What is there to do in Prior Lake in the summer?

Summer in Prior Lake centers on the lake — swimming at Sand Point Beach, boating, paddleboarding, and Lakefront Park. The Lakefront Music Fest draws 20,000+ people in July, Prior Lake Days fills downtown in August, and the Farmers Market runs every Saturday. Starting in 2026, the Mystic Lake Amphitheater brings major touring concerts all summer. Trails, golf courses, and outdoor dining keep things going between events.

What is there to do in Prior Lake in the winter?

Prior Lake stays active through winter with outdoor skating rinks at Lakefront Park, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Cleary Lake Regional Park, sledding, and ice fishing. Indoors, Mystic Lake Casino hosts year-round shows, LaunchPad Golf has 40 indoor simulator suites, and The Wilds Golf Club offers 4K golf simulation. Community events like the Prior Lake Plunge and DecemBRRR Dazzle keep the calendar full.

How far is Prior Lake from Minneapolis?

Prior Lake is about 25 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis, roughly a 30-minute drive via Highway 13 and I-35W depending on traffic.

Is Prior Lake a good place to visit?

Prior Lake is worth a day trip or weekend visit, especially in summer. Lakefront Park gives you the full picture in one stop. Dining downtown includes Charlie's on Prior for lake views and Boathouse Brothers for craft beer. The Mystic Lake Amphitheater and casino add major entertainment options.

What is Prior Lake known for?

Prior Lake is known for its lake-centered lifestyle, strong community events calendar, and proximity to Mystic Lake Casino Hotel — the largest casino in the upper Midwest. The city has 51 parks covering over 1,000 acres and 80+ miles of trails. Lakefront Music Fest is one of the biggest outdoor concert events in the south metro.

Things To Do

Prior Lake is built around the water and a strong parks-and-events calendar, so everyday fun usually looks pretty simple: a lake day, a trail walk, a stop downtown, or whatever’s happening at Lakefront Park.

Parks

1,000+

Acres of Parkland

80+

Miles of Trails

Outdoor activities

Lakefront Park and beach days

If you want one place that gives you the “this is Prior Lake” feel, start at the lakefront. The city’s big public gathering spaces are right on the water, with room to hang out, move around, and catch events.

Lakefront Park is the hub for shoreline walks, playground time, a skate park, fishing access, and seasonal activities. It also has an amphitheater, a beach area, a sledding hill in winter, plus rentals like canoe/kayak racks and day-use amenities. Lakefront Park info
Sand Point Beach Park is a popular swim-and-picnic spot with shelters and a beach open seasonally (typically May through Labor Day). I grew up near Sand Point and was there every day in the summer. A DNR-maintained public boat launch is adjacent, which makes this area especially active in summer. Public beach info
On the water, the usual lineup includes boating, fishing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and sunset cruising when conditions are calm. More on all of that at Life on the Lake.

Trails, parks, and nearby nature

Beyond the shoreline, Prior Lake has plenty of “quick outside” options — neighborhood parks, sidewalks, and trail connections that make it easy to get a walk or bike ride in without planning a whole outing. The city has approved a $60 million parks investment plan for improvements over the next 20+ years, so this system keeps growing. For longer loops and bigger natural areas:

Cleary Lake Regional Park (Prior Lake) — trails, a swimming beach, a campground, cross-country skiing in winter, and a 28-acre off-leash dog area. Cleary Lake info
Spring Lake Regional Park (near Prior Lake) — 374 acres with walks through woods and wetlands, eagle watching, old-growth forest, a 10-acre dog park, and snowmobile trails that connect into the state system. Spring Lake info
Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve (Savage, close by) — one of the best mountain biking trails in the metro with 9.6 miles and 508 feet of elevation gain. Also popular for skiing and birdwatching in a mostly-undeveloped setting. Murphy-Hanrehan info
The Ponds Park — the main youth sports complex with nine baseball fields and an archery range.

Winter activities

Winter doesn’t slow things down here. It just changes the mode. A lot of the same parks stay active with different activities.

Ice skating and hockey — seasonal outdoor rinks at Lakefront Park are a staple. Openings depend on weather and ice conditions.
Dakotah! Ice Center is a year-round indoor option for open skate, lessons, and hockey. Ice Center info
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Cleary Lake Regional Park, with groomed trails through the winter season.
Snowmobiling at Spring Lake Regional Park, which connects to the state trail system.
Sledding at the Lakefront Park hill — popular with families all winter.
Ice fishing on the lake when conditions allow. Always follow local guidance and use caution.
When the weather wins, indoor golf simulators at The Wilds (1,800+ courses in 4K) and LaunchPad Golf at The Meadows give you something to do without dealing with the cold.

Dining and drinks

Prior Lake punches above its weight on restaurants for a city this size. A few of the spots that come up most:

Charlie’s on Prior — waterfront dining with lake views. A bite to eat and a drink overlooking the water.
PLate on Main — upscale American, downtown.
Perron’s Sul Lago — Italian, on the lake side of town.
TJ Hooligans — Irish pub, reliable and comfortable.
Boathouse Brothers Brewing Co. — local taproom right downtown, became a gathering spot fast.
Edelweiss Bakery — coffee and pastries, a longtime downtown fixture.
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel also has multiple dining options on-site, including Mystic Steakhouse and The Meadows Bar and Grille.

The VFW has been downtown since the 60s — it was a movie theater before that, though that’s before my time. I’ve walked in plenty of parades that went straight through Main Avenue over the years.

Shows, golf, and bigger nights out

Mystic Lake Casino Hotel hosts concerts and shows year-round at the Mystic Showroom. Shows & events
The Wilds Golf Club is an 18-hole championship course (par 72, 7,012 yards) designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, with over 150 feet of elevation changes and 70-plus bunkers set among ponderosa pines and wetlands. The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired clubhouse includes Slate North restaurant and views of the Minneapolis skyline. Open to the public. Course info
Legends Club is another 18-hole championship course (par 72, 7,063 yards) designed by Gill Miller, with 50 acres of water features. It’s been recognized as a National Golf Course of the Year. Open to the public. Course info
The Meadows at Mystic Lake is a USGA-rated, 18-hole public course owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The course offers lessons, TrackMan swing analysis, and The Meadows Bar and Grille on-site. Adjacent to Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. Course info
LaunchPad Golf at The Meadows is a year-round indoor golf venue with 40 climate-controlled suites across two floors, a full-service restaurant, two bars, and league play. Rental clubs are included with suite bookings. LaunchPad info
Cleary Lake Golf Course is a 9-hole public course inside Cleary Lake Regional Park, operated jointly by Scott County and Three Rivers Park District. The moderately rolling layout is beginner-friendly and also offers FootGolf, a driving range, cart and club rentals, and youth programs through First Tee Minnesota and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf. Seasonal (approximately April through November). Course info

Community events

Prior Lake has a steady rhythm of community events — some hosted by the city, some by local organizations — and the lineup changes by season. A few of the biggest:

Lakefront Music Fest — a major summer concert weekend at Lakefront Park, run by Prior Lake Rotary. Draws 20,000+ people and the lineup keeps getting bigger. Festival site
Prior Lake Days — a downtown summer celebration in August. Friday night is the 21+ Sip and Stroll through downtown businesses, then family activities fill the weekend. Event details
Prior Lake Farmers Market — runs Saturdays from May through October. A popular Saturday morning stop. Current market info
Prior Lake Plunge — a winter polar plunge that’s raised over $3.1 million for Special Olympics over 17+ years. One of the biggest community fundraisers in town.
DecemBRRR Dazzle and Winterfest — winter events that keep the calendar going when the lake freezes over.