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BeachGrade

Trip planning · Illinois · Updated August 2026

Beaches near Chicago — grades and where to stay

40 beaches within 50 miles of Chicago, 40 with an A–F Beach Safety Grade (16 grade A). Compare water quality, then book hotels, condos and vacation rentals on the map.

Where to stay in Chicago

Live hotels, condos and vacation rentals in Chicago — pick a beach from the graded list, then book nearby.

Top-rated places to stay near Chicago

Prices for Oct 2–4, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a Chicago beach trip?

Water-quality updates and lodging deals for the beaches you care about.

Watch beaches near Chicago

Get an email when a graded beach near Chicago posts a new sample or swim advisory.

Beaches near Chicago

How to pick a beach near Chicago

Grade A water

Lowest multi-year bacteria exceedance in this radius.

Closest to town

Graded beaches within 50 miles

3%2.6% over limit
A
Lake County · Indiana

Lake Street Beach

View Lake Street Beach →

25 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

1%1.1% over limit
A
Lake County · Indiana

Wells Street Beach

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27.4 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

3%2.5% over limit
A
Porter County · Indiana

Ogden Dunes East Beach

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28.4 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

0%0% over limit
A
Porter County · Indiana

Dune Acres Beach

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32.3 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

1%0.8% over limit
A
Porter County · Indiana

Kemil Avenue Beach

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35 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

2%1.9% over limit
A
Porter County · Indiana

Lakeview Beach

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35.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

0%0% over limit
A
Porter County · Indiana

Central Avenue Beach

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37.4 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

2%1.8% over limit
A
Laporte County · Indiana

Sheridan Beach Stop 2

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39.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

2%2.1% over limit
A
Laporte County · Indiana

Long Beach Stop 20

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40.5 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

1%1% over limit
A
Laporte County · Indiana

Shoreland Hills Beach Stop 31

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41.8 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

2%1.9% over limit
A
Lake County · Illinois

Illinois Beach State Park North Beach

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41.9 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

1%1% over limit
A
Laporte County · Indiana

Duneland Beach Stop 34

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42 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

1%0.6% over limit
A
Laporte County · Indiana

Michiana Shores Stop 37

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42.3 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

0%0% over limit
A
Berrien County · Michigan

Michiana Village

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42.5 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

0%0% over limit
A
Berrien County · Michigan

Private Shoreline Beach-South Of New Buffalo City

View Private Shoreline Beach-South Of New Buffalo City →

45.1 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

3%2.9% over limit
A
Berrien County · Michigan

Gordon Beach

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47.7 mi · Grade A (Excellent)

4%3.8% over limit
B
Lake County · Indiana

Hammond Marina East Beach

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13.8 mi · Grade B (Good)

6%6.3% over limit
B
Lake County · Indiana

Whihala Beach West

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14.6 mi · Grade B (Good)

6%6.4% over limit
B
Cook County · Illinois

Kenilworth Beach

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15.4 mi · Grade B (Good)

6%5.9% over limit
B
Cook County · Illinois

Glencoe Park Beach

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19 mi · Grade B (Good)

7%7% over limit
B
Lake County · Illinois

Highland Park Rosewood Beach

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21.3 mi · Grade B (Good)

6%6.2% over limit
B
Lake County · Illinois

Highland Park Avenue Boating Beach

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23 mi · Grade B (Good)

3%3% over limit
B
Lake County · Indiana

Marquette Park Beach

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25.9 mi · Grade B (Good)

4%3.8% over limit
B
Lake County · Illinois

Lake Forest Forest Park Beach

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27.9 mi · Grade B (Good)

6%6.2% over limit
B
Porter County · Indiana

West Beach

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28.1 mi · Grade B (Good)

6%5.7% over limit
B
Lake County · Illinois

Lake Bluff Sunrise Beach

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29.5 mi · Grade B (Good)

7%6.8% over limit
B
Lake County · Illinois

Lake Bluff Dog Beach

View Lake Bluff Dog Beach →

29.6 mi · Grade B (Good)

5%5% over limit
B
Porter County · Indiana

Porter Beach

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32.6 mi · Grade B (Good)

5%4.8% over limit
B
Lake County · Illinois

Illinois Beach State Park South Beach

View Illinois Beach State Park South Beach →

39 mi · Grade B (Good)

4%4.3% over limit
B
Laporte County · Indiana

Washington Park Beach

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39.2 mi · Grade B (Good)

5%4.5% over limit
B
Berrien County · Michigan

Private Shoreline Beach-South Of Grand Beach

View Private Shoreline Beach-South Of Grand Beach →

43.3 mi · Grade B (Good)

8%8.4% over limit
C
Cook County · Illinois

Evanston Lighthouse Beach

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13.2 mi · Grade C (Fair)

8%7.7% over limit
C
Cook County · Illinois

Winnetka Maple Park Beach

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16.9 mi · Grade C (Fair)

9%8.5% over limit
C
Cook County · Illinois

Winnetka Lloyd Park Beach

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17.2 mi · Grade C (Fair)

8%7.7% over limit
C
Cook County · Illinois

Winnetka Tower Beach

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17.3 mi · Grade C (Fair)

9%9.2% over limit
C
Porter County · Indiana

Indiana Dunes State Park East Beach

View Indiana Dunes State Park East Beach →

32.8 mi · Grade C (Fair)

10%9.7% over limit
C
Kenosha County · Wisconsin

Prairie Shores

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44.9 mi · Grade C (Fair)

8%7.7% over limit
C
Kenosha County · Wisconsin

Southport Park Beach

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48.3 mi · Grade C (Fair)

11%10.7% over limit
C
Kenosha County · Wisconsin

Simmons Island Beach

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50 mi · Grade C (Fair)

23%23.3% over limit
D
Lake County · Indiana

Jeorse Park

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18.8 mi · Grade D (Poor)

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

16 of the 40 beaches within 50 miles of Chicago carry a Beach Safety Grade of A. Grades are multi-year bacteria exceedance from EPA monitoring, not a same-day clearance.

Hotels, condos and vacation rentals around Chicago, Illinois are on the map below with live availability. Stay closer to an A- or B-grade beach if swimming is the point of the trip.

None of the listed beaches near Chicago currently show an active EPA BEACON advisory on this site. Always check local health-department notices the day you swim.

More beach towns

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Lodging results are provided by Stay22 from Booking.com, Vrbo, and Expedia. BeachGrade may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you — it never changes the water-quality data.