Trip planning · Illinois
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
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.
Graded beaches within 50 miles
Lake Street Beach
View Lake Street Beach →25 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Wells Street Beach
View Wells Street Beach →27.4 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Ogden Dunes East Beach
View Ogden Dunes East Beach →28.4 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Dune Acres Beach
View Dune Acres Beach →32.3 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Kemil Avenue Beach
View Kemil Avenue Beach →35 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Lakeview Beach
View Lakeview Beach →35.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Central Avenue Beach
View Central Avenue Beach →37.4 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Sheridan Beach Stop 2
View Sheridan Beach Stop 2 →39.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Long Beach Stop 20
View Long Beach Stop 20 →40.5 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Shoreland Hills Beach Stop 31
View Shoreland Hills Beach Stop 31 →41.8 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Illinois Beach State Park North Beach
View Illinois Beach State Park North Beach →41.9 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Duneland Beach Stop 34
View Duneland Beach Stop 34 →42 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Michiana Shores Stop 37
View Michiana Shores Stop 37 →42.3 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Michiana Village
View Michiana Village →42.5 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Private Shoreline Beach-South Of New Buffalo City
View Private Shoreline Beach-South Of New Buffalo City →45.1 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Gordon Beach
View Gordon Beach →47.7 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Hammond Marina East Beach
View Hammond Marina East Beach →13.8 mi · Grade B (Good)
Whihala Beach West
View Whihala Beach West →14.6 mi · Grade B (Good)
Kenilworth Beach
View Kenilworth Beach →15.4 mi · Grade B (Good)
Glencoe Park Beach
View Glencoe Park Beach →19 mi · Grade B (Good)
Highland Park Rosewood Beach
View Highland Park Rosewood Beach →21.3 mi · Grade B (Good)
Highland Park Avenue Boating Beach
View Highland Park Avenue Boating Beach →23 mi · Grade B (Good)
Marquette Park Beach
View Marquette Park Beach →25.9 mi · Grade B (Good)
Lake Forest Forest Park Beach
View Lake Forest Forest Park Beach →27.9 mi · Grade B (Good)
West Beach
View West Beach →28.1 mi · Grade B (Good)
Lake Bluff Sunrise Beach
View Lake Bluff Sunrise Beach →29.5 mi · Grade B (Good)
Lake Bluff Dog Beach
View Lake Bluff Dog Beach →29.6 mi · Grade B (Good)
Porter Beach
View Porter Beach →32.6 mi · Grade B (Good)
Illinois Beach State Park South Beach
View Illinois Beach State Park South Beach →39 mi · Grade B (Good)
Washington Park Beach
View Washington Park Beach →39.2 mi · Grade B (Good)
Private Shoreline Beach-South Of Grand Beach
View Private Shoreline Beach-South Of Grand Beach →43.3 mi · Grade B (Good)
Evanston Lighthouse Beach
View Evanston Lighthouse Beach →13.2 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Winnetka Maple Park Beach
View Winnetka Maple Park Beach →16.9 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Winnetka Lloyd Park Beach
View Winnetka Lloyd Park Beach →17.2 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Winnetka Tower Beach
View Winnetka Tower Beach →17.3 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Indiana Dunes State Park East Beach
View Indiana Dunes State Park East Beach →32.8 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Prairie Shores
View Prairie Shores →44.9 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Southport Park Beach
View Southport Park Beach →48.3 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Simmons Island Beach
View Simmons Island Beach →50 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Jeorse Park
View Jeorse Park →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
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.