Geneva Lakes Vacations Guest Guide
Lake Geneva Area Beaches
Every public beach on Geneva Lake, Delavan Lake, Whitewater Lake and the Twin Lakes, plus where to swim on the Lauderdale Lakes, with 2026 admission prices, hours, lifeguard schedules, rules and directions.
Updated 10/12/26
Beaches at a glance
Geneva Lake has three guarded village beaches and a state park beach, Delavan Lake has a town park beach, Whitewater Lake has a state forest beach, and the Twin Lakes keep theirs free. The Lauderdale Lakes have no public beach, so guests there swim from the pier. Every card below gives the price, the hours, whether lifeguards are on duty and what is on site, checked for the 2026 season.
- Free or nearly freeBig Foot Beach State Park and Whitewater Lake Beach charge per car, not per person ($13 a day with Wisconsin plates, $16 out of state). Delavan’s Community Park is $3 or less a person. Lance Park in Twin Lakes is free.
- The village beachesRiviera ($10), Williams Bay ($14) and Fontana ($14) charge per person age 12 or 7 and up, with children under 6 free everywhere. Non-resident season passes run $100 to $140 and pay for themselves in about ten visits.
- LifeguardsOnly the three Geneva Lake village beaches post lifeguards, roughly 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in peak season from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Every other beach on this page is swim at your own risk.
- PetsNo dogs on any of the guarded beaches or in the state park swim areas. Fontana allows pets on the beach only October 15 to March 31.
- Water qualityWalworth County tests its public beaches weekly from Memorial Day to Labor Day and the DNR tests the state park beaches; results are posted at the beach and on Wisconsin Beach Health. A beach can close after heavy rain or an algae bloom, so check the sign.
- CheckedPrices, hours and dates were checked October 12, 2026 on each beach operator’s own page and the Visit Lake Geneva 2026 guide. Villages set next year’s rates in spring, so confirm before Memorial Day.
Jump to a Lake
Where to Start
If you want one answer rather than a list, these are the five our team sends guests to.
Favorite beach
Fontana Beach
Our guests’ pick in every poll we have run: the widest sand, the biggest lawn, changing rooms, concessions and Friday movies on the beach.
Walk from downtown
Riviera Beach
Steps from the shops, the Riviera, the cruise docks and the Shore Path, with Mobi-Mats to the water. Metered parking, so walk if you can.
Best value
Community Park, Delavan
$3 a person or $25 for a season, with a playground, volleyball and shore fishing thrown in.
Beach plus a hike
Whitewater Lake Beach
One state park sticker covers the beach and the Kettle Moraine trails next door. Bring the grill supplies; tables and grills are at the beach.
Quietest sand
Williams Bay Beach
Shaded lawn, showers in the bath house, lifeguards all summer and the lightest crowds of the three village beaches.
Geneva Lake Beaches
4 beaches
Four public beaches ring Geneva Lake: a village beach in each of Lake Geneva, Williams Bay and Fontana, all guarded in season, and the state park beach south of town. The village beaches charge a daily admission and sell season passes; the state park takes a vehicle sticker instead.
Riviera Beach
Downtown Lake Geneva, lifeguards, daily admission
The downtown beach, beside the Riviera and the Shore Path and a block from the shops and restaurants. Sand beach with two swimming piers, a beach house with restrooms, and Mobi-Mats laid daily so wheelchairs, walkers and strollers can reach the water.
- Admission$10 per person age 7 and up, children 6 and under free
- Pay at the three stations by the entrance, $10 bills or credit and debit cards (no American Express), no change given
- Non-resident season pass $100, student season pass $25 with ID
- HoursAdmission charged 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; beach restrooms open only during charged hours
- SeasonMemorial Day weekend (May 23 to 25, 2026), then Saturday, May 30 through Labor Day, September 7, 2026, weather permitting
- Lifeguards9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 13 through August 9; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. before June 13 and after August 9; none May 26 to 30. Swim at your own risk when guards are off
- On siteSand beach, two swim piers, beach house, Mobi-Mats, metered parking on Wrigley Drive 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with free parking a few blocks north
- RulesNo glass, no pop-up canopies, one small table per group, no alcohol, no smoking or vaping, no pets, no weapons. Food and life jackets are welcome
Williams Bay Beach
Williams Bay, lifeguards, daily admission
The quieter village beach on the north shore, with a sand beach, shaded lawn, two swimming piers and a bath house with showers. Edgewater Park, the public boat launch and the kayak and paddleboard rentals are next door, and the Water Safety Patrol teaches swim lessons here.
