9 Free Swimming Holes near Sergeant Means Park
first prev 1 next lastShowing Swimming Holes within 50 miles Distance miles of Sergeant Means Park near Olympia Fields, Illinois City, Zip, or Address
12th Street Beach
Chicago
24.5 miles NFree, lifeguarded Lake Michigan beach on Chicago's Northerly Island, just south of the Adler Planetarium, with a beach house, paddle launch and swimming from 11 am to 7 pm in summer.
Canoe, Kayak, Swim
West Beach
Portage
25.4 miles EThe National Park Service's main lifeguarded swimming beach at Indiana Dunes, a wide Lake Michigan beach with a bath house and Chicago skyline views. A national park entrance pass ($25 per vehicle) is required.
Hike, Swim
Ohio Street Beach
Chicago
26.5 miles NA free, lifeguarded Chicago Park District beach on Lake Michigan just north of Navy Pier, and the city's main open water training spot, with a half-mile swim along the seawall toward Oak Street.
Swim
Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Beach
Portage
26.8 miles EUnguarded Lake Michigan beach at Indiana Dunes National Park's Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, reached by a short paved path from a pavilion with restrooms. A park entrance pass ($25 per car) is required.
Hike, Swim
Gillson Beach
Wilmette
39.3 miles NThe Wilmette Park District's main Lake Michigan swimming beach in Gillson Park, with lifeguards Memorial Day to Labor Day. Day passes are $11 for residents and $17 for non-residents, plus parking.
Kayak, Swim
Mount Baldy Beach
Michigan City
40.7 miles EA 120 foot living dune that creeps inland about four feet a year. The Lake Michigan beach below it is open for swimming with no lifeguards, but the summit is closed except on ranger led hikes.
Hike, Swim
Washington Park Beach
Michigan City
42.4 miles EMichigan City's lifeguarded Lake Michigan beach in historic Washington Park, beside the East Pier lighthouse. Entry on foot is free; parking is $3 to $7 an hour in 2026.
Swim
Rosewood Beach
Highland Park
45.5 miles NGuarded Lake Michigan swimming coves in Highland Park's Rosewood Park. Free for park district residents, $10 a day for non-residents plus paid parking, lifeguards 10am to 6pm from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Swim
Stone Lake Beach
La Porte
48.8 miles ELa Porte's free city swimming beach on Stone Lake in Soldiers Memorial Park, with summer lifeguards, a beach house with restrooms and concessions, a playground and kayak rentals.
Hike, Kayak, Swim
