North Avenue Beach
1600 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60613
Daily 11am - 7pm.
$
water-activities, swim
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A fun beach with water sports and seasonal cafes, North Avenue is bound to please your whole crew!
North Beach is a great beach located just north of Chicago's downtown. If you are walking, a pedestrian bridge crosses Lakeshore Drive to provide access to the beach. It can also be accessed by the lakefront path that follows the shoreline of Lake Michigan and makes for a fun stop if you're running or biking along the path.
The beach is anchored by “Castaways”, a large restaurant in a boat-shaped building that is the best place to get burgers and ice cream. The Shore Club provides a more upscale dining experience on the opposite side of the path, with seasonal indoor and patio seating available. Reservations are recommended at this popular spot!
The beach itself is huge, and the paved pathway makes it easy to walk along the beach and admire the view if you aren’t up for sunning and swimming. There are lifeguards on the premises and chairs available for rent. But it’s easy enough to bring your own blanket or towel and stretch out and relax. If you're up for more adventure, kayaks, paddleboards, and jet skis are available for rent just south of Castaways.
Rules (per the park website)
- Swim only when lifeguards are on duty.
- Follow lifeguards’ instructions.
- Only Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) are permitted. Person-children wearing PFDs should have an adult present.
- No smoking.
- No alcohol.
- No dogs on the beach.
- Do not feed birds or wildlife.
- Dispose of trash and recycling in appropriate containers.
- Grill in designated areas only and dispose of coals in red barrels.
- Keep accessible beach walks clear. No bicycling, skateboarding or rollerblading is permitted in these areas.
- Access to the Lake Michigan Water Trail for sports such as kayaking, canoeing, and other non-motorized board or paddle sports is allowed at North Avenue Beach inside the "hook" at the southern end of the beach.
- Kiteboarding is not permitted at North Avenue Beach; kiteboarding is ONLY permitted at Montrose Beach.