With miles of sandy shoreline, there's no shortage of beaches in Chicago. That waterfront access is a large part of what makes neighborhoods on the east side, like Lakeview and Hyde Park, so popular. But you don’t have to live in the city or take a day trip there to enjoy some time lounging on the beach. The beaches in the Chicago suburbs are plentiful.

Explore these suburban beaches, some on Lake Michigan and others on smaller, less well-known shores.

Glencoe

A lake wave crashes up on a pier in Glencoe Illinois outside Chicago
Glencoe has its own small beach among a number of other local attractions.

Glencoe, a northern suburb of Chicago, is often known as the home of the Chicago Botanic Garden. It also offers plenty of opportunities to get out on the water. It's bordered by the Skokie Lagoons to the west and Lake Michigan to the east. Residents can purchase a season pass for the village’s Glencoe Beach. The beach is relatively small compared to some of the larger sandy strips in Chicago and its other suburbs, but it offers ample opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and the refreshingly cool water of Lake Michigan.

Evanston

People gather behind a small fence on a beach in Evanston Illinois
Just north of Chicago, Evanston has several beaches.

Evanston is just north of Chicago, making it an attractive spot for people who want to remain close to the city while enjoying the benefits of a suburb. Evanston beaches make it feel even more like an extension of the city. The suburb has a stretch of seven beaches: Lighthouse Beach, Lincoln Street Beach, Clark Street Beach, Dog Beach, Greenwood Street Beach, Lee Street Beach, and South Boulevard Beach. With this many beaches, it's easy to stake out a spot for your towel and cooler. While the dog beach is closed due to the high water levels of Lake Michigan, the other spots offer people-friendly fun by the water.

Crystal Lake

Buildings and people along the beach in Crystal Lake Illinois
Crystal Lake has a small beachfront, a favorite for locals and visitors.

It’s easy to assume any Chicagoland beaches will be on the shores of Lake Michigan, but there are smaller bodies of water out in the suburbs with beautiful beaches. The far northwest suburb of Crystal Lake has a couple of beaches that are resident favorites during the warm months of summer. Located on Crystal Lake, the body of water that shares a name with the city, people gather on the sands of Main Beach.

On the other side of the suburb, Three Oaks Recreation Area has transformed an abandoned quarry into a spot for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. This recreational spot even has a section for scuba diving.

Lake Forest

A tree and a small sliver of beach in Lake Forest near Chicago
Forest Park Beach in Lake Forest is a large park with ample lakefront and grassy fields.

As you continue north of Chicago, the suburbs hugging the shores of Lake Michigan almost certainly have a beach, and Lake Forest is no exception. Forest Park Beach covers 29 acres of land, encompassing both a sandy lakefront and grassy areas. As a larger park, visitors can stroll on walking paths to work up a sweat before cooling off in the lake. This suburb’s beachy area also has a pier for fishing and a spot for launching boats.

Libertyville

Libertyville is another Chicago suburb that offers beach time somewhere besides Lake Michigan. The village, located northwest of Chicago, has a beach situated on Lake Minear, which was created during a gravel mining operation. Lake Minear Beach attracts swimmers, sunbathers, and anglers to its sandy shores.

Naperville

A large building rises above boats and a small lakefront in Naperville outside Chicago
Naperville beachgoers visit Centennial Beach on Quarry Lake.

Naperville is the ideal suburb for those who want to blend the quiet of suburban living with the amenities of a large city. The large suburb offers many quiet subdivision communities and a thriving downtown known for its restaurants and riverwalk.

The Naperville Riverwalk wends its way along the DuPage River, giving access to many of the city’s treasured amenities. While the river itself is not the ideal place to take a dip, Naperville does have Centennial Beach. The beach was created from a former quarrying site, and today, it's a favorite spot for Naperville residents to relax and swim.

Wilmette

A bush partially obscures a sandy beach along the Chicago lakefront
Wilmette manages to have a number of beaches despite its small shoreline.

Wilmette is Evanston’s northern neighbor. Though a smaller suburb with not as much shoreline, it does have a couple of beaches. Langdon Beach is located on the northern edge of the suburb, while the larger Gillson Beach is further south. Gillson Park encompasses 59.2 acres, including the beach. In addition to the swimming beach, people also come to sail and picnic. Jutting out into Wilmette Harbor, you’ll find the Gillson Park Dog Beach, ideal for anyone who has a dog who shares their love of the water.

Winnetka

A small water barrier in the middle of a beach along Lake Michigan outside Chicago
There are many beaches in Winnetka for enjoying the lakefront.

The wealthy northern village of Winnetka may be one of the most recognizable Chicagoland suburbs thanks to John Hughes movies like “Home Alone,” “Sixteen Candles,” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” While the house from “Home Alone” and New Trier High School may be Winnetka’s easily recognizable landmarks, it is also home to several beaches, including Centennial Beach, Elder Lane Beach, Maple Street Beach, and Tower Road Beach.

Beach conditions vary, depending on water levels, but there is still space to enjoy the waterfront in Winnetka. If you're looking for some quality time with your pets, Centennial Beach operates largely as a dog beach.