85°
Mostly Sunny
1%
84
Milwaukee County, WI · Great Lakes
Bradford Beach (Milwaukee)
2400 N Lincoln Memorial Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53211
Milwaukee's flagship Lake Michigan beach — a half-mile of sand below the East Side bluffs. The Dock at Bradford Beach (tiki bar), volleyball, and the Hoan Bridge silhouette to the south.
Today's Conditions
Ideal for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 85°F air · 73°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny. High near 85, with temperatures falling to around 77 in the afternoon. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Tonight
Areas of smoke. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Weather
- 85°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 73°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- NWS alert active — dense smoke advisory issued july 18 at 2:46pm cdt until july 20 at 7:00am cdt by nws milwaukee/sullivan wi
66 /100
good
49 Swim
81 Sunbathe
86 Walk
81 Photo
Best for walking today
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 2:46PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...For the Small Craft Advisory, waves of 4 to 6 feet. For the Dense Smoke Advisory, dense smoke will reduce visibility to 1 nautical mile. * WHERE...Port Washington WI to Winthrop Harbor IL. * WHEN...For the Dense Smoke Advisory, from 3 PM this afternoon to 7 AM CDT Monday. For the Small Craft Advisory, from 7 PM this evening to 7 AM CDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft. Low visibility will make navigation difficult.
Weather alert in effect
Dense Smoke Advisory issued July 18 at 2:46PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Atmosphere
Air Temp
85°F
Smoke
Wind
10 mph
NE
Rain
1%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
9 Very High
High 11 AM–01 PM · burn in ~22m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
79°F
Areas Of Smoke
Water
Water Temp
73°F
Swimming weather
Water Quality
Clean
42 #/100mL · E. coli
USGS · sampled 2mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:28 AM
Sunset
9:26 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
79°
Areas Of Smoke
0%
81
88°
Areas Of Smoke then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
44%
27
83°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
39%
31
74°
Sunny
2%
80
78°
Sunny
2%
84
79°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
20%
46
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 9 — very high
- recommended Umbrella or shade warm day, light wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 73°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Paid lot at Lincoln Memorial Drive; free street parking on the bluff above.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited (service dogs only). Nearest off-leash dog parks: Estabrook Park, Granville Park.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
2400 N Lincoln Memorial Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53211
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Bradford Beach (Milwaukee) today?
Bradford Beach (Milwaukee) shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Bradford Beach (Milwaukee) dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited (service dogs only). Nearest off-leash dog parks: Estabrook Park, Granville Park.
Is there an entry fee at Bradford Beach (Milwaukee)?
Entry to Bradford Beach (Milwaukee) is free.
Are there lifeguards at Bradford Beach (Milwaukee)?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Bradford Beach (Milwaukee) during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Bradford Beach (Milwaukee)?
Amenities at Bradford Beach (Milwaukee) include lifeguards (seasonal), restrooms, showers, tiki bar, volleyball, restaurants nearby.
When is the water warmest at Bradford Beach (Milwaukee)?
Great Lakes water temperatures peak in late July and August at roughly 68-74°F near shore — cool compared to the ocean. Best swimming window is mid-July to late August.
Where is Bradford Beach (Milwaukee) located?
Bradford Beach (Milwaukee) is in Milwaukee County, WI, at 2400 N Lincoln Memorial Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53211.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS