Oak Shores Day Use Area
Napa, California · on Lake Berryessa · Lake Berryessa Lands
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5/day
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Oak Shores Day Use Area
Oak Shores Day Use Area is a Bureau of Reclamation-managed day-use area and swimming hole on the western shore of Lake Berryessa, a large federal reservoir east of Napa Valley, California. For anyone after a lake to swim in near wine country, it is one of several official day-use beach areas on the reservoir and is explicitly designated for swimming alongside boating, fishing, and kayaking.
Oak Shores sits on Lake Berryessa's western shore, a large reservoir formed behind Monticello Dam between the Blue Ridge and Cedar Roughs areas east of Napa Valley. The Bureau of Reclamation describes the lake as large and comparatively uncrowded, with the day-use area offering direct lake shoreline and beach access alongside more than 200 picnic sites.
Swimming at Oak Shores Day Use Area
Recreation.gov's official listing names swimming as one of the designated activities at Oak Shores, alongside boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, kayaking, and canoeing, with beach and shoreline access provided. No official source details specific swim-area depth, water clarity, or a roped-off swimming zone.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Sacramento: I-80 west to Exit 113 (Woodland), then Highway 128 toward Winters, right on Knoxville Road, continue about 8 miles. From San Francisco: I-80 north to Highway 29 (Napa), then Highway 121 to Highway 128, right on Knoxville Road, about 8 miles north.
Parking: Onsite parking directly at the day-use area; USBR's day-use page states a $5/day parking fee collected at kiosks in the southern parking areas, though the recreation.gov listing describes day-use access itself as fee-free. Parking is not guaranteed even for groups with shade-shelter reservations during busy summer weekends, and arriving before noon on Memorial Day-Labor Day weekends/holidays is advised.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Oak Shores is a drive-up day-use area with on-site parking directly adjacent to the beach/shoreline; RIDB lists the facility itself at 0.0 miles from the parking/facility point, and recreation.gov describes direct beach and shoreline access from the day-use area with no trail or hike involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Recreation.gov lists boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, and sailing as co-activities at the same day-use area as swimming, meaning motorized watercraft traffic shares the water near the beach; no lifeguards are mentioned on any official page, so supervise kids closely near the swim zone and boat lanes.
Parking
Paid, $5/day
USBR's official day-use page states parking tickets are sold at kiosks in the southern parking areas for $5/day; recreation.gov separately describes general day-use access as fee-free, so the two official sources conflict on whether the $5 charge still applies (noted in the prior enrichment dossier). Parking is not guaranteed on busy summer weekends even with a group shelter reservation; USBR advises arriving before noon on Memorial Day-Labor Day weekends and holidays.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms listed among on-site facilities per recreation.gov (along with drinking water and group picnic shelters); exact restroom type (vault vs. flush) and location within the day-use area not specified by official sources.
Hours
7:30am-5:00pm in winter; 7:30am-8:00pm in summer (per USBR's official Lake Berryessa day-use page).
On the water
Recreation.gov's official Oak Shores listing names boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, kayaking, and canoeing as designated activities at this day-use area. All boaters lake-wide must participate in a mandatory clean-drain-dry inspection program to prevent spread of invasive golden mussels (per USBR); no swim-zone-specific no-wake or electric-only restriction was found for Oak Shores itself.
Rentals nearby
Kayaks (Tamarack 10' single), tandem kayaks (Emotion Spitfire 12'), stand-up paddleboards (Glide O2 Retro), plus wakesurf boats, pontoon/patio boats, a Chaparral 21 SSI OB, fishing boats, WaveRunner jet skis, and accessories
Prices: SUP: $40/2hr, $65/4hr. Single kayak: $40/2hr, $65/4hr. Tandem kayak: $50/2hr, $75/4hr (boat/jet ski pricing not published on the site).
7521 Highway 128, Napa, CA 94558 (near Markley Cove, on the west side of Lake Berryessa, roughly a 10-15 minute drive from Oak Shores) · 8am-5pm (all watercraft must be returned by 6pm)
Oak Shores Day Use Area: FAQ
Does Oak Shores Day Use Area charge a fee?
Recreation.gov states no fee for general day-use access; USBR's own day-use page states a $5/day parking fee at Oak Shores. Reservable group shade shelters (at Acorn Beach, Foxtail Flat, and Coyote Beach) cost $33 per shelter per day via recreation.gov.
Is Oak Shores Day Use Area kid friendly?
Recreation.gov lists boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, and sailing as co-activities at the same day-use area as swimming, meaning motorized watercraft traffic shares the water near the beach; no lifeguards are mentioned on any official page, so supervise kids closely near the swim zone and boat lanes.
Do I need to hike to reach Oak Shores Day Use Area?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Oak Shores Day Use Area?
USBR's official day-use page states parking tickets are sold at kiosks in the southern parking areas for $5/day; recreation.gov separately describes general day-use access as fee-free, so the two official sources conflict on whether the $5 charge still applies (noted in the prior enrichment dossier). Parking is not guaranteed on busy summer weekends even with a group shelter reservation; USBR advises arriving before noon on Memorial Day-Labor Day weekends and holidays.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Oak Shores Day Use Area?
Recreation.gov's official Oak Shores listing names boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, kayaking, and canoeing as designated activities at this day-use area. All boaters lake-wide must participate in a mandatory clean-drain-dry inspection program to prevent spread of invasive golden mussels (per USBR); no swim-zone-specific no-wake or electric-only restriction was found for Oak Shores itself.
When is the best time to visit Oak Shores Day Use Area?
Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day) is the busiest period; official guidance advises arriving before noon on weekends and holidays because day-use areas fill quickly.
What are the rules at Oak Shores Day Use Area?
No glass containers, no fireworks, pets must be leashed, no open fires/trailers. During Red Flag fire-danger warnings, even charcoal or wood fires in established grills are prohibited. Boaters must clean, drain, and dry boats and remove plants/mud from gear as part of a mandatory program to prevent spread of invasive golden mussels.
What water body is Oak Shores Day Use Area on?
Oak Shores Day Use Area is on Lake Berryessa, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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