Last Updated: June 2026
The best tennis courts in Chicago are free, first-come-first-served, and scattered across nearly every neighborhood — and the biggest of them, Waveland in Lincoln Park, packs 20 courts along the lakefront. You can play with the downtown skyline behind you at Maggie Daley Park, under the lights at Horner or Humboldt Park, or on actual clay at the Diversey Tennis Center. And in the last three years, the city has gone all-in on pickleball, so I’ve folded those courts in too.
I’ve covered Chicago for Fox 32 Chicago and played on courts all over the city, from the quiet two-court neighborhood parks to the 20-court madhouse at Waveland on a summer Saturday. This guide is for residents and visitors who want to actually play — where to go by neighborhood, which courts have lights, where to find pickleball and even squash, and the timing tricks that get you on a court without a wait.
In a Nutshell
- Almost all free: Every Chicago Park District tennis court is free and first-come, first-served. Only clubs and the clay courts at Diversey charge.
- Biggest complex: Waveland Tennis Courts in Lincoln Park — 20 courts on the lakefront.
- Best views: Maggie Daley Park (skyline) and Grant Park (lakefront).
- Best for evening play: Horner Park, Humboldt Park, and Grant Park all have lights.
- Best for pickleball: Grant Park has 16 dedicated lighted courts — the Park District’s largest — part of a citywide push toward 200 public courts.
- Year-round option: McFetridge Sports Center (affordable, public) and Midtown Athletic Club (16 indoor courts, a true destination).
- Shortest waits: Go weekday mornings or early afternoons. Avoid weeknights 5–8pm and Saturday mornings.
Quick Comparison
| Court | Courts / Lights / Pickleball |
|---|---|
| Waveland — Lincoln Park | 20 courts · no lights · busiest |
| Maggie Daley — The Loop | 10 courts · no lights · skyline views, queue system |
| Grant Park — South Loop | 6 courts + 16 pickleball · lighted |
| Oz Park — Lincoln Park | 4 courts · no lights · pickleball lines, family-friendly |
| Horner Park — Lincoln Square | 5 courts · lighted · best for evenings |
| Humboldt Park — Humboldt Park | 4 courts · lighted · least crowded |
| Welles Park — Lincoln Square | 4 courts · no lights · neighborhood feel |
| Douglas Park — North Lawndale | 4 courts · no lights · historic, quiet |
| Indian Boundary — W. Rogers Park | 3 courts · no lights · far-north hideaway |
| Smith Park — Ukrainian Village | 2 courts · no lights · west-side local |
The 10 Best Tennis Courts in Chicago
1. Waveland Tennis Courts – Lincoln Park
Waveland Tennis Courts, on the Lincoln Park lakefront, are the largest public tennis complex in Chicago and the obvious first stop for any serious player — 20 hard courts split between north and south sections, with Lake Michigan on one side and mature trees on the other. If you’re learning the city’s tennis scene, you learn it here first.
- 📍 3700 N Recreation Dr, Chicago, IL 60613 (East Lakeview)
- 🚇 Red or Brown Line to Addison, then a walk east toward the lake
- 🎾 20 courts · no lights · first-come, first-served
- 💰 Free (Chicago Park District)
- ⏰ Daytime hours; weather-dependent April–October. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
Courts are first-come, first-served, and while they fill up on weekends and summer evenings, the sheer number means you rarely wait long. The surfaces are well-kept and the crowd is genuinely mixed — beginners rallying next to league players grinding on their serves. Coaching services and pickup groups operate here all summer, so it’s the easiest place in the city to find a hitting partner. Parking is the catch: lakefront spots vanish at peak times, so I aim for early mornings or a weekday early afternoon.
2. Maggie Daley Park – The Loop
Maggie Daley Park has the most scenic tennis courts in Chicago, full stop — 10 courts set right in the Loop with the downtown skyline towering directly over the baseline. It’s the kind of view that makes you forget you’re supposed to be watching the ball, and it’s the court I send visitors to first.
