WisconsinNatural lakeDane County

Lake Monona

Fed by the Yahara River, Lake Monona holds roughly 3,212 acres of water in Wisconsin. The lake is in Dane County. WI DNR / Dane County manages it. The gauge last read 845.00 ft.

Water level today: 845.00 ft · see the full record

Photo: Dori · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

CountiesDane County

Coordinates43.0655, -89.3624

Surface area3,212 acres

Max depth69 ft

RiverYahara River

Managed byWI DNR / Dane County

Swimming beaches on Lake Monona

9 named swimming spots and shoreline access points, from USGS GNIS, Recreation.gov and the Forest Service. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

Lake Monona

B B Clarke Beach

Dane County; 0.9 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Monona

Olin Beach

Dane County; 1.0 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Monona

Esther Beach

Dane County; 1.3 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Monona

Bernies Beach

Dane County; 1.5 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Monona

Brittingham Beach

Dane County; 1.5 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Monona

James Madison Beach

Dane County; 1.5 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Monona

Tenney Beach

Dane County; 2.0 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Monona

Olbrich Beach

Dane County; 2.2 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Monona

Vilas Beach

Dane County; 2.5 mi from the lake center.

USGS GNISSwimming

Lake Monona on the map

Lake center, swimming spots and access points.

Get directions

Weather and water temperature

Air temperature and wind from Open-Meteo. Water temperature only when the lake has a public sensor.

Weather data by Open-Meteo · water temperature from USGS

Water level today

The level comes from gauge 05429000, LAKE MONONA AT MADISON, WI, and carries the time it was taken. The last value stored here, 845.00 ft, is from 2026-09-09. Check the reading the morning you go if your plan depends on a specific ramp.

845.00 ft trend not available

Reading of Sep 9, 2026 · source: USGS

Full water level record for Lake Monona

What to know before you go to Lake Monona

Its coordinates are 43.0655, -89.3624. The deepest point on record is about 69 feet. It lies at roughly 846 feet of elevation.

If Lake Monona is busy, the nearest alternatives here are Lake Mendota (Wisconsin, 4 mi), Lake Waubesa (Wisconsin, 4 mi) and Lake Kegonsa (Wisconsin, 9 mi). Wisconsin has 34 lakes on this site in total.

Water quality is monitored unevenly on inland lakes, so posted notices are the most reliable guide. The same station reports water temperature, last read at 73.8 °F. Swimming season in Wisconsin runs through the warm months, and day-use areas set their own opening dates.

The shoreline of Lake Monona has 9 named swimming spots in the datasets we read. These come from USGS GNIS. They include B B Clarke Beach, Olin Beach and Esther Beach. Parking is the usual limit on busy summer weekends.

Questions about Lake Monona

Can you swim in Lake Monona?

Yes. This guide maps 9 named swimming spots around the lake, including B B Clarke Beach and Olin Beach. None is staffed by a lifeguard unless the operating agency posts one.

How big is Lake Monona?

About 3,212 acres. Maximum depth is around 69 feet.

What is the water temperature at Lake Monona?

The sensor last read 73.8 °F. The page refreshes it from the gauge when you load it.

What other lakes are near Lake Monona?

The closest in this guide is Lake Mendota, about 4 miles away in Wisconsin.