Splash Happy: 2020 Guide to Twin Cities Beaches, Pools, Water Parks & Splash Pads

As the line between late spring and early summer starts to melt away in the rising temps, it’s time to update our master list of Twin Cities beaches, outdoor swimming pools, water parks and splash pads. Scroll to the bottom for a quick list of FREE pools, beaches and water parks.

Updated 6/18/20

Find your new splash happy spot from our list of the best places to swim in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and the Twin Cities metro.

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Get started planning your best summer!

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 SWIMMING BEACHES

Natural beaches and pools are susceptible to high bacterial levels; we recommend that you call or check the website before heading out and chancing disappointment. Some of these beaches and most of the pools are chlorinated and not as likely to have bacteria issues.

Many of our favorite beaches are delayed or closed in 2020. This year may be a good year to search out lesser known beaches.

Anoka County Parks swimming beaches

• Centerville Lake Beach
• Coon Lake Beach, East Bethel
• Lake George Beach, Oak Grove

A $6 vehicle permit is required for swimming beaches located in Anoka County parks. 

Carver County Parks swimming beaches 

• Baylor Regional Park Beach, Norwood Young America (unguarded)
• Lake Minnewashta Park Beach, Excelsior
• Lake Waconia Regional Park Beach

Carver County parks eliminated vehicle fees in 2019.

Dakota County Parks swimming beaches 

• Schulze Lake Beach, Eagan – located within Lebanon Hills Regional Park
  
• Lake Byllesby Beach, Cannon Falls 

Ramsey County swimming beaches

Ramsey County beaches with lifeguard service open Memorial Day – Labor Day. 

• Lake Josephine County Park, Roseville
• Lake McCarrons County Park, Roseville
• Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton
• Tony Schmidt Regional Park (Lake Johanna Beach), Arden Hills
• White Bear Lake County Park

Unguarded Ramsey County beaches:

• Lake Gervais County Park
• Lake Owasso County Park 
• Turtle Lake County Park

Beaches open sunrise to sunset (park hours). Lifeguards on duty 12-8pm starting early June. There is no admission fee to swim.

Three Rivers Park District swimming beaches

Three Rivers Parks unguarded beaches OPEN June 5, 2020.

• Baker Park Reserve, Maple Plain
• Bryant Lake Regional Park, Eden Prairie (Opens July 1st)
• Carver Park Reserve, Victoria
• Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park, New Prague
• Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake
• Fish Lake Regional Park, Maple Grove
• French Regional Park, Plymouth
• Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, Rockford

Guarded swim ponds OPEN June 26, 2020.

Elm Creek Swimming Pond | Maple Grove  
Chlorinated w/ sand beach, close to an elaborate playground, nature center (not opening in 2020) and historic site. 9am-8pm, $5/pp.

Lake Minnetonka Swimming Pond | Minnetrista
Chlorinated w/ sand beach. Lifeguards on duty starting early June.  9am-8pm, $5/pp.

Washington County Parks swimming beaches

Washington County Parks beaches OPEN June 15 – Labor Day:

• Big Marine Lake Beach, Marine on St Croix
  
• Point Douglas Beach, Hastings
• Square Lake Beach, Stillwater
• St Croix Bluffs Beach, Hastings
• Lake Elmo Swim Pond, Lake Elmo Park Reserve 

Lifeguards are on duty starting Memorial Day Weekend. Cost is $7/vehicle with the exception of Point Douglas Beach.

COMMUNITY SWIMMING BEACHES

BLAINE: Lakeside Commons Park & Beach
Public beach, splash pad, playground, and water rentals. $5/non-res, residents FREE. 

BLOOMINGTON: Bush Lake Beach
No lifeguards in 2020, Parking Permits not required in 2020.
Perhaps later in the the summer, make a day of it with close proximity to the ginormous Hyland Lake Park Reserve Play Area and a visit to the Richardson Nature Center (not opening in 2020).

BURNSVILLE: Crystal Beach Park
Located on an isthmus between Crystal & Keller Lakes, its highlight is a swimming beach open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

CHASKA: Clayhole Swim Beach
Firemen’s Park surrounds Clayhole Lake and Swim Beach. We rate this one of the best beaches for families in the Twin Cities. 

EDEN PRAIRIE: Round Lake Park Beach
Kids will go crazy for the marine-themed splash pad and treehouse play equipment at the Round Lake Play Area. Older kids might find it fun to rent youth kayaks ($5/hr) or stand-up paddleboards ($8/hr) for Round Lake Beach.