- Admission$14 ages 12 and up, $7 ages 6 to 11, children 5 and under free
- Daily passes sold at the beach; resident and non-resident season tags through Village Hall, 121 North Walworth Avenue
- HoursWeekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- SeasonMemorial Day through Labor Day
- LifeguardsOn duty Memorial Day to Labor Day during beach hours
- On siteSand beach, swim piers, bath house with showers, shaded grass, restrooms at Edgewater Park
- RulesCheck the village website before you go: the swim piers were posted off limits for repairs at one point this season
Fontana Beach
Fontana, lifeguards, daily admission
The biggest sand beach on the lake and the one our guests vote their favorite: a wide beach, a broad lawn, changing rooms and a beach house with concessions, next to the Abbey Resort and the west end of the Shore Path. Friday movies on the beach in summer.
- Admission$14 ages 12 and up, $6 ages 6 to 11, $6 seniors over 65 and military, children 5 and under free (2026 rates per Visit Lake Geneva; the village page still shows $12 and $120, so confirm at the beach house)
- Non-resident season pass $140; Big Foot High School district residents $75
- Parking lot pay station April 15 to October 15, $3 an hour Monday to Thursday and $5 an hour Friday to Sunday and holidays
- Hours9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; beach house sells passes and concessions the same hours
- SeasonMemorial Day weekend through Labor Day
- LifeguardsSeven days a week, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Swim at your own risk when guards are off
- On siteLarge sand beach, lawn, changing rooms, beach house with concessions, credit cards accepted, pay parking lot
- RulesNo alcohol on village property or piers, no glass, no grills or open fires, no smoking, no pets April 1 to October 14, coolers and bags subject to search
Big Foot Beach State Park
State park, no lifeguards, vehicle sticker
A state park beach a mile south of downtown with a marked swim area about 100 feet wide, picnic grounds, playgrounds, shelters, a lagoon and hiking trails. No lifeguards, and the lake bottom drops off more gradually than at the village beaches. Admission is per vehicle, so it is the least expensive beach day for a car full of people.
- AdmissionWisconsin state park vehicle sticker: $13 daily or $28 annual with Wisconsin plates, $16 daily or $50 annual with out-of-state plates, $3 daily for Wisconsin seniors 65 and up (rates since August 19, 2025)
- No per-person charge
- Hours6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round
- SeasonOpen all year; swimming is a summer activity and the water is unguarded
- LifeguardsNone. Swim at your own risk
- On siteMarked swim area, picnic areas and shelters, playgrounds, restrooms, lagoon, hiking trails, campground
- RulesPets are allowed in the park on a leash but not on the beach or in the swim area; carry out what you carry in
Staying on Geneva Lake? See our Geneva Lake vacation rentals.
Delavan Lake Beach
1 beach
Delavan Lake has one public beach, at the Town of Delavan’s Community Park on the south shore. It is the best value on this page: free for town residents, a few dollars for everyone else, and the pass covers the beach, the playground and shore fishing.
Community Park Beach
Town of Delavan, no posted lifeguards, low admission
The Town of Delavan’s lakefront park: a sand beach and marked swim area on the lake, a playground, lighted sand volleyball courts, a pavilion, shore fishing and a four-lane boat launch. Admission is taken at the gate house. The town closes the beach when algae blooms are reported, so look for the posted sign.
- AdmissionTown of Delavan residents free with proof of residency
- Non-residents: $3 ages 13 to 64, $2 ages 6 to 12 and seniors 65 and up, children 5 and under free; includes parking
- Non-resident season pass $25 per vehicle, sold at the gate house or Town Hall, 5621 Town Hall Road
- HoursBeach 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; park 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
- SeasonSummer season; the gate house is staffed when the park is open
- LifeguardsNot posted by the town. Treat the beach as unguarded
- On siteSand beach, marked swim area, playground, sand volleyball, pavilion, restrooms, shore fishing, boat launch (separate launch fee)
- RulesNo swimming or fishing from the launch piers; follow the posted beach status after rain or an algae report
Staying on Delavan Lake? See our Delavan Lake vacation rentals.
Whitewater Lake Beach
1 beach
Inside the Kettle Moraine State Forest southern unit, so a beach day doubles as a hiking day. One vehicle sticker covers the beach, the boat launch, the trails and the picnic grounds.
