Tower Road Park/Beach
Winnetka, Illinois · on Lake Michigan · Tower Road Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- May
About Tower Road Park/Beach
Tower Road Beach is an official, lifeguard-staffed swimming hole on Lake Michigan operated by the Winnetka Park District, located at 899 Sheridan Road in Winnetka, Illinois. It is a sand swimming beach with a beach house, playground, and fishing pier, open seasonally from late May through early September.
A developed North Shore Chicago suburban lake beach on Lake Michigan, with a sand beach, adjacent bluff-top park area, playground, and a pier used for fishing and sunbathing, near the residential neighborhoods of Hubbard Woods and Winnetka.
Swimming at Tower Road Park/Beach
Supervised, designated swimming area in Lake Michigan open only when lifeguards are on duty; swimming is prohibited outside staffed hours and after the beach season ends (post-Labor Day). Motorized and paddle craft (boats, paddleboards, kayaks, jet skis) and diving from the pier are prohibited, keeping the swim area focused on open-water/beach swimming rather than boating or watersports.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 899 Sheridan Road, Winnetka, IL, roughly 0.5 miles from Hubbard Woods and under a mile from downtown Winnetka.
Parking: Off-street beach lot parking requires a valid Winnetka Park District or Village of Winnetka parking sticker (enforced May 15-Sept 15); non-residents without a sticker are directed to park instead at Hubbard Woods Park (939 Green Bay Road).
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up municipal beach with an adjacent parking lot; no hike is needed. Non-residents parking instead at Hubbard Woods Park need to walk or bike a short distance over to the beach, but no exact distance is published by the park district.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Lifeguard-staffed sand beach in season, which supports family swimming, but swimming is prohibited whenever lifeguards are not on duty (including after Labor Day) and children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult; diving/jumping from the fishing pier is banned, suggesting deeper water or structure near the pier to avoid.
Parking
Lot
Off-street lower lot requires a valid Winnetka Park District or Village of Winnetka parking sticker/vehicle registration, enforced May 15-Sept 15 and limited to residents (Northfield taxpayers get stickers via season pass). Non-residents cannot use the Tower Road lot and are directed to park at Hubbard Woods Park (939 Green Bay Road) and walk or bike over instead; no specific parking fee amount is published.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms and showers are located in the on-site beach house at Tower Road Beach.
Hours
Beach season runs May 23-Sept 7 (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend), 9am to dusk with lifeguards on duty; swimming is not permitted outside these staffed hours or after the season ends.
Tower Road Park/Beach: FAQ
Does Tower Road Park/Beach charge a fee?
Season passes provide unlimited access; daily admission is also available for purchase through the park district.
Is Tower Road Park/Beach kid friendly?
Lifeguard-staffed sand beach in season, which supports family swimming, but swimming is prohibited whenever lifeguards are not on duty (including after Labor Day) and children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult; diving/jumping from the fishing pier is banned, suggesting deeper water or structure near the pier to avoid.
Do I need to hike to reach Tower Road Park/Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Tower Road Park/Beach?
Off-street lower lot requires a valid Winnetka Park District or Village of Winnetka parking sticker/vehicle registration, enforced May 15-Sept 15 and limited to residents (Northfield taxpayers get stickers via season pass). Non-residents cannot use the Tower Road lot and are directed to park at Hubbard Woods Park (939 Green Bay Road) and walk or bike over instead; no specific parking fee amount is published.
When is the best time to visit Tower Road Park/Beach?
Official beach season runs May 23 through September 7 (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend), 9am to dusk weather permitting.
What are the rules at Tower Road Park/Beach?
Swimming permitted only when lifeguards are present; children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult; glass containers, alcohol, skateboards, bicycles, and grills are prohibited; boats, paddleboards, kayaks, jet skis, and diving from the pier are not allowed; dogs are restricted to a separate designated dog beach elsewhere in Winnetka.
What water body is Tower Road Park/Beach on?
Tower Road Park/Beach is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
