North Avenue Beach

Chicago, Illinois

Description

North Avenue Beach, located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, is one of the city’s most popular lakefront spots. Its iconic beach house, designed to resemble an ocean liner, offers 22,000 square feet of space, including upper decks and portholes for stunning views of Lake Michigan and the bustling lakefront trail.

Opened in 2000 by Mayor Richard M. Daley, the beach house is a hub for beachgoers, offering amenities and scenic relaxation. The beach is a prime location for sunbathing, beach sports, and people-watching.

Hours:

The beach is open from 6am to 11pm. However, swimming is only permitted in designated swim areas when the lifeguards are on duty. The swimming season is from the Friday before Memorial Day until Labor Day.

Pets:

Dogs are not permitted on the beach.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Chillin

Photography

Beach

Lake

Scenic

Swimming Hole

North Avenue Beach Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Lakeshore Path: North Ave Beach to Navy Pier

Run Chicago’s Lakefront Trail

Chicago – the third largest city in the US and home to the deep dish pizza – doesn’t exactly scream “outdoorsy.” In reality, there is much more to Chicago than skyscrapers; there are dozens of parks, outdoor music venues, and the city is right on Lake Michigan, making it very easy on the eyes. Being right on the lake, there are several stunning running trails that everyone should check out the ...

Millennium Park

Millennium Park in Chicago, which opened in 2004, is a world-class public space featuring iconic landmarks like Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) and the Crown Fountain. Originally a rail yard, the park was transformed as part of a larger effort to revitalize the downtown area. It spans 24.5 acres and serves as a cultural hub with outdoor art, gardens, and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion for live performances....

Luire Garden

Visiting Chicago I was on a mission to find a great outdoors spot to be in. This definitely fulfilled my goal of finding a beautiful garden to hangout in! There are plenty of different paths and areas to explore just within the city! Location Located in Millennium Park it will be easy to find, the park is in the South end of the park. The cross streets for the park are Monroe Drive and Colum...

Grant Park

Grant Park is located on the east side of Chicago. It is a great place to spend the day and explore. From the famous "Bean", which is actually named "the cloud", to Buckingham Fountain there is plenty to see in this park. It is also a great place to see the Chicago skyline, as well as have a picnic in the many different fields!

The Lakefill

From the Northwestern University campus, head to the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts to access the southern-most section of The Lakefill. If driving, parking is usually available nearby on Sheridan Road, to the southwest of The Lakefill. Once at the Ryan Center, take the pedestrian bridge on the lake side of the building to access The Lakefill. Follow the path to the right to reach the southea...