Consider this your jumping off point for all things water-recreation related in the Twin Cities Northeast Metro! We detail the spaces and places to swim and splash the summer away in the following communities: Bloomington, Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Richfield, Shakopee, Shorewood, St Louis Park, Waconia & Wayzata.
For a complete listing of Minneapolis-St Paul area swimming options please visit SPLASH HAPPY: GUIDE TO TWIN CITIES WATERPARKS, POOLS, BEACHES & SPLASH PADS.
Twin Cities southwest Metro beaches
The Southwest Metro is swimming with options for the perfect sandy summer outing. Several of its parks and lakes help make up our list of the BEST BEACHES IN THE TWIN CITIES. Read on for some summer inspiration for your next playdate, picnic or cool-down place. Important to note: Ramsey County beaches are admission-free to enjoy; we list where Anoka County parks beaches levy a $7 vehicle permit.
BLOOMINGTON Bush Lake Beach
9140 E Bush Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55438
Make a day of it at East Bush Lake Beach with close proximity to the ginormous HYLAND PLAY AREA and a visit to the RICHARDSON NATURE CENTER. Admission and parking are free. Open daily from sunrise to 10pm.
CHANHASSEN Carver Beach
6891 Lotus Trail, Chanhassen, MN 55317
This six-acre neighborhood park has two small, unguarded beaches on the shore of Lotus Lake. Beach opens Memorial Day Weekend.
CHANHASSEN Greenwood Shores Park
7110 Utica Lane, Chanhassen MN 55317
This is an unguarded, small beach perfect for a peaceful day by the water. Beach opens Memorial Day Weekend.
CHANHASSEN Lake Ann Park & Beach
1456 West 78th Street, Chanhassen, MN 55317.
The beach and playground are so close together, that you can watch kids at both from a cozy place in the sand. Opens Memorial Day weekend.
CHASKA Clayhole Swim Beach
3260 Chaska Blvd, Chaska, MN 55318
Firemen’s Park surrounds Clayhole Lake & Swim Beach. We rate this one of the best beaches for families in the Twin Cities with a boardwalk, splash pad, concessions and bike trail nearby. Staffed starting early June.
EDEN PRAIRIE Riley Lake Park
Riley Lake Park Pavilion, 9180 Riley Lake Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
The newly expanded beach at Riley Lake offers a boat launch, picnic areas, grills and a sand volleyball court. Eden Prairie beaches open Memorial Day–Labor Day.
EDEN PRAIRIE Round Lake Park
16691 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
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 beaches open Memorial Day–Labor Day.
EXCELSIOR Roundhouse Park
3950 Kings Road, Excelsior, MN 55331
This is a nice park with an unguarded beach, a good-sized playground and a small picnic pavilion. Beach opens Memorial Day weekend.
MINNETONKA Shady Oak Beach
5200 Shady Oak Rd, Minnetonka, MN 55343
The recreation area boasts a pretty swimming beach with diving platform, sand play and water play areas, playground equipment and a fossil dig. $7/pp ($5 after 6pm); $50/10-visit punch card.
shorewood lake minnewashta regional park
6900 Hazeltine Boulevard, Shorewood, MN 55331
The beach is large and sandy and the swim area is shallow enough for kids to play without fear of drop offs.In addition to the swimming beach, see our list of 10 Ideas for Family Fun at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park.
WACONIA LAKE WACONIA REGIONAL PARK
8170 Paradise Ln, Waconia, MN 55387
Head to the swimming beach early if you want to stake out a spot underneath one of the shade umbrellas. Carver County beaches are free with no vehicle fee.
Twin Cities southwest Metro POOLS & WATERPARKS
Punch up the water play a little with a pair of waterparks in the Twin Cities Southwest Metro. For our full list complete with details, please visit our regional Twin Cities water recreation pages.
bloomington family aquatic center
201 East 90th St, Bloomington, MN 55420
Family-friendly amenities include a zero-depth entry pool, interactive play features, aqua climbing wall, water slides, diving boards, a newly renovated bathhouse and concession stand. $6-$11/person.
edina aquatic center
4300 W 66th St, Edina, MN 55435
This exciting water park features the Lost Wave Surf Simulator (separate fee), a cable zipline ride, pirate-themed kiddie pool complete with pirate ship, and an outdoor playground. There is also a 50-meter lap pool for serious swimmers to get their lap swim in. $11-$14/person.
richfield outdoor pool
630 E 66th St, Richfield, MN 55423
For the smaller swimmers, there’s a zero-depth-entry wading pool with splash pad equipment. For the older kids and adults, there is a 50-meter pool with a wheelchair access ramp. Highlights include a double waterslide, a diving board, space to play water volleyball. $10-$12/person.
shakopee sandventure aquatic park
1101 Adams St S, Shakopee, MN 55379
Hybrid pool-beach option here in the Southwest Metro! SandVenture offers chlorinated water with a sand bottom and beach. The pool was recently upgraded with a pirate ship diving platform and has two 12-drop slides and a 300-foot waterslide. $8-$16/person.
st louis park aquatic park
3700 Monterey Dr, St Louis Park, MN 55416
Bright and splashy, the waterpark includes an aqua obstacle course, slides, wet sand play area and splash playground. $6-$15/person.
Twin Cities southwest Metro splash pads
These are simple splash spots to cool of this summer in the Twin Cities Southwest Metro. For our full listing, please visit our BEST TWIN CITIES SPLASH PADS & WADING POOLS page. All pads are free of charge to chill in unless noted.
bloomington cedarcrest park
8700 Bloomington Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425
The park is popular in the summer because it is home to Bloomington’s only true splash pad. The rubber surface makes it less of a slip risk for your little ones. Restroom facilities are offered in the summer months.
chaska firemen’s park
3210 Chaska Blvd, Chaska, MN 55318
The park contains small, interactive fountains (along with a lovely beach, boardwalk, playground and other amenities).
eden prairie miller park
8208 Eden Prairie Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
The simple splash pad at this park is in the playground area and free to use between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The splash pad is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (and sometimes longer when weather permits).
eden prairie round lake park
16691 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
The free splash pad is a unique sprinkler-like fixture. Users can turn it on by pressing a button that is located on the back of the red megaphone sprayer. Your kids will go nuts for the adjacent playground equipment and there’s even a nearby beach if you want to take a real dip.
hopkins burnes park
301 2nd Street N, Hopkins, MN 55343
Burnes Park in Hopkins has family-friendly amenities including a playground, splash pad and sports courts and fields.
shakopee Lions park
1103 Adams St S, Shakopee, MN 55379
Shakopee’s Lions Park is home to the inclusive Fun for All Playground and a small, animal-themed splash pad that’s a nice free option if you don’t want to pop for admission to the SandVenture waterpark next door.
st louis park oak hill park
3201 Rhode Island Ave S, St Louis Park, MN 55426
The deluxe and popular splash pad is free for residents but bring a few bucks if you’re not from the city – these splashers will pay $1/person.
