Our snazzy new Swim Guide lets you locate beaches near you, figure out which ones are safe for swimming (the green ones!), and plan your next trip to the beach. It’s free, and it’s fun, and it’s available now online, iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and Android devices.

12th Street Beach: The 12th Street Beach is located just south of the heart of Chicago on the Northerly Island Peninsula, on the shore of Lake Michigan. The beach is host to great fishing and swimming and there is the opportunity to do distance swimming at the 12th Street Beach. There is a pay-to-park lot located at the beach. The beach has public washrooms and there is a wheelchair accessible walk at the beach.

31st Street Beach: The 31st Street Beach is part of Burnham Park. Burnham Park was named after the famous Chicago Architect Daniel Burnham, who had plans to turn Chicago’s south shores into a beach and parkland. Today, the 31st Street Beach is home to great swimming and also includes amenities such as pay-and-display parking, wheelchair access walks and public washrooms.

41st St Beach (Oakwood): The Oakwood/41st Street Beach is located in Chicago’s south end. It is one of Chicago’s newest beaches, constructed in the late 1990s in an effort to prevent erosion of the shoreline. Be sure to visit the 41st Street beach house when you are here. The building includes a number of sustainable design features, including a system for harvesting rainwater. The beach has long distance swimming running parallel to the shore, there is a wheel chair accessible path to the beach and public washrooms on site. There is also a pay-and-display parking lot on site.

57th Street Beach: The 57th Street beach is home to a great beach for swimming, including long distance swimming. There is pay-and-display parking located very close to the beach. The beach is also within close proximity to the Museum of Science and Industry and Promontory Point. Promontory Point is a part of Hyde Park and has a dog-friendly area.

63rd Street (Jackson Park): The 63rd Street/Jackson Park Beach is home to Chicago’s oldest beach house. The beach is apart of Jackson Park, which offers many different walking trails, including trails to the beach. The beach is a great setting for swimming, and there are washrooms and parking available.

Calumet Beach: Calumet Beach is a part of Calumet Park on Chicago’s south shore of Lake Michigan. There is a parking lot available, and the beach is wheelchair accessible. There is also a concession stand and public washrooms. There is an area for distance swimming at the south end of the beach. The Indiana/Illinois state border is just offshore. The red and white striped stacks beside the beach are part of a power generating plant.

Fargo Beach: Fargo Beach is one of the Rogers Park Beaches in the north end of Chicago. The sandy beach provides a nice area for swimming. Distance swimming is available and runs parallel to the shoreline. Parking is limited to street parking and there are no public washrooms.

Foster Beach: Located in the Edgewater area of Chicago, Foster Beach is a great area for swimming. A beach house constructed in the early 1990s offers many amenities, including public washrooms. There is a pay-and-display parking lot at the beach and wheelchair accessible paths. This beach is great for relaxing and swimming, and also offers long distance swimming parallel to the shoreline.

George Lane (Thorndale): The George A. Lane Beach was renamed from Thorndale beach in 1975 in honour of George A. Lane, a 50 year Chicago lawyer and community member active in church-civic relations, politics and philanthropy. The beach is located in the Edgewater area of Chicago and is part of the 7 miles (11km) of connected beaches in this area of Chicago. The beach has a wheelchair accessible walk and long distance swimming. Parking is limited to street parking.

Hartigan Beach North: Hartigan Beach North is located in the North end of Chicago, on the shores of Lake Michigan. It has limited street parking but the beach extends southwards towards Hartigan Beach South and Hartigan Park. There is long distance swimming available parallel to the shore and the sandy beach provides great relaxation and swimming opportunities.

Hartigan Park (South Beach): An extension of Hartigan Beach North, Hartigan Beach South also has long distance swimming parallel to the shore. There is limited parking available on the street and no public washrooms. However, the sand beach is a great place to relax or get active and enjoy the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan.

Howard St Park: Located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of North Chicago, Howard Street Park and Beach is a great location to relax. This small beach and park located at the end of Eastlake Terrace provides casual swimming as well as long distance swimming along the shoreline. There is only street parking available and no on-site washrooms.

