The Concrete Beach
Chicago, Illinois · on Lake Michigan · Lincoln (Abraham)
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Local spot, unofficial
- FEE
- $12
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About The Concrete Beach
The Concrete Beach is an informal stretch of Lake Michigan seawall in Chicago's Gold Coast/Old Town area, sitting between North Avenue Beach and Oak Street Beach near 1000 N Lake Shore Dr. Rather than sand, visitors use the flat concrete ledge to sunbathe and enter deeper water directly, making it the closest thing downtown Chicago has to an urban swimming hole, and the spot went viral online in July 2026 for its distinctly urban, no-frills character.
The site is a paved seawall/promenade edge along Lake Michigan's Gold Coast shoreline, flanked by high-rise apartment buildings and Lake Shore Drive, with Oak Street Beach to the south and North Avenue Beach to the north. It is an entirely urban, hardscape setting rather than a natural shoreline.
Swimming at The Concrete Beach
According to a visitor quoted in Block Club Chicago, the concrete ledge offers water deep enough that 'you can jump in the water and actually swim,' unlike the shallow wading typical of the adjacent sandy beaches; another visitor noted people jump straight off the ledge 'because it's already so deep.' It suits people looking to swim laps or cool off quickly rather than lounge on sand, and is described by locals as less crowded than Oak Street Beach. Entry/exit is informal -- photos accompanying the coverage show people using an existing ladder set into the seawall to get in and out of the water, rather than any official beach access point.
How to get to this swimming hole
The spot is a stretch of Lake Michigan seawall/lakefront path reachable on foot along the Chicago Lakefront Trail between Oak Street Beach (1000 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr) to the south and North Avenue Beach (1601 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr) to the north, in the Gold Coast/Old Town area. Nearest CTA transit to Oak Street Beach is the Red Line at Clark/Division, plus bus routes 22, 36, and 151.
Parking: No dedicated parking at the seawall itself. Nearest paid options are garages a short walk from Oak Street Beach: 130 E Oak St (about a 5-minute walk via pedestrian underpass, ~$22 for 8 hours), 100 E Bellevue Pl (~8-minute walk, ~$15 for 3 hours), and 57 E Oak St (~7-minute walk, ~$12 for 3 hours); the Chicago Park District also notes only limited metered street parking near Oak Street Beach, with CTA transit as an alternative.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- a few minutes on foot from Oak Street Beach; roughly 10-15 min walk from North Avenue Beach
Difficulty: easy -- flat, fully paved lakefront path, no elevation change
Trailhead: No formal trailhead -- reached on foot via the paved Chicago Lakefront Trail, immediately adjacent to Oak Street Beach (1000 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr) to the south and North Avenue Beach (1601 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr) to the north.
Sits along the 18-mile paved Chicago Lakefront Trail, described in local coverage as 'the strip of seawall just north of Oak Street Beach.' No mileage to the exact ledge was published; the walk from either adjacent beach is short and flat.
This is an urban walk, not a hike. Entry to the water itself is via an informal ladder built into the seawall rather than a graded trail or beach ramp.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Not ideal for young kids
There's no gradual/shallow entry -- swimmers use an informal ladder set into the seawall to drop straight into deep water. No lifeguards, flags, or rescue equipment cover this stretch (unlike the adjacent Oak Street/North Avenue beaches), and NWS guidance flags piers/breakwalls/seawalls like this as the site of most Great Lakes current-related drownings. Families wanting a supervised, shallow-entry option should use Oak Street Beach next door instead.
Parking
Paid, $12-22 for a few hours
No dedicated parking at the spot itself; limited metered street parking near Oak Street Beach per the Park District. Nearest paid garages: 130 E Oak St (~5 min walk, ~$22/8 hrs), 100 E Bellevue Pl (~8 min walk, ~$15/3 hrs), 57 E Oak St (~7 min walk, ~$12/3 hrs). North Avenue Beach to the north also has a paid parking lot but is described as having limited capacity, with the Park District encouraging CTA transit instead.
