Life's a Beach: Guide to Lake County Beaches 2023
By: Jonathan Jones 06/09/2023
Summertime is on the horizon! Lake County is lucky to be the home of over 200 lakes and miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, and that means that we have all kinds of beaches! Looking for an adventure on Lake Michigan? Try Illinois Beach State Park in Zion. Are you searching for a little bit more of a relaxed experience for the little guppies? Lake Zurich's Paulus Park beach has lifeguards and a water playground!
Check the Lake County Beach Advisory page HERE for daily updates on inland and Lake Michigan beaches. Grab your towels, pull out your aqua toys, apply the sunscreen, find a good spot in the sand, kick back and relax, because life's a beach sometimes. Here is your guide to Lake County beaches.
- 55 Boat Slips are available.
- Located on the Channel Lake of the Chain O' Lakes.
- Must order from the restaurant to gain beach access.
- Restaurant & concessions.
- Marine service, Boat launch and repair.
- Fishing is available.
- Largest picnic grove combined with beach area on the Chain O' Lakes.
- Beach and picnic area are only available to marina members without Thirsty Turtle Brew & View access.
- No lifeguards on duty.
- Located on the Chain O'Lakes State Park's Channel Lakes.
42273 N. Woodbine Ave., Antioch.
- Six-and-a-half miles of Lake Michigan shoreline
- Ample parking and bathrooms with showers.
- No on-duty lifeguards.
- Park Hours: Sunrise to 8 pm. Open Memorial day-Labor Day.
- Free admission.
- North Point Marina is located five miles north of Illinois Beach. The full-service, boat center and food concession marina offers 1,500 boating slips.
- Fishing is permitted on the beach area.
- Groups of 25 are required to register in advance with the site office.
- One adult must accompany each group of 15 minors.
- Pets are allowed but must be kept on a leash.
- North Point Marina is located five miles north of the Zion beach
- Open Memorial Day through Labor Day
Park Office-Lakefront, Zion..
- Regular summer hours from June 8-August 11; 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Post Season Weekday Hours: August 12-16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Post Season Weekend Hours: August 17, 18, 24, 25; August 31-September 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Admissions is $5-$9 per visit. Beach pass per person is $40 for residents, $65 for nonresidents. Families up to 7 beach pass is $75 for residents and $125 for nonresidents.
- The park provides a sprayground water play area, volleyball court, picnic tables, shelters, grills, playground, horseshoes, swimming and nature area.
- Beaches are open weather permitting.
200 S. Rand Rd., Lake Zurich.
- Daily passes: Residents $4, non-residents $8.
- Season passes: Resident individual $24, resident family (Max 5) $60, non-resident individual $48; non-resident family (max 5) $120.
- Open June 10-August 23 daily.
- Postseason: Open August 24-September 2; open on weekends only.
- Lifeguards on duty 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Open sunrise to sunset – swim at your own risk when no lifeguard on duty.
49 Oxford Dr., Lincolnshire.
- Open daily through-Mid August.
- Weekends open till Sept 2.
- Hours each day are 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Memberships: Family membership $185, individual membership $115, senior membership $90, 10 visits for $100 (refill for $50) and fishing pass $65 plus membership.
- Swimming lessons are offered.
- Fishing allowed from the shore or by boat. Fish species include crappie, bass, bluegill, walleye, catfish and northern pike. Lake Minear is a catch and release lake.
- Lake Minear offers volleyball, full-service concessions, free WI-FI, fishing, swimming lessons and party rentals.
600 W. Oak Spring Rd., Libertyville.
- Daily Admission: $5 for residents/$10 for non-resident/Seniors (ages 55+): $4 and senior non-resident $8, weekends & holidays $5, twilight $2 and kids ages 3 and under receive free admission.
- Season Pass: $20-$40
- Open dadily from noon-5 p.m..
- Diamond Lake Beach offers a playground, picnic tables, volleyball nets, changing room, lawn chairs and grills.
- Paddleboats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available to rent between $3-$5 per hour.
