White Bear Lake Boating Guide: Eat, Cruise & Play from the YBC Marina
It’s rare to find a lake this near to the Twin Cities that comes close to offering a resort-town experience. Steps from St. Paul, White Bear Lake has big-water cruising, a world-class patio scene, and plenty of laid-back dock and dine restaurants. It’s easily one of the most popular metro boating day trips for couples, families, and groups of friends.
One reason White Bear Lake remains a favorite for metro boaters is how easy it is to revisit. Once you know the lake layout, docking flow, and best cruising windows, planning a day on the water feels effortless, even on busy summer weekends.
If you’re planning an afternoon cruise and wondering about White Bear Lake boat rentals, or maybe you just want to check out several waterfront restaurants all day long, plan a trip there. Your Boat Club makes it easy right on one of the busiest lakes in the metro. Choose a relaxing pontoon rental in White Bear experience or a more adventurous speedboat outing. With Your Boat Club you can eat, cruise, and play all day.
Fast Facts at a Glance
Here are some quick weekend boating tips to get to know White Bear Lake:
1. Closest Lake to the Twin Cities
The lake is northeast of St. Paul, making it an easily accessible day trip.
2. Launch Areas and Trailer Parking
There are several areas along the south shore near the White Bear Lake public boat launch.
Your Boat Club Marina Location
The Your Boat Club marina has convenient access to White Bear Lake for easy cruising loops. The office is located at:
How to Rent Boats on White Bear Lake
Boat memberships, day rentals, and long-term rentals are all available through Your Boat Club.
Busy Times and Best Boating Windows
The busiest times are weekends from 11am-4pm. Holidays book fast. Arrive early on sunny days, prep lines and fenders ahead of time, and plan your dock and dine stops to avoid the crowds.
Fuel, Shops & On-Water Rules
Dockside fuel is available at select area marinas. Bait and tackle can be found at Tally’s Dockside.
Know Before You Go Boating Rules
Shorelines and docks are no-wake zones. Be sure to review complete on-water rules for White Bear Lake before heading out on the water.
Can’t Miss Dock and Dine in White Bear
White Bear Lake’s claim to fame is its waterfront restaurants. Drop anchor, step off the boat, and you’ll be dining in minutes.
Acqua Restaurant & Bar (Waterfront Dining)
Acqua Restaurant & Bar is a casual upscale spot serving Italian cuisine. It’s a top choice for date nights or lunches to celebrate with your crew. Always remember to make reservations for patio seating during peak dinner hours.
MIZU Japanese (Sushi & Modern Lake Vibes)
Think modern Japanese, sushi, wagyu cuts, and craft drinks. When the weather pops, MIZU White Bear Lake has a fun vibe. Grab your dinner dock-up and stroll just a short ways, as this spot is also a favorite with groups looking to mix up lake dining.
Admiral D’s (Casual Patio and Seafood Market)
Admiral D’s is a casual American seafood restaurant and market with a summertime vibe. Admiral D’s patio is large and social, so plan to spend some relaxed dock time or swing by after cruising for post-boating refreshments.
Tally’s Dockside (Historic White Bear Lake Staple)
Enjoy a classic lake meal, White Bear Lake-style at Tally’s Dockside. Live music, BBQ, bait and tackle, rentals, and a full-service marina with fuel dock, this is a good mid-cruise pit stop for both fuel and food. It’s also conveniently located next to Admiral D’s.
Dock-and-Dine Breakdown: Where to Stop & When
Restaurant |
Boat-Up |
Fun Factor |
Best Visit |
Acqua |
Yes |
Perfect for dates |
Dinner |
MIZU Japanese |
Short walk |
Fun daytime dinner/lunch |
Day |
Admiral D’s |
Yes |
Low-key daytime hangout |
Afternoon |
Tally’s Dockside |
Yes |
Traditional White Bear Lake |
Lunch or dinner |
Three Scenic Boating Routes (From 45 Minutes to Half-Day)
South Shore Sightseer (~45-60 minutes)
The South Shore Sightseeing Loop is ideal for family boating Twin Cities residents who want calm waters and safe, scenic cruising with its protected shoreline. White Bear Lake has crystal-clear waters with shoreline cruises perfect for beginner boaters. Enjoy breakfast or lunch then chase your tow down at the dock for a great summer morning.
Patio Tour + City Docks Loop (~1.5-2 hours)
Cruise, then tie-up and visit White Bear Lake city docks for some snacks and drinks, then repeat the loop again. If you love dock and dine, this loop is the perfect way to spend a leisurely afternoon hopping from restaurant to restaurant or simply cruising.
