Excelsior Public Beach
Excelsior, Minnesota · on Lake Minnetonka · The Commons
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Officially staffed/open season is Memorial Day through Labor Day, 7am-8pm.
About Excelsior Public Beach
Excelsior Public Beach is the City of Excelsior's designated swimming beach at The Commons, a 13-acre municipal lakefront park on the south shore of Lake Minnetonka that dates to 1854. It is an official, unguarded swimming hole open seasonally in the heart of downtown Excelsior, Minnesota.
The beach sits within The Commons, a historic downtown waterfront park in Excelsior that also hosts a marina/Port of Excelsior, a playground, and community events like outdoor movie nights, giving the swim area a small-town lakefront-park setting rather than a wilderness one.
Swimming at Excelsior Public Beach
Swimming is in Lake Minnetonka within a roped/buoyed designated area directly off the park shoreline; there are no lifeguards, so it operates on a swim-at-your-own-risk basis suited to families and casual swimmers who want easy, direct lake access rather than a backcountry experience.
How to get to this swimming hole
The beach is located within The Commons park along the Lake Minnetonka shoreline in downtown Excelsior; nearest parking is on Lake Street/West Lake Street/1st Street near the Commons Playground (paid, 7am-1am daily) or at the free East Lot and West Parking Ramp a short walk away.
Parking: Paid on-street parking (7am-1am, license plate serves as permit via excelsiorparking.com) near the Commons Playground on Lake Street/West Lake Street/1st Street; free parking also available at the East Lot and West Parking Ramp (special-event rates may apply).
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up/walk-up town beach: designated parking (on-street and the free East Lot/West Parking Ramp) sits directly adjacent to The Commons park, putting most spots within about a block of the shoreline. No trail or hike is involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The swim area is a roped/buoyed shallow zone directly off a sandy municipal beach, which is easy for kids to enter, but there are no lifeguards on duty (per city beach page), so it is 'with care' rather than a fully guarded kid-safe spot; families should supervise closely, especially near the marina/boat channel edges of The Commons.
Parking
Paid
Paid on-street parking 7am-1am daily on Lake Street/West Lake Street/1st Street near the Commons Playground (license plate serves as the permit via excelsiorparking.com); free alternatives are the East Lot and the West Parking Ramp a short walk away (special-event rates may apply at the ramp). No exact per-hour rate is published on the city site.
Restrooms
Yes
Portable restrooms at the end of First Street plus permanent restrooms at the nearby Plaza, both within The Commons park (per excelsiormn.org).
Hours
Beach/swim season is Memorial Day through Labor Day, 7am-8pm; The Commons park grounds are closed overnight 11pm-6am year-round.
On the water
Restrictions: The designated swim/beach zone itself prohibits boats, inflatables, glass, alcohol, fires, and animals (per excelsiormn.org). Despite that, a kayak/SUP rental and launch operation (Wai Nani) is based right at Excelsior Commons Beach, implying paddlecraft launch from the adjacent shoreline outside the roped swim boundary rather than within it; no motorized personal watercraft rental is offered on-site.
Broader Lake Minnetonka is a large multi-use lake with marinas, sailing, and motorized/jet-ski traffic elsewhere (e.g., near Mound), but that activity is well outside the Excelsior swim zone itself.
Rentals nearby
Stand-up paddleboards and kayaks (single/tandem), plus e-bikes and bikes; hourly, half-day, full-day, and multi-day rentals; also offers SUP beginner clinics, SUP yoga, and private lessons/events
Based directly at Excelsior Commons Beach, 71st Street, Excelsior, MN 55331 (the same beach as this listing) · Wed-Fri 3pm-7pm; Sat-Sun 11am-7pm; closed Mon-Tue
Jet skis (Yamaha VX/EX Deluxe), stand-up paddleboards, double kayaks, 'Lily Pad' floating mats, and pedal boards
Prices: Jet ski from $123.05; SUP from $21.40; double kayak from $21.40; Lily Pad from $53.50; pedal board from $32.10
2630 Commerce Boulevard, Mound, MN 55364 - on the west side of Lake Minnetonka, roughly a 15-20 minute drive from Excelsior around the lake
Backstory
The Commons is a 13-acre municipal park on Lake Minnetonka developed in 1854, long serving as Excelsior's central waterfront gathering place alongside its marina and historic downtown.
Excelsior Public Beach: FAQ
Does Excelsior Public Beach charge a fee?
No admission fee is listed for the beach itself; nearby street parking is paid.
Is Excelsior Public Beach kid friendly?
The swim area is a roped/buoyed shallow zone directly off a sandy municipal beach, which is easy for kids to enter, but there are no lifeguards on duty (per city beach page), so it is 'with care' rather than a fully guarded kid-safe spot; families should supervise closely, especially near the marina/boat channel edges of The Commons.
Do I need to hike to reach Excelsior Public Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Excelsior Public Beach?
Paid on-street parking 7am-1am daily on Lake Street/West Lake Street/1st Street near the Commons Playground (license plate serves as the permit via excelsiorparking.com); free alternatives are the East Lot and the West Parking Ramp a short walk away (special-event rates may apply at the ramp). No exact per-hour rate is published on the city site.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Excelsior Public Beach?
Broader Lake Minnetonka is a large multi-use lake with marinas, sailing, and motorized/jet-ski traffic elsewhere (e.g., near Mound), but that activity is well outside the Excelsior swim zone itself.
When is the best time to visit Excelsior Public Beach?
Officially staffed/open season is Memorial Day through Labor Day, 7am-8pm.
What are the rules at Excelsior Public Beach?
Swim at your own risk, no lifeguards on duty; swimmers must stay within marked buoy/rope boundaries; glass containers, alcohol, inflatable toys, fires, animals, and boats are prohibited in the beach area; park grounds close 11pm-6am.
What water body is Excelsior Public Beach on?
Excelsior Public Beach is on Lake Minnetonka, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