- Concessions are available, and outside food is permitted.
- Open June 3-August 6
1016 Diamond Lake Rd., Mundelein.
- Open Memorial Day-Labor Day; Weekday hours 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. (until August 23), weekend hours 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
- Daily passes: $4 per person (Under 3 free), $8 on weekdays and $10 per person on holiday weekends.
- Row boats, paddleboats and paddleboards are available for rent; $5-$10 per hour or double kayak/rowboat rental at $15 per day.
- Mini golf: $3 per round.
- Campground offers playgrounds, free parking, picnic tables, grills, basketball hoops (near the beach) and a volleyball net.
- Catch & keep fishing. Limits include three bass per day (under 14 in, release bass over 14 in), three catfish per day, five bluegills per day, five crappies per day, five yellow perch per day and unlimited carp. Fishing admission between $6-$10.
32223 N. US Highway 12, Volo.
- The beach is open year-round; 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
- One mile of Lake Michigan shoreline.
- Free Entry.
- $10 parking on the weekends and holidays for vehicles without a Waukegan city sticker
- The beach features one mile of sand that is groomed daily along with some of the only natural dunes in the area.
- Recreational activities include swimming, sunbathing, picnicking and sand volleyball.
- No lifeguards on duty at this facility.
- The marina offers 1,000 slips for the recreational fisher, competitive boat racer, beginning kiteboarder and everyone in between.
- Waukegan band performs in their summer concert series every Tuesday over the summer at the Stiner Pavilion.
201 Sea Horse Dr., Waukegan.
- Open May 25-September 2; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Free for residents and guests; $10 for non-residents.
- The beach features a natural cove, concessions, restrooms and more.
- Recreational activities include swimming and stand up paddleboarding.
- After school, early childhood and public programs available at various times.
- Free parking for residents; $15 hourly/$40 4-hour parking for non-residents.
- Picnic rentals available
883 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park
- Open daily. Beach summer hours are sunrise to sunset from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- Free admission
- No lifeguard on duty; individuals swim at their own risk.
- Playground available
- Boat Launch available for non-motorized watercraft (canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, row boats, SUP)
- Volleyball Courts
- Two Picnic Shelters (available to rent from April through October)
- Portapotty (seasonal)
- Parking is available in a parking lot located across the park on N. Alleghany Rd. Additional parking available at Woodview School a few blocks north on N. Alleghany Rd. Street parking is prohibited.
- Located on the shores of Grays Lake.
Jones Island Park, 243 Harvey Ave., Grayslake
- Summer Season: open daily from June 3 through August 13 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Summer Season (Back to School): open weekends only from August 19 through September 3 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Daily admission fees: $8/Resident and $10/Non-Resident, 3-years and under are free. Adults 62-years plus are free (ID required at time of purchase). Twilight rate after 5:00 p.m. $3/Resident and $4/Non-Resident. Season passes available.
- Amenities include: splash pad, concessions, bathhouse, gazebo, baggo boards, game tables, swim area, board walk, WIBIT inflatable attraction and iconic J-Slide on display (on-land photo op only)
- Lifeguard on duty.
- Swim lessons and Camp Wauconda Swim available. Contact Wauconda Park District to register.
- Parking in the Phil’s Beach parking lot is first come, first serve.
- Grilling is not permitted in Phil’s Beach or parking lot.
- Concessions available, however, outside food and beverage are permitted in Phil’s beach.
- Daily capacity and WIBIT use is subject to change.
- Phil’s Beach Party rental. Contact Wauconda Park District for details and reservations. $250/Resident and $300/Non-Resident.
600 N. Main Street, Wauconda
Meyer’s Beach in Lindenhurst
- Open daily from sunrise to sunset from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- Available for swimming.
- No on-duty lifeguard.
- Parking available.
- Picnic area available, first-come first-serve.
- Restrooms (summer only)
325 Highpoint Dr., Lindenhurst
To learn more about Lake County beaches, continue here.
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