Beaches in Ohio?! Yes, it’s true! If you’re looking for a beach getaway without having to travel far, check out one of these 9 Ohio beaches!
Every summer it seems I get the craving to vacation by water. A trip to the actual ocean isn’t always a possibility, so we have found some work arounds for a day at the beach! Our family has gone to Lake Erie almost every summer for the past 5 years or so. Lake Erie is obviously Ohio’s largest body of water, but there are beaches in other areas of the state as well!
Before planning your visit to one of these Ohio beaches, it is always a good idea to check Beachguard which monitor’s Ohio’s beach water quality and issues any advisory alerts relating to beaches in Ohio.
Enjoy a Day Out at One of these 9 Ohio Beaches:
These are all public beaches that are free to visit! Pick out one of these destinations and enjoy a day on the water: put your toes in the sand, build a sandcastle and don’t forget the sunscreen!
1. Alum Creek State Park Beach
- Address: 3305 S Old State Rd., Delaware, OH 43015
- Website
Alum Creek is Ohio’s largest inland beach, measuring 3,000 feet of shore. Changing rooms are available and there is a playground area on the beach. The beach is open during daylight hours. Boating and fishing are also allowed on the water.
2. Tappan Lake
- Address: 84000 Mallarnee Rd., Deersville, OH 44693
- Website
Tappan Lake is part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District and is inside Tappan Lake Park in Deersville, Ohio. The beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Large inflatable toys and slides are permanently in the water. There are changing rooms and a concession stand on site. Check out this map for the exact location of the beach.
3. Main Street Beach, Vermillion
- Address: Main St., Vermilion, OH 44089
- Website
Vermillion is a beautiful city on Lake Erie. What is distinctive about this city is the canals that run through part of the residential neighborhoods! The beach is one of the smaller ones on the list but it is made up for by the charm of the city!
Main Street Beach is is at the north end of Main Street and has a lighthouse and observation platform. The closest changing area and restroom is a couple of blocks south so keep that in mind! A shop that rents beach umbrellas and sells snacks and other items is onsite.
Woodstock Cafe is our favorite restaurant in the town with a great outdoor patio and we always get ice cream at Main Street Soda Grill. Read about how we spend a perfect day at the beach in Vermilion, Ohio!
4. Port Clinton City Beach
- Address: 1100 E. Perry St., Port Clinton, OH 43452
- Website
The Port Clinton City Beach is at the end of a great park called Lakeview Park which has an amazing accessible playground with a nautical theme! There are picnic areas, restrooms and changing area, and an ice cream shop near by!
We have always enjoyed vacationing in Port Clinton and Sandusky! There are lots of fun things to do, including a trip to the beach!
5. Salt Fork State Park
- Address: 14755 Cadiz Rd, Lore City, OH 43755
- Website
Salt Fork State Park is Ohio’s largest state park! When you enter the park it will be at least a 10 minute drive to the beach! The beach covers 2500 feet and is relatively large! There is also a nice grassy area with trees and picnic tables adjacent to the beach. There are changing rooms and showers on site as well as a mini-golf course!
6. Maumee Bay State Park
- 1750 State Park Road #2, Oregon, OH 43616
- Website
This beautiful Ohio beach is at Maumee Bay State Park on the northwest corner of Ohio. This beach on Lake Erie is free to visit! Maumee Bay State Park also includes hiking trails, a marina, a Nature Center and is home to Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center.
7. Pleasant Hill Lake Park
- Address: 3431 OH-95, Perrysville, OH 44864
- Website
Pleasant Hill Lake is adjacent to Mohican State Park and Malabar Farm State Park! Within Pleasant Hill Lake Park you can fish, camp, boat and swim at this public beach! There is a daily cost to enter the park.
The beach here is also home to The WhoaZone which is an inflatable obstacle course on the lake! This is a ton of fun for kids and is an additional cost.
- Read more about 8 Fun Things to do at Pleasant Hill Lake Park!
8. Euclid Beach Park
- Address: 16301 Lakeshore Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44110
- Website
Euclid Beach spans 650 feet and features walking paths, picnic areas, and the Euclid Beach Pier. Additionally, it is home to one of the Cleveland signs for a great photo op! (I’ve got more places to find the Cleveland Script in my list of fun things to do in Cleveland!) I also love that you can see the Cleveland skyline from this beach.
One of the major highlights of this Ohio beach is the Euclid Pier! Euclid Beach was home to the Euclid Beach Amusement Park which closed in 1969. The new pier pays homage to the amusement park in its fun and colorful design. It’s definitely worth a visit to this beach even just to see the unique pier!
9. Lake Logan State Park
- Address: 29704 Lake Logan Rd, Logan, OH 43138
- Website
The beach at Lake Logan State Park is a small Ohio beach, but is great if you’re looking for a place to get in the water near Hocking Hills! We stopped by this beach after hiking at Old Man’s Cave in Hocking Hills State Park.
The public beach at Lake Logan is 527 feet long and swimming is allowed during daylight hours. There is a restroom here and you can also rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats, and pontoon boats at the nearby Lake Logan Marina.
While you’re exploring Ohio’s beaches, check out some of these other posts for more inspiration for exploring Ohio:
- Road Trip Inspiration: 13 Ohio Waterfalls to Visit this Year
- 24 Super Fun Things to do in Ohio with Kids
- Hidden Gems in Ohio that are Worth a Road Trip
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[…] love to take family vacations to Lake Erie, find waterfalls in Ohio and build sandcastles on Ohio beaches! There are plenty of fun things to do with kids in Ohio and many hidden gems in Ohio if you take […]