Welcome to our master list of best places to swim & splash in the Twin Cities: the best beaches, best swimming pools, wading pools, fun water parks and splash pads.
Scroll to the bottom for a quick list of FREE pools, beaches & waterparks. Find your new splash happy spot in Minneapolis, St Paul & the surrounding Twin Cities Metro.
Get started planning your best summer yet!
Everything under the sun you need to know about family fun this summer in the Twin Cities. Beat boredom and fill your long school break days exploring the best the Twin Cities has to offer in the way of parks, swim spots, community entertainment and local festivals with our Ultimate Summer Events Guide.
TWIN CITIES WATER FUN QUICK LINKS
TWIN CITIES SPLASH PADS & WADING POOLS
For showers of fun, find all the details and our MASTER LIST of Twin Cities-area splash pads and water playgrounds. We give details here for the free splash pads and wading pools in Minneapolis & St Paul.
MINNEAPOLIS SPLASH PADS & WADING POOLS
Check out our master list of free Minneapolis wading pools to see which pools best fit your needs.
- Many Minneapolis pools have feature fancy splash features including WABUN PARK WADING POOL, LAKE HIAWATHA WADING POOL and WAITE PARK WADING POOL Open daily 10am-9pm.
- THE COMMONS splash pad (downtown Minneapolis)
- FRANKLIN STEELE SQUARE splash pad
- PHELPS FIELD PARK splash pad
ST PAUL SPLASH PADS
- CONWAY RECREATION CENTER splash pad
- ROY WILKINS PARK splash pad
- PHALEN PARK & BEACH
- PARQUE CASTILLO splash pad
TWIN CITIES SPLASH PADS QUICKLIST
Splash pads seem to be multiplying across the Twin Cities, with each summer appearing to offer at least one new destination to chase away the heat waves. We’ve listed the Minneapolis & St Paul splash pads above; here we give you a quicklist of more choices around the Metro:
- APPLE VALLEY Kelley Park
- BLAINE Lakeside Commons Park
- BLOOMINGTON Cedarcrest Park
- BUFFALO Downtown
- BURNSVILLE Nicollet Commons Park
- BURNSVILLE Cliff Fen Park
- CHAMPLIN Andrews Park
- CHASKA Firemen’s Park
- COLOGNE City Square Park
- COLUMBIA HEIGHTS Huset Park
- COON RAPIDS Boulevard Plaza
- COTTAGE GROVE Highlands Park
- CRYSTAL Becker Park
- DELANO Central Park
- EAGAN Central Park
- EDEN PRAIRIE Miller Park
- EDEN PRAIRIE Nesbitt Preserve
- EDEN PRAIRIE Round Lake Park
- ELK RIVER Orono Park
- FRIDLEY Commons Park
- HOPKINS Burnes Park
- INVER GROVE HEIGHTS Heritage Village Park
- JORDAN Lagoon Park
- LAKEVILLE Grand Prairie Park
- LITTLE CANADA Pioneer Park
- MAPLE GROVE Central Park
- MOUNDS VIEW City Hall Park
- OTSEGO Prairie Park
- RICHFIELD Veterans Park
- ROBBINSDALE Manor Park
- ROSEMOUNT Central Park
- SHAKOPEE Lions Park
- ST LOUIS PARK Oak Hill Park
- ST MICHAEL Town Center Park
- WAYZATA Panoway
- WEST ST PAUL Harmon Park
- WOOBDURY Madison’s Place Playground
TWIN CITIES WATER PARKS & OUTDOOR POOLS
Whether you prefer a full-on water park with all the extras or a simple public swimming pools, find what you’re searching for out of the dozens of options the Twin Cities offers. Plan ahead: many of these pools offer swim lessons as well. Please note that we detail here your choices in Minneapolis & St Paul; for full details on metro-wide swimming spots, please visit our regional water fun guides.
- TWIN CITIES NORTHWEST METRO WATER FUN GUIDE
- TWIN CITIES NORTHEAST METRO WATER FUN GUIDE
- TWIN CITIES SOUTHWEST METRO WATER FUN GUIDE
- TWIN CITIES SOUTHEAST METRO WATER FUN GUIDE
MINNEAPOLIS SWIMMING POOLS & WATERPARKS
Webber Park Swimming Pool
4300 Webber Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55412
The pool water is naturally treated with plants instead of chemicals. Zero-depth entry for the littlest swimmers.
