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Outdoors Lincoln Park

North Avenue Beach

An outdoor spot in Lincoln Park, free to visit and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Late afternoon.

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North Avenue Beach in Lincoln Park
Photo: Bohao Zhao · CC BY 3.0 · license

Why go

Lakefront beach and pier on the Lakefront Trail with one of the best views back to the Gold Coast skyline.

It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Lincoln Park, alongside 2 places to eat, 1 activity and 1 place for a drink. The closest of our other picks is Lincoln Park Zoo, 0.7 mi away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Outdoors · Beaches
Neighborhood
Lincoln Park
Price
Free
Time needed
45 min
Best time
Late afternoon

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 4 beyond Lincoln Park. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Lincoln Park Zoo

    Free zoo open every day of the year, with lions, gorillas and polar bears a few minutes from the lake.

    Activity · 0.7 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Lincoln Park Zoo ZooLights

    The city's free zoo turns into a light show with millions of bulbs from late November to early January.

    Activity · Chicago · 0.7 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Lincoln Park Zoo

    Free zoo set in a lakefront park, with conservatory and nature boardwalk nearby.

    Outdoors · Chicago · 0.8 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    R.J. Grunts

    Burger-and-brunch spot across from the zoo, open since 1971 as the first Lettuce Entertain You restaurant.

    Food · 0.8 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse

    Gold Coast steakhouse open since 1989, known for huge cuts, martinis and a packed bar on big nights.

    Food · The Loop & Chicago River · 0.8 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    The Drake

    1920 lakefront hotel at the top of the Magnificent Mile, known for afternoon tea in the Palm Court.

    Stay · Chicago · 0.9 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

North Avenue Beach is a stop on our Chicago New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Lincoln Park

North Avenue Beach is our only outdoors pick in Lincoln Park; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Lincoln Park guide.

When to go: weather by month, based on Chicago

Our climate figures for Lincoln Park come from nearby Chicago. Average daily highs in Chicago run from 32°F in January to 77°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For North Avenue Beach itself, we suggest: Late afternoon.

Modelled monthly averages for Chicago from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Chicago weather by month (covers Lincoln Park).

Getting there

Map links open a live search for North Avenue Beach, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
41.91280, -87.62503
Destination
Lincoln Park, Illinois

North Avenue Beach: quick answers

How much time do you need at North Avenue Beach?

Plan on about 45 minutes at North Avenue Beach. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit North Avenue Beach?

Our pick: Late afternoon. Insider tip: Walk out on the curved pier at the south end for the skyline; wind chill is much stronger by the water.

Is North Avenue Beach free?

Yes, we list North Avenue Beach as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Which TripsCircle routes include North Avenue Beach?

North Avenue Beach appears on Chicago New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add North Avenue Beach to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Lincoln Park.

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Lists & regions

Also in Lincoln Park

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.