We somehow always promise ourselves that there’s always next year—next year, we’ll focus on making strides to benefit our health—whether that is consuming a balanced meal, adding more steps to your everyday routine, or joining a fitness club. Well, 2023 is now 2024. So, whether you’re into HIIT or luxurious amenities or want an affordable space with treadmills and weight machines, you can find a place easily in Chicago. Here is our guide to the best gyms in Chicago to get a good workout!
1. Midtown Athletic Club
Nestled between Bucktown, Lincoln Park, and Logan Square, Midtown Atheltic Club is where high-end amenities melt into a luxury oasis. While you may think it’s a gym from the outside, the interior would lean toward an athletic resort.
With 179+ studio fitness classes every week, locker rooms featuring sauna and steam rooms, 16 indoor tennis, pickleball, and paddle tennis, and a lounging pool, this is geared toward people who don’t mind paying the high price of resort-like spaces.
Location: 2444 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
2. Equinox
Another Chicago fitness club with luxurious gym space and four spacious, serene locations. Equinox defines luxury and well-being while absorbing the cultural feel of its surrounding neighborhoods—Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, and The Loop.
From deft personal trainers and innovative group fitness classes to soothing spa treatments and curated boutiques, the wellness experiences are powered by a holistic approach to living. With an eucalyptus steam room, boxing studio, Pilates studio, lap pool, juice bar, and more, Equinox remains one of the best gyms in Chicago.
Location: Various locations
3. LifeTime
LifeTime was only built a few years ago; with its world-class health facilities, it shows the time spent creating an exceptional experience. The 126,000-square-foot athletic country club offers expansive workout floors with cutting-edge equipment, indoor and outdoor rooftop pools, basketball courts, and racquet sports.
There are multiple studios, including a hot yoga studio, pilates studio, and cycle studio, with over 90 weekly yoga, cycle, barre, strength, and cardio classes. The locker rooms transform into four-star hotel spa amenities with a sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, and whirlpool.
Location: 15 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
4. CrossTown Fitness
CrossTown Fitness is for you if you’re looking to avoid a monotonous workout routine. Each class will be different every time you enter the facility, and don’t think it’s a walk in the park.
CrossTown Fitness is challenging—incorporating strength and endurance with every motion. Their trainers design each class to include interval cardiovascular routines, mobility, and strength training.
Location: Various locations
5. Chicago Athletic Clubs
Chicago Atheltic Clubs is one of the more affordable gyms on the list. With seven locations, you’re bound to have one that’s close by. With professional-style weight rooms and all the cardio equipment one could need, it’s the quintessential place if you’re looking for an all-encompassing gym in Chicago.
On the days you don’t want to walk through the dreaded crisp streets, you’ll have access to hundreds of weekly Group Fitness classes with formats including dance, yoga, cycling, strength training, boxing classes, and aqua aerobics.
Location: Various locations
6. East Bank Club
East Bank Club is another premier gym in Chicago with over 350,000 square feet to exercise, lounge, and nosh. Covering two entire city blocks, the Club offers an astounding array of amenities, state-of-the-art exercise facilities and equipment, and dining options to cater to every want and need.
Location: 500 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60654
7. Lakeshore Sport and Fitness
For those looking for a community to participate in social, instructional, and competitive sporting activities, Lakeshore Sport & Fitness is one of the best gyms in Chicago to join. Located in Lincoln Park, they offer 185,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor sports and fitness space, with extensive programming.
The facilities include eight indoor tennis courts and three outdoor rooftop tennis courts, two swimming pools, two outdoor paddle courts, basketball, volleyball, pickleball courts, a running track, curling lanes, and many more.
Location: Various locations
8. Studio Three
If you want various studio class options and are indifferent to an actual workout facility, join Studio Three. It has interval, cycle, and yoga studios conveniently located under one roof, providing a complete cross-training experience. Interval is a high-energy, results-driven group class; Cycle is a full-body workout whose programming revolves around high-energy choreography; flow and strength yoga is designed to establish a meaningful presence, tap into your power, and align with a greater purpose.
Location: Various locations
9. Lateral Fitness
While a larger facility has benefits, joining a boutique studio also has perks. Lateral Fitness is a full amenity training facility that offers intimate group classes and a specifically selected group of trainers and instructors. And they don’t short you on a lavish changing room—private showers, a fully stocked bathroom, high-end products, towel service, filtered water, and self-serve tea await you.
Location: 314 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654
10. Rumble Boxing
Let’s get reaaaaady to rumbleeeeee (said in a Michael Buffer voice). If your main outlet is putting on gloves and smashing a soft pillar, then Rumble Boxing is one of the best gyms in Chicago for you.
Rumble Boxing combines the sweet science of boxing with the transformative power of strength training. It’s a high-octane 10-round fight that offers authentic high-intensity interval training, metabolic conditioning, and cardio benefits in one seamless class.
Location: 11 E Elm St, Chicago, IL 60611
11. Bodi Shak
Founded in Uptown, Bodi Shak has committed to making its space inclusive to any “bodi” who walks through our doors and is ready to join the community, with HIIT classes designed for intense self-paced workouts hitting cardio, strength, and core exercises to an open gym where you can set your own workout.
Location: 4609 N. Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640