Little Platte Beach

Smithville, Missouri · Smithville Recreation Area

Verified · 4 independent sources

WATER: reservoir
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $7.00
SEASON: May

About Little Platte Beach

Little Platte Beach is one of two designated public swim beaches on Smithville Lake, a 7,200-acre US Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir on the Little Platte River northeast of Kansas City. The beach sits within Little Platte Park on the lake's west side and is owned by the Corps but operated by Clay County Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites as an official, fee-based swim area.

The beach is set within Little Platte Park on the west shore of Smithville Lake, a large reservoir with 175 miles of shoreline about 20 miles north of downtown Kansas City. Nearby park attractions include the Paradise Pointe Marina and golf complex and two historic sites, Woodhenge and Akers Cemetery.

Swimming at Little Platte Beach

This is an open, sandy lake beach rather than a natural swimming hole in a stream or river, a designated Whole Body Contact swim area on a reservoir, suited to typical lake swimming, wading, and family beach use rather than a wild/remote experience.

How to get to this swimming hole

Little Platte Beach is accessed from 180th Street (NE 180th St) on the west side of Smithville Lake; it is reachable by vehicle and also via the newer Little Platte Trail.

Parking: Access is described as by vehicle from 180th Street; a specific on-site lot is implied but not itemized separately from the park entry description.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. The Little Platte South Trail (5.5 mi, hiking/biking) happens to pass directly through Little Platte Park at the swim beach itself, running between a trailhead near F Highway/Litton Way (SW end) and the Paradise Pointe Marina parking lot (N end), with restrooms and a bike fix-it station at both trailheads. It's a nice add-on walk/ride for visitors already at the beach, but it is not required to reach the swimming area.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Open, gently-sloped sandy lake beach (not a river/creek hole) which suits wading and casual swimming, but no lifeguard presence is mentioned in any official Clay County source. Bacteria (E. coli) levels have exceeded the state's swim-advisory threshold on at least one 2026 sample date after heavy rain, at which point the county posts advisory signage; parents should check current advisories before swimming with kids.

Parking

Paid, $7 daily vehicle (or $16 daily boat) park entry fee; season passes $55 vehicle / $95 boat / $150 vehicle+boat, with discounted senior/military/personal-property rates

Little Platte Park has a developed lot system (it also serves as a trailhead for the Little Platte South Trail and sits near the Paradise Pointe Marina lot). Clay County charges its standard park entry fee to all vehicles entering Smithville Lake parks, including sightseers.

Restrooms

Yes

Kansas City Mom Collective reports the Smithville Lake swim beaches (Camp Branch and Little Platte) have showers, changing rooms, and restrooms. Separately, Clay County's Little Platte South Trail page notes restrooms at both ends of that trail (near the F Highway/Litton Way trailhead and at the Paradise Pointe Marina parking lot, the latter also housing a tornado shelter with restrooms), all within Little Platte Park where the beach sits.

Hours

8:30 am to sunset, May 1 through September 15 each year (per Clay County Tourism/visitclaymo.com); outside that window the beach itself is not officially open for swimming though the park remains accessible.

Swim smart

Clay County samples water quality for E. coli biweekly during the recreational season under Missouri DNR's WBC-A standard (126 MPN/100mL standard, 190 MPN/100mL single-event advisory threshold); 2026 sample data show Little Platte Beach has exceeded the 190 threshold on at least one date (2026-06-19, geomean 327) following heavy rain, after which the county posts signs advising against swimming. No lifeguard presence is mentioned in any official source found.

Rules: No alcohol is allowed in beach areas; no animals/pets are allowed at the beaches; standard park entry fees apply to anyone entering the area, including those just sightseeing. Clay County posts advisory signage when biweekly bacteria testing shows swimming is not recommended.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

KayaksPaddleboards

A self-service rental kiosk (Paradise Outfitters) operates directly at Little Platte Swim Beach, renting single/tandem kayaks and paddleboards (plus pedal-drive kayaks and bikes), so hand-paddled craft are confirmed in use right at this beach. Motorized boat rentals (pontoon, fishing boats) are handled at Camp Branch Marina on the lake's east side, and Sailboat Cove elsewhere on the lake hosts sailboats/catamarans/windsurfers, general boating is clearly permitted on Smithville Lake as a whole, but no official source specifies whether motorized craft are excluded from the roped swim zone directly off Little Platte Beach, so that specific restriction is left null.

Rentals nearby

Paradise Outfitters

Single and tandem kayaks, paddleboards, pedal-drive kayaks, and bikes; all kayak/paddleboard rentals include paddles and life jackets

Self-service kiosk directly at Little Platte Swim Beach (plus additional kiosks at nearby Smithville Lake campgrounds); book online or walk up

KC Boating LLC

Single and tandem kayak rentals

Family-owned Kansas City-area rental company serving Smithville Lake (booking/delivery-style service, phone (913) 788-1715; no public storefront address listed)

Camp Branch Marina (Clay County Parks concession)

24-foot pontoon boat and fishing boat rentals

Prices: Pontoon: $75/2-hr minimum, $225/4 hrs, $358 full day (25% off Mon-Fri, excluding holidays); Fishing boat: $40/hr (2-hr minimum), $87.50 half day (4 hrs), $180 full day

Camp Branch Marina, 17201 Paradesian, Smithville, MO - east side of Smithville Lake, roughly a 10-15 minute drive from Little Platte Beach · Rentals available May 1 - October 1 (weather permitting); phone reservations begin April 1 at 816-407-3420; boats must be returned 1 hour before closing

Little Platte Beach: FAQ

Does Little Platte Beach charge a fee?

Clay County charges park entry fees at Smithville Lake: $7.00 daily vehicle or $16.00 daily boat (with season passes available: $55 vehicle, $95 boat, $150 vehicle+boat, plus discounted senior/military/personal-property rates). Entry fees are required of all visitors, including sightseers, per county rules.

Is Little Platte Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Little Platte Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Little Platte Beach?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Little Platte Beach?

When is the best time to visit Little Platte Beach?

The beach is officially open 8:30 am to sunset from May 1 through September 15 each year, per Clay County Tourism.

What are the rules at Little Platte Beach?

No alcohol is allowed in beach areas; no animals/pets are allowed at the beaches; standard park entry fees apply to anyone entering the area, including those just sightseeing. Clay County posts advisory signage when biweekly bacteria testing shows swimming is not recommended.