Lighthouse Beach
Evanston, Illinois · on Lake Michigan · Lighthouse Landing
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $35
- SEASON
- May
About Lighthouse Beach
Lighthouse Beach is one of six public swimming beaches the City of Evanston operates on Lake Michigan, located on the city's north lakefront next to the historic Grosse Point Lighthouse. It is a lifeguarded, fee/pass-access beach with a marked swimming area, open seasonally from late May through early September.
The beach sits on Evanston's Lake Michigan shoreline, part of a stretch the city describes as offering 'miles of scenic paths, sandy beaches, and stunning views just minutes from downtown and Chicago.' It is immediately adjacent to the Grosse Point Lighthouse (2601 Sheridan Rd.), a 19th-century navigational light and National Historic Landmark, giving the beach its name.
Swimming at Lighthouse Beach
Swimming is only permitted in a lifeguarded, buoy-marked area during posted hours; it is open-water Lake Michigan swimming (waves, currents, and cold water are possible) rather than a calm swimming hole. The city designates it an accessible swimming beach for people with disabilities, with a Mobi-Mat leading into the water, suiting families and casual swimmers who stay within the guarded zone.
How to get to this swimming hole
Parking: The city states accessible parking is available on-site at Lighthouse Beach (as at all its beach locations); no other parking details (lot size, cost, or street parking) were found in official sources.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up city beach on Lake Michigan's shoreline in Evanston (adjacent to the Grosse Point Lighthouse), no trail or hike is involved. It's a short, flat walk from the on-site parking to the sand/water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Lifeguarded, buoy-marked swim area with an ADA Mobi-Mat entry and a rule requiring anyone under 10 be accompanied by someone 15+, which helps families with young kids. But this is open Lake Michigan water (not a calm swimming hole) and the city's own hazard policy states plainly that 'Lake Michigan is a dangerous body of water,' closing swimming for rip/lateral currents, high wind, waves, and seiche events. Fine for kids within the guarded, buoyed zone with active adult supervision, not a hands-off spot.
Parking
Available
The city confirms accessible parking is available on-site at Lighthouse Beach, but no source found specifies whether general (non-accessible) parking is a dedicated lot or street parking, its capacity, or whether it is free or metered, so cost and type are left null rather than guessed.
Restrooms
Yes
City's accessible-beaches page states accessible restrooms are available on-site at Lighthouse Beach along with accessible parking. Exact type (permanent bathhouse vs. portable/vault toilets) and precise location on the grounds were not specified in any official source found.
Hours
Seasonal, lifeguarded hours only (2026 posted schedule): May 23-June 5 11am-6pm; June 6-July 31 10:30am-8pm; Aug 1-28 10:30am-7:30pm; Aug 29-Sept 7 10:30am-6:30pm. Swimming is only permitted while lifeguards are on duty within these hours; the beach grounds may be accessible outside swim hours but swimming itself is not permitted then.
On the water
Restrictions: Non-motorized watercraft (kayaks, canoes, SUPs, small sailboats, windsurf boards) cannot be launched from Lighthouse Beach itself. Evanston restricts all non-motorized launching to the Dempster St. Beach facility (about 2 miles south), which requires a seasonal or daily permit: 2026 rates are $231 resident/$300 non-resident seasonal, $50 per additional vessel, and $25 resident/$33 non-resident for daily (Mon-Thu) passes, with half-price permits from August 1. Motorized boats and jet skis are restricted to the separate Church St. power boat ramp ($395 resident/$600 non-resident seasonal). Within the Lighthouse Beach swim area itself, inflatables and flotation devices are banned outright except USCG-approved life jackets, and swimmers may not cross the buoys into the boat-traffic zone.
Effectively there is no on-site watercraft launching at Lighthouse Beach; anyone wanting to paddle this stretch of Lake Michigan would need to obtain a Dempster St. launch permit and paddle over, or use a different public access point.
Backstory
The beach takes its name from the adjacent Grosse Point Lighthouse (2601 Sheridan Rd.), built 1872-1873 after Evanston residents lobbied for a light following the 1860 sinking of the steamship Lady Elgin, which killed over 300 people nearby. The lighthouse was deactivated briefly during WWII, relit in 1945, and named a National Historic Landmark in 1999.
Lighthouse Beach: FAQ
Does Lighthouse Beach charge a fee?
A season beach pass or daily ticket is required for all patrons age one and over. Season passes are free for Evanston residents in zip codes 60201/60202. Non-resident season passes range from $35-$85 depending on purchase date; Skokie-resident rates are lower ($24-$43). Daily tickets are $10 (Skokie resident) or $12 (other non-residents); discounted $5 guest tickets are available for guests of Evanston residents. Replacement passes are $10.
Is Lighthouse Beach kid friendly?
Lifeguarded, buoy-marked swim area with an ADA Mobi-Mat entry and a rule requiring anyone under 10 be accompanied by someone 15+, which helps families with young kids. But this is open Lake Michigan water (not a calm swimming hole) and the city's own hazard policy states plainly that 'Lake Michigan is a dangerous body of water,' closing swimming for rip/lateral currents, high wind, waves, and seiche events. Fine for kids within the guarded, buoyed zone with active adult supervision, not a hands-off spot.
Do I need to hike to reach Lighthouse Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lighthouse Beach?
The city confirms accessible parking is available on-site at Lighthouse Beach, but no source found specifies whether general (non-accessible) parking is a dedicated lot or street parking, its capacity, or whether it is free or metered, so cost and type are left null rather than guessed.
When is the best time to visit Lighthouse Beach?
Swim season runs from about May 23 through the week after Labor Day (per 2025 posted hours: 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. in peak June-July, shorter hours in the shoulder weeks of late May and late August/September).
What are the rules at Lighthouse Beach?
Swimming is permitted only when lifeguards are on duty and within the marked/buoyed swimming area; swimmers may not cross the buoys separating swim area from boat traffic. Inflatables/flotation devices are banned except USCG-approved life jackets. Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited, as is smoking/vaping. Pets are not allowed (service dogs excepted). Children under 10 must be accompanied by someone 15 or older. Snorkel/scuba use is restricted to certified divers at Greenwood Beach only, not Lighthouse Beach. A beach pass or ticket is required for entry.
What water body is Lighthouse Beach on?
Lighthouse Beach is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
