Chicago’s beaches line Lake Michigan, with Oak Street, North Avenue and Montrose among the city’s named beach options. For your trip, the clearest distinction is that seasonal surfing is permitted only at Montrose and 57th Street beaches.
- Chicago has 24 beaches along Lake Michigan.
- The Chicago lakefront stretches for 26 miles.
- Seasonal surfing is allowed at Montrose and 57th Street beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- CTA route 78 Montrose has seasonal lakefront service to Montrose Beach.
Choosing a Chicago beach
Chicago’s public beach options include Oak Street Beach, North Avenue Beach and Montrose Beach. The Chicago Park District manages 26 miles of lakefront and identifies 24 beaches along Lake Michigan.
For a comparison based on the stated rules, Montrose stands out if you’re planning to surf during the permitted season. Oak Street has a stated connection to route 66 Chicago buses, while North Avenue is in Lincoln Park and offers kayak rentals through Kayak Chicago.
Those details can help narrow the choice, but they do not establish which beach is best for every kind of visit.
Skylark Motel is in Chicago’s Midway area, so a lakefront visit is a city outing rather than a walk from Skylark Motel.
If you’re planning your wider trip around transit, that’s part of the logistics to consider.
Oak Street Beach and North Avenue Beach
Oak Street Beach is within walking distance of route 66 Chicago buses, while North Avenue Beach is in Lincoln Park and offers kayak rentals through Kayak Chicago.
At North Avenue, the Park District identifies Castaways Bar and Grill at the beach. These are the clearest practical distinctions between the two: a bus connection for Oak Street, and kayak rentals and a dining venue for North Avenue.
If you’re shaping a fuller day around the lakefront and other city stops, a one-day Chicago route from the Midway area can help with the wider itinerary.
Montrose Beach and its lakefront setting
Montrose Beach is one of the two Chicago beaches where surfing is allowed during the Memorial Day-to-Labor Day season. The other is 57th Street Beach.
CTA route 78 Montrose extends to the lakefront at Montrose Beach on weekends and holidays from early April through Labor Day, and daily from early June through late August. The lakefront service hours are 9:00 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
Because that service follows a seasonal pattern, check the CTA’s official site before you go. Planning the trip from the Midway area also involves getting around Chicago from the Midway area.
Seasonal rules, swimming and access
Beach access and permitted activities can follow seasonal rules, so check current guidance before setting out. The Park District permits surfing only at Montrose and 57th Street beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and provides a Lakefront Safety Guide.
The Park District also notes that more than 100 life rings are located at specified points along the lakefront. Consult the Chicago Park District for beach conditions and safety guidance.
FAQs
How many beaches does Chicago have?
Chicago has 24 beaches along Lake Michigan, according to the Chicago Park District.
Which Chicago beaches allow surfing?
Surfing is permitted at Montrose Beach and 57th Street Beach during the Memorial Day-to-Labor Day season.
How do you get to Montrose Beach by bus?
CTA route 78 Montrose extends to the lakefront at Montrose Beach on a seasonal schedule. Its service pattern varies by time of year and day of the week.