Swim into summer at these 10 suburban beaches

Summer is here, and so is the heat. For a much-needed beach getaway and cooling swim, suburban residents need not travel far. Local beaches offer fun for kids and adults alike, without the added cost of faraway travel.

Whether it’s paddleboard yoga at Centennial Beach in Naperville or sand volleyball at Glencoe Beach, these sandy expanses with refreshing lake water provide ideal destinations for swimming, picnicking and athletic activities.

Here are 10 suburban beaches to keep the family engaged for the entire day.

Centennial Beach

500 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville, (630) 848-5092, centennialbeach.org/

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, now through Aug. 12. Hours vary after Aug. 12. Last day is Sept. 7.

Admission: Adults: $10 residents/$17 nonresidents; youth: $8 residents/$15 nonresidents; after 5 p.m.: $5 residents/$9 nonresidents. Season memberships available.

Centennial Beach features wading and swimming areas, including depths of 15 feet in what used to be a stone quarry. The beach also offers diving boards, rafts, a waterslide and water features, sand volleyball and a sand play area. There’s paddleboard yoga from 7:45-8:45 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. Advance registration is required; it’s $20 for residents and $30 for nonresidents.

Main Beach

300 Lake Shore Drive, Crystal Lake, (815) 477-5404, crystallakeparks.org/beaches

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. now through Aug. 7; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30 and Sept. 5-7. Closed at 5 p.m. Aug. 7 for special events.

West Beach

2330 Lake Ave., Crystal Lake, (815) 477-5009, crystallakeparks.org/beaches

Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. through Aug. 7.

Admission at both beaches: Residents: $1; free for seniors and kids 3 and younger; free for residents after 5 p.m. Nonresidents: $15 for adults; $10 for seniors and kids 4-15; free for kids 3 and younger; half price after 5 p.m. Season passes are available.

Spend a day picnicking and swimming at the two beach options. Pavilion rental is available for groups.

Gillson Park

North entrance: Lake and Michigan avenues; south entrance: Sheridan Road and Michigan Avenue, Wilmette, wilmettepark.org/lakefront-gillson-park/

Hours: Gillson Park is open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Swimming beach hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. now through Sept. 7.

Admission: Daily passes for residents: $11; nonresidents: $17. Season passes are available.

Gillson Park offers picnic areas, beach swimming, a dog beach, beach volleyball, boat rentals, a kayak and stand-up paddleboard launch area and more. The beach will be closed at 6 p.m. Aug. 1 for the Ouilmette Foundation’s Sunset Over The Beach event.

Glencoe Beach

55 Hazel Ave., Glencoe, (847) 835-1185, glencoeparkdistrict.com/glencoe-beach

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 7. Only open to season pass-holders on weekends, holidays and before noon on weekdays.

Admission: Daily fees are $12 for residents and $24 for nonresidents; free for kids younger than 3. Season passes are $39 for Glencoe and Northbrook residents; $78 for nonresidents; free for Glencoe residents over 65.

Kids can splash around at Glencoe Beach’s sprayground, which includes interactive water play pieces, a playground, swings and slides. Paddleboards, kayaks, sailboats, chairs and umbrellas are available to rent at the Adda and Paul Safran Beach House, which has showers and lockers. Volleyball courts with complimentary volleyballs are also available.

Hall Quarry Beach

400 S. Water St., Batavia, (630) 406-5275, bataviaparks.org/harold-hall-quarry-beach

Hours: Noon to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Open through Aug. 9.

Admission: $10 for residents; $15 for nonresidents; free for kids 2 and younger. Twilight rate: $5 for residents; $7 for nonresidents. Punch passes: $90 for residents; $120 for nonresidents.

Built from a former quarry, Hall Quarry Beach offers a sandy beach with a zero-depth entry swimming area, sand volleyball courts, a large picnic area and a concession stand. Activities for kids include a drop slide, flume and diving board.

Paulus Park Beach

200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich, (847) 540-5067, lakezurich.org/482/Beaches-Fees

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. now through Aug. 2. Hours vary on weekends in August through Sept. 6.

Admission: $10 for residents; $12 for nonresidents; $6 for resident seniors; $8 for nonresident seniors; free for kids 3 and younger. Twilight rate after 5:30 p.m.: $5 for residents; $7 for nonresidents.

Paulus Park Beach, a large beach and sprayground, offers kayaks, canoes and SUPs, which can be rented.

Phil’s Beach

328 N. Main St., Wauconda, (847) 865-0220, waucondaparks.com/parks-facilities/philsbeach/

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Aug. 9. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Aug. 15-30. WIBIT inflatable water feature hours are noon to 5 p.m.

Admission: $8 for residents; $10 for nonresidents; $1 for resident seniors 62 and older; $6 for nonresident seniors 62 and older; free for kids 3 and younger. Twilight rate after 5 p.m.: $3 for residents; $4 for nonresidents. Season passes are available.

Historic Phil’s Beach features a sandy beach, splash pad, bathhouse, concessions, baggo, a WIBIT inflatable and more. The beach also hosts birthday parties and accommodates kids of all ages.

Rosewood Beach

883 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, (847) 831-3810, pdhp.org/rosewood-beach/

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Aug. 9. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends Aug. 15 through Sept. 6. Labor Day hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: Daily passes are free for residents; $10 for nonresidents; free for nonresident kids 3 and younger. Season passes are available. A parking decal is required.

Rosewood Beach offers a guarded swimming beach with a nature cove for ecological and nature programs.

Waukegan Municipal Beach

201 E. Sea Horse Drive, Waukegan, (708) 533-5192, waukeganil.gov/266/Waukegan-Beach

Hours: Open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk.

Admission: Parking fees apply on weekends and federal holidays for vehicles without a current city sticker during the summer season (ends on Labor Day). Beach parking permits are $20 per day.

Waukegan Beach’s 400-acre lakefront features one mile of sand with some natural dunes. Recreational activities include swimming, picnicking, sand soccer and sand volleyball. Pedestrians and cyclists have free access to the beach.