Looking for the perfect spot to help your kids beat the heat? If you're unsure where to go, we've got you covered! Check out our comprehensive list of pools, splash pads, creeks, and lakes around Woodbury, Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Stillwater and Hastings, all ideal for cooling off on those scorching summer days.

We advise always checking with the venue when possible before heading out, as hours and availability can change due to various factors, ranging from weather to staffing issues.

Hastings Family Aquatic Pool (Outdoor)

• Address: 901 Maple St., Hastings, MN 55033
• Admission: $5 - $9 per person (Cash or Card, no checks)
• Hours: 12pm - 5pm (7pm) 
• Notes: Floatie Fest Sundays (Every Sunday from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. swimmers can bring in flotation devices that are not allowed during normal swim including rafts, balls, and toys)
  Tons of Tots: Shallow portion of the zero depth area only available at this time.  Check website for times and dates.
• Concessions available.
• Large Groups are expected on: Tuesday July 22, Tuesday July 29, Thursday August 14, 2025.

Battle Creek Waterworks (Outdoor) - CLOSED for 2025 Season for renovations

• Address: 2401 Upper Afton Rd, Maplewood, MN 55109
• Admission: $5 - $7 per person
• Hours: 11am - 8pm Daily
• Tot Tuesdays: 9:30am - 10:30am
• Autism Friendly Hour Sundays: 9:30am - 10:30am

Inver Grove Aquatics Center (Indoor)

• Address: 8055 Barbara Ave, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
• Admission: $7 - $10 per person
• Hours: Varies.  Check website for up-to-date schedule.
• Notes: Sensory Friendly times, Water Park Features Only times, Water Park Slides and Features times, Lap Swim, All Pools.

Cascade Bay Water Park (Outdoor)

• Address: 1360 Civic Center Dr, Eagan, MN 55122
• Admission: $10 - $13 per person per session, All Day Pass - $19 per person
• Hours: Session 1: 10:45am - 2:45pm or Session 2: 3:15pm - 7:15pm
• Single-session and All-Day Access tickets are available online, 72 hours in advance of the date of attendance. Walk up window opens at 10am.

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Madison's Playground - Woodbury

• Location: 4125 Radio Dr., Woodbury, MN 55125
• Details: Year round playground with slides, swings, ziplines and accessible features.  Summer splash pad open from Memorial Day to Labor Day

Highlands Park - Cottage Grove

• Location: 6975 Idsen Ave S., Cottage Grove, MN 55016
• Details: Summer splash pad, playground (a bit away from the splash pad)

Lake Elmo Park Preserve Swim Pond

• Location: 1515 Keats Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
• Details: Lifeguards daily 12pm - 8pm.  A man-made two-acre swimming pond that is chlorinated and filtered. Large NEW playground area (Opening TBD)
• Admission: Free admission with daily or annual park pass - Washington County Parks
• Hours: 9am - 8pm

Square Lake Park

• Location: 15450 Square Lake Trail N, Stillwater, MN 55082
• Details: 690 feet of sandy beach on the clearest and cleanest lake in the seven-county metro area. Lifeguards 12pm - 8pm. 
• Admission: Free admission with daily or annual park pass - Washington County Parks
• Hours: 9am - 8pm
• Note: The beach building at Square Lake Park will be closed due to needing to turn off the well for a period of time. There will be no indoor facilities until further notice but porta potties will be available onsite.

Big Marine Park Reserve

• Location: 17495 Manning Trail N, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047
• Details: Family-friendly swimming beach - Unguarded.  There is a highly accessible playground features a towering 18-foot slide, a colossal climbing rock, and a 20-foot geodesic climbing web. 
• Admission: Free admission with daily or annual park pass - Washington County Parks
• Hours: 9am - 8pm

Afton State Park

• Location: 6959 Peller Ave S., Hastings, MN 55033
• Details: The beach is approximately a half mile walk from the parking lot. There is no lifeguard on duty. River buoys are placed seasonally.
• Admission: Free with daily or annual park pass thru Minnesota State Parks
• Hours: 8am - 10pm

