Ohio Street Beach is a public Lake Michigan beach run by the Chicago Park District at 600 North Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive in the Streeterville neighborhood, just north of Navy Pier. It sits inside Jane Addams Memorial Park, next to Milton Lee Olive Park and the Jardine Water Purification Plant. The beach in its current form dates to the 1960s: when the filtration plant was built on fill out into the lake, it created a sheltered bay where sand collects, and an enlarged beach replaced the small triangular one that had operated here since the 1930s.

Most Chicago beaches face east toward open water. This one faces north, and that orientation is the reason it is the Park District's go-to spot for distance swimmers. The swim course runs north along the seawall toward the Oak Street curve, about half a mile, and swimmers can stay in deep water the whole way while only a few feet from the wall and shallow water. Expect a sandy beach and a sandy entry, buoy lanes off the beach in summer, and distance markers along the seawall. Triathlon clubs and coached groups train here on summer evenings, and the beach hosts organized events such as Swim Across America in July and the Big Shoulders 2.5K and 5K in September. Lake Michigan stays cold well into summer, and can sit in the 50s or low 60s F in June, so many lap swimmers wear wetsuits early in the season.

Swimming is allowed only during the beach season, which runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, and only from 11 am to 7 pm when lifeguards are on duty, inside the designated swim areas. The beach itself is open from 6 am to 11 pm all year. Admission is free, as it is at every Chicago Park District beach, and there is no permit or residency requirement. As of early October 2026 the season has ended, so there are no lifeguards and swimming is not permitted until the next season opens in late May.

Lifeguards fly flags that are updated around 11 am for weather and surf and around 1:30 pm for water quality. A red flag means stay out of the water, and a yellow flag means a swim advisory, usually for high bacteria levels after storms. The Park District is clear that swimming anywhere along the lakefront outside lifeguarded beaches and hours is prohibited. Wind-driven waves, longshore currents and currents that build along the seawall are the main hazards here, so check the flag and the Park District's daily beach report before you go.

Parking is the hard part. The Park District lists only limited street parking, and nearby garages around Navy Pier and Streeterville are expensive. Transit is easier: the CTA Red Line stops at Grand, and the 29 State, 65 Grand, 66 Chicago and 124 Navy Pier buses all stop close by. The Lakefront Trail runs right past the beach, with bike racks near the sand. Note that the Park District posted a notice in September 2026 that sections of the Lakefront Trail will be under repair over the coming months, with work moving from south to north.

Public lockers sit by the beach (bring your own lock), and there are restrooms and a seasonal cafe and concession in Jane Addams Memorial Park, along with shaded lawns for a picnic. Navy Pier, Milton Lee Olive Park and the Oak Street Beach end of the lakefront are all within a short walk, and the trail continues north toward North Avenue Beach and Lincoln Park.