While living in the city certainly has its perks, there is sometimes a bit of difficulty finding a good place to get some exercise. With everything jam-packed together, there’s not exactly an open space to get your training in for that upcoming marathon, or a local community center that doubles as your local golf course and free gym. Of course, there’s still often a need to keep fit.
Luckily, Chicago has plenty of gyms and fitness instructors that can get you in the best shape of your life, and inspire you to actually keep up with your goals. Whether you’re looking for a nice weight room or a steamy sauna to escape the brutal cold, check out our list of some of the top athletic clubs in the Chicagoland area!
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5248 N Clark Street / Website
Head to this Andersonville neighborhood gym for an inclusive environment with state-of-the-art equipment, personal trainers available on-site, and a busy lineup of classes. Check out group fitness classes like HIIT and TRX, studio cycling, dance fitness, pilates, and many levels of yoga classes. Then, treat yourself to some self-care with the gym’s massage therapists, or create a plan for a healthier future with nutrition coaching from an on-staff nutritionist. This gem of a gym is known for being LGBTQ-friendly as well as having clean amenities.
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Multiple Locations / Website
Visit one of the massive Chicago Athletic Club locations for fitness offerings like aqua aerobics, strength training, boxing, cycling, dance fitness, and yoga classes. For independent exercise, the center is fitted with professional-style weights and knowledgeable personal trainers. Love to compete? Try out the center’s competitive Masters swim team and triathlon training program.
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Known as the place to go for HIIT workouts, CrossTown Fitness leads over 200 group fitness classes per week, as well as offers personal training. Amenities include private lockers and showers, in addition to their studio and fitness equipment. Can’t get yourself motivated to exercise without a competition in sight? No worries, CrossTown hosts an annual summer fitness competition, The CTF Games, which tests its members and fitness enthusiasts to a field day full of weights, reps and pushing yourself.
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500 N Kingsbury Street, Merchandise Mart / Website
Don’t be fooled: this isn’t a football stadium, despite having 450,000 square feet of space to its name. With a running track, four swimming pools, an indoor driving range for golf and seven tennis courts, there is no shortage of things to do to get your sport on. Of course, you might just want the standard workout. Some of the amenities include a 20,000-square-foot cardiovascular room, a 5,000-square-foot performance center, a free weight room and plenty of studios for group classes: two Pilates studios, a 60-bike spinning studio, and five for group exercise. Finished with your day? Check out the in-house deli and rooftop restaurant for a quick bite!
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By now you’ve likely heard of celeb-loved fitness studio Equinox and its numerous member amenities. With luxe, aesthetically pleasing spaces, personal training, studio pilates and a huge array of classes, including boxing and kickboxing, barre, yoga, cycling, pool fitness, stretching, athletic training and dance fitness, among others, this fitness club offers a lot of options. All classes are included in the membership price, making it easy to schedule classes stress-free. Not near your home studio? No worries. Download the Equinox app for live-streamed and on-demand classes from certified instructors.
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5157 N Francisco Ave, Albany Park / Website
Galter promises a training regiment that goes beyond typical fitness standards, promising a balance of mind, body and spirit. While “mind and spirit” might come from options like acupuncture therapy, massages and Watsu, this gym still offers plenty of athletic opportunities to push that balance further. With two swimming pools, an indoor track and plenty of exercise equipment, this offers the perfect modern gymnasium experience, with options for classes aplenty: cycling, boot camp, Barre and more. If you’d prefer to work with a trainer, they offer new member specials for $100 for a one-on-one session, and those with kids can shack them up with the care center and kid-centric activities. Bring the whole family and get back into shape!
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1320 W Fullerton Avenue, Lincoln Park / Website
For all those interested in exercise, there’s always a desire to prove one’s skill in direct application: pure sport. Lakeshore takes full advantage of this want between multiple locations with a wide variety of simulators and amenities to test your luck, including a few full-scale basketball courts, golf simulators and a climbing wall. For those looking to get into a few classes, there are also plenty of facilities for that. The multiple pools feature aquatics classes, and there are plenty of opportunities to train for possible events, including triathlon, dance classes, cycling and others, as well as sport-specific training.
