Ohio has no access to the ocean, but it is one of the eight states with access to the Great Lakes and it has more than 300 miles of shoreline on Lake Erie. The beaches on Lake Erie are mostly wide and sandy, with easy access to the water for swimming and plenty of opportunity for boating, kayaking, and swimming when the weather allows.
Headlands Beach
Headlands Beach State Park is a mile-long wide sandy public beach located in Lake County, about 27 miles from Cleveland.
The beach is located on the coast of Lake Erie and is considered the largest natural beach in Ohio. The beach is very popular in the summer.
There is a breakwall on the eastern side of the park that is very popular with fishermen, who come looking for smallmouth, rock and largemouth bass, yellow perch, walleye, coho salmon, bluegill, and carp.
At the end of the breakwall, where the Grand River spills into Lake Erie, is the scenic Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light, built in 1925.
The beach is popular with sunbathers, swimmers, beachcombers, birders, and boaters. While there are change booths, restrooms, and concessions, there are no overnight facilities.
A nice picnic area has a shelter with tables and grills that can be rented from the park.
Headlands Beach, 9601 Headlands Rd, Mentor, OH 44060
Geneva State Park
Geneva State Park is a 698-acre park on Ohio's northeastern shoreline of Lake Erie. There is a wide sandy beach on the lake that is very popular with fishermen, boaters, and swimmers. All around the lake are freshwater marshes and estuaries teeming with life, a delight for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers.
There is a marina with a breakwall with a sidewalk on top that offers a spectacular view of Lake Erie. Near the edge of the water are shady picnic areas with tables and grills. The campground offers a range of campsites and amenities. There is a fishing pier where fishermen try for yellow perch, walleye, and coho salmon.
Geneva State Park, 4499 Padanarum Rd, Geneva, OH 44041, Phone: 440-466-8400
Cedar Point Beach
Cedar Point Beach stretches for almost a mile along Lake Erie.
Wide and sandy, the beach is perfect for a game of volleyball, building a fairytale sandcastle, long hikes, soaking up the sun, or cooling off in the clear waters of Lake Erie.
There is a hotel, campground, and marina. There is a restaurant nearby and the guests can rent jet skis and lounge chairs.
Cedar Point Beach, 1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky, OH 44870, Phone: 419-627-2350
Maumee Bay State Park
Maumee Bay State Park is 1,336-acre park in Lucas County, Ohio, with some the finest recreational facilities in the Midwest.
The park protects a unique natural environment formed by the convergence of Lake Erie and surrounding land.
The most popular activities are hiking on the numerous trails, picnicking, fishing, golfing, hunting, boating, swimming, golfing, and visiting the nature center.
The unique golf course is set amongst the rolling meadows, wet woods, and lush marshes full of wildlife. The park has a wonderful sandy swimming beach that can get crowded in the summer.
The Trautman Nature Center has fascinating native plants and animals displays and learning centers indoors as well as a monarch waystation and boardwalk along the marshy area outside.
Besides Lake Erie, there are several small lakes and ponds in the park that are great for kayaking and fishing.
Maumee Bay State Park, 1400 State Park Road, Oregon, OH 43616, Phone: 419-836-7758
Edgewater Beach, Ohio
Just minutes from downtown Cleveland, Edgewater Beach is located between the Memorial Shoreway and Lake Erie.
A part of Cleveland Metroparks, Edgewater Beach in lower Edgewater Park is massive 2,400-foot beach with 1,000 feet of swimming access.
The westernmost end of the beach is dog-friendly. The beach is perfect for a game of beach volleyball or long strolls along the water.
The views of downtown Cleveland are spectacular, especially at sunset. A range of concessions offer snacks and ice creams. The beach provides kayaking access and the fishermen can find perch, walleye, steelhead, and smallmouth bass.
Catawba Island State Park
Catawba Island State Park is a 10-acre recreation area with the access to Lake Erie, located in Port Clinton, Ohio.
