Last Blast of Beach Day Fun Near Chicago

Aug 5, 2025

With school starting in just a week or two for most local cities and towns, we know many families are scrambling to cram in some last minute summer fun. Today, we’re sharing some local beaches and parks that make a great day trip out with the family. Call your friends and plan a picnic lunch to soak up the last rays of sunshine and beach time before the hectic school season begins. We’ve got many great choices for you just a short drive away from Classic in Waukegan!

Waukegan Dunes is a great local place to hit the beach! You’ll find gorgeous natural sand dunes, the clearest and cleanest water in the county, and numerous opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, sand castle building, and picnicking. There are no lifeguards on duty, so you can swim at your own risk.

Illinois Beach State Park offers 5 miles of swimming along Lake Michigan; unguarded beaches are swim at your own risk. The Park is open from 8AM to Sundown, and offers swimming, picnicking, hiking, fishing, and even camping. It’s a great last blast of summer just a short drive away! The park is a great day out for families and you’ll find more than 650 species of plants and hundreds of birds, thanks to the mixed environment of marshes, dunes, and forested area. Keep your eyes peeled for raptors like bald eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, cooper’s hawks, and more. Bring some hiking shoes to stretch your legs after you’re done swimming and sunning and hit the trails for a little more fun.

Loyola Beach is located in Rogers Park and is just perfect for a quick day trip. Located along Lake Michigan, you’ll have access to a beach, playground, nature area with trails, basketball court, and space to have a picnic lunch on the sand. Right nearby within walking distance you can head over to the Loyola Park area including softball and baseball fields, tennis courts, beach volleyball, natural dunes, sculptures and public art, and plenty of family fun! There’s a walk-up shack for concessions, The Blue Jay Cafe, and bathrooms on site.

Centennial Beach is a unique stop because it’s a hybrid beach area! This venue is not quite a swimming pool, not quite a lake, providing the best of both worlds with a life-guard monitored swimming area. There’s sand to sun and play in, a grassy area for picnics, slides and water play features in the shallower areas, and a deep end of up to 15 feet with diving options.

Ohio Street Beach is a smaller, more intimate beach that’s perfect for a quiet farewell to summer vacation. The beach is guarded from 11AM to 7PM, there’s an accessible beach walk, concessions, and bathrooms. You can swim at least half a mile north without being too far from the shallow end, making it a great place to swim distances. It makes a great day out with the kids as it’s close to Navy Pier, The Magnificent Mile, Jane Addams Memorial Park, and Milton Lee Olive Park.

Glencoe Beach is located on the North Shore of Lake Michigan. It’s a great day trip for families, as it offers numerous amenities and activities! The Beach has a sprayground for kids, beach volleyball, stand-up paddle boarding rentals, kayak and sail boating rentals, a concessions stand, and more. It’s a great place to have a day in the sun before school starts and enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach.

Gilson Main Beach, South Beach, and Langdon Beach in Wilmette all offer guarded beach swimming during the summer months. Please note that you must stay within the buoy’d and roped areas. Swimming outside of guarded hours is at your own risk. Kayaks, Stand-Up Paddleboards, and small personal watercrafts are allowed on the water, and boat rentals are available on weekends. Dogs are allowed in Gillson Park but are not allowed on any swimming beaches during operating hours; there are however special seasonal passes for the dog beach if you’d like to check that out for the future! Picnics are welcome and the Beach House offers concessions and a patio area.