Lake MacBride Beach
Solon, Iowa · Coralville Recreation Area
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- The beach concession and rental operations run Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, marking the park's defined swim season.
About Lake MacBride Beach
Lake MacBride Beach is the designated swimming beach at Lake Macbride State Park near Solon, Iowa, on a 900-acre reservoir lake within a 2,180-acre state park in Johnson County. The beach is a developed, supervised-style day-use area with a concession stand, boat rental, and adjacent parking, more an organized lake to swim in than a backcountry swimming hole. The park was established in 1937 and named for University of Iowa naturalist Thomas Huston Macbride.
The beach sits on the shore of Lake Macbride within a 2,180-acre state park that combines reforested woodland and prairie restoration around the lake, with roughly 7 miles of hiking and multi-use trail, including a 4.5-mile North Shore Trail and a roughly 1-mile Beach-to-Dam Trail connecting the swim area to the dam.
Swimming at Lake MacBride Beach
The beach is an official, developed swim area at the state park with a concession stand and boat rental facility nearby, indicating a maintained, sandy day-use beach rather than an informal or backcountry hole. Sources found did not describe water clarity, depth profile, or bottom substrate at the beach itself.
How to get to this swimming hole
Parking: A parking lot serves the main beach; a staircase connects the lot down to dock access, and the park notes an alternative service road can be arranged for visitors with mobility concerns. Accessible vault toilets are located near the main boat ramp and the North Shore ramp.
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the swim beach - it's a drive-up, developed day-use beach with adjacent parking. Two trails pass near the beach as optional add-ons rather than access routes: the Beach-to-Dam Trail (~1 mile, flat, gravel/natural surface, connecting the beach area to the dam) and the North Shore Trail (4.5 miles).
Walk from the beach parking lot to the water is short (well under 5 minutes); a staircase leads from the lot down to the dock/beach area.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
It is the state park's official designated swim beach (developed, sandy day-use area with concession stand), but the Iowa DNR park page does not mention lifeguards, water depth, or shoreline slope, and no source found describes the entry as shallow. Treat as a standard unguarded reservoir beach and supervise kids directly.
Parking
Lot
A parking lot serves the main beach and concession area; a staircase connects the lot down to dock access, and the park can arrange an alternative service road for visitors with mobility concerns. No park entrance or parking fee is mentioned on the official Iowa DNR page.
Restrooms
Yes
Accessible vault toilet near the main boat ramp and the North Shore ramp; modern restrooms/showers are available in the campground area near the beach.
Hours
Beach concession/rental operation runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, 7 days a week: weekdays 9 a.m.-8 p.m., weekends 8 a.m.-8 p.m. General park grounds hours are not stated on the DNR page; after-hours shore fishing is permitted 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m., and no vessels are allowed on the lake after 10:30 p.m.
On the water
Restrictions: Motorboats limited to 5 mph lakewide year-round; a 10 HP motor limit applies from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day; no vessels of any kind are permitted on the lake after 10:30 p.m. (shore fishing only is allowed 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m.).
Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, motorboats, and pontoons can be launched from the beach area or the lake's 7 boat ramps; rentals of all these craft are available on-site at the beach concession.
Rentals nearby
Lake Macbride Boat Rentals, Inc.
Pontoons, motor boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards
At the main beach concession, Lake Macbride State Park, Solon, IA · Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, 7 days/week: weekdays 9 a.m.-8 p.m., weekends 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Rentals are arranged by phone: 319-624-2315.
Backstory
Lake Macbride State Park was established in 1937 and is named for Thomas Huston Macbride, a University of Iowa botanist and conservationist.
Lake MacBride Beach: FAQ
Is Lake MacBride Beach kid friendly?
It is the state park's official designated swim beach (developed, sandy day-use area with concession stand), but the Iowa DNR park page does not mention lifeguards, water depth, or shoreline slope, and no source found describes the entry as shallow. Treat as a standard unguarded reservoir beach and supervise kids directly.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake MacBride Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake MacBride Beach?
A parking lot serves the main beach and concession area; a staircase connects the lot down to dock access, and the park can arrange an alternative service road for visitors with mobility concerns. No park entrance or parking fee is mentioned on the official Iowa DNR page.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake MacBride Beach?
Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, motorboats, and pontoons can be launched from the beach area or the lake's 7 boat ramps; rentals of all these craft are available on-site at the beach concession.
When is the best time to visit Lake MacBride Beach?
The beach concession and rental operations run Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, marking the park's defined swim season.
What are the rules at Lake MacBride Beach?
Motorboats are limited to 5 mph year-round lakewide and to 10 HP during Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; no vessels are permitted on the lake after 10:30 p.m. (after-hours fishing from shore is allowed 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m.). The park directs visitors to check a beach water-quality monitoring dashboard or call 515-725-3434 for current swim advisories.
