UPDATE: Lake Lure reopened to the public in May 2026! The surrounding area, including local businesses and shops in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, are also open for business.
Have you visited the Lake Lure beach and water park? The combination of a mountain lake with a sandy beach along with waterslides that run right into the cool mountain water is spectacular! Plus, you only have to pay one admission fee at this famous lake in North Carolina.
A local mom visited Lake Lure with her family. They had a blast! Read about their trip and catch all the tips so you’ll know just what to expect when you visit.
Lake Lure Beach: 2026 Quick Facts
- 📍 Location: 2724 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure, NC 28746 — about an hour’s drive from Greenville
- 🗓️ 2026 season: Open daily May 23 – August 11, 2026
- 🕙 Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., 7 days a week
- 🎟️ Beach admission: Adults $12 · Seniors $9 · Kids ages 4–12 $8 · Under 4 free (with an adult) · Free for Lake Lure residents with ID
- 🤸 Add-on: Floating Adventure Course (separate ticket; ages 4–6 $5)
Getting to Lake Lure
After reading all about Lake Lure and its nostalgic filming of the movie “Dirty Dancing”, I was intrigued to make a day visit. From Greenville, Lake Lure is a little over an hour but well worth the beautiful scenic drive up into Chimney Rock State Park. From Greenville, you will use 25 North to I26 West to 2724 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure, NC 28746 (I also recommend using Google Maps for directions).
Also, don’t forget to bring a packed lunch as well as buckets and shovels for the kids, as the sand beach is ideal for sandcastle building. Once you get close to the Chimney Rock area, you will drive through a quaint little town and see an array of restaurants, shops, and gem mine stores for the kids. It has an old Western-type feel with the picturesque backdrop of Chimney Rock in the background.
Having arrived at the lake around noon, we noticed that parking was filling up quickly but luckily there seemed to be several spots across the street in front of the historic Lake Lure Inn. Once we parked and gathered our beach gear, we headed through the main entrance where we were banded after paying the daily fee.
The admission for adults is $12, and admission for kids 4 to 12 is $8. Kids under four are free. You can find pricing and information on the Lake Lure beach website. The price of admission includes the water park and beach access.
Lake Lure Adventure Course
Hurricane Helene destroyed the water slides. But don’t worry, the beach now has a floating Adventure Course. Tickets are not included in beach admission. The rates are $7/person (ages seven and above) and $5/kids (ages four to six). There are also restroom facilities and showers.
The water is roped for designated swimming, and there are many people with rafts and water toys. You can easily spend all day at the beach with plenty to do for kids and adults. And of course, no trip to Lake Lure is complete without doing “the lift” from the movie Dirty Dancing, which was filmed here.
Lake Lure Boat Rentals
If you’d like to cruise around the lake in a kayak, paddleboard, or hydro bike, you can rent one on site. Canoes and two-person kayaks are $20/hour or $85/all day, while single kayaks are $18/hour or $70/all day. Rentals are available at the beach from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Good news if you’d rather bring your own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard: as of 2026, the Town of Lake Lure no longer requires a permit or fee for personal non-motorized boats. (Motorized boats still need a town permit to be on the lake.)
Lake Lure Beach FAQ
When is Lake Lure Beach open in 2026?
The beach is open daily from May 23 through August 11, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
How much is admission to Lake Lure Beach?
2026 beach rates are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $8 for kids ages 4–12. Children under 4 are free with an adult, and Lake Lure residents are free with proof of ID. Admission includes the beach and roped swimming area.
What happened to the water slides?
The original water slides were destroyed by Hurricane Helene. In their place, the beach now offers a floating Adventure Course, which requires a separate ticket from beach admission.
Do I need a permit to bring my own kayak or paddleboard?
No. As of 2026, the Town of Lake Lure does not require a permit or fee for personal non-motorized boats such as kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. Motorized boats still require a town permit.
Have you ever been to Lake Lure?
Love a great mountain beach? Check out our list of Upstate mountain beaches for an excellent time with your family!
There’s more to love in WNC.
Find it all in our Kidding Around Guide to Western North Carolina.
I am from the area and had no idea what “Lift” you were talking about. It finally dawned on me, but other’s may go looking for a chair lift type attraction as I intended to do, prior to realizing you meant the “Dirty Dancing lift”. 😊