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314 W Superior / Website
Approach your fitness goals with a healthy lifestyle guided by the team of experts at Lateral Fitness. The boutique fitness studio employs a physical therapist, chiropractor, nutritionist, massage therapist, and acupuncturist, ready to help you devise a plan. Group classes range from HIIT to yoga to a huge variety of pilates, or opt for a private trainer for one-on-one fitness routines and advice.
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15 W Chicago Avenue / Website
Hailed as a “luxury athletic resort”, visit Life Time River North for its rooftop pool and beach club, in addition to its basketball and racquetball courts, kids activities, on-site cafe, full spa, and a huge selection of fitness classes. Check out HIIT, barre and kettlebell studio workouts, among others, as well as yoga and cycling classes. With over 126,000 square feet of fitness space, this gym truly has it all.
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2444 N Elston Avenue, Bucktown / Website
While Chicago’s not exactly known for its vibrant tennis scene, Midtown Athletic Club does more than its fair share to try to fight that narrative. With 18 indoor tennis courts, there are plenty of classes to try to work on your backhand, including competitive programs, development and even classes for the kids. If tennis isn’t your game, there are plenty of other amenities, including a spa and sauna, Pilates classes and a few studios for yoga. Having been a part of Chicago’s scene for more than 50 years, this is the perfect representation of athletic facilities in major cities, and a good place to get any workout.
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1301 W Madison Street, West Loop / Website
If you’re looking for a trainer to kick you into shape with a smile, this is just the place for you. With futuristic mood lighting, decorative mirrors outlining the decor and dozens of machines for self-paced workouts, this West Loop stop makes it feel like you’re doing bicep curls on the surface of Mars. What’s more, the club prides itself on its futuristic technology that pushes fitness to the next level. Members can treat themselves to a free body scan which will help determine one’s body mass index and find the right pathway of classes to treat them best. With plenty of trainers to serve clients one-on-one, there’s perhaps no better place to start one’s new year’s resolution.
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3727 N Broadway Ave, Wrigleyville / Website
Maybe you want to work out with bodybuilders lining the machines to give you a proper image of what to work for. Maybe you just don’t want your gym experience to be defined by the spa, and instead, have protein powders and shakes rather than tanning beds and smoothies. Either way, Quads might be the place to finally get that Schwarzenegger body you’ve always wanted. What makes Quads so enjoyable for some is the lack of guidance, as the trainers will only speak to you once you approach them; an introvert’s dream. There’s plenty of equipment to try at one’s leisure, and will truly allow you to find yourself the perfect routine to work on what ails you: your back, biceps or even thighs! Be sure to check out the Pro Shop too, as they feature gloves and belts, jump ropes, thermal tops and tanks, and more.
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11 E Elm Street, Gold Coast / Website
This national chain has been approved by plenty of Hollywood authorities, including David Beckham, Jason DeRulo and more. It also features some of the best modern fitness classes in the current day, with 45-minute bag classes that offer speed and cardio for all involved. With murals of Chicago icons across the walls—Dennis Rodman and Michelle Obama, to name a few—Rumble offers year-round memberships for lower prices, including a $240 “founding” membership. The crown jewel of the gym, however, is the perfect class, led by a “part DJ, part motivational speaker and complete Master of Ceremony.” For an in-person experience that’ll work every core of the body, be sure to check out Rumble!
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Multiple Locations / Website
Head to Studio Three to try out three of the most popular fitness classes of the moment– cycling, yoga and interval training. This members-only boutique fitness studio takes pride in its modern, sleek interiors and state-of-the-art fitness technologies. With three Chicagoland locations, there’s always a class available. It’s a great spot to make friends with like-minded fitness enthusiasts.
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1735 W Division Street, Suite 100, East Village / Website
Wicker Park Fitness is a price-friendly option that encourages a variety of skills including self-defense, yoga and BootyBurn. Promising a “third of the price of the competition,” this is a perfect neighborhood gym for an after-work calorie burn. Unlike other places on this list, this is not the place to come for soothing saunas and in-house coffee shops. Free towels and apples take their place, so it's still a nice spot to take some classes. Test your motivation, and push yourself further!
Looking for more luxe stops in the city? Check out our picks for Where To Enjoy Dry January In Chicago.
Photography by: Sule Makaroglu / Unsplash
