Right Beaches › Illinois › Chicago
31st Street Beach
4.6★ · 2,496 Google ratings · Chicago, Illinois
✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Showers
At a glance
Parking
Fills up early
Walk
80 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes · 260 ft away
Cost
Paid parking
Length
275 yd of shoreline
Sand
150 yd from the water to the back
Water quality
Mixed · 8% of 100 over the limit · 2025
Map of 31st Street Beach
1
2
1Restrooms and drinking water260 ft from the listing2Showers125 yd from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Choose this for a relaxed alternative
Reviewers describe it as less crowded and more local-feeling than North Shore beaches, with plenty of green space.
Go on Tuesday or Thursday evenings
The beach hosts free salsa classes Tuesday at 6pm and Chicago house music on Thursday nights.
Visit for sunrise or sunset views
Reviewers consistently praise the skyline and lakeshore views, especially at dusk and dawn when the city lights reflect.
Arrive early to secure parking
Multiple visitors report that nearest lots close or fill by late morning, forcing 30-minute walks from distant streets.
Expect cleanliness to vary by day
Some visitors find the beach clean and well-maintained, while others report significant trash and seaweed, particularly after busy weekends.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
70°F · clear
Waves
0.7 ft · 4 s apart
Wind
2 mph from the S
UV index
7 peak today
Last updated Aug 25, 5:01 PM.
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 Chicago, IL 60616, United States
🌊 Water 80 ft away, under a minute walk
🚽 Restrooms 260 ft away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
1.4 miles away
2.5 miles away
3.6 miles away
4.5 miles away
5.4 miles away
5.5 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
How far is the walk to the water at 31st Street Beach?
80 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, under a minute. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does 31st Street Beach have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 260 ft from the listing.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
