Lake Anna State Park Beach
Spotsylvania, VA
Lake Anna State Park's beach sits on the lake's public side, kept several degrees cooler than the private side across the dam, which absorbs the warm water discharge from the North Anna Nuclear Power Station. The park's natural sand beach and snack bar draw swimmers from across central Virginia every summer.
A popular central Virginia lake beach with real food and facilities on site, though the unguarded water and the nuclear plant question, harmless, but one every visitor asks about, are worth knowing going in.
How we score beachesStick to the park's public side beach rather than trying to find water access on the private side. The warmer far side of the lake has no public marinas or ramps at all, so this beach is genuinely the easiest legal way in.
A day use fee applies at the gate, and the lot fills by midday on a summer weekend.
A short, level walk connects the main lot to the beach and the park's seasonal snack bar.
Swimming here is unguarded and at your own risk. The snack bar near the beach runs seasonally, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
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