- 📍 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 (The Loop)
- 🚇 Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, or Pink Line to the Loop; walk to Millennium/Maggie Daley Park
- 🎾 10 courts · no lights · queue system at the main gates
- 💰 Free; lessons and some reservations available
- ⏰ Roughly dawn to dusk. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
Because of the setting, they’re popular, so there’s a queue system: place your racket in the rack at the main gates, and at the top of each hour players rotate on for one-hour sessions. It’s fair and it keeps things moving. When you’re done, the rest of Maggie Daley Park is right there — climbing walls, mini golf, and the cafe for a post-match drink. I’ll be honest, I’ve shown up here “to play” and ended up just watching the skyline for twenty minutes first.
3. Grant Park Tennis & Pickleball Courts – South Loop
The Grant Park courts in the South Loop are Chicago’s newest racquet-sport complex and the best place in the city to play pickleball — 6 resurfaced tennis courts alongside 16 dedicated, lighted pickleball courts, the largest pickleball facility in the Chicago Park District. They sit along the lakefront near 9th Street and Columbus Drive with easy CTA access.
- 📍 9th St & S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 (South Loop / Grant Park)
- 🚇 Red, Green, or Orange Line to Roosevelt, then walk into Grant Park
- 🎾 6 tennis + 16 pickleball courts · lighted · first-come, first-served
- 💰 Free (Chicago Park District)
- ⏰ Evening play thanks to lights. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
The whole project opened in September 2023, funded by a $500,000 grant from Lollapalooza’s organizers — the festival had been using the old tennis courts for parking and beat them up badly — plus $41,000 from the Grant Park Advisory Council. The lights let you play into the evening, and because the complex is newer and less famous than Waveland or Maggie Daley, you’ll often find more availability. For pickleball players, this is the spot: 16 purpose-built courts means no negotiating lines with tennis players.
4. Oz Park Tennis Courts – Lincoln Park
Oz Park is the best Chicago tennis spot for families — 4 well-kept courts inside a Lincoln Park gem dotted with Wizard of Oz sculptures (Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy), a great playground, and landscaped gardens. The kids can burn off energy on the playground while you finish your set.
- 📍 2021 N Burling St, Chicago, IL 60614 (Lincoln Park)
- 🚇 Brown or Purple Line to Armitage, then a short walk
- 🎾 4 courts (with pickleball lines on some) · no lights · first-come, first-served
- 💰 Free (Chicago Park District)
- ⏰ Daytime only. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
The courts have a quiet, residential feel and some are striped for pickleball, so you can play either game. The main drawback is no lights, so you’re limited to daylight. But during the day these are some of the most pleasant courts in the city — lively without the Waveland-level wait. If you’re in Lincoln Park with kids, this is your court.
5. Horner Park – Lincoln Square / Ravenswood
Horner Park is the answer to “where can I play after work once it’s getting dark?” — 5 lighted courts on the north side in Lincoln Square/Ravenswood, away from the lakefront crowds. The lights make it one of the best evening tennis options in Chicago, especially in spring and fall when the sun sets early.
- 📍 2741 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 (Lincoln Square)
- 🚇 Brown Line to Montrose, then a bus or walk west
- 🎾 5 courts · lighted (typically on until ~10pm) · first-come, first-served
- 💰 Free (Chicago Park District)
- ⏰ Evening play with lights. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
The surrounding park is beautiful — sprawling green space with playgrounds, sports fields, and a pool — and the courts are well-maintained. It’s popular with league players and the after-work crowd, but with five courts you can usually find a spot. The lights officially run separate from the park’s 11pm close, so don’t count on play much past 10.
6. Humboldt Park Tennis Courts – Humboldt Park
Humboldt Park is my pick for the most underrated tennis courts in Chicago — 4 lighted courts inside one of the city’s most vibrant parks, with the scenic lagoon just steps away. Because they’re off the usual “best courts” circuit, they’re far less crowded than the lakefront, and you can often walk up and get on immediately, even on a Saturday.