Webber Park Pool, Minneapolis
North Commons Water Park
1701 Golden Valley Rd., Minneapolis, MN 55411
NOTE: The water park is closed for remodeling in 2026! The most affordable water park in the Twin Cities includes water slides and a splash pool.
Jim Lupient Waterpark
1520 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Amenities include: water slides, tube slide, log water walk, spray fountains, zero-depth entry. There is a shade pavilion area, drinking fountains and outside showers and lockers in the waterpark area. $10/person.
ST PAUL SWIMMING POOLS
Como Regional Park Pool
1151 Wynne Ave, St Paul, MN 55108
Features a zip line, climbing wall, lazy river and separate splash pool. Kids ages 6 & under can participate in Tot Time at Como, offered weekends from 9-10:30am, is just $6/person. Regular admission ranges $6-$9.
Highland Park Aquatic Center
1840 Edgcumbe Rd, St Paul, MN 55116
The aquatic center offers a children’s activity pool, diving well & slide. Again, for kids under 7, weekend Tot Times are offered from 9:30am-11am when only the splash zone is open. Admission $6-$9/person.
Budget Tip: If you have a favorite Twin Cities water park, look for discounts on annual passes January – March.
MORE AQUATIC CENTERS AROUND THE TWIN CITIES METRO
ANOKA Aquatic Center
APPLE VALLEY Splash Valley Water Park
APPLE VALLELY Redwood Community Pool
BLOOMINGTON Family Aquatic Center
COON RAPIDS Bunker Beach Water Park
CRYSTAL Cove Aquatic Center
EAGAN Cascade Bay Water Park
EDINA Aquatic Center
HASTINGS Family Aquatic Center
MAPLEWOOD Battle Creek Waterpark
MAPLE GROVE Cove Aquatic Center
NEW HOPE Aquatic Park
RICHFIELD Outdoor Pool
SHAKOPEE SandVenture Aquatic Park
SOUTH ST PAUL Northview Pool
ST LOUIS PARK Aquatic Park
QUICK LIST OF FREE SWIMMING SPOTS IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO
- Both Dakota County beaches. Note that Dakota County Parks require a vehicle permit, which is not free.
- Three Rivers Park District’s 7 unguarded beaches; their guarded beaches have a small fee. Three Rivers does offer a needs based program, which can include free swimming at guarded beaches.
- Washington County Parks beaches. Note that Washington County Parks require a vehicle permit, which is not free.
- All five of Ramsey County swimming beaches.
- All Minneapolis swimming beaches
- Anoka County beaches – 3 locations, $6/vehicle permit.
- Carver County swimming beaches – 2 locations, $5/vehicle permit.
- Lakeside Commons Park & Beach in Blaine. Free for residents only; bring proof of residency. Non-residents pay $10.
- Phalen Beach, St. Paul – Free, Open 12pm-8pm.
- Webber Natural Swimming Pool – Awesome pool, but we recommend calling ahead before heading out. There is a daily capacity limit and the pool closes when the balance is off.
- All Minneapolis wading pools – including the popular Waite Park and Wabun wading pools.
MINNEAPOLIS & ST PAUL BEACHES
These beautiful swimming beaches are in the heart of the Twin Cities metro area, mere steps (or bike pedals) away from lots of fun family attractions and outdoor dining spots. Admission to the beaches is FREE.
Bde Maka Ska Park & Beaches
- BDE MAKA SKA 32ND ST BEACH – Unguarded
- BDE MAKA SKA NORTH BEACH – Unguarded
- BDE MAKA SKA THOMAS BEACH – Guarded daily from noon to 7pm
Cedar Lake Park & Beaches
- CEDAR LAKE EAST BEACH – Unguarded. 2000 Upton Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55405.
- CEDAR LAKE POINT BEACH – Unguarded. 2101 Cedar Lake Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55416.
- CEDAR LAKE SOUTH BEACH – Unguarded. 3500 Cedar Lake Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55416.
Lake Harriet Park & Beaches
- LAKE HARRIET NORTH BEACH – Unguarded. 4180 East Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55409. (Stick around for live music – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday all summer)
- LAKE HARRIET SOUTHEAST BEACH – Unguarded. 4740 Lake Harriet Parkway E, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
Lake Hiawatha Park & Beach
- LAKE HIAWATHA BEACH – Unguarded. 4500 28th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55406.
Lake Nokomis Park & Beaches
- LAKE NOKOMIS 50TH STREET BEACH – Unguarded. 5000 Lake Nokomis Parkway E, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
- LAKE NOKOMIS MAIN BEACH – Guarded daily from noon to 7pm. 5001 Lake Nokomis Parkway W, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park & Beaches
- WIRTH LAKE BEACH – Guarded daily from noon to 7pm. 3200 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405.
