Location:

5700 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611

Location Notes:

57th Street and Lake Michigan

Located Within: Jackson (Andrew) Park
Features: Has Restroom, Has Wi-Fi
Is Accessible
Note: A beach is considered accessible if it has an accessible path of travel (beach walk) to the shoreline.

Rules

  • Swim only when lifeguards are on duty.
  • Follow lifeguards’ instructions.
  • Only Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) are permitted. Person-children wearing PFDs should have adult present.
  • 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.
  • Access to the Lake Michigan Water Trail for sports such as kayaking, canoeing and other non-motorized board or paddle sports is allowed at the north end of 57th Street Beach.
  • No surfing or kiteboarding. Kiteboarding is ONLY permitted at Montrose Beach.

 

Hours

Facility Hours
Day Time slot Comment
Sunday: 11:00 am-7:00 pm
Monday: 11:00 am-7:00 pm
Tuesday: 11:00 am-7:00 pm
Wednesday: 11:00 am-7:00 pm
Thursday: 11:00 am-7:00 pm
Friday: 11:00 am-7:00 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am-7:00 pm

Hours Notes

The beach is open from 6 am to 11 pm, but swimming is only permitted during the beach season when lifeguards are on duty from 11 am to 7 pm, in designated swim areas.  The beach season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day, through Labor Day.

Description

57th Street Beach is located at 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive (57th St. @ Lake Michigan) in Jackson Park.  This beach features an ADA accessible beach walk and restrooms.  Beach goers can stop by the Tasty Grill offering a Mexican menu along with hot dogs and refreshing beverages.  The distance swimming area is located parallel to shore from 55th Street south to pier.  Limited street parking is available nearby, west of Lake Shore Drive.

Distance swimming area: parallel to shore from 55th St. south to pier

For questions regarding Chicago beaches, email beaches3@chicagoparkdistrict.com

History

The renowned designers of New York's Central Park, Olmsted & Vaux, laid out Jackson Park along with the adjacent Midway Plaisance and Washington Park in 1871. Their earliest park improvements included a beach composed of granite bricks at the location of what is now the 57th Street Beach.

Improvement plans for Jackson Park after the Columbian Exposition World's Fair included a sand beach. However, raw sewage was still being dumped into Lake Michigan, and the lake was not considered a desirable place to wade or swim. The beaches were often used as paved drives for strolling or promenading, rather than wading or bathing.

The lakefront did not become a popular place for public bathing until 1899, when Chicago's innovative Drainage Canal was complete. Since the turn of the century, the 57th Street Beach has been used by generations of Chicagoans.

In 1993, the Chicago Park District constructed a new beach house for the beach, and beach-goers can enjoy a beautiful view of the city skyline.

Parking/Directions

Parking
Limited street parking nearby, west of Lake Shore Drive
Get rates and additional information.

Public Transit
The following public bus & train routes serve this beach:

CTA Bus Routes:
6 Jackson Park Express
15 Jeffery Local
26 South Shore Express
28 Stony Island
55 Garfield
59 59th/61st
63 63rd
67 67th/69th/71st

 

Map & Facilities

57th St. Beach - Belly Up Ya Mon | Concession

5700 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

:
(773) 567-8200
default image
57th St. Beach - Belly Up Ya Mon | Concession

5700 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

:
(773) 567-8200
Show on Map