Big Lake Circuit (~Half-Day)
Stop at smaller pockets of water along the loop, but if you want to see the bigger lake picture, then run the perimeter and explore major docks with big-city vibes. Make fuel and lunch stops at Tally’s or Admiral D’s and enjoy open-water cruising in between.
Route Comparison: Quick Loop Guide
Loop |
Approx. Time |
Ideal For |
South Shore |
< 1 hour |
Families on their first visit |
Patio Hop |
~2 hours |
Dining + boating aesthetics |
Big Lake |
3–4 hours |
Full lake exploration |
These loops are easy to repeat all season long. As you get familiar with the shoreline and dock locations, you’ll spend less time planning and more time cruising, dining, and enjoying the lake at your own pace.
Launches, Boat Slips, Fuel & Parking on White Bear Lake
When launching at White Bear Lake, you’ll find a few public access points. Start on the south shore near the White Bear Lake public boat launch. On busy weekends (especially sunny ones), arrive early for easier trailer parking.
Boat slips: Marinas around the lake provide boat slips for short-term or seasonal visitors, making it easy to tie up while dining or exploring.
Fuel: Look for marinas with dockside fuel and top off before you run low.
Meet-ups & group rentals: The White Bear Lake marina area is a convenient meeting place for groups.
If you’re renting your own boat, arrive early on peak weekends, prep your lines and fenders before launch, and have a parking plan. The Your Boat Club Marina is a great spot for both meetups and rentals.
Shopping & Last-Minute Gear
Forgot sunscreen? Running low on snacks or bait? Lakefront marinas provide essentials for convenience and those spur-of-the-moment needs. At Tally's Dockside, they also have a bait and tackle shop so anglers can pick up anything from hooks to harnesses. Want to turn it into a day trip? White Bear Lake's downtown area has cute shops within walking distance.
Watersports & Things to Do with Kids
If you and the family enjoy a day of tubing, kayaking, and stand up paddleboarding, all you need to do is wake up early or launch later in the afternoon for ideal water conditions.
Practice sandbar etiquette by anchoring with care and always giving other boats room to pass.
If you’re prepping for dock and dine stops, have fenders and lines ready before approaching restaurant docks, especially on weekends.
Fishing Snapshot: What’s Biting on White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake fishing has the potential to be great year-round if you know the seasonal beats. Always double-check Minnesota state regulations and recent local fishing reports before heading out.
Seasonal Species Overview
|
Species |
Prime Time |
Depths |
Beginner Tips |
|
Walleye |
May–June |
12–25 ft |
Nighttime bites preferred |
|
Bass |
June–August |
6–15 ft |
Focus on weed beds |
|
Northern Pike |
Spring/Fall |
8–20 ft |
Early bite is best |
Source: https://www.onxmaps.com/fish/spots/mgd6gvd276o9/white-bear-lake
Safety & Courtesy on a Busy Metro Lake
White Bear Lake can get pretty busy on sunny weekend days. Help keep the vibes high and the water safe by watching your surroundings and the shoreline, respecting no-wake zones at White Bear Lake near docks and shore. Always make sure everyone has a life jacket, and always remember to watch cross-traffic on fair-weather weekends.
When washing your boat, follow the clean, drain, dispose in Minnesota regulations when entering and exiting boat ramps.
Renting from Your Boat Club (Or Bringing Your Own)
Renting through Your Boat Club has plenty of advantages. It means no maintenance headaches or stress of transporting your boat thanks to memberships and rentals that include boats that are ready-to-go and accessible via reserved parking spots right on the lake. Consistent access removes the stress of trailering, maintenance, and parking, making spontaneous after-work cruises or weekend patio hops easy to pull off.
If you'll be launching your own vessel, we suggest arriving early on busy summer weekends, making sure you have lines and fenders ready to hit the water and a strategy about where you'll park before you launch.
When you’re ready to launch, reserving a boat for White Bear Lake has never been easier. Choose from day rentals or flexible long-term boat rentals that let you reserve the same boat all season long. And if you're comparing boating options throughout the Twin Cities, don't forget to check out Your Boat Club's full inventory of boat rentals at anchor spots all over Minnesota and beyond.
Make White Bear Lake a Regular
Rarely does a lake this close to the Twin Cities offer so much for boating near St. Paul, from scenic loops to world-class patios. If patio hopping, scenic cruising, and easy access to boating near St. Paul is your jam, White Bear Lake delivers a prime lake day without the long drive.
Start at the Your Boat Club marina and let the planning begin. With convenient rentals steps from boat-up eats and downtown attractions, the hardest part will be choosing where to dock first. Explore White Bear Lake with White Bear Lake boat rentals from Your Boat Club all summer long, for easy eating, cruising, and playing.
