12th Street Beach
Chicago, Illinois · on Lake Michigan · Northerly Island
Verified · 5 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Beach season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, when swimming is permitted and lifeguarded.
About 12th Street Beach
12th Street Beach is a Chicago Park District beach on Lake Michigan, located on Northerly Island just south of the Adler Planetarium within Chicago's Museum Campus. An official, lifeguarded swimming beach with a designated swim zone parallel to the shoreline, it works as a downtown swimming hole for anyone looking for places to swim near the museums.
The beach sits on Northerly Island, a reshaped peninsula in Burnham Park on Chicago's lakefront, near the Adler Planetarium, Grant Park, and the city skyline. The island has a layered history: envisioned by Daniel Burnham in 1909, built by the South Park Commission in the 1920s, site of the 1933-34 Century of Progress World's Fair, and later home to Meigs Field airport (1948-1996) before being redeveloped as parkland.
Swimming at 12th Street Beach
Swimming takes place in Lake Michigan within a designated area running parallel to the shore out to a marked boat line, supervised by lifeguards during beach season. It is a sandy urban lake beach suited to casual open-water swimming rather than a secluded natural swim spot.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 1200 S. Linn White Drive on Northerly Island, just south of the Adler Planetarium within Chicago's Museum Campus; reachable via CTA Bus Route 146 (Inner Drive/Michigan Express) or by car with paid on-site parking.
Parking: Paid parking lot on-site plus limited street parking nearby.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up/walk-up urban beach on Northerly Island with an on-site parking lot and an accessible beach walk to the shoreline; no hike is required to reach the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Lifeguards are on duty only 11am-7pm during official beach season (Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day); swimming outside those hours or dates is unsupervised. It's a sandy, gently-shoreline urban Lake Michigan beach with a designated swim zone parallel to shore, but Lake Michigan can have wave action, current, and cold-water snaps even in summer, and no specific depth/shallow-entry description was found in official sources, so caution (especially with small kids) is warranted rather than assuming a calm, shallow wading beach.
Parking
Paid
On-site paid parking lot at the beach, plus limited free street parking nearby; exact lot fee is not published on the Chicago Park District page.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are inside the beach house on-site (per Chicago Park District's official page for 12th Street Beach).
Hours
Beach grounds open 6am-11pm daily; swimming/lifeguard supervision limited to 11am-7pm during official beach season (Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day).
On the water
Restrictions: Only non-motorized watercraft are permitted from the beach's boat launch; motorboats and jet skis are not allowed to launch here. Swimmers must stay within the designated swim area parallel to shore at the boat line, separate from the boat launch zone.
Chicago Park District's official page for 12th Street Beach confirms a non-motorized boat launch on-site, but this is a self-launch facility for boats people bring themselves, not a rental concession.
Rentals nearby
Single kayaks, double kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards (electric boats and the largest kayak fleet at their Chicago River location)
Prices: Single kayak $30/hr or $90/day; double kayak $40/hr or $120/day; stand-up paddleboard $30/hr or $90/day; electric boat $85/hr (rates prorated after the first hour in 15-minute increments; includes boat/board, paddle, PFD, and orientation)
Not on-site at 12th Street Beach/Northerly Island. Nearest Kayak Chicago location is North Ave Beach (1603 N Lake Shore Dr), roughly 3 miles north along the Chicago lakefront; they also operate from Montrose Beach (200 W. Montrose Harbor Dr., further north) and a Chicago River location (1220 W. Le Moyne St.). · Daily 10am-7pm (summer season)
Backstory
The beach dates to the 1920s, when women's organizations advocated for a public beach on Northerly Island instead of a landing field. The island later hosted the 1933-34 'Century of Progress' World's Fair and, from 1948-1996, Meigs Field airport, before being converted back to parkland.
12th Street Beach: FAQ
Does 12th Street Beach charge a fee?
No swimming/admission fee; the parking lot requires payment.
Is 12th Street Beach kid friendly?
Lifeguards are on duty only 11am-7pm during official beach season (Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day); swimming outside those hours or dates is unsupervised. It's a sandy, gently-shoreline urban Lake Michigan beach with a designated swim zone parallel to shore, but Lake Michigan can have wave action, current, and cold-water snaps even in summer, and no specific depth/shallow-entry description was found in official sources, so caution (especially with small kids) is warranted rather than assuming a calm, shallow wading beach.
Do I need to hike to reach 12th Street Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for 12th Street Beach?
On-site paid parking lot at the beach, plus limited free street parking nearby; exact lot fee is not published on the Chicago Park District page.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to 12th Street Beach?
Chicago Park District's official page for 12th Street Beach confirms a non-motorized boat launch on-site, but this is a self-launch facility for boats people bring themselves, not a rental concession.
When is the best time to visit 12th Street Beach?
Beach season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, when swimming is permitted and lifeguarded.
What are the rules at 12th Street Beach?
Swimming is restricted to the designated area parallel to the shore at the boat line; lifeguards are on duty only during posted swimming hours (11am-7pm) within the official beach season (Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day). General beach access hours are 6am-11pm year-round.
What water body is 12th Street Beach on?
12th Street Beach is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