Whitewater Lake Beach
State forest, no lifeguards, vehicle sticker
A sand beach on a clear, 625 acre lake with a marked swim area, picnic tables, grills and toilets at the beach, and the forest’s hiking, mountain bike and horse trails a few minutes away. The DNR tests the water for bacteria through the summer and posts the results at the beach.
- AdmissionWisconsin state park vehicle sticker: $13 daily or $28 annual with Wisconsin plates, $16 daily or $50 annual with out-of-state plates, $3 daily for Wisconsin seniors
- No per-person charge
- Hours6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round
- SeasonOpen all year; swim season is Memorial Day to Labor Day
- LifeguardsNone. Swim at your own risk
- On siteSand beach, marked swim area, picnic tables, grills, toilets, boat launch, campground, trails
- RulesNo pets, soap, food or drinks inside the marked swim area; carry in, carry out
Staying on Whitewater? See our Whitewater vacation rentals.
Twin Lakes Beaches
2 beaches
The Village of Twin Lakes keeps its beaches free. Lance Park on Lake Mary is the main one, with a concession stand, a fishing pier and the Aquanut water ski shows on summer evenings, and three small neighborhood beach parks sit on the two lakes.
Lance Park Beach
Village park, free, no posted lifeguards
The village’s lakefront park on Lake Mary: a sand beach with a marked swim area, a seasonal concession stand, picnic tables, grills, a fishing pier, a boat launch, an amphitheater and the Aquanut Water Shows on Wednesday and Saturday nights from Memorial Day weekend. Portable restrooms in season.
- AdmissionFree beach and park admission
- Boat launch is separate: $10 daily for motorized boats, paddle craft free, March 1 to October 31
- HoursSunrise to 10 p.m.
- SeasonSummer; concessions and ski shows run Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day
- LifeguardsNone posted by the village. Treat the beach as unguarded and keep children in arm’s reach
- On siteSand beach, swim area, concession stand, picnic tables, grills, fishing pier, boat launch, amphitheater, Little Free Library
Twin Lakes Neighborhood Beach Parks
Village parks, free, no lifeguards
Three small village beach parks, each with a strip of sand, a grill and a bench and not much else. Good for a quiet swim close to a rental when Lance Park is busy. Musial Road Park on Elizabeth Lake shares its lot with a boat launch and has little parking.
- AdmissionFree
- HoursSunrise to 10 p.m.
- SeasonSummer
- LifeguardsNone
- On siteBeach, grill, bench; no restrooms or concessions
Staying on Twin Lakes? See our Twin Lakes vacation rentals.
Swimming on the Lauderdale Lakes
Pier swimming
There is no public swimming beach on Green, Middle or Mill Lake. The chain is ringed by private shoreline and association beaches, and the town launch is for boats only, so Lauderdale guests swim from their home’s pier or drive to the state forest beach at Whitewater Lake, about fifteen minutes away.
Lauderdale Lakes Shoreline
No public beach, pier swimming
Clear, spring-fed water and a sand or gravel bottom along much of the chain make pier swimming the norm here. Ask us what we know about your home’s water entry, ladder and depth, and whether the property’s association beach is open to guests. The nearest public beaches are Whitewater Lake (state forest) and Delavan’s Community Park.
- AdmissionNo public beach; swim from your rental’s pier with the owner’s permission, or use an association beach only if the property’s pass allows it
- HoursLake district slow-no-wake hours protect swimmers near shore from sunset to 9 a.m. on weekends
- SeasonSummer
- LifeguardsNone
- On sitePrivate piers and association beaches; public boat launch at the Lauderdale Lakes landing (boats only)
- RulesA boat launch is not a swim area; keep swimmers inside the 100 foot no-wake zone around piers and away from the channels
Staying on Lauderdale Lakes? See our Lauderdale Lakes vacation rentals.
Before You Swim
The lakes here are clean and cold for most of the summer. A little care keeps a beach day simple.
Check the beach, not the lake
Wisconsin Beach Health and Walworth County post bacteria results for the public beaches weekly in summer. Read the test date and the sign at the gate; an old result is not today’s result.
Algae
Stay out of water that looks like spilled paint or pea soup or has thick surface mats, and keep dogs out too. Rinse off after swimming and avoid swallowing lake water.