Restrooms
Yes
None onsite at the seawall itself. Nearest restrooms are at adjacent Oak Street Beach (about a 5-10 minute walk south) and at North Avenue Beach (about a 0.5 mi walk north), both of which have Chicago Park District restrooms and an ADA-accessible beach walk.
Hours
No posted hours for the informal seawall itself, but the flanking official beaches (Oak Street, North Avenue) are lifeguarded roughly 11am-7pm from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, which is effectively when supervised swimming and adjacent facilities are staffed.
On the water
No boat launch or ramp exists at the Concrete Beach itself -- it's a vertical seawall with an informal ladder, not a launch point. Kayak, paddleboard, and jet ski rentals are available roughly 0.5 mi north at North Avenue Beach (see rentals below); no source found addressing whether visitors can hand-launch personal kayaks/paddleboards directly off this specific seawall.
Rentals nearby
Kayak and paddleboard rentals, equipment provided
North Avenue Beach, 1603 N Lake Shore Dr -- about 0.5 mi north of the Concrete Beach · Daily, 10am-7pm
Great Lakes Board Company
Wakeboard and paddleboard rentals (per Chicago Park District's North Avenue Beach facilities listing)
North Avenue Beach, 1601 N Lake Shore Dr -- about 0.5 mi north of the Concrete Beach
Jet ski (Yamaha VX110 Waverunner) rentals
200 W Montrose Harbor Dr -- about 4.5 mi north of the Concrete Beach, not adjacent
What regulars say
Visitors describe the Concrete Beach as noticeably less crowded than adjacent Oak Street Beach. One visitor contrasted the 'hustle-bustle' of the sandy beach with people 'in their own space just chilling, vibing' on the concrete. Another called the sun-warmed slab feel 'like lying on a heating pad' on hot days. One regular described it as a 'self explanatory concrete beach... one of my favorite approaches to the city,' favoring it as an informal lakefront hangout rather than a swim-focused destination.
The Concrete Beach: FAQ
Does The Concrete Beach charge a fee?
Free to access -- it is an open, unmanaged stretch of public seawall/lakefront path with no admission charge. Nearby parking garages charge separately (roughly $12-22 for a few hours; see parking notes).
Is The Concrete Beach kid friendly?
There's no gradual/shallow entry -- swimmers use an informal ladder set into the seawall to drop straight into deep water. No lifeguards, flags, or rescue equipment cover this stretch (unlike the adjacent Oak Street/North Avenue beaches), and NWS guidance flags piers/breakwalls/seawalls like this as the site of most Great Lakes current-related drownings. Families wanting a supervised, shallow-entry option should use Oak Street Beach next door instead.
Do I need to hike to reach The Concrete Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for The Concrete Beach?
No dedicated parking at the spot itself; limited metered street parking near Oak Street Beach per the Park District. Nearest paid garages: 130 E Oak St (~5 min walk, ~$22/8 hrs), 100 E Bellevue Pl (~8 min walk, ~$15/3 hrs), 57 E Oak St (~7 min walk, ~$12/3 hrs). North Avenue Beach to the north also has a paid parking lot but is described as having limited capacity, with the Park District encouraging CTA transit instead.
When is the best time to visit The Concrete Beach?
Summer, roughly the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, which is when Chicago Park District lifeguards staff the flanking Oak Street and North Avenue beaches (11am-7pm) and lake water is warm enough for swimming; visitors quoted in Block Club Chicago specifically favor the concrete on hot summer days, when the sun-warmed surface feels 'like lying on a heating pad.'
What are the rules at The Concrete Beach?
Per the Chicago Park District's official beach rules, swimming is only permitted at designated, lifeguarded beaches during posted lifeguard hours (roughly 11am-7pm, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day); the district states that 'swimming outside of those hours or anywhere other than a beach is strictly prohibited.' The Concrete Beach is not a designated swim beach, so swimming there is technically outside official rules even though it is a popular informal practice.
What water body is The Concrete Beach on?
The Concrete Beach is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