Jarvis Avenue Park and Beach: Jarvis Ave. Park and Beach is located in northern Chicago, in the Rogers Park Neighborhood. There is only street parking available and there are no public washrooms at the beach. The beach also offers long distance swimming along the shoreline.

Juneway Terrace Park: Juneway Terrace Park and Beach is the northernmost beach in Chicago. It is located in the Rogers Park neighborhood. The beach and area were named by the Norwegian real estate developer, Sivert Tobias Gunderson, and acquired by the Chicago Parks District in 1959. The only parking available is street parking and there are no public washrooms on the beach.

Kathy Osterman (Hollywood): Kathy Osterman (Hollywood) Beach is located in the northern part of the Lincoln Park neighbourhood in Chicago. It was named after Kathy Osterman, a beloved public servant actively involved in the Edgewater community. This beautiful beach is great for relaxing and swimming, including long distance swimming. The beach has a wheelchair accessible path and parking is limited to the street.

Leone Beach North: Leone Beach North and Leone Park were named after the World War I Navy Veteran, Sam Leone, who was also a lifeguard at Leone Beach Leone was a prominent figure in the community, working with the Chicago Park District and living above the beach house on Leone Beach until his death. The beach offers long distance swimming and a great area to enjoy the Chicago summers. Pay and display parking is available on site.

Leone Beach South (Loyola Park): Leone Beach is Chicago’s largest beach and is named after the Chicago Park District employee, Sam Leone. This portion of the beach is located at Loyola Park, and offers many opportunities for great swimming and enjoying the outdoors. There is long distance swimming available that run parallel to the shoreline, and the beach has a wheelchair accessible walk. There is a pay-and-display parking lot at the park and there are public washrooms on site.

Montrose Beach: Montrose Beach is a part of Lincoln Park in the south end of Chicago. Its historic beach house was constructed in 1934 and modeled after the North Avenue Beach House. After suffering a fire in 1950, it was remodeled and still serves as the beach house for the public. There is a wheelchair accessible path on the beach as well as public washrooms. There is both a pay-and-display parking lot as well as street parking available. The large beach front is great for all types of swimmers, and there is long distance swimming available parallel to the shore.

North Ave Beach: North Avenue Beach is a popular and busy attraction in Chicago. The large beach offers different rentals, including bikes and volleyball equipment. There is a lake shore path that is often busy with walkers, bikers and roller-bladers. There is an outdoor roller hockey rink and fitness center on site. As well, the famous beach house offers food, shopping and public washrooms. There is a pay parking lot and long distance swimming available.

Oak Street Beach: Oak Street Beach is located in Chicago’s south end and is a popular beach. It offers paths for cyclists, roller-bladers and walkers. There is a restaurant onsite as well as public washrooms and concessions. The sandy beach is great for relaxing and playing, and there are volleyball courts on the beach. Distance swimming is available and runs parallel to the shore. The only parking available is on the street and is limited.

Ohio Street Beach: Ohio Street Beach is a unique beach in Chicago because it faces north. Most beaches in Chicago face east. There is a wheelchair accessible path to the beach and limited street parking. The beach is great for swimming and relaxing and offers long distance swimming parallel to the shoreline. Nearby, you will find Jane Addams Memorial Park, named for the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and Pfc Milton Olive Park, named for the first African American Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War.

Rainbow Beach: Rainbow Beach and the surrounding park offer you many opportunities to get active and have fun. There is a large gym, along with outdoor hand ball, tennis and basketball courts, as well as a few baseball diamonds. There are public washrooms and a wheelchair accessible path at the beach. The beach is great for swimming and relaxing, and there is long distance swimming available.

Rogers Ave Park: Rogers Avenue and the beach were named after Phillip Rogers, an Irish settler to the Rogers Park area. The beach offers a great opportunity to enjoy the Chicago summers and participate in some swimming. There is long distance swimming available running parallel to the shore. The parking at the beach is limited to street parking.

South Shore Beach: South Shore beach is home to the South Shore Cultural Center. There is a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool, nature preserve and numerous walking paths at the South Shore Beach. There is also a beach house that contains concessions, showers and washrooms. There is a wheelchair accessible path to the beach. There is also a pay-and-display parking lot.