Catawba Island is not actually an island but is a part of the Ottawa County peninsula. A fishing pier juts out into the lake, providing fishermen with a great spot for catching yellow perch, smallmouth and white bass, channel catfish, and walleye.
There are two picnic areas with restrooms and a picnic shelter. There are no overnight facilities available. Swimming is permitted during the day but there are no guards, so swim at your own risk and keep an eye on the kids.
The beaches are made of stone and large pebbles so you will need a lounge chair to enjoy the sun. In the winter, if it gets really cold, the beach becomes spot for ice skating and ice fishing.
4049 E Moores Dock Rd, Port Clinton, OH 43452
Conneaut Township Park
Conneaut Township Park has it all: Sandy beach, picnic pavilions, a concession stand, walkways, boardwalks that lead to beaches, playground, basketball and volleyball courts, a soccer field, bocce courts, and the famous Conneaut Lighthouse.
Located in Conneaut on Lake Erie at Lake Road and Grove Street, the park's half-mile long sand beach ranges in width from over 1,000 feet at the east side to about 200 feet at the west end.
About half of Conneaut Township Park consists of sand that has accumulated on the Conneaut Harbor's west breakwater. The park is beautifully landscaped and has a great view of Lake Erie and Conneaut's lively harbor and lighthouse.
Conneaut Township Park, 480 Lake Rd, Conneaut, OH 44030, Phone: 440-599-7071
Euclid Beach Park, Ohio
Euclid Beach Park in Cleveland, Ohio, was once the site of the famous Euclid Beach Amusement Park. Today, Euclid Beach Park features a 650-foot-long beach with several shaded picnic areas, an observation pier, and a picnic pavilion.
The amusement park closed in 1969, but there are still signs of its attractions such as the shuffleboard area, remnants of the fountain, and massive concrete footers of the Flying Turns roller coaster.
The arch that used to mark the entrance to the park on the lake shore was declared a National Historic Landmark. Every summer Euclid Beach Park hosts free outdoor concerts called Euclid Beach Live.
Euclid Beach Park, 4101 Fulton Parkway, Cleveland, OH 44144, Phone: 216-635-3200
South Bass Island State Park
Put-in-Bay is a village on South Bass Island in Lake Erie. This granite island has several tiny beaches on its rocky shoreline, but only two are open to the public.
One of the largest beaches is located at the end of Catawba Ave at South Bass Island State Park. This stone pebble beach has jet ski and boat rentals on site, a playground area for kids, public restrooms, and picnic tables.
There is also a small secluded beach downtown, at the end of Delaware Ave. All beaches are made of large pebbles and provide a pleasant breeze at all times.
South Bass Island State Park, 1523 Catawba Ave., Put-in-Bay, OH, 43456, Phone: 419-285-2112
Indian Lake State Park
The 5,800-acre Indian Lake is located in Indian Lake State Park in Logan County, about 15 miles from Bellefontaine Island. With quaint coves and surrounding wetlands the lake has exceptional interest for boaters, birdwatchers, fishermen, and nature lovers. It offers an opportunity for a variety of water-related recreational opportunities – sailing, boating, fishing, and camping in the summer and skiing in the winter. There are 8 miles of hiking trails and a scenic picnic area with tables, grills, and a shelter. Several sandy swimming beaches are located near the campground and picnic areas. Fishermen can expect to catch bass, saugeye, walleye, crappie, yellow perch, and catfish.
Indian Lake State Park, 12774 State Route 235 North, Lakeview, OH 43331, Phone: 937-843-2717
Huntington Reservation
Huntington Reservation is a 103-acre park located in Bay Village on the shores of Lake Erie. It offers fishing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, and a curious old water tower. Picnic areas above the beach offer striking lake views. Located on Cleveland’s west side, this long and wide sandy beach is great for swimming or for a stroll along the water. The reservation is also home to the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, and BAYarts. Three miles of nature trails run through a range of habitats such as forest, creek, and meadow. The Rocky River Nature Center and Lake Erie Nature and Science Center staff offer a range of educational programs.
