Check the Beach
Chicago LFT GCOak Street Beach, Cook County

Illinois beaches

Which Illinois beach is best right now? 76 beaches ranked by live weather, wind, waves and water temperature.

Updated 5:31 pm local timeScores from Open-Meteo forecasts, refreshed hourlyColors follow the lifeguard flags

Top 3 right now

Ranked by live Beach Score right now, then by the best stretch ahead.

  1. 110.0Excellent

    Rocky Point Beach

    Marion County

    Good right now
    Air
    24°C76°F
    Water
    —
    Wind
    8 km/h5 mph
    Waves
    —
    Tomorrow, hour by hourBest 4 pm, 9.7
  2. 29.4Excellent

    Santa Fe Beach

    Carroll County

    Good right now
    Air
    22°C72°F
    Water
    —
    Wind
    6 km/h3 mph
    Waves
    —
    Tomorrow, hour by hourBest 4 pm, 9.1
  3. In Naperville Illinois one can experience the picturesque banks of the DuPage River by strolling along Riverwalk. A good place to start is on the east side of town where Webster Street stops at Jackso39.2Excellent

    Centennial Beach

    DuPage County

    Good right now
    Air
    22°C71°F
    Water
    —
    Wind
    5 km/h3 mph
    Waves
    —
    Tomorrow, hour by hourBest 3 pm, 9.2

Illinois today

A good day for the beach across Illinois: 76 of 76 scored beaches are good right now, and wind averages 9 km/h6 mph (light wind). Read at 5:31 pm; everything below is computed from that reading.

  • Calmest sea

    <0.1 m<1 ft waves

    Cherry Street Beach

    Cook County. Wind 8 km/h5 mph. Level with 9 other beaches.

  • Best for families

    8.4 Great

    Minear Lake Beach

    Lake County. Top score of the 6 scored beaches tagged with lifeguards.

Best hours

Illinois averages 8.1 Great this hour. The best hour today is 6 pm (8.8); the weakest is 9 am (7.7).

The strongest stretch runs 11 am to 7 pm.

7 to 10, green flag4 to 7, yellowUnder 4, redAverage of the scored beaches, each hour

All Illinois beaches

Filter by what you need, sort by what matters today, and hover a row to find it on the map.

76 beaches listed · 76 of 76 scored live

  1. Rocky Point Beach

    Marion County

    10.0Excellent

    Waves not available, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air24°C76°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Wavesn/a
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 7 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet

  2. Santa Fe Beach

    Carroll County

    9.4Excellent

    Waves not available, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air22°C72°F
    • Wind6 km/h3 mph
    • Wavesn/a
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 7 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  3. In Naperville Illinois one can experience the picturesque banks of the DuPage River by strolling along Riverwalk. A good place to start is on the east side of town where Webster Street stops at Jackso

    Centennial Beach

    DuPage County

    9.2Excellent

    Waves not available, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air22°C71°F
    • Wind5 km/h3 mph
    • Wavesn/a
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 7 pm
    • Free parking

  4. Indian Trail Beach

    McHenry County

    9.2Excellent

    Waves not available, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air21°C70°F
    • Wind6 km/h4 mph
    • Wavesn/a
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 7 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  5. Wonder Lake IL Waterfront - panoramio

    Wonder Center Beach

    McHenry County

    9.0Excellent

    Waves not available, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air21°C69°F
    • Wind2 km/h1 mph
    • Wavesn/a
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  6. Humboldt Park Pond Chicago 2020-0654

    Humboldt Beach

    Cook County

    8.8Excellent

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air19°C65°F
    • Wind9 km/h6 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  7. Caspian Tern

    Minear Lake Beach

    Lake County

    8.4Great

    Waves not available, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air18°C65°F
    • Wind10 km/h6 mph
    • Wavesn/a
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Lifeguards
  8. Horned Grebes

    Independence Grove Beach

    Lake County

    8.4Great

    Waves not available, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air18°C65°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Wavesn/a
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  9. Kitesurfers out having a blast on Lake Michigan in Waukegan, Illinois. I just came for some beach, harbor and lighthouse pics. Pleasant surprise.

    Waukegan Beach

    Lake County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind9 km/h6 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  10. IL 137 (Amstutz Expy) north at Grand Ave - Waukegan, IL - July 2025

    Waukegan Municipal Beach

    Lake County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind9 km/h6 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  11. Edgewater Chicago Hollywood Osterman Beach

    Ardmore Hollywood Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  12. "The North Shore" building name

    Clarendon Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking

  13. Devon Avenue Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  14. Foster Beach, Chicago, IL USA

    Foster Avenue Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  15. Chicago Bike Path @ Fullerton

    Fullerton Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking

  16. Glenlake Avenue Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  17. 20050122 70 near Sheridan Rd. and Granville Ave.

    Granville Avenue Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  18. Abandoned CTA Bus on Lake Shore DriveChicago Feb 2 2011 storm

    Lincoln Park Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  19. montrose beach, Chicago 2014

    Montrose - Wilson Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  20. Montrose Beach Lincoln Park Chicago

    Montrose Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  21. 20150704 03 North Ave. Beach

    North Avenue Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  22. Chicago LFT GC

    Oak Street Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking

  23. Rosemont Avenue Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  24. Public garden and park in Chicago near Thorndale Beach and George Lane Park

    Thorndale Avenue Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  25. Dog Beach Chicago

    Wilson Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  26. Eastern approach of the 41st Street Pedestrian Bridge

    41st Street Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  27. Cyclists on Lakefront Trail, in front of Indian Village, Chicago, 2025

    Forty-Ninth Street Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet

  28. Fortyninth Street Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  29. Northbound track at South Shore from the south

    Arthur Ashe Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  30. Calumet Park beach house

    Calumet Park Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  31. Beach house, 57th Street Beach, Chicago, Illinois. Constructed: 1993.

    Fifty-Seventh Street Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking

  32. Fiftyninth Street Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  33. Aerial view of Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois, US (PPL1-Corrected) julesvernex2

    Jackson Park Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  34. Calumet Park beach house (June 2024)

    Munson Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  35. Chicago Skyline from Rainbow Beach Park

    Rainbow Park Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  36. 20160220 88 South Shore Cultural Center

    Sixty-seventh Street Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  37. 20160220 88 South Shore Cultural Center

    South Shore Beach

    Cook County

    8.0Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  38. Green Bay Trail north at Cherry St - Winnetka, IL - July 2025

    Cherry Street Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  39. Cold Waves

    Dell Place Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  40. Green Bay Trail and Metra UPN crossing over Winnetka Ave - Winnetka, IL - July 2025

    Elder Lane Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  41. Glencoe, IL, USA

    Glencoe Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking

  42. Kenilworth Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet

  43. Maple Street Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Lifeguards

  44. Millard Beach

    Lake County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  45. Cliffside on the beach

    Park Avenue Boating/Fishing Beach

    Lake County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet

  46. Rosewood Beach

    Lake County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Lifeguards
  47. Green Bay Trail north at Cherry St - Winnetka, IL - July 2025

    Tower Road Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind8 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet

  48. Aquatics Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  49. Dog Beach

    Clark Street Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  50. Empty Pond

    Dog Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  51. Aerial view, Gillson Beach, Wilmette, Illinois.

    Gillson Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Lifeguards
  52. Large limestone blocks form a breakwater for Greenwood Street Beach in Evanston, Illinois. Early morning, about 10 minutes past sunrise, looking south.

    Greenwood Street Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  53. Built in 1908, this Mission Revival-style building was designed by Paul V. Hyland for Loyola University to serve as a classroom building, and was the first building to be built on the present campus.

    Hartigan Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  54. "Be barefoot, color barefoot, live barefoot"

    Helen Doria Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  55. CTA 5000-Series Meets 2600-Series

    Howard Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking

  56. Juneway Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Lifeguards

  57. Langdon Park Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  58. Empty Pond

    Lee Street Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  59. "Be barefoot, color barefoot, live barefoot"

    Leone Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  60. Lighthouse Beach, Evanston, Illinois.

    Lighthouse Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  61. Loyola Park Beach Rogers Park Chicago

    Loyola Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  62. "Be barefoot, color barefoot, live barefoot"

    Marion Mahoney Griffin Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  63. Looking south from North Beach, toward Lindheimer Astrophysical Research Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA. (Digitized from a Kodachrome taken in 1974)

    North Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet

  64. North Shore Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  65. "Be barefoot, color barefoot, live barefoot"

    Prinz Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking

  66. Rogers Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  67. "Be barefoot, color barefoot, live barefoot"

    Sherwin Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking

  68. South Boulevard Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C56°F
    • Wind9 km/h5 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  69. Main beach at southern unit of Illinois Beach State Park. Photo taken in 2006 by Dave Piasecki

    Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park

    Lake County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind9 km/h6 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Free parking
  70. Northpoint marina, rocky cove winthrop harbor, illinois - panoramio

    North Point Marina Beach

    Lake County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air15°C58°F
    • Wind9 km/h6 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet
  71. David Adler - Helen Sheed Reed Estate, Lake Forest, IL

    Forest Park Beach

    Lake County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C58°F
    • Wind10 km/h6 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • No facility details on OpenStreetMap yet

  72. Sunrise Beach

    Lake County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C58°F
    • Wind10 km/h6 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Lifeguards
  73. DIA Chicago 2017

    12th Street Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  74. Chicago, Illinois, U.S. (2023)

    Ohio Street Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  75. Lakefront Trail (bicycle trail) crossing under 31st Street.