Point Douglas Park Beach

• Location:14500 Point Douglas Dr., Hastings, MN 55033
• Details: Unsupervised swimming beach with 510 feet of soft sand and beautiful views of the St. Croix River. Located just across the highway from an active train track, it offers the fun of train-watching without too much noise. Its spot next to a lift bridge also makes it perfect for boat-watching.
• Admission: Free admission with daily or annual park pass - Washington County Parks
• Hours: 9am - 8pm

St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park

• Location: 10191 St. Croix Trail S, Hastings, MN 55033
• Details: This small, unguarded beach sits along the scenic St. Croix River and offers a peaceful spot to cool off. The nearby picnic area is packed with amenities, including a ball field, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, a half basketball court, and two tennis courts. A large playground is also located in the picnic area, though it's a short walk from the beach.
• Admission: Free admission with daily or annual park pass - Washington County Parks
• Hours: 9am - 8pm

Lakeside Park

• Location: 95 Central Ave, Bayport MN
• Details: Features a family-friendly swimming area and a nearby playground for kids to enjoy.
• Admission: Free admission with daily or annual park pass - Washington County Parks
• Hours: 9am - 8pm

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Hollow Nature Play Area at Tamarack Nature Center - White Bear Lake, MN

• Location: 5287 Otter Lake Rd, White Bear Township, MN 55110
• Details: Dig, splash, build, and explore at Discovery Hollow—Ramsey County’s premier nature play area, located just behind Tamarack Nature Center. This hands-on outdoor space invites kids to connect with nature through imaginative play. They can build forts in the woods, climb natural rock formations at the overlook, splash in the stream while learning how water flows, get their hands dirty in the garden, and crawl in and around the whimsical Hobbit House. It’s the perfect place for little explorers to run wild and let their curiosity lead the way.
• Admission: Free but donations are gratefully accepted.
• Hours: 5am - 11pm
• Notes: Family Friendly Fridays - Every Friday, Discovery Hollow is reserved exclusively for families, with no day camps or scheduled groups.

Great Wolf Lodge - Bloomington

• Location: 1700 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, MN 55425
• Details: Indoor waterpark with day passes available for purchase online. Save with coupons from Groupon and CertifiKid. Note - there is a $10 parking fee
• Admission: Full Day Pass starting at $30/person, Half Day Pass (4pm to close) starting at $27/person
• Hours: 10am - 8pm

Looking for even more ways to swim without the crowds? Don’t forget to check out ResortPass for day passes to hotel pools across the Twin Cities. It’s a great way to enjoy beautiful, resort-style amenities—think cabanas, loungers, and poolside snacks—without the overnight stay. Perfect for a mom-and-kids outing or a little weekday “staycation” treat!

You can also explore Swimply, a unique platform that lets you rent private backyard pools by the hour. It’s ideal for birthday parties, playdates, or even just a quiet afternoon swim without the hustle of a public pool. I’ve found it especially helpful for kids who need a calmer environment or want extra space to float, splash, and swim at their own pace.

With so many ways to stay cool💦—whether you're hitting splash pads in Woodbury, jumping waves at Hastings Aquatic Center, relaxing at a Stillwater beach, or booking a backyard pool for the day—you’re sure to make this a summer full of memory-making and sunshine.

Here’s to a fun, splashy summer—right here in the east metro! 🌞💦

I’m a local mom and the publisher of Macaroni KID Woodbury–Oakdale–Cottage Grove–Stillwater, your go-to guide for family fun in the South East Metro! Each week, I curate a FREE weekly e-newsletter, update our family-friendly website, and share the latest local events, kid-friendly activities, and small business spotlights on social media to help families like yours stay in the know.  Whether you live here, work nearby, or are just visiting, I’m here to make it easy for you to find fun things to do with your kids in Woodbury, Oakdale, Cottage Grove, Stillwater, and beyond. Join our community of moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers—SUBSCRIBE TODAY and never miss out on local family fun!

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