Information
Landmark: Evanston Lighthouse BeachCity: Evanston
Country: USA Illinois
Continent: North America
Evanston Lighthouse Beach, Evanston, USA Illinois, North America
Overview
Tucked along Lake Michigan’s North Shore, Evanston Lighthouse Beach offers calm waters and postcard-perfect views, with soft sand that warms under summer sun.You’ll find this beach at 2611 Sheridan Road, just up the road from downtown Evanston, Illinois, where the sound of waves meets a rich local history-and it’s a spot cherished by both residents and out-of-towners.🏖️ Beach Features and Amenities Sandy Shoreline : Lighthouse Beach features a wide, soft sandy shoreline perfect for sunbathing, walking, or playing beach games.Lighthouse Beach stretches out in a wide ribbon of soft sand, ideal for laying out under the sun, strolling along the water’s edge, or kicking up sand in a lively game of frisbee.The water here usually stays clear and still, and in summer you’ll spot lifeguards watching from their high chairs to keep everyone safe.The swimming area stays clean and tidy, with bright orange buoys marking the safe zone in the water.You can swim only when a lifeguard’s on duty, usually from Memorial Day through Labor Day, when the red rescue buoy hangs by the shore.The beach offers a shady picnic pavilion, soft grassy spots perfect for spreading a blanket, and a playground where kids can squeal down the slide-an easy choice for families.The park around you feels lush and welcoming, with wooden benches tucked under shady trees and tables placed here and there.Beach volleyball courts are right on-site and open to everyone, but you’ll need to grab a spot early-especially when the sand’s warm and the sun’s out.Near the entrance, you’ll find spotless public restrooms and outdoor rinse-off showers, their tiled floors cool underfoot.Getting to Lighthouse Beach is easy-it’s one of Evanston’s most welcoming spots on the lake, with a smooth path right to the sand.They’ve laid out Mobi-Mats so wheelchairs and strollers can glide right down to the water’s edge, where the sand feels cool and damp underfoot.Right next to the beach, winding nature trails cut through pockets of green, where native plants and bright wildflowers spill over the path.The trails wind through cool, shaded paths and open up to sweeping views of the lake’s shimmering surface.Parking’s limited, but you can snag a free spot on Sheridan Road or tucked into one of the nearby residential streets where maple trees line the curb.🗼 Grosse Point Lighthouse Directly beside the beach stands the Grosse Point Lighthouse , a historic beacon that dates back to 1873 .If you’re coming on a weekend, get there early-the lot can fill before the coffee’s even brewed.🗼 Just steps from the sand, the Grosse Point Lighthouse rises into the sky - a weathered beacon that’s guided ships since 1873.🕒 Operating Hours and Access Beach Hours : Open daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM Swimming Hours : Allowed only when lifeguards are on duty (approximately 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM during summer) Beach Pass : During peak season, a daily or seasonal beach pass may be required for entry.They built it to guide ships across Lake Michigan after several deadly wrecks, when the air still carried the scent of splintered wood and oil.🌞 Visitor Tips Arrive Early : On hot days and weekends, the beach can become quite busy, especially since parking is limited.Standing 113 feet tall in Cream City brick, the lighthouse-now a National Historic Landmark-welcomes weekend visitors in summer for guided tours and sweeping views from its top; the old keeper’s quarters house a maritime museum, and the surrounding gardens burst with color, making it one of the area’s cultural gems.The beach is open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., but you can swim only when lifeguards are on duty-roughly 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in summer, when the sun turns the sand hot underfoot.During peak season, you’ll need either a daily or seasonal beach pass to get in.🌅 Why Visit Lighthouse Beach?People living in Evanston often get a discount-sometimes enough to cover a morning coffee at the corner café.🌞 Visitor Tip: Get there early-on warm weekends the sand fills fast, and the few parking spots vanish before the sun’s high.Pack the essentials-sunscreen and a wide-brim hat, plenty of cold water, a couple of beach chairs or a soft blanket, plus snacks to keep you going.Care for nature-pick up litter on the beach, stick to marked trails, and give the dunes’ nesting birds and wind-bent grasses the space they need.🌅 So, what makes Lighthouse Beach worth the trip?
