A Day At The Beach: How Much Does It Cost?

The North Shore’s location along Lake Michigan sets it apart from other suburbs, making this area a beach destination for anyone seeking a break from the summer heat. But just how much does it cost to spend the day at the beach on the North Shore?

Daily North Shore researched each suburb’s beach fees and amenities from Wilmette to Lake Forest, taking into account costs for residents versus non-residents and daily fees versus seasonal. (Most municipalities offer early-bird discounts for season passes, but those dates have since passed and were not included in the round-up). Parking was a complicating factor. Some beaches offer free admittance to non-residents but charge for parking or don’t offer it at all. Some charge beach fees but street parking is free.

The most costly beach on the North Shore for non-resident visitors is Kenilworth, which charges $15 a day per person for non-residents. Highland Park offers free beach admission to non-residents but charges them $20-a-day to park. Lake Forest presents a unique challenge for non-residents; while admission is $10 on weekends and holidays, beach parking is for Lake Forest residents only. Daily parking passes are not available – out-of-town visitors either hoof it from downtown where free parking is available for a limited time, or pay $910 for an annual seasonal parking pass.

For residents, Wilmette’s Gillson Beach is the most expensive with a daily fee of $4.50, with parking as high as $12 over the weekend.

Lake Bluff and Highland Park tie for the best deal for local residents with free admission and parking. But it’s worth noting Glencoe’s resident daily fee of $4, which includes free parking and a courtesy cart to help patrons bring their stuff down the bluff to the beach.

Seasonal passes are the optimal choice for residents who like to soak in the sun frequently. Winnetka’s season pass is a deal for a family of four at $70, while seniors enjoy free admission. Glencoe’s season pass is the most expensive, at $129 for a family of four.

Here are the fees and amenities of various North Shore beaches:

Wilmette

Swimming: Langdon Beach, 1398 Sheridan Road; Gillson Beach, 101 Lake Street

Sailing: Gillson Beach, 101 Lake Street

Food: Gillson Beach house offers concession stand food; visitors can bring food and eat only at the designated picnic areas

Facilities: Gillson Beach offers a beach house with restrooms; Langdon Beach has a portable bathroom

Parking: Gillson Season parking pass $17 residents, $103 non-residents; Daily weekday fee $10 residents, $12 non-residents 9am-8pm; Daily weekends $12 residents, $15 non-residents; Langdon off-street parking only

Daily Fees: $4.50 residents, $9 non-residents 9am-6pm; $2 residents, $4 non-residents 6-8pm.

Season Passes: Individual $41 resident, $103 non-resident, Family of four $101 resident, $206 non-resident.

Flotation: no

Rentals: sailboats, kayaks and paddle boards, picnic shelters, grilling permits

Other amenities: spray playground, volleyball, special events

Kenilworth

Swimming: Kenilworth Beach, Sheridan Road

Food: No concessions. Visitors are welcome to bring food to eat at the beach or at tables

Facilities: beach house with restrooms

Season Pass: Individual $30 resident, $75 non-resident, Family of four $90 resident, $150 non-residents

Daily Fees: $5 residents, $15 non-residents

Parking: off-street

Flotation: no

Rentals: no

Other amenities: none

Winnetka

Swimming: Tower Road Beach, Tower and Sheridan Road; Maple Street Beach, Maple and Sheridan Road; Elder Lane Beach, Elder Lane and Sheridan Road

Sailing: Lloyd Park, 799 Sheridan Road

Food: Tower Road Beach house offers concessions and vending machines, visitors can bring food and are permitted to eat on the beach or in picnic areas

Facilities: Each of the swimming beaches has a beach house with restrooms

Parking: Tower Beach upper parking lot free, lower parking available for free to residents with Winnetka car registration sticker; Maple Beach off-street parking; Elder Lane Beach off-street parking

Daily Fees: $5 residents/ $10 non-residents

Season Pass: Individual $55 residents; $90 non-residents; family of four $70 residents and $112.50 non-residents; resident seniors free, resident and non-resident under 3 free

Flotation: no

Rentals: Tower Beach offers umbrellas and chairs; no rentals of sailboats, canoes, kayaks or similar vessels

Other amenities: Elder Lane Beach has playground, volleyball court; Tower Road Beach offers a volleyball court, wet sand play area, boardwalk from parking lot to beach house, two foot paths, picnic area; Lloyd Park offers boat launch

Glencoe

Swimming: Glencoe Beach, 55 Hazel Avenue

Sailing: Perlman Boating Beach 55 Hazel Avenue

Food: Little Red Hen runs concession stand – hot dogs, pizza, nachos and other snack food; visitors can bring food and eat on the beach or at picnic areas

Facilities: beach house with restrooms

Parking: Free parking lot with courtesy cart that runs daily to help patrons with items down the bluff

Daily Fees: Youth ages 2-17 $4 residents, $7 non-residents; under 2 free; Adults 18-64 $6 residents, $10 non-residents; Seniors 65 and over $2 residents, $4 non-residents

Season passes: Individual $99 residents, $124 non-residents; additional family $10 residents, $15 non-residents; Seniors $50 residents, $65 non-residents

Flotation: no

Rentals: chairs, umbrellas, sailboats, kayaks and paddle boards; five sun shelter picnic areas or shaded trellis available to rent for private parties

Other amenities: spray ground, two volleyball courts, shade structures, classes on beach, special events

Highland Park

Swimming: Rosewood Beach, 45 Roger Williams Avenue

Sailing: Park Avenue Beach, 21 Park Avenue

Food: Concessions with food for sale. Visitors are permitted to bring their own food to the beach

Amenities: beach house with restrooms

Parking: Residents park for free with City of Highland Park vehicle sticker, non-residents $20 daily to park in upper lot, or $150 season parking pass

Daily Fees: free

Season passes: no

Flotation: no

Rentals: no

Other amenities: Interpretive Center with meeting space and educational information for families, benches, picnic tables, built-in lounge chairs

Lake Bluff

Swimming: Sunrise Beach, Sunrise Avenue

Sailing: Lake Bluff Yacht Club is at the south beach; separate membership from beach

Food: No food is for sale. Residents are permitted to bring their own food to the beach

Amenities: beach house with restrooms

Parking: Off-street parking

Daily Fees: Free for residents and guests of residents; $10 non-residents

Season Passes: no

Flotation: inflatables allowed if life preservers are worn

Rentals: kayaks

Other Amenities: beach shelters with fireplaces and picnic tables, play equipment, complimentary beach chairs and games

Lake Forest

Swimming: Forest Park Beach, 220 East Deerpath Road

Sailing: Forest Park Beach

Food: Concession stand sells food and snacks, residents are permitted to bring their own food to the beach

Amenities: Beach house with restrooms

Parking: Fesidents with Lake Forest vehicle sticker park for free at Lower North and Lower South Parking Lots, non-residents can purchase annual parking permit for North Parking Lot for $910

Daily Fees: Free to residents seven days/week; free to non-residents Monday-Friday and $10 per person on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays

Season Passes: no

Flotation: no

Rentals: sailboats, paddle boards, windsurfers, kayaks, beach pavilions

Other Amenities: picnic tables, grills, volley ball nets