Boating near Minnetonka, Minnesota
Minnetonka (population 53,969, US Census Bureau 2025 estimate) ranks #176 of 1,041 US cities over 40,000 people for boating access in our data, with a score of 69 out of 100.
| Within | Marinas | Boat ramps | Pump-out stations | Named lakes / waterways |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 miles | 35 | 247 | 1 | 15 |
| 50 miles | 59 | 653 | 1 | 71 |
How the score works: method and limits. Counts depend on how well each state's public data covers its facilities.
Marinas near Minnetonka
Full lists: Marinas in Minnesota
Boat ramps near Minnetonka
Full lists: Boat ramps in Minnesota
Pump-out stations near Minnetonka
| Name | Distance | City | Map | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Shore Marina Browns Bay | 5.3 mi | map of North Shore Marina Browns Bay | OpenStreetMap |
Full lists: Pump-out stations in Minnesota
Main waters near Minnetonka
- Lower Lake (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 7,126 acres; about 4.6 mi to its center point)
- Medicine Lake (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 902 acres; about 5.3 mi to its center point)
- Lake Minnewashta (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 644 acres; about 8.5 mi to its center point)
- Lake Minnetonka (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 4,205 acres; about 8.8 mi to its center point)
- Lake Independence (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 796 acres; about 11.9 mi to its center point)
- Long Meadow Lake (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 772 acres; about 12.8 mi to its center point)
- Whaletail Lake (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 578 acres; about 13 mi to its center point)
- Lower Prior Lake (lake (USGS NHD, named, >=500 acres), 882 acres; about 14.1 mi to its center point)
Waters named on nearby ramp and pump-out records: Minnetonka (11), St. Anthony Falls Pool (7), U.S. Lock & Dam #2 Pool (5), Round (3), Fish (3), Waconia (3), Long (2), Minnewashta (2).
Boat types for local water (general guide)
A general guide derived only from the kinds of water named above, not advice for any one lake or bay. Check local rules, depth and conditions.
- Inland lakes and reservoirs: Pontoon / tritoon, Bowrider / runabout, Ski / wake / surf, Bass boat, Fish and ski, Personal watercraft
Minnesota rules for boat owners
| Registering agency | Minnesota DNR |
| Registration | <17 ft $36; 17-19 $59; 20-25 $113; 26-39 $164; 40+ $209 (+AIS/filing; total $69.50-$279.50); title $15 + $7 filing; transfer $17; renewal: 3 years |
| Title | yes for boats over 16 ft (dealer applies for title on new boats >16 ft, excl. canoes/kayaks) |
| Boater education | Operators 12 or older born after June 30, 2004 need a watercraft operator's permit to operate a motorboat or PWC (since July 1, 2025), phasing in for those born after June 30, 2000 (July 1, 2026), June 30, 1996 (July 1, 2027) and June 30, 1987 (July 1, 2028), unless an accompanying operator 21 or older is aboard or an exemption applies (Minnesota DNR, New Boater Education Law); born after June 30, 2000 (since July 1, 2026), after June 30, 1996 from July 1, 2027, after June 30, 1987 from July 1, 2028; under 12: no PWC or motor over 75 hp |
All Minnesota boating rules and sources · Check the rules for your boat (checked 2026-10-24; confirm with the agency)
Guides and calculators
- True cost of ownership calculator · Shop by monthly payment · Lender matcher · Insurance matcher
- Launching and retrieving at a ramp · Trailering basics · Docking basics
- Registration, titling and documentation · Boater education by state · Fishing licenses by state
- Required safety equipment · Clean boating and invasive species
Find a dealer near Minnetonka
Nothing is submitted from this page. We don't take dealer, service, financing or insurance requests. To reach a dealer, see boat dealers in Minnesota, or open a boat's model page from Brands and use its dealer button, which opens the builder's official dealer locator where it publishes one.
Method and limits
Score = 100 × (0.40 × marinas + 0.35 × ramps + 0.15 × pump-outs + 0.10 × named lakes/waterways), each as log(1 + count within 25 miles) divided by log(1 + the highest count among all 1,041 cities). Population: US Census Bureau Vintage 2025 subcounty estimates (Minnetonka city, GEOID 2743252); location: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap and state and federal open data; coverage differs by state. Built 2026-11-02.
Some marina, ramp and pump-out data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL).