Fontana Beach

Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin · on Lake Geneva

Verified · 2 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $6.00
SEASON: Best in summer

About Fontana Beach

Fontana Beach is a village-operated public swimming beach on the western shore of Geneva Lake in Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake, Walworth County, Wisconsin. It is a staffed, fee-based sandy beach with lifeguards during the summer season, making it a designated official swim spot rather than an informal natural swimming hole.

The beach sits on Geneva Lake's western shore in the small lakefront village of Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake, adjacent to the village's boutique shopping and dining area and near the public boat launch, with a sandy shore backed by a grassy area.

Swimming at Fontana Beach

Swimming takes place directly off a sandy beach on Geneva Lake, a large inland lake, with a beach house offering passes and food/beverage. Lifeguards are on duty daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (9:30am-6pm); outside those hours and dates, swimming is at one's own risk. The fee structure and family-oriented facilities point to a beach that suits general recreational swimmers and families rather than a wilderness swimming hole.

How to get to this swimming hole

The beach is located off Fontana Boulevard in the village of Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake, on the western shore of Geneva Lake.

Parking: A pay-station parking lot is situated adjacent to the beach.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up municipal beach off Fontana Boulevard with an adjacent pay-station parking lot; visitors walk directly from the lot onto the sand (well under 5 minutes). No hike is required to reach the swimming area. Note: the well-known Geneva Lake Shore Path (a ~21-mile lakeside walking trail) passes through/near Fontana, but it is a separate recreational walking route around the lake, not a required approach trail to this beach.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Village-operated, staffed sandy beach with paid lifeguard coverage daily 9:30am-6pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day; sandy shore with an adjoining grassy area and changing rooms. No depth or drop-off information was found, but the developed, lifeguarded, family-facility nature of the site (fee-based admission scaled by age, beach house, food/beverage) supports a family-friendly verdict during lifeguard hours; outside those hours/season it is unsupervised.

Parking

Paid

Pay-station parking lot adjoins the beach; exact per-visit parking rate not published on the official beach page (only beach admission fees are itemized: under 6 free, ages 6-11 and seniors 65+ $6, ages 12+ $14). A separate Village trailer-parking lot for boat-launch users (Lot 4, Reid St & Third Ave) is $15/day or free with a launch sticker, but that is for the boat launch, not the swim beach.

Restrooms

Yes

Changing rooms at the beach house, which is open 9am-9pm and also sells daily passes and food/beverage.

Hours

Beach open 9:00am-9:00pm daily; lifeguards on duty 9:30am-6:00pm daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Village Hall (for boating/beach questions) is open Monday-Friday 8am-4pm, phone 262-275-6136.

On the water

KayaksCanoesPaddleboardsMotorboats

The Village operates a separate public boat launch on Lake Avenue, open 24 hours with an honor-system fee box when unmanned (resident/non-resident daily fees $13.75 for non-motorized craft up to $27.50-$41.25 for larger motorized boats; trailer parking in Lot 4 at $15/day or free with a launch sticker, no overnight parking). No official rule was found stating whether watercraft may be launched directly from the swim beach itself (as opposed to the boat launch); it is a designated lifeguarded swim area, so beach-side watercraft launching is plausible but unconfirmed.

Rentals nearby

Clear Water Outdoor

Kayak and SUP (paddleboard) rentals; also sells retail gear and offers 'adventure planning'

Two Geneva Lake-area storefronts: 327 Wrigley Drive, Lake Geneva, WI (launch point: Baker House Pier, described by the company as their busiest launch) and 744 W Main St, Lake Geneva, WI; both roughly 8 miles by road from Fontana Beach on the opposite (east) end of the lake

Geneva Boat Charter (Lake Geneva Watercrafts)

Two single-place kayak rentals with delivery anywhere in Walworth County (no storefront pickup)

Prices: $100/day (9am drop-off to 7pm pickup); $200/weekend (Fri 9am-Sun 7pm); $300/week (Mon 9am-Sun 7pm)

Delivery service covering Walworth County, WI (can deliver to Fontana) · Drop-off from 9am, pickup by 7pm

Fontana Beach: FAQ

Does Fontana Beach charge a fee?

Daily admission: under 6 free, ages 6-11 $6.00, military/seniors 65+ $6.00, ages 12+ $14.00. Season passes: Fontana residents/property owners $5.00 (up to 6 passes), Big Foot High School District residents $85, non-residents $140.

Is Fontana Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Fontana Beach?

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

Where do I park for Fontana Beach?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Fontana Beach?

When is the best time to visit Fontana Beach?

Summer, with lifeguard coverage from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, daily 9:30am-6pm.

What are the rules at Fontana Beach?

No alcohol allowed on any Village property or piers; no glass containers; no grills or open fires; no smoking; no pets allowed except October 15-March 31; all coolers and bags are subject to search.

What water body is Fontana Beach on?

Fontana Beach is on Lake Geneva, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.