The Best Swimming Lakes with Beaches within 2hrs of NYC and Northern New Jersey

6/21/2026

When you're looking to escape the heat of the city, or just get out of the house and enjoy relaxing on the lake, letting the kids splash around in the water, maybe even rent a paddleboat or canoe, this is where to go! We love lake beaches because there are no scary waves, they tend to be less crowded than the ocean beaches, and you usually have gorgeous forests around you!

How many of these swimming lakes within 2hrs of NYC and northern New Jersey can you check off the list this summer???

Be sure to check the individual park's page for updated hours, fees, and closure info - some reach capacity and get closed early (by 10am!), others get closed due to algae growth or other reasons.

List of New Jersey State Parks with public swimming.
List of New York State Parks with public swimming.

Berean Lake (NY)
Open 12pm-8pm daily in summer. $4 per non-resident 6 and older (under 6 free). Small lake with playground, near Walkway Over the Hudson. Located in Highland, NY.

80 miles from Montclair, NJ

Canopus Lake (NY)
A large life guarded sandy beach with swimming, bathrooms, outdoor shower, and picnic tables. Located in Putnam County NY. Best to arrive there by 11am as parking lot may fill up. Open June 20 - Labor Day, 7 days a week, 9am-6pm (swimming 10am-5:45pm), $10/hr boat rentals 9am-5pm (last boat out at 4pm). No camping in 2026 season due to construction of new boathouse.

Entrance: $10 per car

61 miles from Montclair, NJ

Cheesequake State Park Lake (NJ)
Swimming Wednesday - Sunday. Close to the swimming area, there’s a beach complex containing a changing area, restrooms, a first-aid station and a concession offering refreshments, novelties and beach supplies. Inner tubes, rafts and other flotation devices are not permitted in the swimming area. Only U.S. Coast Guard approved PFDs (personal flotation devices, also known as lifejackets) are permitted. Park features open fields, saltwater and freshwater marshes, an Atlantic white cedar swamp, pine barrens habitats and a northeastern hardwood forest.

Entrance fee:
From Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekdays
NJ Residents: $5.00 / Non-Residents: $10.00
Weekends and Holidays
NJ Residents: $10.00 / Non-Residents: $20.00

32 miles from Montclair, NJ

Darlington Lake (NJ)
A 127 acre park with a handball court, basketball court, fee based swimming lake, and Wibit Splash Zone - a fee based inflatable obstacle course on the lake. Swimming from 10am-6pm (2026: June 19 - Labor Day). No walk-in or ride share arrival permitted, and parking lot reaches capacity often. Swimming fee varies by age, day, and resident status, and Wibit Splash Zone is an extra $15 per adult or $7 for the kiddie zone.

26 miles from Montclair, NJ

Greenwood Lake (NY)
Only open to Warwick NY residents, guests (must prove staying at a local hotel or Airbnb), or employees working at a Greenwood Lake school district.

Lake Henneside (NY)
Circleville Park aka C. Hudson Thompson Memorial Park. Swimming hours are last Saturday in June through Labor Day, M-F 10 am - 6 pm Weekends 11-7pm. $3.00/person available through the Town Clerk's Office.

65 miles from Montclair, NJ.

Lake Hopatcong (NJ)
Swimming open Wednesday - Sunday, 10am-5:30pm. 9 mile long lake with swimming, fishing, a large picnic area with grills, boat launch, volleyball and basketball courts, soccer field and playground equipment. There is a bathhouse complex containing restrooms, showers, changing areas, a first-aid room and concession where food and beach supplies are available for purchase.

From Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day
Weekdays
NJ Residents: $6.00 / Non-Residents: $10.00
Weekend and Holidays
NJ Residents: $10.00 / Non Residents: $20.00

30 miles from Montclair, NJ

Lake Tiorati (NY)
Lake Tiorati was formed by clearing swampland in Harriman State Park and constructing a concrete dam to make two ponds into one large lake. Surrounded by meadows and rolling, wooded hills, the park offers excellent swimming, fishing, boating and picnicking.

HOURS:

6/20/26 - 8/16/26: 10:00am-5:45pm, Monday-Friday, 11:00am-6:45pm, Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays
8/22/26 - 9/7/26: 11:00am-6:45pm: Weekends and Holidays only

Entrance: $10 per car

40 miles from Montclair, NJ

Wawayanda Lake Beach (NJ)
Swimming 10am-5:30pm. The white sand beach and picturesque location provides a truly enjoyable freshwater experience. Adjacent to the beach visitors can access facilities with changing areas, restrooms, and a first-aid station. Inner tubes, rafts and other flotation devices are not permitted in the swimming area. Only Coast Guard-approved Personal Floatation Devices(PFD) are permitted.

Entrance:
From Memorial Day Weekend thru Labor Day
Weekdays
NJ Residents $5.00 / Non Residents $10.00
Weekend and Holidays
NJ Residents $10.00 / Non Residents $20.00

35 miles from Montclair, NJ

Lake Welch (NY)
Man-made Lake Welch has a half-mile-long sandy beach in the wooded hills of the Ramapo Mountain and ooffers swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking and camping in adjacent Beaver Pond Campground.

OPEN 6/22/26 – 9/7/26
M-F: 8:00am-8:00pm / Sat, Sun, Holidays: 7:00am-8:00pm
SWIMMING HOURS: Monday-Friday: 10:00am - 5:45pm; Weekends/Holidays: 9:00am - 6:45pm
Entrance: $10 per car

40 miles from Montclair, NJ

Round Valley Reservoir Beach (NJ)
Swimming 9am-5:30pm. Round Valley’s swimming area was created by the construction of an earth dam across a narrow waterway on the west side of the reservoir, separating the swimming water from the main reservoir. Contains a first-aid station, changing areas, restrooms, showers and a concession building where food and beach supplies are available for purchase. Please call ahead for concession hours of operation. The beach also includes two playgrounds and beach volleyball nets.

Entrance:
Weekdays
NJ Residents $5.00 / Non Residents $10.00
Weekend and Holidays
NJ Residents $10.00 / Non Residents $20.00

45 miles from Montclair, NJ

Sunrise Lake Beach Club (NJ)
Featuring sandy beach, inflatable Zoom Flume slides, Wibit inflatable obstacle course ($3 per 20 minutes), rental paddle boats ($5-10 per 30 minutes), SUP ($10 per 30 minutes) and more. Open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
Weekdays
Adults $12 / Kids $10
Weekend and Holidays
Adults $16 / Kids $14

25 miles from Montclair, NJ