Living in Prior Lake, MN: Lake Life, Parks and Getting Around

Prior Lake is near and dear to my heart. I lived there for almost 10 years, and my father has owned businesses there for almost 30. I filmed this at Sand Point Beach on Lower Prior Lake (in a raincoat) to share what living in Prior Lake is like.

Figures are from when I made the video above (October 2022). See our Prior Lake community guide for current numbers, and 6 small towns near Minneapolis for a newer look.

Quick facts

Prior Lake is southwest of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, about 30 minutes to Minneapolis and 30 to 45 to Saint Paul, with an average commute around 25 minutes (add 15 or 20 in heavy snow). Neighbors include Shakopee to the north, Savage to the east, Credit River to the south and Jordan to the southwest.

Prior Lake had about 28,000 residents in just under 10,000 households, with an 85% homeownership rate, among the highest we’d seen. The average home value was about $485,000.

The lakes

Lower and Upper Prior Lake together cover roughly 1,200 to 1,300 acres, and Prior Lake ranks among Minnesota’s most popular recreational lakes. Sand Point Beach is the main public way onto the water if you don’t live on the lake. Spring Lake (just under 600 acres) has a boat launch and is a bit less busy. There are about 15 smaller lakes too, including Arctic, Blind, Campbell, Haas, Howard and Rice, so there are plenty of chances to own a home on the water.

Parks

Prior Lake has 55 parks, about 1,000 acres of parkland and almost 80 miles of sidewalks and trails. The two largest are Spring Lake Regional Park and Cleary Lake Regional Park, part of the Three Rivers Park District, with hiking trails, a dog park, playgrounds, tennis courts and picnic spots.

Things to do

• Mystic Lake Casino, the largest casino in Minnesota, owned by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, hosts big-name concerts in its amphitheater and indoor venues.
• Golf: The Meadows at Mystic Lake and The Wilds Golf Club, two highly ranked courses a few blocks apart.
• Food: Charlie’s on Prior, where you can pull right up by boat and eat overlooking the lake year-round, and Su Lago, an Italian spot downtown for anniversaries and special occasions.

Getting around

Walkability isn’t Prior Lake’s strength. The trade-off is more space and green fields just south of town. Most people drive. The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority runs buses to hubs where you can connect to light rail, and Highway 169 to the north, Highway 13 through town and I-35W to the east get you across the Minnesota River quickly.

Thinking about Prior Lake? Reach out. We’re happy to set up a call, a Zoom or coffee.