Aerial Flyover of a Picturesque Chicago Skyline over Montrose Beach in Chicago, IL

Linger on the banks of Lake Michigan at picturesque Montrose Beach, where you can be a lazy sun-seeker or a fitness fanatic. Spend your day kayaking along the edge of the lake and swimming in the calm water or lay down a towel and relax on one of the city’s finest beaches. As one of the most popular beaches in Lincoln Park, it’s also one of the best serviced, with restaurants, sporting stores, and playing fields nearby.
Montrose Beach is well equipped to serve its numerous patrons who come to spend a day by glistening Lake Michigan. Restrooms, showers, and concessions stand to face the beach.
Explore the dunes to the south of the beach. Bring your binoculars to look for the migratory birds that flock here outside of summer. The natural area is also home to several species of endangered plants. This tranquil, green park corner feels far from the buzzing beach area.
Wander around the surrounding area of Lincoln Park. Several sports fields line the edge of the beach here. A scenic harbor area sits directly to the south of the beach.
Montrose Beach is just outside the Uptown neighborhood, about 7 miles (11 kilometers) north of Downtown Chicago. Metered parking is available for anyone driving to the beach, while buses and metro trains also run to nearby streets. When lifeguards patrol the shoreline, come in the summer to enjoy swimming.