Waukegan Municipal Beach

Near Waukegan, Illinois · on Lake Michigan · North Beach Park

Verified · 4 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: Yes, see below
SEASON: Best in summer

About Waukegan Municipal Beach

Waukegan Municipal Beach is a city-run, mile-long public sandy beach on Lake Michigan in Waukegan, Illinois, managed by the City of Waukegan at North Beach Park (201 E. Sea Horse Drive). Swimming is officially permitted along the shoreline of this urban swimming hole, alongside volleyball, kiteboarding, and a large adjacent marina.

The beach sits along a mile-long stretch of Lake Michigan sandy shoreline adjacent to a 1,000-slip marina and Waukegan's downtown arts district, reachable by car, train, bicycle, or boat.

Swimming at Waukegan Municipal Beach

Open-water swimming is permitted directly off the sandy Lake Michigan shoreline, but the city states no lifeguards are on duty, so swimming is at one's own risk. The same waterfront also hosts volleyball and kiteboarding, indicating a broad recreational-swim beach rather than a supervised bathing area.

How to get to this swimming hole

Located at 201 E. Sea Horse Drive, Waukegan, IL 60085, near downtown Waukegan; the city describes it as accessible by car, train, bicycle, or boat.

Parking: Free for holders of a city vehicle sticker and for pedestrians/cyclists. On summer season weekends and federal holidays, non-sticker vehicles pay $20/day ($30 on Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Labor Day). Active military, veterans, and first responders park free. Accessible parking is available.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up municipal beach with an adjacent parking lot at 201 E. Sea Horse Drive; no trail or hike is needed to reach the shoreline.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Wide sandy beach with gradual open-water entry typical of a mile-long Lake Michigan swim beach, but the city explicitly states no lifeguards are on duty and swimming is at your own risk, so young children need close supervision.

Parking

Paid, $20/day for non-sticker vehicles on summer weekends (Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day) and federal holidays; $30 on Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Labor Day

Free for holders of a Waukegan vehicle sticker and for anyone arriving on foot or bike; active military, veterans, and first responders park free. Lot is at 201 E. Sea Horse Drive. Walking distance from the lot to the sand is not specified in official sources.

Restrooms

Yes

Accessible restrooms are available at the beach facility per the city's official beach page, though exact location within the park (e.g. near the pavilion) is not specified.

Hours

Dawn to dusk, daily, year-round (per City of Waukegan beach page); parking fees apply only during the summer season on weekends and listed holidays.

On the water

Motorboats

Restrictions: Per the city's official beach page, motorized watercraft may only land on the beach north of a designated marker and may not enter the public swimming area. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are not specifically addressed in official sources found, so their allowance is unconfirmed rather than assumed.

The beach sits adjacent to a roughly 1,000-slip marina/harbor, implying general boat traffic in the area, but no official source found addresses non-motorized watercraft launching from the swim beach itself.

Waukegan Municipal Beach: FAQ

Does Waukegan Municipal Beach charge a fee?

No general admission fee; parking fees apply for non-resident vehicles on summer weekends and listed holidays as described above.

Is Waukegan Municipal Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Waukegan Municipal Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Waukegan Municipal Beach?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Waukegan Municipal Beach?

When is the best time to visit Waukegan Municipal Beach?

Summer, per the seasonal weekend/holiday parking-fee schedule; the beach itself is open dawn to dusk year-round.

What are the rules at Waukegan Municipal Beach?

No alcoholic beverages, glass containers, littering, pets on the sand, vehicles, loud music, or open fires (charcoal grilling limited to designated grass picnic areas and the Stiner Pavilion). Visitors must stay on marked trails and may not feed wildlife. Motorized watercraft may only land north of designated markers, with restrictions near swimming zones.

What water body is Waukegan Municipal Beach on?

Waukegan Municipal Beach is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.