The Best Pools in Chicago Have Rooftop Views and Waterslides
Head to these hotel, public, and waterpark pools across Chicago.
Chicago gets a lot of flack for its polar winters, but when the pendulum swings, summer can be just as intense. Think lots of humidity. But no matter how surprisingly hot it can get here, Chicagoans are never far from refreshing reprieve. Sure, there are literally miles of beaches, and Indiana Dunes National Park is a hop and a skip away. But for those who would rather not get sand on their feet, or an errant volleyball in the face at North Avenue Beach, there are plenty of pool options to dive into. Some are ritzy rooftop hangs where you may or may not bump elbows with discreet celebrities, while others offer lazy rivers and water slides (and a slimmer chance at celebrity sightings). If you’re looking to cool off this summer, here are 10 Chicago pools to check out.
Wicker Park
It’s a veritable choose-your-own-rooftop adventure at The Robey Chicago, the twee boutique hotel anchored in Wicker Park’s tallest tower. On the top floor, there’s The Up Room, with posh cocktails and sweeping skyline views. A few floors down, on level six, you’ll find Cabana Club, an easy-breezy outdoor lounge with more of a Mediterranean vibe. Newly operating as a semi-private day club this season, the wading pool is surrounded by comfy lounge furniture, 180-degree views, and shareable plates like hummus and grilled shrimp skewers.
Cost: $15 Monday–Thursday, $30 Friday–Sunday (free for hotel guests)
Gold Coast
Posh poolside sipping isn’t as commonplace in Chicago as it is in, say, Las Vegas. But nevertheless, one Gold Coast beacon is out to subvert Chicago’s polar stereotypes. Located on the 18th floor of the Viceroy Chicago, marking one of the tallest open-air venues in town, the chic pool looks like an oasis amidst a canyon of skyscrapers. Outfitted with swanky lounge furniture and lush planters, giving it a beachy Miami vibe, the pool is the perfect place for a decadent dip, open daily 8 am–4:30 pm.
Cost: The price of booking a room (pool currently only available to hotel guests)
West Loop
A sparkling jewel in the red-hot West Loop, surrounded by new towers inching ever upward, the rooftop pool at The Hoxton is the prime place to dip your feet in, whilst sipping Pisco Sours from Stephanie Izard’s adjoining Peruvian restaurant, Cabra. Surrounded by tall glass walls, affording ample skyline views on three sides, the pool offers shaded sun loungers on a first come, first served basis for hotel guests.
Cost: The price of booking a room (pool currently only available to hotel guests)
West Loop
If you know someone, or you’re willing to pull a Samantha Jones, the rooftop pool at Soho House Chicago is the quintessential place to see, be seen, and make a splash. Famously (or infamously, depending how you feel), the facilities at this West Loop hotspot are reserved for high-paying members and hotel guests exclusively, which means low-key celebs are not an uncommon occurrence. Basically, if you bump into David Schwimmer by the pool, just be cool about it and don’t ask him to scream “pivot!” for old time’s sake. But if you can get in (members are allowed to bring up to three guests, so select your friends wisely), the vast pool deck—complete with pool beds and bar service—is the stuff of Chicago dreams.
Cost: The price of booking a room (or a membership)
River North
Long before there was Soho House, there was the East Bank Club. The O.G. members’ only destination, the massive River North facility is still making a splash with its two outdoor pools, both accessible to non-members with the purchase of a day pass. Sure, you can exercise inside, or even practice your golf swing, but you’re here for one thing: to lounge on the Sun Deck. The massive landscaped space, on the fourth floor, features a large pool for adult swimming, a smaller multi-use pool, numerous chaise lounges, and a robust summer drink menu that runs the gamut from Frosé to non-alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc.
Cost: Guest passes are available for $40
Yorkville
When one pool just won’t cut it, how about adding 58 acres and 19 water slides? Welcome to Raging Waves Waterpark, an aquatic wonderland—the largest water park in Illinois—located about 45 minutes southwest of the city. Amidst a sea of fruitful farmland, the massive water park has it all: a gnarly 25,000-square-foot wave pool, quarter-mile-long lazy river, three kiddie pools (and a giant sandbox), and dozens of private cabanas. For a bit more adrenaline, try the Aussie Mat Dash, a first-of-its-kind water park innovation that uses u-shaped flumes, and low separator walls, to create the sensation of racing in a toboggan.
Cost: $34.99 and up
Multiple locations
All over the city, the Chicago Park District manages 50 ADA-equipped outdoor pools that are full-steam for the summer season (plus another 27 indoor pools that operate most of the year). In addition to a variety of paid programs and lessons, including Aquatic Exercise, all pools—from Avondale’s California Pool to Bucktown’s Holstein Pool—are free for open swim. Just be sure to check the schedule at your neighborhood pool of choice before diving in.
Cost: Free during open swim (nominal fees vary per programming)
East Dundee
Don’t be misled by its moniker: Santa’s Village isn’t all Christmas-y and snow. In fact, this seasonal amusement and water park is a summertime attraction, in the suburban community of East Dundee, that blends whimsical Santa theming with a Caribbean-inspired water park, complete with lounge chairs, cabanas, water slides, and the Lighthouse Harbor play area for kids. The marquee attractions here include the Caribbean Curl, a 300-foot body slide decked out in Christmas colors of red and green, and the Peppermint Twist, a candy cane-colored body slide filled with twists and turns.
Cost: $36.99 and up
West Town
If your idea of a refreshing pool escape involves less plummeting slides and more spendy serenity, look no further than Aire Ancient Baths. It’s less adrenaline-pumping and more stress-melting at this bougie bathhouse inspired by traditional Roman, Greek, and Ottoman wellness rituals, housed within a restored factory with lofty ceilings and flickering candlelight in every nook and cranny. You won’t do any lap swimming or cannonballs here, but rather ambient bathing options in your choice of pool, from larger group settings to intimate tubs for couples. The “Ultimate Bath” experience is the most basic option, which includes 90 minutes of access to a variety of baths and pools, including hot water, cold water, and salt water, along with aloe vera treatments and a relaxation area where you can luxuriate on warm marble stone. As one does.
Cost: $175 and up
Gurnee
One of the few regional water parks to operate year-round, the mighty Great Wolf Lodge Water Park is a whopping 80,000-square-foot indoor facility where the water maintains a balmy 84-degrees, no matter the forecast. True to its name, the park boasts a folksy-fun lodge theme, with ample areas and attractions designated for different age groups and pool preference. This includes a lazy river, a four-story “water fort treehouse,” a water playground called Chinook Cove, and Coyote Cannon water slide. There’s also a summertime outdoor pool area, Raccoon Lagoon, complete with fountains and poolside lounge seating.
Cost: $40 for a half day pass, $50 for a full day