and local community leader Margaret Taylor Burroughs.  Margaret Taylor Burroughs was also the founder of the nearby DuSable Museum of African American History.  In addition, 31st Street Beach hosts many fun and interesting events – one of these events is FLOAT and this event involves participants floating near the beach with the help of inflatable tubes to signify the positive role of racial harmony and reconciliation.

There are many great attractions near 31st Street Beach.  Northerly Island Park is a recreational area that offers a walking / biking trail, a lagoon, kids play areas, many public artworks, a planetarium named Adler Planetarium, and an outdoor amphitheater.  This area also has a vibrant local plant life and you can see many kinds of migratory and resident birds here.  Ping Tom Memorial Park is a waterfront public park that has a pagoda-style pavilion, a bamboo garden, a playground, athletic fields, walking paths, and a community center.  This park also hosts many fun events including concerts and dance performances.  Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums of the world and its exhibitions include the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever found, a collection of rare gemstones, and exhibits on ancient and present cultures.  If you are looking for another attraction near 31st Street Beach, Shedd Aquarium is the third largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere and it is home to more than 32,000 aquatic and non-aquatic animals including fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.  This aquarium also offers interesting animal shows.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near 31st Street Beach.  Monteverde Chicago is an upscale Italian restaurant that offers many delicious dishes including chicken Milanese, outstanding pastas, Italian-style seafood, and bistecca alla fiorentina.  Frontera Grill offers a vibrant Mexican-inspired decor and it serves a variety of delicious Mexican-style dishes including tacos, enchiladas, and tostadas.  This restaurant was awarded the Outstanding Restaurant award by the James Beard Foundation.  Kitchen + Kocktails Chicago is known for serving amazing Southern United States-style comfort food including shrimp and grits, fried chicken, blackened salmon, and Cajun-style pasta.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near 31st Street Beach, Ricobene’s is known for serving its signature breaded steak sandwich and it also offers many other Italian-American dishes including pizzas, barbecued dishes, and pastas.  This restaurant has also been featured in  USA Today newspaper and the Chicago Tribune newspaper.  Another good and affordable restaurant adjacent to 31st Street Beach is Pier 31 which offers many amazing dishes including chicken wings, fries, burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs.  There are other restaurants with views of 31st Street Beach in Chicago located within walking distance of the beach.

If you are looking for a hotel near 31st Street Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 5-Star The Langham Chicago offers many amenities including a restaurant, a lounge, a health club, a pool, a spa, and a hot tub.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Hyatt Regency McCormick Place that offers many amenities including a pool, a sauna, a sundeck, a gym, an ATM, a convenience store, multiple restaurants, a bar, and a gift shop.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Congress Plaza Hotel that offers many amenities including a gift shop, a barbershop, two restaurants, a lounge, and a fitness center.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near 31st Street Beach, the 3-Star Wyndham Chicago McCormick offers many amenities including a fitness center and a restaurant.