Chicago beaches are now open: Here’s what you need to know

CHICAGO (WGN) — Chicago’s beaches are officially open, marking the start of the 2025 summer season.

From now until Labor Day, city beaches will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Chicago Park District says it’s hired enough lifeguards to have all 22 beaches open for swimming seven days a week.

The district manages the city’s 26 beaches, but four are closed until further notice.

Officials encourage beachgoers to pay attention to the color-coded flag system to make sure it’s safe to swim.

Green means swimmers are good to go, yellow means proceed with caution and red means it’s too dangerous to swim.

The beaches are located at:

• 12th Street Beach
  • 1200 S. Linn White Drive
• 57th Street Beach
  • 5700 South Lake Shore Drive
• 63rd Street Beach
  • 6300 S. Lake Shore Drive
• Calumet Beach
  • 9801 S. Avenue G
• Foster Beach
  • 5200 N. Lake Shore Drive
• Hartigan Beach
  • 1123 West Farwell Avenue
• Helen Doria Beach
  • 1040 W Columbia Avenue
• Lane Beach
  • 5915 N. Sheridan Road
• Leone Beach
  • 1222 W. Touhy Avenue
• Loyola Beach
  • 1230 W. Greenleaf Avenue
• Margaret T. Burroughs Beach
  • 3100 S. Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• Marion Mahony Griffin Beach
  • 1208 W. Jarvis Avenue
• Montrose Beach
  • 4400 N. Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• North Avenue Beach
  • 1601 N. Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• North Shore Beach
  • 1040 W North Shore Avenue
• Oak Street Beach
  • 1000 N Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• Oakwood Beach
  • 4100 South Lake Shore Drive
• Ohio Street Beach
  • 600 North Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• Osterman Beach
  • 5800 North Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive
• Rainbow Beach
  • 3111 E. 77th Street
• South Shore Beach
  • 7059 S. South Shore Drive
• Tobey Prinz Beach
  • 1045 W Pratt Boulevard

City beaches that are closed:

• Fargo Beach
  • 1300 W. Fargo Avenue
• Howard Beach
  • 7519 N Eastlake Terrace
• Humboldt Beach
  • 1400 N Humboldt Drive
• Juneway Beach
  • 7751 N Eastlake Terrace
• Rogers Beach
  • 7705 N. Eastlake Terrace

City officials are also reminding beachgoers of the beach rules:

• Swim only when lifeguards are on duty.
• Swim only in designated swim areas.
• Do not swim if the flag is red.
• Follow lifeguards’ instructions.
• Only Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) are permitted. Children wearing PFDs should have an adult with them in the water.
• No smoking.
• No alcohol.
• No dogs on the beach.
• Do not feed birds or wildlife.
• Dispose of trash and recycling in appropriate containers.
• Grill in designated areas only and dispose of coals in red barrels.
• Keep accessible beach walks clear. No bicycling, skateboarding, or rollerblading is permitted in these areas.

For more information on Chicago’s beaches, click here.