Who says you need to be near an ocean to enjoy a beach? The Stateline has a few options for beach days all within a 30-minute drive of Rockford. Grab your beach chair and umbrella and head out to one of these beaches in Loves Park, Janesville, Lake Geneva, and South Beloit. Don’t forget the sand toys!

Olson Lake (in Rock Cut State Park)
7223 W. Lane Rd., Loves Park, IL

Photo credit: Janesvillecvb.com

Olson Lake is a 60-acre lake with a beach area, swimming area, and launch for kayaks, paddle boats and more.

Open 12 pm – 7 pm daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day

Cost: $5 per person over 4 feet tall
$2.50 for kids under 4 feet tall
Free to kids 3 and younger


Pearl Lake
1220 Dearborn Ave., South Beloit, IL

Photo credit: Janesvillecvb.com

Pearl Lake is a 50-acre crystal blue lake with a soft sand beach. The lake has inflatables and no lifeguards on site. Pearl Lake reopened to the public for swimming in 2023. You can bring in your own coolers with food and drink.

Open 10 am – 5 pm daily Memorial Day through Labor Day

Cost: $20 per person
Free to kids 2 and under
$10 for an hour on the inflatables
$10 for stand-up paddleboards for an hour


Update: 7/16/2024 – Lions Beach is closed until further notice!

Lions Beach
1401 Palmer Dr, Janesville, WI

Lions Beach Janesville WI
Photo credit: Janesvillecvb.com

Lions Beach is a large lake with a sand beach. There is no lifeguard on duty. The beach is a popular place for geese so watch out for droppings! Check the Lions Beach website before going as it sometimes closes down due to unsafe water quality.

Open 11 am – 6 pm daily Memorial Day through Labor Day

Cost: Free


Lake Louise
8840 N. Route 2, Byron, IL

Lake Louise is back open to the public after being a private RV campground from 2019 – 2021. You are now able to buy day passes to the lake and also camp in tents at the campground. Lake Louise has a slide, inflatables, shallow and deep water swimming.

Open 10 am – 7 pm on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day

Cost: $5 per person


Lake Ladonna
1302 S. Harmony, Oregon, IL


Photo credit: Lake Ladonna

Lake Ladonna is located in a family campground, but you can visit for the day to use the beach. There is a large sandy beach, a rope swing dock, 40 foot waterfalls, and a pirate ship.

Open 10 am – 6 pm daily Memorial Day through Labor Day

Cost: $8 per person ages 7 and up
Free for kids 6 and under


Troll Beach
401 Mandt Pkwy, Stoughton, WI

Troll Beach Stoughton WI
Photo credit: Troll Beach Facebook

Troll Beach has clean city water, zero depth entry, a sand beach and many large inflatable play structures in the water. There’s a large shallow area and a deep area that’s 12 ft.

Open 12 pm – 5 pm daily from June 8 – August 17, 2024

Cost: $7.50 / $9.50 per adult
$6.50 / $8.50 per person under 15 years old


Riviera Beach
812 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva, WI

Photo Credit: Visit Lake Geneva

Riviera Beach is a smaller beach with access to Lake Geneva. It’s within walking distance of restaurants and shops. 

Open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day

The beach is always open, but admission is charged when lifeguards are on duty from 9 am  – 6 pm daily.

Cost: $10 for people ages 7 and up
Kids ages 6 and under are free
You can buy beach passes at the kiosks or through the VIPLY app

Parking: $2 per hour for 5 hours max in front of the beach
Free parking is available on smaller side streets. See a parking map here.


Fontana Beach
S Lake Shore Dr, Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, WI

Photo credit: WesNowBetter

Fontana Beach has a large sandy area as well as grassy areas and changing rooms.

Open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day

The beach is open from 9 am – 9 pm, but lifeguards are only on duty from 9:30 am – 6 pm daily.

Cost: $12 for people ages 12 and up
$6 for kids ages 6-11 years old
Kids ages 5 and under are free
You can buy beach passes at the beach house from 9 am – 9 pm.

Parking: There is a pay station parking lot next to the beach.

Want to make a day trip or weekend of it? Here are some beaches 2+ hours away from Rockford!

North Beach
100 Kewaunee St., Racine, WI

Photo credit: North Beach Park Racine

North Beach in Racine has been ranked the best beach in Wisconsin and is a certified Blue Wave clean beach. It is 50 acres with 2,500 square feet of shoreline. It’s been compared to visiting the ocean. They also have a nearby playground.

Open 6 am – 10 pm daily and lifeguarded from 10 am – 6 pm, 7 days per week from the first week in June to the last week of August

Cost: Free


Bradford Beach
2400 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee, WI

Photo credit: Travel Wisconsin

Bradford Beach is the largest public beach in Milwaukee and the first beach in the nation to become fully accessible. They offer free beach wheelchair rental and have a permanent ramp and Mobi-Mat that leads to the water. They also have concession stands and a bathhouse.

Open 5 am – 9 pm daily
Lifeguarded daily from 11 am – 5 pm mid-June through mid-August

Cost: Free

More Summer Fun Here…

https://statelinekids.com/summer/

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