Want a beach day near Kansas City? Here are 6 lakes with swim beaches in KS and MO
From Kansas City, you’d have to travel over 600 miles to dive into the Gulf of Mexico and more than 900 miles to dip your toes in the Atlantic. Kansas City is profoundly landlocked, which presents a problem for those who love to swim in natural bodies of water.
But if you like freshwater, the Kansas City area has lakes open for swimming throughout the summer. In Kansas and Missouri, residents can choose from swim beaches with a boat and kayak rentals, movies on the shore and even a floating obstacle course. Or you can cool off in waterparks and pools around the area.
Here are six lakes for swimming in the Kansas City area. The facilities on this list have lifeguards and bathrooms, unless otherwise noted.
Kansas
Shawnee Mission Park Beach
In addition to free swim, you can sign up for open water swim training inside Shawnee Mission Park. While dogs are not allowed on the swimming beach, your pet can take a dip at the off-leash dog area elsewhere in the park.
- Price: $5-$9 for kids and adults, depending on age and county of residence.
- Hours: weekdays from noon to 4 or 5 p.m., weekends from noon to 6 p.m. Open daily through Aug. 11.
- Location: 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee.
Lake Olathe Swim Beach
With paddleboard rentals and an inflatable obstacle course floating on the lake, this Olathe beach has plenty of fun for people of all ages.
- Price: $10-$12 for kids and adults, $5 for seniors, free for those 2 and under. Aquapark obstacle course admission is an additional $10 an hour.
- Hours: Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Location: 445 S. Ward Cliff Drive, Olathe.
Kill Creek Park Beach
Located between De Soto and Olathe, this Kansas beach is only open two days a week.
- Price: $5-$9 for kids and adults, depending on age and county of residence.
- Hours: Thursdays and Fridays from 12 to 3 p.m. through Aug. 11.
- Location: 11670 Homestead Lane, Olathe.
Missouri
Smithville Lake
This lake has two beaches to choose from: Camp Branch Beach on the east side of the lake and Little Platte Beach on the west. The beaches do not have lifeguards.
- Price: $6 per vehicle.
- Hours: 8:30 a.m. to sunset, every day through Sept. 15.
- Location: Camp Branch Beach, 17201 Paradesian St., Smithville, and Little Platte Beach, 1800 N.E. 176th St., Smithville.
Longview Lake Beach
This Grandview beach has a sand volleyball course and hosts movies on the shore, called Sand Cinema.
- Price: $7 for kids, $9 for adults, free for those 3 and under.
- Hours: weekdays from 1 to 7 p.m., weekends from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open daily through Aug. 10, then weekends only through Labor Day.
- Location: 11101 Raytown Road, Kansas City.
Blue Springs Lake Swim Beach
Located in Lee’s Summit, just off of I-470, the Blue Springs Lake Swim Beach is a tree-lined place to take a dip in Missouri.
- Price: $7 for kids and seniors, $9 for adults, free for those 3 and under.
- Hours: weekdays from 1 to 7 p.m., weekends from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open daily through Aug. 11, then weekends only through Labor Day.
- Location: 1500 N.E. Bowlin Road, Lee’s Summit.
Have more questions about outdoor activities in the Kansas City area? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published July 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