    Thirty-first Street Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
  76. DIA Chicago 2017

    Twelfth Street Beach

    Cook County

    7.9Great

    Flat water, light wind.

    • Watern/a
    • Air14°C57°F
    • Wind11 km/h7 mph
    • Waves<0.1 m<1 ft
    TodayTomorrowBest 5 pm to 6 pm
    • Paid parking
Map of Illinois beaches with live score pins

Coastlines: Natural Earth, public domain. Pins are live scores.

7 and up4 to 7Under 4No live score hereHover a beach to find it. Click a group to zoom in.

Illinois by area

Every area we score, with its own read of today and its best beaches ranked. Filters above apply to the list, not to these.

Cook County

All 60 scored beaches in Cook County are good right now. Cherry Street Beach is the calmest, with 8 km/h5 mph of wind and <0.1 m<1 ft waves.

60 of 60 beaches good now

Each square is one beach, colored by its live flag.

See all 60 beaches in Cook County

Lake County

All 11 scored beaches in Lake County are good right now. Millard Beach is the calmest, with 8 km/h5 mph of wind and <0.1 m<1 ft waves.

11 of 11 beaches good now

Each square is one beach, colored by its live flag.

See all 11 beaches in Lake County

Sub-areas of Illinois

Each square is one beach, colored by its live flag. Outlined squares are in the dark.

  • Humboldt Park Pond Chicago 2020-06548.8Excellent

    Cook County

    60 of 60 beaches good now

    Best now: Humboldt Beach, 8.8 Excellent
  • Horned Grebes8.4Great

    Lake County

    11 of 11 beaches good now

    Best now: Independence Grove Beach, 8.4 Great
  • Wonder Lake IL Waterfront - panoramio9.0Excellent

    McHenry County

    2 of 2 beaches good now

    Best now: Wonder Center Beach, 9.0 Excellent
  • 9.4Excellent

    Carroll County

    1 of 1 beach good now

    Best now: Santa Fe Beach, 9.4 Excellent
  • In Naperville Illinois one can experience the picturesque banks of the DuPage River by strolling along Riverwalk. A good place to start is on the east side of town where Webster Street stops at Jackso9.2Excellent

    DuPage County

    1 of 1 beach good now

    Best now: Centennial Beach, 9.2 Excellent
  • 10.0Excellent

    Marion County

    1 of 1 beach good now

    Best now: Rocky Point Beach, 10.0 Excellent

Stays near Illinois’s best beaches today

Compare hotels and apartments near the beaches that score best today.

Partner links
  • 10.0 ExcellentRocky Point Beach now

    Stays near Rocky Point Beach

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  • 9.4 ExcellentSanta Fe Beach now

    Stays near Santa Fe Beach

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  • 9.2 ExcellentCentennial Beach now

    Stays near Centennial Beach

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Hotel results come from our stays partner. We may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you, and it never changes the beach score.

Illinois beach questions

Answered from today’s data. Numbers change as the forecast does.

What is the best beach in Illinois right now?

Rocky Point Beach has the top Beach Score right now: 10.0 Excellent, with 8 km/h (5 mph) of wind. Scores are ranked from live forecasts, so the order changes through the day.

What is the water temperature in Illinois today?

We do not have a water temperature for Illinois right now.

Where is the sea calmest in Illinois right now?

Cherry Street Beach has the smallest waves, at <0.1 m (<1 ft) with 8 km/h (5 mph) of wind. 9 other beaches are level with it.

Which Illinois beaches have lifeguards?

6 of 76 listed beaches are tagged with lifeguards on OpenStreetMap, including Gillson Beach, Juneway Beach and Maple Street Beach. Tags can be out of date, so follow the posted flags and staff on the day.

What is the best time to go to the beach in Illinois today?

Averaged across the scored beaches, the best hour today is 6 pm, at 8.8 Excellent, and the strongest stretch runs 11 am to 7 pm. Each beach page has its own hour-by-hour forecast.

Are there live beach cams in Illinois?

No live cams are listed for Illinois yet. If you run one, you can list it free.

How many beaches does Check the Beach cover in Illinois?

All 76 beaches in our data for Illinois are scored live on this page.

Sources: Open-Meteo weather and marine forecasts; facilities from OpenStreetMap. All sources.

More states in United States

Same live scores, same flags.

Run a cam on a Illinois beach? List it free.

Surf shops, hotels and lifeguard clubs: put your cam next to a live Beach Score and send beachgoers your way.

  • Free listing, with a credit and a link to your site on the beach page
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  • Cams load on click, so nothing autoplays
List your beach camTakes about 5 minutes.