**You will want to check the websites of the pools and splash parks to see what their current guidelines are.
The summer heat is on its way, and your kiddos are going to want to get WET! Madison offers several family-friendly spots for water play–in fact, as I was doing research for this post, I was surprised to see just how many local hot (cool??) spots there are! And the best part? Most of them either very inexpensive or completely free! Most local splash pads, pools, and beaches open Memorial Day weekend or soon after, so the time to start mapping out your summer bucket list is NOW!
LOCAL SPLASH PADS
4350 Mounds Park Rd, Blue Mounds, WI, USA
One of the most popular attractions at Blue Mound State Park between Memorial Day and Labor Day i...
4084 Muller Road, DeForest, WI, USA
The Cradle Hill splash pad located at 4361 Cradle Hill Drive (Holland Fields subdivision) is an e...
902 Magnolia Lane, Madison, WI, USA
Kids can dart back and forth between the water and the adjacent Genevieve Gurst-Herfurth Memorial...
6822 Yellowwood Lane, DeForest, WI, USA
Located at Conservancy Commons Park, this splash pad is open from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Memorial Da...
1250 McKenna Blvd, Madison, WI, USA
The largest community park in Madison Parks, Elver Park spans an impressive 250 acres in the sout...
111 Lincoln Street Verona, WI 53593
2930 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, WI, USA
This park includes a multi-use shelter with restrooms, picnic tables, a bicycle/pedestrian path s...
6300 Mendota Ave, Middleton, WI, USA
This free, outdoor aquatic park filled is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day. The ...
1818 Portage Road, Madison, WI, USA
Reindahl Park, found on Madison’s beautiful and historic East side, is a dynamic place where you ...
236 Water St, Sauk City, WI 53583, USA
Sauk City Riverfront Park is located on the west bank of the Wisconsin River and extends from dow...
Wetmore Community Park, 555 North St, Sun Prairie, WI 53590, USA
The new attraction has 2,413 square foot wet deck with a total of 36 spray features and a 5,414 s...
LOCAL PUBLIC POOLS & AQUATIC CENTERS
4350 Mounds Park Rd, Blue Mounds, WI, USA
One of the most popular attractions at Blue Mound State Park between Memorial Day and Labor Day i...
2106 Lewis Street, Cross Plains, WI, USA
7762 County Road PD, Verona, WI, USA
A hidden gem! Goodman Aquatic Center (not to be confused with Goodman Pool!) is located at 7762 C...
325 W Olin Ave, Madison, WI, USA
Includes 2 waterslides, an 8 lane 25-meter lap area with diving boards, a zero-depth entrance, an...
1013 Nichols Road, Monona, WI, USA
The Monona Community Pool is a 300,000-gallon outdoor pool with a water slide, two diving boards,...
204 Park Street, Mt Horeb, WI, USA
The Aquatic Center features a 35 meter pool, zero depth baby pool, water slide, wet sand play are...
920 Linnerud Drive, Sun Prairie, WI, USA
Features include: Zero-depth entrance Water spray features 210 foot water slide 2 kiddie slide...
2400 Park Lawn Pl, Middleton, WI, USA
The Walter R. Bauman Aquatic Center is an outdoor facility, featuring the latest in aquatic ameni...
LOCAL BEACHES
When you think of Madison, you might not immediately think “BEACHES!” But we actually have several beautiful lakeshore spots in the area, perfect for sandcastle-building and “real water” swimming!
Madison offers 4 regional beaches and 6 neighborhood beaches, all of which are staffed by lifeguards during certain hours in the summer. Generally, lifeguards are on duty from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, mid-June through the end of August, but please check the beach website for any changes to that schedule.
Oh, and of course, all of our beaches are completely FREE!
835 Spaight St, Madison, WI 53703, USA
Shoreline of Lake Monona No lifeguard; Diving Float, Playground
701 W Brittingham Pl, Madison, WI 53715, USA
Shoreline of Monona Bay Canoe/Kayak Rental, Concessions, Picnic Tables, Playground
S5975 Park Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA
Wisconsin’s largest state park offers magnificent views from 500-foot Quartzite bluffs over...
2802 Waunona Way, Madison, WI 53713, USA
This small neighborhood beach with an outstanding view of downtown Madison has small reservable s...
111 Lincoln Street Verona, WI 53593
5800 Winnequah Rd, Monona, WI 53716, USA
Another lovely pocket park is Frost Woods Beach on Lake Monona’s Squaw Bay. The entrance is in th...
4175 WI-23, Dodgeville, WI 53533, USA
More than 5,300 scenic acres of steep hills, bluffs and deep valleys plus two lakes and a waterfa...
Oak Savanna Trail, Waunakee, WI 53597, USA
A beautiful year round day-use State Park located on Lake Mendota where recreation and nature min...
614 E Gorham St, Madison, WI 53703, USA
Shoreline of Lake Mendota. Picnic Tables, Playground, Volleyball
2101 Allen Blvd, Middleton, WI 53562, USA
Shoreline of Lake Mendota Boat Ramp, Canoe/Kayak Rental, Concessions, Picnic Tables, Playground, ...
3527 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53714, USA
On the shores of Lake Monona, Olbrich Park beach offers paddlesport rentals through Rutabaga.
4310 Park Rd, Cambridge, WI
Ripley Park, located on the west shores of Lake Ripley, is an 18 acre park privately owned by the...
345 Sandy Beach Rd, Lake Mills, WI
The recreational lakefront area facilities include two large swimming beaches, five sand volleyba...
236 Water St, Sauk City, WI 53583, USA
Sauk City Riverfront Park is located on the west bank of the Wisconsin River and extends from dow...
4511 Winnequah Rd, Monona, WI 53716, USA
There’s a small gazebo, grills, picnic tables, a playground, and bathrooms on site, as well as a ...
Spring Harbor Beach Park, 1918 Norman Way, Madison, WI 53705, USA
Small neighborhood beach on the shores of Lake Mendota near Spring Harbor Middle School off Unive...
1254 Sherman Ave, Madison, WI 53703, USA
Large, popular beach on Lake Mendota.
1339 Vilas Park Dr, Madison, WI 53715, USA
Large and very popular beach located next to zoo.
Warner Park Beach, 1101 Woodward Dr, Madison, WI 53704, USA
Small neighborhood beach on the north shores of Lake Mendota. A weed and algae ‘boom’...
P.S. What about waterparks?? When we Madisonians hear that word, many of us automatically think of Wisconsin Dells. But don’t forget that there’s an awesome outdoor waterpark right here in Dane County – check out Dolphin’s Cove! (At the Prairie Athletic Club in Sun Prairie.)
