Gillson Park
Wilmette, Illinois · on Lake Michigan · Gillson Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $11
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Gillson Park
Gillson Park is a roughly 60-acre lakefront park operated by the Wilmette Park District in Wilmette, Illinois, located at Lake Ave & Michigan Ave along Lake Michigan. It contains the district's main swimming beach, a lifeguarded Lake Michigan swimming hole open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, along with a separate dog beach, boat and sailing rentals, and picnic facilities.
The park sits directly on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Wilmette on Chicago's North Shore, offering open lake views and sandy beach frontage adjacent to residential lakefront suburbs (Kenilworth, Winnetka, Evanston are all within a few miles).
Swimming at Gillson Park
Swimming is in open Lake Michigan water at a designated, lifeguard-supervised swimming beach (one of two swim beaches at the park). It is a managed, family-oriented lake beach rather than a secluded natural swim spot, suited to casual lake swimming and families rather than deep-water or long-distance swimmers given the supervised-hours structure.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at Lake Ave & Michigan Ave in Wilmette, a short drive from nearby North Shore towns such as Kenilworth, Winnetka, and Evanston.
Parking: Paid on-site parking: daily rates of $17 (resident) / $21 (non-resident) on weekdays and $21/$26 on weekends; annual parking decals available for $40 (resident) / $203 (non-resident); vehicle entry gates operate 6am-9pm and vehicles left after 10:30pm are ticketed.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up lakefront park; the swim beach is a short walk from the paid parking lot. No trail or hike is required.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Designated swim beach has lifeguards during posted season/hours (Memorial Day-Labor Day, 10am-8pm daily through late August), plus a tot lot nearby, so it's family-oriented, but coverage thins late-season: starting Aug 24 there are NO lifeguards on weekdays at Main/South Beach (weekend-only, 11am-5pm), and swimming outside lifeguarded hours is officially prohibited. Treat it as safe for kids only when lifeguards are actually on duty.
Parking
Paid, $17 (resident) / $21 (non-resident) weekdays, $21/$26 weekends; annual decal $40 (resident) / $203 (non-resident)
On-site paid lot at 800 Gillson Park Drive, Wilmette. Vehicle entry gates operate roughly 6am-9pm; vehicles left after 10:30pm are ticketed. Exact walking distance from lot to the swim beach not stated in sources, but it is a short, level walk within the lakefront park (no hike).
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are available at the Beach House at the swimming beach; the Lakeview Center (near the Wallace Bowl amphitheater) also provides restroom access for renters/visitors.
Hours
Swimming beach open with lifeguards Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10am-8pm; from Aug 24 to close (last day ~Sept 7), weekday lifeguards are removed from Main and South Beach (swim-at-own-risk) with weekend-only coverage 11am-5pm. Vehicle gates roughly 6am-9pm.
On the water
Restrictions: Personal kayaks/SUPs may only be launched via a seasonal paid 'trail-in permit' ($105 resident/$131 non-resident) through a protected cove near the dog beach, Memorial Day-Labor Day; life jackets required; vessels may not enter designated swim areas. Personal sailboats are not permitted to launch (sailboats only available via the park district's own rental fleet). No mention of motorboats or jet skis being allowed.
All formal watercraft use at Gillson Park runs through the Wilmette Park District's own Sailing Beach program (rentals or trail-in permits) rather than open personal boat launching.
Rentals nearby
Kayak and paddleboard (SUP) rentals (single or double kayak), plus sailboat rentals (Sunfish, Hobie Wave, Hobie Getaway) and private sailing lessons
Prices: 90-min kayak/SUP: $64 resident/$80 non-resident (single), $95/$118 (double kayak); 60-min sailboats: Sunfish $66/$82, Hobie Wave $93/$112, Hobie Getaway $109/$130; trail-in permit for personal kayak/SUP launch: $105/$131 seasonal
Wilmette Sailing Beach, Gillson Park, 800 Gillson Park Drive, Wilmette, IL (beach house at 101 Lake Ave) · Season May 9-Oct 11; peak operating window 8am-8pm Memorial Day-Labor Day, with availability limited to Saturdays and Sundays through mid-August per the site
Gillson Park: FAQ
Does Gillson Park charge a fee?
Daily beach admission passes: Gillson Swimming Beach $11 (resident) / $17 (non-resident); South Beach $5/$10; Langdon Beach $11/$17. Season beach-only and beach+pool combo passes also available, with early-bird pricing through 5/22.
Is Gillson Park kid friendly?
Designated swim beach has lifeguards during posted season/hours (Memorial Day-Labor Day, 10am-8pm daily through late August), plus a tot lot nearby, so it's family-oriented, but coverage thins late-season: starting Aug 24 there are NO lifeguards on weekdays at Main/South Beach (weekend-only, 11am-5pm), and swimming outside lifeguarded hours is officially prohibited. Treat it as safe for kids only when lifeguards are actually on duty.
Do I need to hike to reach Gillson Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Gillson Park?
On-site paid lot at 800 Gillson Park Drive, Wilmette. Vehicle entry gates operate roughly 6am-9pm; vehicles left after 10:30pm are ticketed. Exact walking distance from lot to the swim beach not stated in sources, but it is a short, level walk within the lakefront park (no hike).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Gillson Park?
All formal watercraft use at Gillson Park runs through the Wilmette Park District's own Sailing Beach program (rentals or trail-in permits) rather than open personal boat launching.
When is the best time to visit Gillson Park?
Summer, specifically Memorial Day through Labor Day, when the beach is lifeguarded and swimming is officially permitted.
What are the rules at Gillson Park?
Swimming is permitted only during the posted season (Memorial Day through Labor Day), 10am-8pm, when lifeguards are on duty; swimming is strictly prohibited outside those hours and after Labor Day. Dogs are restricted to a separate designated dog beach requiring a permit.
What water body is Gillson Park on?
Gillson Park is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