Huntington Reservation, 28728 Wolf Picnic Area Dr, Bay Village, OH 44140, Phone: 216-635-3200
Rocky Fork State Park
Rocky Fork State Park is located in Highland County, Ohio, and at its heart lies the 1,992-acre Rocky Fork Lake with 30.9 miles of shoreline. The park has marinas, boat ramps, several swimming beaches, hiking trails, picnic areas, and a nature center. Two important archaeological sites from the Hopewellian period are located within the park. Rocky Fork State Park is a heaven for outdoor recreation, offering unlimited horsepower boating, excellent skiing, and fishing for bass, muskellunge, and walleye. A scenic gorge, natural wetlands, and dolomite caves add more attractions to this popular area.
9800 N Shore Dr, Hillsboro, OH 45133
Salt Fork State Park
Salt Fork State Park is a popular recreation area about 6 miles from Lore City in Guernsey County, Ohio. With 17,229 acres of land and 2,952 acres of water, it is Ohio’s largest state park. Within the park is the historic Kennedy Stone House. The park has a 2,500-foot swimming beach, an 18-hole golf course, seven boat-launching ramps, two marinas, and fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, walleye, and muskellunge. It also offers picnicking facilities, hiking trails, trails for snowmobiling and horseback riding, miniature golf, an archery range, and a nature center. Salt Fork State Park encompasses a diverse landscape that includes forested hills, rolling meadows, and misty valleys
14755 Cadiz Rd, Lore City, OH 43755, Phone: 740-432-1508
Main Street Beach, Ohio
Main Street Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Vermillion area of Ohio. Located at the north end of Main Street, this beach has a wooden observation platform located next to the Vermillion Lighthouse. Here you can gaze out over the ocean and enjoy the sea breezes. The beach is also great for swimming, castle-building and walking and there is a canoe/kayak launch on site. The beach also benefits from a concession stall and benches, and will have a brand new comfort station for the 2023 season. Bird watching and fishing are other popular activities on Main Street Beach.
Main Street Beach, Main Street, Vermillion, OH 44089
Kelleys Island State Park
Kelleys Island is located about 12 miles from Cedar Point on the Ohio Mainland. It is widely known as Lake Erie’s Emerald Isle and is very popular with nature lovers.
You will find Kelleys Island State Park on the north shore of the island, where it covers around 677 lush acres which are perfect for a relaxing island vacation.
There is a sandy beach which is ideal for children as it offers a gentle slope into the water.
Other beach amenities include a small boat launch, toilets and a fishing pier.
It is located very close to the island campground which offers a picnic shelter, playground and hiking trails.
Kelleys Island State Park, 920 Division Street, Kelley’s Island, OH
Nickle Plate Beach, Huron
A wide expanse of sandy beach welcomes visitors to Nickle Plate Beach, one of the most popular recreational beaches in the Shores and Islands region of Ohio. The beach has a picnic shelter with tables and grills and a variety of games (corn hole, ping-pong, etc) suitable for all ages. You can rent a selection of inflatables, canoes, kayaks and other beach gear from the on-site Paddle Shack, during the summer season. This is a great beach for swimming (at your own risk – no lifeguards), soaking up the sun and watching amazing sunsets against the backdrop of the Huron Lighthouse.
Nickle Plate Beach, corner Tiffin Ave and Nickel Plate Dr, Huron, OH 44839
East Harbor State Park, Marblehead
Open to the public from dawn to dusk, the East Harbor State Park beach is popular with both locals and visitors. The beach benefits from mature trees which provide some shade for those who prefer to stay out of the sun. Amenities include changing areas, rest rooms, vending machines, picnic tables and grills and a children’s playground. No flotation devices are allowed on this beach. The beach is located close to walking trails and a bike path and there is a nearby campsite if you wish to spend a few nights under the stars. There is a kayak launch and fishing area.
East Harbor State Park, 1169 N. Buck Rd, Marblehead, OH 43440
