Sand Bar State Park Swim Beach

Sand Bar State Park is a 15-acre Vermont State Parks day-use park at 1215 US Route 2 in Milton, on the eastern end of the natural sandbar between the mainland and South Hero Island. The 2,000-foot sandy beach is the park's centerpiece, with a shallow sandy bottom that makes this one of the state's best-known family swim destinations. Amenities include grilled picnic sites, a playground, volleyball nets, and a snack stand in season. The park operates from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, 10 a.m. to sunset, with standard Vermont State Parks day-use fees. Pets are not permitted. A beach wheelchair and a rollable access mat are available on request at the contact station. The park is adjacent to the 1,000-acre Sand Bar Wildlife Refuge, so wildlife viewing -- especially waterfowl -- often pairs well with the swim. From I-89 Exit 17, follow US 2 west about three and a half miles; the entrance is on the left before the causeway to South Hero.