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North Avenue Beach
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North Avenue Beach

See all things to do
See all things to do
North Avenue Beach
4.5
#67 of 795 things to do in Chicago
Beaches
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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Top ways to experience North Avenue Beach
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: North Side
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,445 within 5 kms
Nookies Wells
434
0.7 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • American • Cafe • Diner
Castaways
40
0.3 km₹ • Bar • Pub
Elaine's Coffee Call
123
0.7 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Quick Bites • Cafe • Gluten Free Options
Topo Gigio Ristorante
506
1 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Tuscan • Central-Italian
Shore Club Chicago
25
80 m₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Seafood • Mediterranean
The J. Parker
190
0.7 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • American • Bar • Vegetarian Friendly
Adobo Grill
295
0.9 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Mexican • Latin • Vegetarian Friendly
Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder
989
1.1 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • American • Pizza
Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern
510
1.1 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • American • Bar • Barbecue
North & Clark Cafe
25
0.6 km₹ • Quick Bites • American • Cafe
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Attractions
604 within 10 kms
Chicago Air and Water Show
38
0.2 kmExhibitions
Chicago History Museum
1,196
0.6 kmHistory Museums
Lincoln Park
872
0.9 kmParks
Lincoln Park Zoo
5,976
0.9 kmZoos
International Museum of Surgical Science
212
0.6 kmSpeciality Museums • Science Museums
The Magnificent Mile
15,799
2.3 kmNeighbourhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks
The Art Institute of Chicago
24,544
4 kmArt Museums
Lincoln Park Conservatory
791
1.4 kmGardens
Fountain Girl
2
0.5 kmFountains
Greene Vardiman Black Statue
3
0.5 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
262 reviews
Excellent
123
Very good
105
Average
20
Poor
9
Terrible
5
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,751 contributions
Chicago's picturesque postcard
Aug 2023
Follow me to the site of Chicago's picturesque postcard, a spectacular and panoramic view of the city's breath-taking skyline that dwarfs anything this side of Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Am I exaggerating just a little? Maybe so. But see for yourself. Walk east on North Avenue, past the Cardinal's mansion, go through the tunnel under North Lake Shore Drive, climb the grassy knoll, step across the concrete checkerboards, be alert for bikers and proceed along the path leading to North Avenue Beach and the breakwater in Lake Michigan. Find a comfortable spot on the grass, looking south across the water toward Oak Street Beach, the Drake Hotel, the Hancock Building and beyond. What a sight! On a clear day, you can see the high-rises along Lake Shore Drive, the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, Lake Point Tower, the Aon Building, the Willis Tower, Trump Tower, Aqua Tower, Water Tower Place and Vista Tower. No, you can't see the United Center or Millennium Park or the Chicago River. But it's Chicago. No doubt about it. It's a picturesque postcard you don't see in New York City or Los Angeles or Boston or Miami or Houston or Seattle. Do any of those cities have a beach within steps of their busiest downtown thoroughfare? With a backdrop of Lake Michigan, like a colorful prop in a Hollywood movie.
Written 23 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,751 contributions
Chicago's Air and Water Show is baaaaaaaaack!!!
Jul 2022
My wife and I have lived in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood since 1983, a few blocks from North Avenue Beach. But we never have gone swimming in Lake Michigan. Too cold. We prefer the Gulf of Mexico, which rises to 93 degrees in the summer. The water off North Avenue Beach struggles to reach 70 degrees. However, North Avenue Beach, located at 1600 North Lake Shore Drive in Lincoln Park, at the eastern terminus of North Avenue, is one of Chicago's most popular beaches because it is the home of the city's famous Air & Water Show and is a picturesque postcard for Chicago's spectacular skyline. It features a unique beach house that contains 22,000 square feet of space, a sleek, ocean liner-inspired building decked out in blue and white colors and featuring a restaurant that attracts multitudes of swimmers, sunbathers, bikers, runners, walkers and rollerbladers, many of whom stream down the Lakefront Trail. North Avenue Beach will be the show center for the 2022 Chicago Air and Water Show, a traditional event that annually draws 1 million people to the lakefront. The show was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic and was scaled down considerably in 2021. But it will return in full force from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 20-21. And there is no better place to view the festivities than while sitting on North Avenue Beach.
Written 9 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,751 contributions
Most picturesque view of the Chicago skyline
Jun 2021
One of the advantages of living where we do on Chicago's Gold Coast is the view. Since we moved into our apartment in 1983, we have enjoyed a picturesque view of North Avenue Beach, Lincoln Park and a front row seat for the annual Air and Water Show. Located at 1600 North Lake Shore Drive, at North Avenue and Lake Michigan, North Avenue Beach is one of Chicago's most popular beaches with the most picturesque view of Chicago's magnificent skyline. It also features a popular beach house that contains 22,000 square feet of space, a sleek ocean liner-inspired building that contains a restaurant, an ice cream cafe and facilities to rent volleyball courts, bicycles, kayaks, paddle boards, jet skis, lounge chairs, umbrellas, even sandals and chess tables. Outdoor beach yoga is offered seven days a week for all age levels. North Avenue Beach is also a popular gathering place for joggers and walkers and bicyclists. On the Lakefront Trail, you can stroll north from North Avenue Beach to Montrose Beach or south to Navy Pier. There is plenty of beachfront for swimmers and sun bathers. On a sunny summer day, it's an all-day activity. Parking is available in a paid lot but, be forewarned, there isn't much space so arrive early and take the North Avenue bus to the end of the line.
Written 15 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raymond
Los Angeles, CA729 contributions
Picturesque!
Dec 2019 • Friends
Cold but pretty and picturesque!! Walked our way from our Magnificent Mile / Michigan Avenue hotel towards North Ave Beach for a great shot of ChiTown Skyline Shots! Worth it!!
Written 19 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sal F
Brussels, Belgium268 contributions
Second home to me
Dec 2018 • Friends
One of the best places in the US. Chicago is an amazing place to visit. North Shore is beautiful in the summer.
Written 26 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon F
Ames, Iowa, United States150 contributions
The place to be on a summer day
Jul 2019
This is definitely one of the places to be on a warm summer day. Beachfront, volleyball nets, snacks available.
Written 16 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rmilledgeville
Milledgeville, GA88 contributions
Beach
Aug 2019 • Solo
First visit to Chicago and had to see Lake Michigan. The beach was beautiful, clean and had attentive lifeguards. Enjoyed some time swimming and sitting on the beach. Great way to cool off after walking through the zoo and over elevated crosswalk to the beach area. Also saw lots of snack/food options as well as bike rentals, and jet ski rentals. Good place to visit for all ages
Written 19 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ice1028
Aurora, IL1 contribution
Zoo and beach visit
Aug 2019 • Family
Nice beach with a pedestrian bridge that takes you to Lincoln Park Zoo. The parking lot at the Zoo is expensive. $35 for 5 hours but the zoo is no charge.
Written 19 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Departure48798559108
Providence, RI1 contribution
summer time
Jul 2019
Visited in late July. it was packed, but beautiful and the water was VERY COLD, colder even then the North Atlantic ocean we were used to.
We rented chairs, we should have packed better snacks or lunch but there were nearby eateries. No alcohol allowed on the beach
Written 12 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JB
Sioux Falls, SD67 contributions
Cancun of the midwest!
Aug 2019 • Family
Lots of family picnics, grills, tents, hammocks, strollers, etc. Places to rent umbrellas, bikes, jet skis and kayaks. Lots of people watching. Lots of white skin. Cement all over. Lay in grass or on cement. Great skyline view of city! A must if you are from out of town!
Written 4 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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North Avenue Beach (Chicago) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about North Avenue Beach
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