South Hero/ White's Beach
South Hero, Vermont
Verified · 2 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5/resident
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About South Hero/ White's Beach
White's Beach is the Town of South Hero's official town beach and a designated swimming hole on Lake Champlain, located on West Shore Road between Hall Road and Lakeview Road on Grand Isle in Vermont. The swim area is managed by the South Hero Recreation Commission under a town parking-and-use ordinance, and for anyone seeking a lake to swim in here, summer access is controlled by resident parking permits and a non-resident lottery system.
The beach sits along West Shore Road on the western shoreline of South Hero (Grand Isle), the island town in Lake Champlain, with a grassed and fenced area adjoining the sand/swim area per the town ordinance.
Swimming at South Hero/ White's Beach
Town ordinance language explicitly defines a 'beach and swim area' as part of the property, and the town beach page states swimming is permitted in designated areas of the lake shore. No first-hand descriptions of water depth, bottom composition, or water clarity were found in this research pass.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located on West Shore Road in South Hero, Vermont (Grand Isle County), between Hall Road and Lakeview Road.
Parking: Roadside/lot parking along West Shore Rd. is restricted from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30; a dashboard sticker is required during that window. Residents can obtain permits (max 2 per household) for $5 each starting in early May; non-residents must apply to a lottery (as of 2026: application window opens April 1, ~80 permits awarded, $65 fee). Parking is prohibited at any time in the designated emergency-services launch area, and vehicles must use only designated parking spots.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. White's Beach is a drive-up town beach on West Shore Rd.; visitors park roadside/in the designated area and walk directly to the swim area with no trail involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
White's Beach is a Lake Champlain town swim beach with a grassed/fenced family area per the town ordinance, which suggests a calm, managed setting suitable for kids. However, no source found in this pass confirms a lifeguard presence, water depth/entry slope, or bottom composition, so caution is warranted until those are verified on site.
Parking
Paid, $5 per sticker for residents (max 2/household); $65 lottery-entry fee for non-residents (~80 permits awarded per season, per the 2026 town page)
Parking along West Shore Rd. between Hall Rd. and Lakeview Rd. requires a dashboard permit sticker from the Friday before Memorial Day through Sept 30; outside that window no permit is required. Vehicles must use only designated parking spots; parking is prohibited at all times in the emergency-services boat-launch area. Enforcement is by the Sheriff's Dept./town constable with $25 (1st offense)/$50 (2nd offense) fines.
On the water
The town beach page and 2019 parking/beach ordinance describe White's Beach as a designated swim area with an adjoining grassed/fenced zone but do not mention a boat/kayak launch or state whether paddlecraft may be carried in from the beach itself. No source confirms watercraft use at this specific site, so allowed types are left empty rather than assumed.
Rentals nearby
Adult kayaks (solo/tandem), canoes, and pontoon boats (8- and 10-person), all as full-day rentals; pontoon drivers born after 1974 need a VT Boater's Certificate
South Hero, VT, on Lake Champlain (same town as White's Beach) · Boathouse open 9am-6pm daily, May 1 - October 15
Kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals (plus e-bike rentals)
North Hero, VT, along the Lake Champlain Islands (Route 2), a neighboring island town north of South Hero · General store hours: Mon-Tue 7am-6pm, Wed-Sat 7am-8pm, Sun 8am-6pm (closed Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving); specific rental-desk hours not separately confirmed
South Hero/ White's Beach: FAQ
Does South Hero/ White's Beach charge a fee?
No stated beach admission fee; parking during the permit season (Memorial Day weekend-Sept 30) requires a purchased permit sticker ($5/resident, $65/non-resident via lottery per the 2026 town page; the original 2019 ordinance lists a $45 non-resident sticker price, suggesting fees have changed over time).
Is South Hero/ White's Beach kid friendly?
White's Beach is a Lake Champlain town swim beach with a grassed/fenced family area per the town ordinance, which suggests a calm, managed setting suitable for kids. However, no source found in this pass confirms a lifeguard presence, water depth/entry slope, or bottom composition, so caution is warranted until those are verified on site.
Do I need to hike to reach South Hero/ White's Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for South Hero/ White's Beach?
Parking along West Shore Rd. between Hall Rd. and Lakeview Rd. requires a dashboard permit sticker from the Friday before Memorial Day through Sept 30; outside that window no permit is required. Vehicles must use only designated parking spots; parking is prohibited at all times in the emergency-services boat-launch area. Enforcement is by the Sheriff's Dept./town constable with $25 (1st offense)/$50 (2nd offense) fines.
When is the best time to visit South Hero/ White's Beach?
Summer; the town's parking permit season (which effectively bounds the managed beach season) runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30.
What are the rules at South Hero/ White's Beach?
Governed by the Town of South Hero 'Whites Beach and Parking Ordinance' (March 2019): no firearms, no glass bottles/containers in the grass or beach area, no overnight camping between Hall Rd. and Lakeview Rd., no dogs in the designated no-dog area (grassed/fenced area and beach/swim area) from the Friday before Memorial Day through Sept 30, all trash must be carried out, and parking only in designated spaces with a valid permit sticker during the regulated season. Parking violations are enforced by the Sheriff's Department or town constable with fines of $25 (first offense) and $50 (second offense).