- 📍 1440 N Humboldt Blvd, Chicago, IL 60622 (Humboldt Park)
- 🚇 Blue Line to Division, then a bus west; or the 70/72 buses
- 🎾 4 courts · lighted · first-come, first-served
- 💰 Free (Chicago Park District)
- ⏰ Evening play with lights. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
The lights mean you can play well into the evening, which is perfect for summer nights when the park fills with runners, cyclists, and families. The courts are solid, and the park around them is worth a full afternoon — the boathouse, the beach, the nature sanctuary. Make a day of it.
7. Welles Park – Lincoln Square
Welles Park is a neighborhood park done right — 4 well-kept courts wrapped in the friendly, village-like feel of Lincoln Square, the kind of place where regulars know each other and might pull you into a doubles game if you show up solo. It’s a great local alternative if you don’t want to trek to Waveland.
- 📍 2333 W Sunnyside Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 (Lincoln Square)
- 🚇 Brown Line to Western, then a short walk
- 🎾 4 courts · no lights · first-come, first-served
- 💰 Free (Chicago Park District)
- ⏰ Daytime only. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
The park also has a gazebo, playground, pool, and community garden, so non-tennis companions are covered. No lights here, but the upside is it doesn’t pull the after-dark crowd — mornings and early afternoons are usually wide open.
8. Douglass Park Tennis Courts – North Lawndale
Douglass Park is one of Chicago’s grand historic parks — part of the original 1869 West Park System alongside Humboldt and Garfield — and playing tennis here feels like it, with 4 courts set inside sprawling, beautifully landscaped grounds. It’s typically less busy than the north-side options, which means shorter waits.
- 📍 1401 S Sacramento Dr, Chicago, IL 60623 (North Lawndale)
- 🚇 Pink Line to California or Kedzie-Homan on the Blue Line, then a bus
- 🎾 4 courts · no lights · first-come, first-served
- 💰 Free (Chicago Park District)
- ⏰ Daytime only. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
The grounds include lagoons, formal gardens, and a fieldhouse with striking architecture — worth a visit even if tennis isn’t the point. The park (officially renamed Douglass Park in 2020, after Frederick and Anna Douglass) connects to the broader Pilsen and Little Village neighborhoods, where you can grab great food after your match. No lights, so plan for daytime.
9. Indian Boundary Park – West Rogers Park
Indian Boundary Park, in West Rogers Park on the far north side, feels like a Chicago secret — 3 courts tucked into a charming historic park with a 1929 Tudor Revival fieldhouse, a small animal exhibit, a landscaped duck pond, and gardens. It’s far enough from the lakefront that you’ll rarely face crowds.
- 📍 2500 W Lunt Ave, Chicago, IL 60645 (West Rogers Park)
- 🚇 Western bus (49B) or a drive; no nearby ‘L’ stop
- 🎾 3 courts · no lights · first-come, first-served
- 💰 Free (Chicago Park District)
- ⏰ Daytime only. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
The courts are solid and well-maintained, and the setting is about as peaceful as urban tennis gets. This is a great pick if you live on the far north side and want quality courts without the drive to Lincoln Park — and the surrounding neighborhood has some of the city’s best Indian and Pakistani restaurants for a post-match meal.
10. Smith Park – Ukrainian Village
Smith Park has just 2 courts, but they’re in great shape and the Ukrainian Village location makes it the most convenient option for west-side residents. It’s the kind of recently renovated neighborhood park where everyone’s friendly and nobody’s taking it too seriously.
- 📍 2526 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60612 (Ukrainian Village)
- 🚇 Grand Ave bus (65) west from the Blue Line
- 🎾 2 courts · no lights · first-come, first-served
- 💰 Free (Chicago Park District)
- ⏰ Daytime only. Hours can change — confirm before you go.
The park was recently renovated and now includes a splash pad, playground, basketball courts, and a community garden. Two courts means you might wait on a perfect Saturday, but weekdays it’s easy to walk on. A solid, no-frills option near Wicker Park.
Where to Play Pickleball in Chicago
Pickleball has exploded in Chicago, and the best free place to play is Grant Park’s 16 dedicated, lighted courts in the South Loop — the largest pickleball facility in the Chicago Park District. Beyond that, the city has committed to a goal of roughly 200 public pickleball courts, and dozens of neighborhood parks have added dedicated courts or striped existing tennis courts for dual use.
