Life's a Beach: Guide to Lake County Beaches 2021
By: Kelli Smith 06/09/2021
Summertime is on the horizon! Lake County is lucky to be the home of over 200 lakes and miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, and that means that we have all kinds of beaches! Looking for an adventure on Lake Michigan? Try Illinois Beach State Park in Zion. Are you searching for a little bit more of a relaxed experience for the little guppies? Lake Zurich's Paulus Park beach has lifeguards and a water playground!
Insider Tip! Check the Lake County Beach Advisory page HERE for daily updates on inland and Lake Michigan beaches. Grab your towels, pull out your aqua toys, apply the sunscreen, find a good spot in the sand, kick back and relax, because life's a beach sometimes. Here is your guide to Lake County beaches.
- 55 Boat Slips are available.
- Located on the Channel Lake of the Chain O' Lakes.
- Must order from the restaurant to gain beach access.
- Restaurant & concessions.
- Marine service, Boat launch and repair.
- Fishing is available.
- Largest picnic grove combined with beach area on the Chain O' Lakes.
- Beach and picnic area are only available to marina members without Thirsty Turtle Brew & View access.
- Open Daily 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed on Tuesdays.
42273 N. Woodbine Ave., Antioch.
- Ample parking and bathrooms with showers.
- NO on-duty lifeguards.
- Park Hours: Sunrise to 8 pm. Open Memorial day-Labor Day.
- Free admission.
- North Point Marina is located five miles north of Illinois Beach. The full-service, boat center and food concession marina offers 1,500 boating slips.
- Fishing is allowed on the beach area.
- Groups of 25 are required to register in advance with the site office.
- One adult must accompany each group of 15 minors.
- Pets are allowed but must be kept on a leash.
16400 W. Buckley Rd., Libertyville.
- Regular summer hours from June 7-August 8; 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Post Season Weekday Hours: August 9-13, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Post Season Weekend Hours: August 14-15, 21-22, 28-29; September 4-6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Admissions is $5-$11 per visit. Beach pass per person is $40 for residents, $65 for nonresidents. Families up to 7 beach pass is $75 for residents and $125 for nonresidents.
- The park provides a sprayground water play area, volleyball court, picnic tables, shelters, grills, playground, horseshoes, swimming and nature area.
- Beaches are open weather permitting.
200 S. Rand Rd., Lake Zurich.
- Access to Spring Lake Beach is free for all residents and non-residents for the 2021 season.
- Flotation devices are permitted at Spring Lake Beach.
- Open May 29-September 6 daily; open sunrise to sunset.
- There will be no lifeguards on duty at any time, swim at your own risk.
49 Oxford Dr., Lincolnshire.
- Open daily through-Mid August.
- Weekends open till Sept 2.
- Hours each day are 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Memberships: Family membership $185, individual membership $115, senior membership $90, 10 visits for $100 (refill for $50) and fishing pass $65 plus membership.
- All licensed fishermen are welcome to fish from shore during the beach's open hours. Fishing before and after beach hours is only permitted with an extended beach license. You must have an extended license to bring your own boat.
- Fishing allowed from the shore or by boat. Fish species include crappie, bass, bluegill, walleye, catfish and northern pike. Lake Minear is a catch and release lake.
- Lake Minear offers volleyball, full-service concessions, special events, free WI-FI, fishing, swimming lessons and party rentals.
600 W. Oak Spring Rd., Libertyville.
- Daily Passes, Residents: $5; Daily Pass, Non-resident: $7
- Season Pass, Residents: $25 for an individual, $15/ea for four or more, $15 for seniors; Season Pass, Non-residents: $35 for an individual, $25/ea for four or more, $25 for seniors.
- Open Monday-Friday, June 5-August 8; Weekdays 11 a.m.-6 p.m., weekends 10 a.m-7 p.m. and holidays noon-6 p.m.
- Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Diamond Lake Beach offers a playground, picnic tables, volleyball nets, changing room, lawn chairs and grills.
- Paddleboats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available to rent between $3-$5 per hour.
- Diamond Lake Beach features free special events throughout the season for everyone to enjoy.
- Concessions are available, and outside food is permitted.
1016 Diamond Lake Rd., Mundelein.
- Open Memorial Day-Labor Day; Weekday hours 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (until September 1st), weekend hours 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
- Daily passes: $5 per person (Under 3 free)
- Row boats, paddleboats and paddleboards are available for rent; $5-$10 per hour or double kayak/rowboat rental at $15 per day.
- From June 7-August 13, there will be a lifeguard on duty from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., daily.
- Mini golf: $1 per round.
- Campground offers playgrounds, free parking, picnic tables, grills, basketball hoops (near the beach) and a volleyball net.
- Catch & keep fishing. Limits include three bass per day (under 14 in, release bass over 14 in), three catfish per day, five bluegills per day, five crappies per day, five yellow perch per day and unlimited carp. Fishing admission between $6-$10.
32223 N. US Highway 12, Volo.
- The beach is open year-round; 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Free Entry
- $10 parking on the weekends and holidays for vehicles without a Waukegan city sticker
- The beach features one mile of sand that is groomed daily along with some of the only natural dunes in the area.
- Recreational activities include swimming, sunbathing, picnicking and sand volleyball.
- No lifeguards on duty at this facility.
- No pets allowed on the beach.
- The marina offers 1,000 slips for the recreational fisher, competitive boat racer, beginning kiteboarder and everyone in between.
- Waukegan band performs in their summer concert series every Tuesday over the summer at the Stiner Pavilion.
201 Sea Horse Dr., Waukegan.
- Open June 5-August 15, August 21-22, August 28-29, September 4-6; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily.
- Rosewood Beach Swimming Pass is required for each individual to access the swimming and recreation coves during swimming hours. Resident Season Pass is free with proof of residency; Non-resident season pass is $100 for head of household and $25 for each additional household member; Non-resident daily pass is $10 per person.
- The beach features a natural cove, concessions, restrooms and more.
- Recreational activities include swimming and stand up paddleboarding.
- After school, early childhood and public programs available at various times.
- Lakefront Parking Decal is required for all vehicles at all lakefront parking lots. Resident Season Parking decal is $30 per vehicle; Non-resident season parking decal is $285 per vehicle, Non-resident daily parking fee is $15 hourly or $40 for 4-hour parking.
- Picnic rentals available
883 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park
To learn more about Lake County beaches, continue here.
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