Reader Recommendation: White Sand Beach
- WHITE SAND BEACH – This unofficial and somewhat secret beach is located along West River Parkway. (This is Minneapolis park land, but not a park.) Once known for its clean white sand, reviewers tell us it is a bit more polluted from bonfires and nightlife than it once was. We would recommend against swimming with kids at this location, as the Mississippi can be dangerous and there are no lifeguards. However, one of my great disappointments moving to Minnesota as an adult was the rocky, dirty beach sand. If you are looking to dig around in whiter & cleaner sand than the typical Minnesota beach offers, this could be your place. 2901 W River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55406.
Minneapolis beaches traditionally open Memorial Day weekend; lifeguards arrive in early June.
SAINT PAUL BEACHES
Lake Phalen Regional Park Beach
1600 Phalen Dr, St Paul, MN 55106
Complete with a playground, splash pad and water craft rentals. Admission is free.
TWIN CITIES SWIMMING BEACHES BY COUNTY
Anoka County Parks swimming beaches
Beaches are open early June – Labor Day, 9am-8pm. A $7 vehicle permit is required for swimming beaches located in Anoka County parks.
- COLUMBUS COON LAKE COUNTY PARK
- OAK GROVE LAKE GEORGE REGIONAL PARK
- LINO LAKES RICE CREEK CHAIN OF LAKES PARK RESERVE
Carver County Parks swimming beaches
Carver County beaches are open Memorial Day weekend – the Sunday after Labor Day, daily 6am-10pm. They are free with no vehicle fee charged. Note: Carver County has ended lifeguard services since 2024. All three beaches are now “swim at your own risk”.
- NORWOOD YOUNG AMERICA BAYLOR REGIONAL PARK
- SHOREWOOD LAKE MINNEWASHTA REGIONAL PARK
- WACONIA LAKE WACONIA REGIONAL PARK
Dakota County Parks swimming beaches
Dakota County’s beaches are open starting Memorial Day Weekend
and there are no vehicle fees to enter the park and use them.
Ramsey County swimming beaches
Ramsey County beaches with lifeguard service are open Memorial Day-Labor Day. Beaches are open for swimming sunrise-sunset (park hours). There is no admission fee to enter the parks or swim.
- ARDEN HILLS TONY SCHMIDT REGIONAL PARK
- LITTLE CANADA LAKE GERVAIS COUNTY PARK
- NEW BRIGHTON LONG LAKE REGIONAL PARK
- ROSEVILLE LAKE JOSEPHINE COUNTY PARK
- ROSEVILLE LAKE MCCARRONS COUNTY PARK
- SHOREVIEW LAKE OWASSO COUNTY PARK
- SHOREVIEW TURTLE LAKE COUNTY PARK
- SHOREVIEW VADNAIS-SNAIL LAKES BEACH
- WHITE BEAR LAKE COUNTY PARK
Three Rivers Park District swimming beaches
- EDEN PRAIRIE BRYANT LAKE REGIONAL PARK
- MAPLE GROVE ELM CREEK REGIONAL PARK The swimming pond is chlorinated with a sand beach. It’s also close to an elaborate play structure & nature center. $6/pp plus tax.
- MAPLE GROVE FISH LAKE REGIONAL PARK: We include this park, with its swimming beach, in our list of the 10 BEST PARKS IN MAPLE GROVE, MINNESOTA
- MAPLE PLAIN BAKER PARK RESERVE The large park has a terrific swimming beach on Lake Independence.
- MINNETRISTA LAKE MINNETONKA REGIONAL PARK The swim pond is chlorinated with a sand beach. $6/pp plus tax.
- NEW PRAGUE CEDAR LAKE FARM REGIONAL PARK
- PLYMOUTH FRENCH LAKE REGIONAL PARK: In addition to the swimming beach on Medicine Lake, your kids will go also go nuts for all the climbing opportunities on the playground.
- PRIOR LAKE CLEARY LAKE REGIONAL PARK
- ROCKFORD LAKE REBECCA PARK RESERVE
- VICTORIA CARVER PARK RESERVE The small swimming beach is located on the west half of Lake Auburn. Plan to make a stop at the LOWRY NATURE CENTER while you’re in the sprawling park.
Washington County Parks swimming beaches
Washington County’s swimming beaches are open Memorial Day – Labor Day, 9am-8pm. A $7 vehicle permit is required. Each first Tuesday of the month is FREE entry day!
