Take a Dip! Our Favorite Swimming Holes Near Chicago

Centennial Beach

What began as a limestone quarry that supplied foundations for many of the buildings in Naperville, is now Naperville’s sandy retreat on sweltering summer days. This man-made watering hole has some impressive stats. Centennial Beach holds 6.2 million gallons of water and increases from zero-depth entry to 15 feet, making it perfect for a broad range of swimmers.

If you want to escape to the deep end and use the diving boards, you must pass a 100-meter swim test. For those sticking to the shallow end, enjoy the water slide, pumps and sprayers, large sandy area with play structures, bag toss, umbrellas and chairs. Beachgoers are welcome to bring their own food or the cafe serves hot-off-the-grill meals and cool treats. Bonus: Located a quick hop, skip and a jump away from the beach along the scenic Riverwalk you’ll find Paddleboat Quarry, where kayaks and paddleboats are available to rent.

McHenry Petersen Park

Throw down a beach towel and dig your piggies into the sandy shores of Petersen Park Beach in McHenry. Lifeguards secure the swimming area that never feels overwhelming because it doesn’t get too crowded. Throughout the summer the park hosts a variety of events, like Big Wheel races and a music fest.  Affordable boat, kayak and barracuda bike rentals are available. This lake is known as being a popular spot for water sports, so once you’ve taken a dip, take to your towel and sit back and enjoy the show.

Three Oaks Recreation Area

With its pristine lakes, Three Oaks offers many amenities, including a beach, boat rentals, catch-and-release fishing, hiking/biking trails, a splash park with spray jets and buckets of water being poured from overhead, a playground with memory foam decking and scuba facility. Guests are welcome to bring their own food or enjoy a meal from the on-site Culver’s.

West Beach at Indiana Dunes

Lake Michigan provides Chicagoans the ultimate watering hole, all the fun of the ocean minus the salt. Experience the lake from a different perspective at West Beach at Indiana Dunes, with fishing nearby at Long Lake. Traverse several marked trails along the dunes that include a boardwalk and 250 stairs to a spectacular overlook of the lake with stunning views of Chicago on the horizon. West Beach sits at the southernmost tip of Lake Michigan and has a lifeguard on duty and bathhouse on-site — key for those with little ones. Covered picnic shelters and grills offer a great spot to break bread after a day’s worth of fresh-air activity.

Whiting Park and Whihala Beach

You may not know this beach that’s a quick 30-minute drive south of the city in Whiting, IN, but it’s worth adding to your summer agenda. Whihala Beach covers 21 acres complete with bike trails, a concession stand, boat ramp, a fishing pier and excellent views of the Chicago skyline to boot. From your beach towel, you’ll see swimming, kayaking, boating, kiteboarding, jet skiing and even surfing on the days the water seems more ocean than lake. The 15-acre Whiting Park, with its playgrounds, flower gardens and fish pond with a waterfall, sits adjacent to Whihala.

For a bit more adventure, head to the Whoa Zone, a floating water park made of slides, trampolines, towers, wiggle bridges, monkey bars and more. They also offer stand-up paddle boards, kayaks and beach cabanas.

Fish Lake Beach

Family-owned Fish Lake Beach in Volo has been providing families a place to connect with nature for over 70 years. Located 40 miles north of the city in acres of prairie and conveniently located near Six Flags Great America, there is a never-ending list of activities. Visit for the day to swim in the lake or in one of their two pools, fish or troll around in row or paddle boats available for rent or pack a tent to extend the fun into an overnight.

Once the kids have swam themselves exhausted, they can hop out for a visit to the arcade, play at the 10-hole mini-golf course, watch a movie under the stars, shoot hoops or drop their line off the pier. Besides the recreation that are permanent fixtures, Fish Lake also hosts ever-changing activities throughout the season. Outside food is welcome or there are concessions on-site for grill food, snacks, drinks and ice cream.

Harold Hall Quarry Beach

Harold Hall Quarry Beach is a sand-bottom swimming area that covers 60,000 square feet with islands, slides and a diving area. Along with a playground, kids will dig the flume, wiggle bridge and splasher and parents will love the ease of zero-depth entry. Pack your own grub and set up camp in the large picnic area or grab nachos, pretzels and hot dogs at the concession stand.