EDEN PRAIRIE: Riley Lake Park Beach:
The newly expanded beach at Riley Lake offers a boat launch, picnic tables, grills and a sand volleyball court.

MINNEAPOLIS

• Bde Maka Ska 32nd Street Beach – Unguarded.
• Bde Maka Ska North Beach – Unguarded.
• Bde Maka Ska Thomas Beach  – Guarded daily from noon to 7pm.
• Cedar Lake East Beach – Unguarded.
• Cedar Lake Point Beach – Unguarded.
• Cedar Lake South Beach – Unguarded.
• Lake Harriet North Beach – Unguarded.
• Lake Harriet Southeast Beach – Unguarded.
• Lake Hiawatha Beach – Unguarded.
• Lake Nokomis 50th Street Beach – Unguarded.
• Lake Nokomis Main Beach  – Guarded daily from noon to 7pm.
• Wirth Lake Beach – Guarded daily from noon to 7pm.

Usually open Memorial Day weekend; lifeguards in early June. 2020: 

MINNETONKA: Shady Oak Beach
Beach, sand play and water play areas, playground equipment and a fossil dig. $3-$6/pp, discount after 6pm. 

NORTH ST PAUL: Silver Lake Beach
A large expanse of sandy beach and the swimming boundaries are relatively small.

PLYMOUTH:

• Medicine Lake East Beach,1740 E Medicine Lake Blvd
• Medicine Lake West Beach,1920 W. Medicine Lake Dr.
  Bring a picnic to grill, a volleyball to play and maybe your fishing gear.
• Parkers Lake Beach, 15505 County Rd 6
  There is a nearby playground and space to picnic.

SAINT PAUL: Phalen Beach, St. Paul. – Free, Open 12pm-8pm. 

WOODBURY: Carver Lake Park Beach

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For more beachy ideas, try our list of 10 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.

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TWIN CITIES WATER PARKS & OUTDOOR POOLS

Whether you prefer a water park or swimming pool, find the best outdoor pools in Minnesota.

ANOKA: Anoka Aquatic Center
Sat-Sun & holiday noon-7pm, Mon-Fri 3-7pm. $4-$7/pp.

APPLE VALLEY:
Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center: $10/pp, discount after 5pm.
Redwood Outdoor Pool: $5/pp. 

BLOOMINGTON: Bloomington Family Aquatic Center
Tot Open Swim, Mon-Fri, 11am-noon for ages 0-6. $7.25-$10/pp, discount after 4pm.

COON RAPIDS: Bunker Beach Water Park
Wave pool, waterslides, lazy river. $9-$15/pp, discount after 4pm.

CRYSTAL: Crystal Cove Aquatic Center
$6-$8/pp, discount after 5pm.

EAGAN: Cascade Bay Water Park
Sand and water play areas dedicated to little ones, slides, a lazy river and mini golf. $7-$11/pp, discount after 4pm.

EDINA: Edina Aquatic Center
Wave simulator, cable zipline ride, pirate-themed kiddie pool, and an outdoor playground. $9-$11.50/pp, discount after 5pm.

MAPLEWOOD: Battle Creek Waterworks
Sand play area, 3-story waterslide, zero-depth entry. $5-$7/pp, discount after 6pm.

MAPLE GROVE: Grove Cove Aquatic Center Outdoor Pool
10am-6pm. $7-$8/pp or $26-$30/family. 

MINNEAPOLIS:
Webber Natural Swimming Pool | Minneapolis Water treated with plants instead of chemicals. Zero-depth entry for the littlest swimmers. FREE admission.
Jim Lupient Water Park
Pre-season hours, $3-$5/pp. 

NEW HOPE: New Hope Aquatic Park
Open June 5th – August 15, 2021, 12-8pm weekdays; 11am-7pm weekends. $8-$10/pp. 

RICHFIELD: Richfield Outdoor Pool
$8-$10/pp, discount after 4pm.

SHAKOPEE: SandVenture Aquatic Park
Chlorinated water with a sand bottom and beach, slides and special discount days. $3-$7/pp, discount after 5pm.

SOUTH ST PAUL: Northview Pool
Located in Northview Park, the pool has a diving board, a climbing wall, a bathhouse and concession stand. Admission is $4/pp.