- MARINE ON ST CROIX BIG MARINE PARK RESERVE
- HASTINGS POINT DOUGLAS PARK The swimming beach is small but located on the lovely confluence of the St Croix and Mississippi Rivers.
- HASTINGS ST CROIX BLUFFS REGIONAL PARK
- LAKE ELMO PARK RESERVE The swim pond is chlorinated, has a gently sloping sand bottom and maxes out at 6 feet. This pond typically opens later than Memorial Day.
- STILLWATER SQUARE LAKE PARK The lake water at the swimming beach is exceptionally clear and clean.
Lake Elmo Park Reserve – Swim Beach
TWIN CITIES BEACHES – SWIMMING BY CITY
We have some great beaches run by municipalities in the Twin Cities. Find the closest beach by city:
BLAINE Lakeside Commons Park
BLOOMINGTON Bush Lake Beach
BURNSVILLE Crystal Beach Park
CHANHASSEN Carver Beach
CHANHASSEN Greenwood Shores Park
CHANHASSEN Lake Anne Park
CHASKA Clayhole Swim Beach
EDEN PRAIRIE Riley Lake Park
EDEN PRAIRIE Round Lake Park
EXCELSIOR Roundhouse Park
MINNETONKA Shady Oak Beach
NORTH ST PAUL Silver Lake Park
PLYMOUTH East Medicine Lake Park
PLYMOUTH West Medicine Lake Park
PLYMOUTH Parkers Lake Park
WOODBURY Carver Lake Park
Want the best? For more beachy ideas, try our list of 20 Twin Cities Beaches & Playgrounds To Try This Summer
Is this beach safe to swim in?
Each year, beaches get closed because of high bacteria levels – particularly E. coli – or blue green algae growth. So how do you know whether the water quality of a beach is safe for swimming? Many municipalities and park systems routinely monitor and proactively close beaches if bacteria levels exceed state guidelines, usually before any sickness is reported. This information is publicly available online. To avoid disappointment, you may want to check before heading out. The Minnesota Department of Health has conveniently created a list of public beaches that are regularly monitored.
MINNESOTA STATE PARK BEACHES NEAR THE TWIN CITIES
These Minnesota State Park beaches are all a one-hour drive or less from the Twin Cities. Note there is a $7 vehicle permit fee.
HASTINGS Afton State Park
6959 Peller Ave S, Hastings, MN 55033
The swimming beach is a strip of sandy shore along a shallow and peaceful area of the St. Croix River. The DNR marks out the swim area with buoys during the summer season. Find the beach near the lower picnic area, which is a half mile hike from the nearest parking lot.
MSP METRO Fort Snelling State Park
Snelling Lake Trail, St Paul, MN 55111
We love Fort Snelling’s beach year round for its close proximity. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
MARINE ON ST CROIX William O’Brien State Park
16821 O Brien Trail N, Marine on St Croix, MN 55047
CLOSED FOR 2026 The swimming beach is on Lake Alice, a picturesque, spring-fed lake with a sandy shore.
Learn more about each of these state parks, family-friendly amenities and nearby attractions here: 9 Twin Cities Metro-Area Minnesota State Parks
HOW TO MAKE A BACKYARD SPLASH PAD
Is this your year to get creative and make your own backyard splash pad? You could start with a pop bottle sprinkler.
Ocean beaches? Nope. Surfing? Maybe in Duluth, if you like it cold. Spring Break? We’re more likely to have a blizzard than beach day. We recommend Florida or the Gulf of Mexico for fun in the sun in spring. Mosquitoes? Yep. They’re our unofficial state bird.
Minnesota will never be anyone’s idea of a great beach vacation. But, we LOVE our summers like no where else, and our metro area provides plenty of fun in the sun for the whole family!
You didn’t list the Cottage Grove splash pad. 🙁 it’s off 70th in Cottage Grove and is WAY nicer/bigger than the Woodbury one. It too is free and has been open since last week.
Thanks for the heads up, Kristina. I’ve added it.
Any chance we could get captions for the photos? I can’t tell if the photo is of the location listed above or below it.
Thanks for the great list!
I will try to add captions today. The pictures are below the corresponding waterpark/splash pad except for Como Park Regional Park Pool, which is to the right of the Como Pool description. The picture of the playground with the dinosaur bone dig is in Elm Creek Park Reserve adjacent to the Elm Creek Swimming Pond in Maple Grove. There is only the $5 charge to swim; the playground, nature center and historic site are free. Thanks for reading!