
Enjoying the view of Glencoe Beach.
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

The entrance to Kenilworth Beach
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

Winnetka’s Elder Lane Beach includes a park and playground on the bluff.
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

Glencoe Beach
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

Sunrise Beach in Lake Bluff
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
It is 15.00 an hour to park at Rosewood Beach. Was just there yesterday.