ST LOUIS PARK: St. Louis Park Outdoor Aquatic Park
Aqua obstacle course, slides, wet sand play area and splash playground. Tot Time is Mon-Fri, 10-11am. $5.50-$9.50/pp, discounts after 4:30pm.

ST PAUL: Como Regional Park Pool | St Paul
Features a zip line, climbing wall, lazy river and separate splash pool. Saturday Tot Time at Como, 9:30 to 11:00am, $8 per parent/child pair. $6-$7/pp.

Highland Park Aquatic Center | St Paul
Children’s activity pool, diving well & slide. $6-$7/pp.  

TAYLORS FALLS: Wild Mountain
Day passes range from $9.99 to $44.99; Wet and dry rides available. Day passes can include one or both. If you plan to visit more than once in a season, than a season pass will save you money after your second visit.

Budget Tip: If you have a favorite Twin Cities water park, look for discounts on annual passes January – March.

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TWIN CITIES SPLASH PADS & WADING POOLS

Find all the details and our MASTER LIST of Twin Cities-area splash pads or click the graphic below.

Splash pads & wading pools opening Memorial Day Weekend 2020

APPLE VALLEY

• Kelley Park splash pad

BLAINE

• Lakeside Commons Park Beach & splash pad

BLOOMINGTON

• Cedarcrest Park splash pad

BURNSVILLE

• Burnsville Lions Playground splash pad (located in Cliff Fen Park)
• Nicollet Commons Park water feature (weather dependent). Pick a Thursday for Rockin’ Readers and Thursday Rockin’ Lunch Hours in Nicollet Commons Park beginning in June. The water feature at Nicollet Commons is open the third weekend in May through the third weekend in September, weather permitting.
  

CHAMPLIN

• Andrews Park splash pad
  

CHASKA

• Firemen’s Park interactive fountains
• Chaska Community Center splash pad – admission to Chaska Community Center Pool required.
  

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

• Huset Park West splash pad (Usually opens the first day of public school summer vacation.)
  
• McKenna Park wading pool
• Ramsdell Park wading pool

COON RAPIDS

• Boulevard Plaza splash pad
  

COTTAGE GROVE

• Highlands Park splash pad
  

CRYSTAL

• Becker Park interactive fountain 

DELANO

• Central Park of Delano splash pad

EAGAN

• Eagan Central Park splash pad (9am-8pm, except Wednesdays when it closes at 2pm)

EDEN PRAIRIE

• Miller Park splash pad.
  
• Round Lake splash pad.
  

HOPKINS

• Burnes Park splash pad
  

MAPLE GROVE

• Central Park of Maple Grove interactive fountains
  

 MINNEAPOLIS

Check out our master list of free Minneapolis wading pools to see which pools are open.

• 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

OTSEGO

• Prairie Park splash pad
  

ROBBINSDALE 

• Manor Park splash pad
  

ROSEMOUNT

• Rosemount Central Park splash pad
  

ROSEVILLE

• Rosebrook Park wading pool

SHAKOPEE

• Lions Park splash pad
  

SOUTH ST. PAUL

• Lorraine Park Splash Pool –$2-3.50/pp
  

ST ANTHONY VILLAGE

• Emerald Park Splash Deck
  
• Central Park Splash Deck
  

ST LOUIS PARK

• Oak Hill Splash Pad – FREE for residents, $1/non-res.

ST PAUL

• Conway Recreation Center splash pad
• Lewis Park splash pad
• Phalen Park & Beach splash pad
• Parque de Castillo splash pad – closed for maintenance

WEST ST. PAUL 

• Harmon Park splash pad
  

WOODBURY

• HealthEast Sports Center splash pad
  

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Quick List of Free Outdoor Pools, Beaches and Water Parks in the Twin Cities

• Both Dakota County beaches. Note that Dakota County Parks require a vehicle permit, which is not free. CLOSED FOR 2020
  
• 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. CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FOR 2020.
  
• 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 $5. Opened June 12, 2020.
  
• Phalen Beach, St. Paul. – Free, Open 12pm-8pm. Opened 6/27/20
• 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. CLOSED FOR 2020
  
• All Minneapolis Wading Pools – including the popular Waite Park and Wabun wading pools. CLOSED FOR 2020
  

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How To Make A Backyard Splash Pad:

2020 might be the year to get creative and make your own backyard splash pad.  You could start with a pop bottle sprinkler.

Or you can buy one from Amazon*:

* Links to Amazon are affiliate links and Family Fun Twin Cities receives a small commission on sales through our site.