Grab your water wings and umbrella—it’s time to hit the beach.
Many North Shore beaches open Memorial Day weekend. And if you’ve got a resident pass to your local beach, you can use this list to break out of the “same old sand” rut. Pack a picnic and explore a new one!
Evanston
Lighthouse Beach
2611 Sheridan Road
Clark Street Beach
1811 Sheridan Road
Greenwood St. Beach
1401 Sheridan Road
Lee Street Beach
1111 Lake Shore Blvd.
Admission/Hours of Operation:
- Free Admission on Mondays from July 7 to August 25 for Evanston residents
- Free Admission for children under age one
- Daily beach admission: $8 adult, $6 children age 1-11
- Beaches open for the season Saturday, May 24 through June 6, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and June 7 to Labor Day, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Season tokens can be purchased at Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Season Token Prices: April 1 to June 10 $26/$42 R/NR; June 11 to July 31 $34/$58 R/NR; August 1 to Labor Day $17/$29 R/NR
Wilmette
Wilmette Beach
101 Lake Street
Gillson Park
Sheridan Road and Washington Avenue
Admission/Hours of Operation:
- Saturday, May 24 to Labor Day
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
- Daily Beach admission: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m: $4.25/$8.50 R/NR; 6-8 p.m.: $2/$4 R/NR
- Wilmette Beach Season Pass: Individual Pass: $40/$100 R/NR (must get photo ID for beach season pass)
- Grilling Permits: Free/$10 R/NR
Winnetka
Tower Beach
Tower and Sheridan Road
Elder Lane Beach
Elder and Sheridan Road
Maple Street Beach
Maple and Sheridan roads
Admission/Hours of Operation:
- Open for season Saturday, June 7
- Individual Season Pass: $55/$90 R/NR
Highland Park
Rosewood Beach
45 Roger Williams Ave.
“Rosewood Beach and the lower parking lot are closed during contruction.” – Park District of Highland Park website
Glencoe
Glencoe Beach
160 Hazel Ave.
Admission/Hours of Operation:
- Date Open: May 24-26 and May 31-June 1 (Preseason); June 2-August 3 (Regular season); August 4-24 & August 30-September 1 (Post season)
- Lifegurards on duty from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Standard beach admission is $6/$10 R/NR adults, $4/$7 R/NR youth and $2/$4 R/NR seniors.
- Individual season beach tokens are $78/$98 R/NR through June 2, $98/$118 R/NR after June 2 and $52/$57 R/NR after July 7
Lake Forest:
Forest Park Beach
Deerpath and Lake roads
Admission/Hours of Operation:
- Hours of Operation: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Dates open: Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, June 7 to Labor Day
- Beach guards on duty: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Saturday, June 7 to Sunday, Aug. 10; weekends only Saturday, Aug. 16 to Labor Day
- Residents need photo ID for free beach admission (can be made at Lake Forest Recreation Center, 400 Hastings Road)
- Weekends and holidays only: $10 for non-residents and residents without a valid form of residential identification
Lake Bluff
Sunrise Beach
455 Sunrise Ave.
Admission/Hours of Operation:
- Open Saturday, May 31 to Sunday, Aug. 10
- Life Guards on duty: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and weekends
- Park District Residents: Free (with resident beach pass)
- Non-Resident Daily Fee: $10 per person
Waukegan
Waukegan Municipal Beach (no lifeguards on duty)
201 Sea Horse Drive
Admission/Hours of Operation:
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day
- Daily Pass: Free entry
- $20 parking fee during weekends and holidays
Illinois Beach State Park
1 Lake Front Drive, Zion
Admission/Hours of Operation:
- Park Hours: April to Memorial Day weekend: open Sunrise to Sunset; Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend: open Sunrise to 8 p.m.