Unguarded beaches
Big Foot, Whitewater, Delavan and Twin Lakes have no lifeguards. Swim inside the marked area, keep children within arm’s reach, and put life jackets on weak swimmers. Drop-offs are sharper than they look.
Boat lanes and launches
Never swim from a boat launch or near one. Every beach here sits beside a launch or a pier, and boats leaving a ramp cannot see a swimmer.
Your rental’s shoreline
A pier does not make a beach. Ask us about the water entry, ladder, depth and bottom at your home before anyone jumps in, and whether an association beach is open to guests.
Bring cash and a card
Riviera’s pay stations take $10 bills or cards and give no change. Fontana’s beach house takes cards. The state parks sell stickers at the entrance or online. Delavan takes payment at the gate house.
Fishing limits, boat launches and boating rules for every lake are in our Local Lake Guides and Information page.
Lake Geneva Beaches: Common Questions
Which Lake Geneva beach is free?
None of the three village beaches on Geneva Lake is free, but Big Foot Beach State Park charges per vehicle rather than per person: $13 a day with Wisconsin plates or $16 with out-of-state plates, and nothing more for the people inside. In Twin Lakes, Lance Park and the village beach parks are free. Delavan’s Community Park is free for town residents and $3 or less for everyone else.
How much does Riviera Beach cost in 2026?
$10 per person age 7 and up, with children 6 and under free, charged from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from May 30 through Labor Day, September 7, 2026, plus Memorial Day weekend. A non-resident season pass is $100. Pay at the stations by the entrance with a $10 bill or a card.
Which beaches have lifeguards?
Riviera Beach, Williams Bay Beach and Fontana Beach, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, roughly 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in peak season and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. early and late in the summer. Big Foot Beach State Park, Whitewater Lake Beach, Delavan’s Community Park and the Twin Lakes beaches are unguarded.
Can we bring our dog to the beach?
No. Dogs are not allowed on Riviera, Williams Bay or Fontana beaches in season, or inside the swim areas at Big Foot and Whitewater Lake. Fontana lets pets on the beach from October 15 to March 31, and the state parks allow leashed dogs elsewhere in the park.
Is there a public beach on Delavan Lake?
Yes, at the Town of Delavan’s Community Park, 1220 South Shore Drive, where Highway 50 meets the lake. The beach is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., free for town residents and $3 for non-resident adults, with a $25 season pass per vehicle. There are no posted lifeguards.
Is there a public beach on the Lauderdale Lakes?
No. The Lauderdale chain has private shoreline and association beaches but no public swimming beach, and the town launch is for boats only. Guests swim from their rental’s pier or drive to Whitewater Lake Beach in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, about fifteen minutes away.
Where can we swim in Twin Lakes?
Lance Park on Lake Mary has a free sand beach with a marked swim area, concessions, a fishing pier and water ski shows on Wednesday and Saturday nights in summer. Sunset Beach Park, Lucille Beach Park and Musial Road Park are small free neighborhood beaches. None has lifeguards.
What do we need for Whitewater Lake Beach?
A Wisconsin state park vehicle sticker, $13 a day or $28 a year with Wisconsin plates and $16 a day or $50 a year with out-of-state plates, bought at the entrance or online. The beach is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with picnic tables, grills and toilets, and no lifeguards.
Is the water safe to swim in?
Usually. Walworth County tests the public beaches weekly from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the DNR tests the state park beaches, and results are posted at the beach and on Wisconsin Beach Health. Avoid visible algae, swim in marked areas and rinse off afterward. Delavan closes its beach when a bloom is reported.
Walk to the Beach
Stay Within Reach of the Sand
Geneva Lakes Vacations manages vacation rental homes in Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, Fontana, Delavan, Whitewater, Twin Lakes and on the Lauderdale Lakes, many of them a short walk from the beaches above and many with their own pier. Tell us which beach you want and we will tell you which homes are closest, and what we know about the shoreline at each one.
We are ranked #44 out of 582 vacation rental management companies in the United States by AirDNA, and we are the only Wisconsin company in the national Top 100. Our team lives here, and we swim here.
Prices, hours, dates and lifeguard schedules were checked October 12, 2026 on each beach operator’s own website, the Wisconsin DNR and the Visit Lake Geneva 2026 beach guide. Villages publish each season’s rates in spring, state park sticker prices are set by the DNR, and beaches close without notice after heavy rain or an algae report, so confirm with the beach before you go. If you spot something out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
Geneva Lakes Vacations · 326 Center Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 · (262) 248-1735