Sandy Beach
Lake Mills, Wisconsin · on Rock Lake · Sandy Beach Park
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $3
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Sandy Beach
Sandy Beach is an 11.5-acre city park and designated swimming beach on Rock Lake in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, operated by the City of Lake Mills Parks & Forestry Department, and one of the town's official places to swim. As swimming holes go it is fully outfitted, combining a sandy swimming beach with a boat launch, kayak rentals, and family-oriented park amenities at 345 Sandy Beach Road.
The park sits on the shore of Rock Lake, a natural inland lake on the edge of the City of Lake Mills, at 345 Sandy Beach Road. The city's official facility listing describes 11.5 acres of parkland including volleyball courts, picnic areas, and shelters alongside the swimming beach and boat launch.
Swimming at Sandy Beach
The City of Lake Mills' own facility directory categorizes Sandy Beach with a 'swim' designation and lists it as a 'Beach with swimming area,' making it an official, family-oriented swim spot on Rock Lake rather than an informal or hidden site. Adjoining playground, restrooms, and shelters point to a beach geared toward families and casual lake swimming; no source found describes water depth, clarity, or lifeguard coverage.
How to get to this swimming hole
Sandy Beach is a drive-up city park at 345 Sandy Beach Road, Lake Mills, WI 53551, on the shore of Rock Lake within the City of Lake Mills.
Parking: A $12 per vehicle daily parking fee applies to visitors without a permit. City of Lake Mills residents can obtain two free household vehicle permits (proof of vehicle registration required); additional resident permits cost $75. Non-city residents living within the Lake Mills Area School District can buy a $75 permit with proof of residency; no fee exemption currently exists for anyone outside the city or school district. Permits beyond the free tier must be registered in person at City Hall (200D Water Street, Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm). Parking is managed through the ParqEx app via QR codes, with seasonal enforcement by Lake Mills Police.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up city park, the swimming beach is immediately adjacent to the parking lot with no trail or hike needed; effectively a 1-2 minute walk from car to sand.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy swimming beach with an adjacent playground makes it family-oriented, but Rock Lake is a large (1,365-acre), 60-ft-max-depth lake with an active boat launch right at the same park, so boat traffic is a real factor near the swim area. No source found confirms lifeguard staffing, so treat depth/supervision as unconfirmed and watch children closely.
Parking
Paid, $12/day without a permit
On-site lot at Sandy Beach Park. City of Lake Mills residents get two free household permits; additional resident or school-district-resident permits are $75, registered in person at City Hall (200D Water Street, Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm). Parking is checked via the ParqEx app/QR codes with seasonal police patrols. Separately, the boat launch has its own fee: $12/day or a seasonal permit ($60/$90) requiring current boat registration.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms listed among on-site amenities at Sandy Beach Park (345 Sandy Beach Road) per the city's official facility directory; exact building location within the park not specified in any source found.
On the water
Sandy Beach Park has its own boat launch onto Rock Lake with a $12/day fee or seasonal permit ($60 or $90 depending on residency), and current boat registration is required to launch, implying motorized boats are permitted alongside paddle craft; no explicit no-wake, electric-only, or horsepower restriction was found in any source reached this session.
Rentals nearby
Kayak rentals on-site at the beach
On-site at Sandy Beach Park, 345 Sandy Beach Road, Lake Mills, WI
Sandy Beach: FAQ
Does Sandy Beach charge a fee?
As of May 2026 there is no separate beach entrance fee; the city council replaced the prior $3 (resident)/$4 (non-resident) gate entrance fee with the $12/day parking fee described above.
Is Sandy Beach kid friendly?
Sandy swimming beach with an adjacent playground makes it family-oriented, but Rock Lake is a large (1,365-acre), 60-ft-max-depth lake with an active boat launch right at the same park, so boat traffic is a real factor near the swim area. No source found confirms lifeguard staffing, so treat depth/supervision as unconfirmed and watch children closely.
Do I need to hike to reach Sandy Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Sandy Beach?
On-site lot at Sandy Beach Park. City of Lake Mills residents get two free household permits; additional resident or school-district-resident permits are $75, registered in person at City Hall (200D Water Street, Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm). Parking is checked via the ParqEx app/QR codes with seasonal police patrols. Separately, the boat launch has its own fee: $12/day or a seasonal permit ($60/$90) requiring current boat registration.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Sandy Beach?
Sandy Beach Park has its own boat launch onto Rock Lake with a $12/day fee or seasonal permit ($60 or $90 depending on residency), and current boat registration is required to launch, implying motorized boats are permitted alongside paddle craft; no explicit no-wake, electric-only, or horsepower restriction was found in any source reached this session.
When is the best time to visit Sandy Beach?
Summer, based on the seasonal police patrols and the summer-2026 food truck concession referenced in city and news sources.
What are the rules at Sandy Beach?
Parking permits require in-person registration at Lake Mills City Hall with current vehicle registration (and proof of residency for school-district permits); vehicles are checked against the ParqEx database and non-compliant vehicles can be ticketed.
What water body is Sandy Beach on?
Sandy Beach is on Rock Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
