Pickleball in Chicago: the complete guide
Chicago and its suburbs have 429 places to play pickleball, from free park-district courts to dedicated indoor clubs.
This guide covers where to play, what it costs, where to play in winter and at night, and how to find people to play with. Every number comes from the PickleballChi directory.
Chicagoland pickleball at a glance
- 429 places to play in Chicagoland
- Spread across 119 cities and towns
- At least 1060 courts in total
- 287 free to play
- 135 with indoor courts
- 54 with a regular open-play schedule
- 56 with dedicated pickleball courts
- 28 with confirmed lights for night play
- 34 with something for beginners (intro classes, beginner open play, lessons)
Where can I play pickleball in Chicago?
119 cities and towns have at least one listed court. These have the most:
| City | Places | Free | Indoor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 62 | 53 | 12 |
| Schaumburg, IL | 18 | 14 | 4 |
| Elgin, IL | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| Naperville, IL | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| Skokie, IL | 11 | 10 | 1 |
| Northbrook, IL | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Evanston, IL | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Glenview, IL | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Mount Prospect, IL | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Oak Park, IL | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Arlington Heights, IL | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Highland Park, IL | 7 | 5 | 2 |
See every city on the PickleballChi home page.
Where can I play pickleball for free?
287 of the 429 places are free, mostly public park-district courts.
Free courts are first come, first served: you can't book them, so players wait for an open court and rotate in.
Most free courts are in Chicago (53), Schaumburg (14), Elgin (11). See the full list of free pickleball courts.
Where can I play indoor pickleball in winter?
Chicago winters move most play indoors. 135 places have indoor courts: dedicated pickleball clubs, athletic clubs, YMCAs and park-district gyms.
- Life Time North Shore Sport and Racquet, Northbrook (28 courts)
- Naperville Tennis Club, Naperville (20 courts)
- The Picklr Kildeer, Kildeer (14 courts)
- The Picklr Mount Prospect, Mount Prospect (14 courts)
- The Picklr Wheaton, Wheaton (14 courts)
- Lakeshore Sport & Fitness Lincoln Park, Chicago (13 courts)
Browse all indoor pickleball courts.
How much does pickleball cost in Chicago?
It depends on where you play. Here is how pricing works across the places we list:
| How you pay | How it works | Typical price | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Public courts, first come, first served | Free | 287 |
| Drop-in | Pay per visit for open play, no membership | $3 to $12 | 91 |
| Court rental | Book a court ahead, usually by the hour, and share it | $15 to $70 | 30 |
| Membership | Monthly or yearly plan at a club | Varies by club | 21 |
Typical prices are the middle of the listed range, so one unusual listing doesn't skew them. Each court page shows its own price.
Where can beginners learn pickleball in Chicago?
34 places list something for new players. Start with a free intro class or a beginner open-play session, then move on to lessons or clinics.
Pickleball 101 intro classes
- The Picklr Kildeer, Kildeer
- The Picklr Mount Prospect, Mount Prospect
- The Picklr Wheaton, Wheaton
- Pickleball Kingdom North Aurora, North Aurora
- Pickleball Kingdom Waukegan, Waukegan
- The Picklr Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook
- The Picklr Naperville, Naperville
- The Picklr Mundelein, Mundelein
- The Picklr Villa Park, Villa Park
Beginner open play
- McGaw YMCA, Evanston: Sat
- Athletic Recreation Center (ARC), Woodridge: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
- Batavia Civic Center, Batavia: Wed
- Courts Plus, Elmhurst: Fri
- Mary E. Kies Recreation Center, Elmhurst: Tue, Wed, Thu
23 places also offer lessons or clinics. See every beginner-friendly place to play.
Where can I find pickleball open play?
Open play is a scheduled session where players show up and rotate into games, usually without needing a partner.
54 places list a regular open-play schedule, for example:
- The Centre of Elgin, Elgin: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- Deerpath Community Park, Lake Forest: Tuesday, Thursday
- Flick Park, Glenview: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- Sachs Recreation Center, Deerfield: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- Frontier Park Fieldhouse, Chicago Ridge: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
- McGaw YMCA, Evanston: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
See every open-play schedule.
Where can I play pickleball at night?
28 outdoor places have confirmed lights for night play, including Grant Park, James Park, Adventure Falls Sport Courts (McCollum Park).
We only list lights where they're confirmed, so other courts may have them too. See lighted pickleball courts.
Are Chicago's pickleball courts dedicated or shared?
Of the 165 places where we know, 56 have dedicated pickleball courts with permanent nets and lines. The other 109 share tennis or multi-use courts, where you may need to bring a portable net.
How do I find people to play pickleball with?
- Go to open play at a nearby court, where players rotate in.
- Post or join a game on PickleballChi, filtered by skill level.
- Take a lesson or clinic with a local coach to meet players at your level.
Pickleball in Chicago: common questions
Where can I play pickleball in Chicago?
PickleballChi lists 429 places to play pickleball across Chicago and the suburbs: Chicago Park District courts, suburban park districts and private clubs. The most places to play are in Chicago (62), Schaumburg (18), Elgin (12), Naperville (11), Skokie (11). Each court page shows the address, number of courts, cost, hours and open-play times.
Are there free pickleball courts in Chicago?
Yes. 287 listed locations are free to play, mostly public park-district courts that are first-come, first-served. See the full list at pickleballchi.com/pickleball/free-courts.
Where can I play indoor pickleball in Chicago?
135 locations have indoor courts, including dedicated clubs, athletic clubs, YMCAs and park-district gyms. Indoor play usually needs a reservation, drop-in fee or membership. See pickleballchi.com/pickleball/indoor-courts.
How much does it cost to play pickleball in Chicago?
Most public park-district courts are free (287 locations). Drop-in open play at community centers and clubs usually costs $3 to $12 a visit. Renting a court usually costs $15 to $70 an hour, shared by the players on it. Each court page lists its own prices.
Where can I learn to play pickleball in Chicago?
34 places list something for new players: intro classes, beginner open play, lessons or clinics. 9 clubs offer a Pickleball 101 intro class, including The Picklr Kildeer, The Picklr Mount Prospect, The Picklr Wheaton and more. See pickleballchi.com/pickleball/beginner-friendly.
Where can I find pickleball open play in Chicago?
54 locations list a regular open-play schedule, where you can show up alone and rotate in with other players. See pickleballchi.com/pickleball/open-play, or post a game on PickleballChi to find players at your level.
Good to know
Court size: A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, the same size as a doubles badminton court.
Open play: Open play is a scheduled session where players show up and rotate into games, usually without needing a partner. Some venues charge a fee or ask you to sign up first.
First come, first served: First come, first served means public courts can't be booked: players wait for an open court and rotate in.
Drop-in: Drop-in pickleball means paying a small fee for one visit instead of buying a membership.
Court reservation: A court reservation is court time you book ahead, usually by the hour, and share with the players in your group.
Membership: A membership is a monthly or yearly plan at a club that includes court time or open play.
Dedicated courts: Dedicated pickleball courts are built only for pickleball, with permanent nets and lines. Shared courts have pickleball lines painted or taped on a tennis or basketball court.
Lighted courts: Lighted courts are outdoor courts with lights, so you can play after dark.
Pickleball 101: A Pickleball 101 class is an intro session for new players that covers the rules, scoring and basic shots.