Three Oaks Recreation Area

Great, clean atmosphere! Great fishing and family fun! Can’t wait for the expansion to open.

In the area of Texas I grew up in, you had to drive around ten hours to reach a beach. So it’s kind of crazy having so many so close by.
Three Oaks is a wonderful little spot if you’re looking to get some sun and enjoy the cool Illinois water. We went on a busy day, or at least I’m assuming a full parking lot is a busy day. But we still didn’t have a hard time finding a spot for our blanket and chairs on the sand. The place is really popular for families, which as a parent, I deem to be a good thing. You don’t have to worry about the place being dominated by a bunch of funsters having a «good time.»
The price wasn’t bad, although it could probably be a buck or two cheaper. One of the cooler things they have is a Culvers right there on the beach. So if you’re looking to knock out some hot cheese curds with ranch on a hot summer day, you have that option. There were around five to six lifeguards on hand, so you don’t have to worry about the negative impact of cramping up from Culvers when you’re swimming. Your life will be in capable hands.

One our favorite summer spots! You can bring in your own food so we usually pack up a cooler for the day and head out there early. If you want to secure a picnic table you must arrive early because they are the first to go. The spray pad and park area are brand new and great for the little ones and the older kids love to swim out to the swim platform and dive off into the crystal clear waters. The showers and locker room are great also. Overall, very nice place with a concessions and boat rentals as well. I wish we lived closer so we could go more often.

We didn’t get to take advantage of much beyond the swim and beach area because that is where the kids wanted to stay. It was a nice little area — small for the crowd that seemed to flock there on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, but we did find a spot on the sand to lay down our things. We even moved up next to the water the later in the afternoon it got. The kids enjoyed the clean water and the sand. The view was beautiful, very clean and well tended. The flowers and plants were perfect choices. It was fun watching the people paddle board and kayak and boat off in the distance. Next time I would love to rent a boat. The splash pad and playground were fun for my little guy. The only 2 complaints I had were the lack of sinks in the bathroom. (I used an open shower to wash my hands when done.) The second was the line for the Culvers concession stand. It was so long and so slow. We waited for drinks about 15– 20 minutes, moving up in line only once. We gave up knowing that we were going to leave soon enough to have dinner elsewhere. It wasn’t worth wasting that much time in line when the kids could spend it playing in the water. Next time we will go during the week. Hopefully it won’t be as busy. Tips: Bring your own shade, food and drink and hand sanitizer. Be ready for a long walk if the parking lot is full. I would definitely go again sometime.

When looking for a beach in the Northwest Suburbs this is the place. I have gone there multiple times with my three boys. Perfect beach for little kids as they can stand all the way out to the rope. For older kids there is a pier they can jump from and a volleyball court, for younger kids tired of the water they can play at the spray park. You can also rent boats to ride and reserve picinic spots and trails for paved hiking! We usually pack food, but there is a Culvers on site. It costs $ 5.00 to park if you are not a resident and there is a reasonable entry fee per person, no more than any public pool. We will definately go again next summer! It is exactly what it is supposed to be, a suburban beach for families to swim!

This is a wonderful beach. The only complaint I have is that I like to read on my floating raft and the only place one can bring a raft in this huge lake is in the tiny area that’s roped off for little kids. Other than that, this beach is very nice. I like that boats are available for rent and that there’s a nice hiking area.

The views are spectacular and the beach is pretty good. Ill only have the last LAUGH with the STAFF. They didnt help me out when i rented a BOAT. HAHA. No tip. Otherwise great place RECCommended…

There are so many wonderful activities you can do here. The area has fishing (catch and release only), kayaking, paddle boats, a beach, and several trails to walk along the lake side. Recently added was a Culvers snack bar so after physical activity you can grab a bit to eat. If you are not from Crystal Lake there is a five dollar charge per vehicle but pedestrian traffic is free. There are two entrances to the area and there is construction on the third for access from the different parts of CL. If you enjoy watch birds this place is home to many including ducks in the summer and geese occasionally in the winter. I gave a four star because a healthier choice of consession stand would have been optimal.