Here’s where to find it across the city. Grant Park (9th & Columbus) is the headliner with 16 lighted courts. Oz Park in Lincoln Park has pickleball lines on some of its tennis courts. On the southwest side, McKinley Park (2210 W Pershing Rd) and McGuane Park (2901 S Poplar Ave) in Bridgeport each have courts converted for pickleball. For a private, year-round indoor scene, Big City Pickle runs locations including Fulton Market, and SPF (Social • Pickleball • Fun) in Lincoln Park offers multiple indoor courts with a cafe and glow-in-the-dark play. Because the Park District is adding courts constantly, it’s worth checking the Chicago Park District pickleball page for the latest neighborhood locations before you head out.
One honest note from playing both: at parks where tennis and pickleball share painted lines, expect some friendly negotiation over who’s got the court. The dedicated complexes — Grant Park above all — exist precisely to take that tension off the table, so if you’re a committed pickler, start there.
What About Squash in Chicago?
Squash in Chicago is mostly a private-club and members-only sport — there’s no free, walk-up public squash court system the way there is for tennis — but the city punches well above its weight, having hosted the PSA World Squash Championships at the University Club of Chicago. If you want to play, you’ve got a handful of real options.
The most accessible serious facility is the Hussain MetroSquash Center (6100 S Cottage Grove Ave, Woodlawn), home to 7 singles courts and 1 doubles court — the largest squash facility in the city. It’s the base for MetroSquash, a youth-development nonprofit, and a partner home for University of Chicago squash. Lakeshore Sport & Fitness in Lincoln Park (1320 W Fullerton Ave) has courts and programming and co-hosted the 2025 World Championships. For members, East Bank Club (500 N Kingsbury St) and the historic University Club of Chicago in the Loop round out the city’s premier squash addresses, and UIC offers courts to its campus community. If you’re new to the sport, Lakeshore and MetroSquash are your most realistic entry points.
Midtown Athletic Club: Chicago’s Racquet Sports Destination
If you want the full racquet-sports experience under one roof, Midtown Athletic Club in Bucktown is Chicago’s destination club — 16 world-class indoor tennis courts plus 8 pickleball courts and 4 paddle courts, with a hotel attached so out-of-town players can essentially stay on-site. Founded in 1970 as Midtown Tennis Club, it’s one of the largest indoor tennis properties anywhere, and people genuinely travel here to play.
- 📍 2444 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (Bucktown, between Lincoln Park & Logan Square)
- 🎾 16 indoor tennis + 8 pickleball + 4 paddle courts · indoor, year-round
- 💰 Membership required; lessons, leagues, and junior programs available
- 🌐 midtown.com
Beyond the courts, it functions like a sports resort — indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, restaurant, rooftop bar, childcare, and 55 boutique hotel rooms. It runs structured tennis programs for adults and juniors, USTA and local leagues, and clinics for every level, plus paddle and pickleball leagues and lessons. It’s a real commitment cost-wise compared to the free park courts above, but for serious or year-round players — or visitors who want to make a tennis trip of it — it’s the city’s premier address.
More Courts Worth Knowing About
Chicago has more good courts than any top-10 list can hold. A few more worth your time: Hamlin Park (3035 N Hoyne Ave, Lakeview) — 2 well-kept courts in a friendly park, with adult lessons in spring and summer. Wrightwood Park (2534 N Greenview Ave, Lincoln Park) — tucked-away courts in a peaceful setting. River Park (5100 N Francisco Ave, Albany Park) — 5 recently resurfaced courts and a north-side favorite. McKinley Park (2210 W Pershing Rd) — 6 courts plus trails and a lake on the southwest side, with two courts now striped for pickleball. McGuane Park (2901 S Poplar Ave, Bridgeport) — 5 courts, two convertible to pickleball.
Tips for Playing Tennis in Chicago
The season is shorter than you think. Outdoor courts are realistically usable April through October, with the sweet spot May through September. Chicago weather is unpredictable — check conditions before you head out, and bring layers in spring and fall.
Peak times are predictable. Weeknights 5–8pm and Saturday mornings 8am–noon are the busiest. For the shortest waits, aim for weekday mornings, early afternoons, or Sunday evenings. Lighted courts (Horner, Humboldt, Grant Park) get especially packed on summer evenings.
Bring water and sunscreen. Most park courts have no shade, and a Chicago summer afternoon on a hard court is more intense than it looks. A hat and a full water bottle are essential.
The queue etiquette is real. At Maggie Daley and Waveland, the unwritten rule is simple: wait your turn, play about an hour, and rotate off if people are waiting. Follow it and you’ll make friends fast.
Take the CTA. Several of the best courts are easy to reach by train: Maggie Daley Park (Loop lines), Grant Park (Roosevelt stop), and Waveland (Red/Brown Line to Addison) all work without a car — a real advantage given how brutal lakefront parking gets at peak times.
Indoor & Year-Round Tennis Options
Chicago winters shut the outdoor courts down, but your game doesn’t have to stop. The most affordable indoor option is McFetridge Sports Center (3843 N California Ave), a Chicago Park District facility with pay-as-you-go court time, no membership required, and ball-machine rentals. Reservations fill fast in winter, so book ahead.
For clay, the Diversey Tennis Center (141 W Diversey Pkwy, Lincoln Park) is Chicago’s only public Har-Tru clay-court facility — outdoor, open roughly mid-May through mid-October, with hourly fees (around $18/hour) and reservations through the Lincoln Park Tennis Association. It’s a genuine step up from free park hard courts if you want the clay experience.
On the membership side: Midtown Athletic Club (covered above) is the premier destination, with 16 indoor tennis courts plus pickleball and paddle. Lakeshore Sport & Fitness (1320 W Fullerton Ave, Lincoln Park) has indoor courts plus rooftop courts with skyline views, month-to-month memberships, squash, and Friday-night mixers. And XS Tennis and Education Foundation (5336 S State St, Washington Park) is a mission-driven community center with 11 indoor and 16 outdoor courts and programming for all ages — one of the most impressive tennis facilities on the south side.
💡 Pro Tip: The Chicago Park District has been aggressively adding pickleball courts, working toward a goal of roughly 200 public courts citywide. Many neighborhood parks that historically had only tennis are now adding pickleball lines or dedicated courts, so the map changes every season — check the Chicago Park District site for current locations before you go.
Whether you’re a visitor chasing the Maggie Daley skyline view or a local hunting the emptiest weekday court, the best part of tennis in Chicago is how little it costs to get on one — pack a racket, take the train, and pick a neighborhood. And if your crew is split between tennis, pickleball, and squash, the city finally has a real answer for all three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — nearly all public tennis courts in Chicago are free. Every Chicago Park District court (Waveland, Maggie Daley, Oz Park, Grant Park, and dozens of neighborhood parks) is free, first-come first-served. The exceptions are private clubs and the Diversey clay courts, which charge hourly fees.
Waveland Tennis Courts in Lincoln Park are the largest, with 20 outdoor hard courts split between north and south sections along the lakefront. Grant Park added a newer 6-court tennis complex alongside 16 pickleball courts at 9th Street and Columbus Drive.
Yes — several parks have lighted courts. Horner Park, Humboldt Park, and Grant Park all have lights for evening play, typically running until around 9 or 10pm. Courts without lights, like Oz Park and Welles Park, are limited to daylight hours.
Grant Park has 16 dedicated lighted pickleball courts — the Chicago Park District’s largest. Many neighborhood parks (Oz, McKinley, McGuane) have added courts or striped tennis courts for pickleball, and the Park District is working toward roughly 200 public courts citywide.
Squash is mostly members-only here. The Hussain MetroSquash Center in Woodlawn (7 singles + 1 doubles court) is the largest and most accessible facility. Lakeshore Sport & Fitness, East Bank Club, and the University Club of Chicago round out the options.
Most public courts are first-come, first-served with no reservation. At Maggie Daley Park and Waveland, you place your racket in a rack and rotate on at the top of the hour for one-hour sessions. The Diversey clay courts require reservations and charge a fee.