Scenic Drive on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

Lake Shore Drive is Chicago's great lakefront road — the skyline rising on one side, Lake Michigan stretching out flat and blue on the other, for miles.

Chicago · Drive · about 25 min · 9 miles · Pleasantness: High

Why this route is pleasant

• Runs the entire lakefront between the city and the water
• The Chicago skyline on full display
• Lake Michigan open to the horizon
• Beaches, harbors and parks the whole way
• No commercial frontage — park on one side, lake on the other

What you'll see

• The downtown skyline from the south curve at Oakwood
• North Avenue and Oak Street beaches
• Belmont and Montrose harbors full of sailboats
• Lincoln Park and its lagoons

Best time to go

Early morning heading north, with sunrise over the lake and the skyline lit.

Open this route in Pleasant Routes · More Chicago routes · All cities