A few tips on parking to fish in the city
Here are some parking and access notes for Lake Michigan fishing in Chicago, courtesy of Dale Bowman at Chicago Sun-Times with some additions and adaptations.
Montrose Harbor has plenty of free street parking within easy walking along both sides of harbor or a short walk to the pier/"horseshoe."
Diversey Harbor - Park for free along Cannon Dr to access the inside or outside of Diversey Harbor or Lincoln Park Lagoon.
Navy Pier - check in at the parking office in the east lot, then be out by 10 a.m. sharp for the reduced parking rate.
DuSable Harbor - use the small fishermen’s lot under the on-ramp before the turnstyle (limited spots; see pass information below).
Burnham Harbor/Northerly Island use the Burnham fishermen’s lot (requires parking pass, listed below) or metered street parking on Solidarity Drive.
slip north of 87th is on the east end at Steelworkers Park. Plenty of free street parking. The slip at 89th is private property.
Downtown / Riverwalk - fishermen have reported that the parking app, Spot Hero, has been working well for them; otherwise find street/metered parking.
63rd St Pier - Metered parking 8am - 8pm in the lot behind the 63rd St beach boathouse, directly off Lakeshore Drive. Lot is free outside of those hours but is gated shut when park is closed overnight.
Jackson Park Harbor - Park for free along S La Rabida Dr or S Promontory Dr.
PARKING PASSES: Passes ($10, valid for 60 days) for parking at the two small fishermen’s lots at DuSable and Burnham harbors are available at Henry’s Sports and Bait (cash only for passes) and Northerly Island (credit card only and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday).
Montrose Harbor has plenty of free street parking within easy walking along both sides of harbor or a short walk to the pier/"horseshoe."
Diversey Harbor - Park for free along Cannon Dr to access the inside or outside of Diversey Harbor or Lincoln Park Lagoon.
Navy Pier - check in at the parking office in the east lot, then be out by 10 a.m. sharp for the reduced parking rate.
DuSable Harbor - use the small fishermen’s lot under the on-ramp before the turnstyle (limited spots; see pass information below).
Burnham Harbor/Northerly Island use the Burnham fishermen’s lot (requires parking pass, listed below) or metered street parking on Solidarity Drive.
slip north of 87th is on the east end at Steelworkers Park. Plenty of free street parking. The slip at 89th is private property.
Downtown / Riverwalk - fishermen have reported that the parking app, Spot Hero, has been working well for them; otherwise find street/metered parking.
63rd St Pier - Metered parking 8am - 8pm in the lot behind the 63rd St beach boathouse, directly off Lakeshore Drive. Lot is free outside of those hours but is gated shut when park is closed overnight.
Jackson Park Harbor - Park for free along S La Rabida Dr or S Promontory Dr.
PARKING PASSES: Passes ($10, valid for 60 days) for parking at the two small fishermen’s lots at DuSable and Burnham harbors are available at Henry’s Sports and Bait (cash only for passes) and Northerly Island (credit card only and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday).