Linger on the banks of Lake Michigan at picturesque Montrose Beach, where you can be a lazy sun-seeker or a fitness fanatic. Spend your day kayaking along the edge of the lake and swimming in the calm water or simply lay down a towel and relax on one of the city’s finest beaches. As one of the most popular beaches in Lincoln Park, it’s also one of the best serviced, with restaurants, sporting stores and playing fields nearby.
Montrose Beach is well equipped to serve its numerous patrons who come to spend a day by glistening Lake Michigan. Restrooms, showers and concessions stands face the beach.
Seek out rental outlets to pick up a kayak and paddles or to book a spot playing volleyball on the sand.
Distance swimming is also popular here, especially in summer, with a dedicated area near Tower 4 on the beach.
Head to the north end of the shoreline to meet some of the beach’s four-legged patrons. Dogs are welcome in this section, where they enjoy playing in the waves.
Explore the dunes to the south of the beach. Bring your binoculars to look for the migratory birds that flock here outside of summer. The natural area is also home to several species of endangered plants. This tranquil, green corner of the park feels a world away from the buzzing beach area.
Wander around the surrounding area of Lincoln Park. Several sports fields line the edge of the beach here. A scenic harbor area sits directly to the south of the beach.
Spend your evening in a restaurant that faces the lake, enjoying deep-dish pizza or a tasty cocktail after a day by the lake.
Montrose Beach is located outside the Uptown neighborhood, about 7 miles (11 kilometers) north of Downtown Chicago. Metered parking is available for anyone driving to the beach, while buses and metro trains also run to nearby streets. Come in the summer, when lifeguards patrol the shoreline, to enjoy swimming.
