Gay Beach Chicago Guide: The gay beach in Chicago is one of the best gay beaches I have been to. It has a great vibe, fun crowd and is easily accessible. It is one of the few gay beaches in the world that is not actually by the sea, but instead, sits alongside Lake Michigan.
Lake Michigan, which Chicago sits alongside, is huge! It’s perhaps no surprise that you will find many beaches along the shores of Lake Michigan and with Chicago having such a large gay population, of course there is now a gay beach in Chicago.
This is actually one of my favorite gay beaches, when I visited it was super busy, the vibe was fun and the water crystal clear and perfect for a swim.
In this guide I will share everything you need to know about the gay beach in Chicago.
For more gay Chicago experiences, you can read my Complete Gay Chicago Travel Guide or read about the best gay hotels in Chicago.
The Best Gay Beach in Chicago
The gay beach in Chicago is commonly called Hollywood gay beach, although it is officially called Kathy Osterman Beach – typing in either name to Google maps will get you to the right place.
Kathy Osterman was a huge advocate for LGBTQ+ rights here in Chicago, that may be the reason the gay chose this to become their beach (but I can’t be sure!).
How to get to the Gay Beach in Chicago
To get to the gay beach in Chicago, I found Uber quite reasonable around the city which will take you right to the entrance. The local bus will also take you right to the entrance of the beach and for the metro, the nearest station is Bryn Mawr (about a 9 minute walk from the beach).
Once you have been dropped off by your taxi/bus, walk toward the beach.
Like all gay beaches, there is a specific area where the gays set up camp. As you face the sea, you want to walk towards the right.
This is an easy area to find as you should be able to see the rainbow painted ‘mast’ sticking out to sea on a pier. The closer you get to this mast, the gayer the beach becomes, simple.
Do people go cruising at the Gay Beach in Chicago?
I know you are thinking this question, so I am going to go ahead and answer. Yes! Shocking I know…
Even though this beach is right near the road, there is a bushy area between the road and the beach where things were indeed going on – obviously you are not allowed to go on such adventures but people still do.
Equally, it’s not a clothing optional beach as I don’t think that is allowed here, but I did see some people sunbathing with nothing on in their little beach tents.
Facilities at Hollywood Gay Beach
There were toilets, changing facilities etc at the beach and because it is right on the edge of town, you will find plenty of shops etc nearby if you want snacks.
For more gay travel in Chicago, check out my Complete Gay Guide to Chicago or if you want to head straight for the gay bars after the gay beach, check out these gay bars in Chicago.
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