Even though Ohio is landlocked, plenty of sandy shores are perfect for swimming, boating, and relaxing. If you’ve never been to the beach in The Buckeye State, now is the perfect time to check them out. There are loads of great Ohio beaches so you will likely be spoilt for choice.
From the sandy shores of Lake Erie to the rocky coves of Lake Superior, you’re in for a treat. Here are some of the best beaches in the state by region. If you want to be in the center of things and soak up sun rays, check out these beautiful beaches in Ohio.
Best Columbus, Ohio Beaches
Everybody loves the beach, but it can be hard to get out of town for some days of sun and sand. Luckily, there are plenty of beaches in Ohio, and they’re close enough to Columbus that you don’t have to spend too much time on the road.
Lake Hudson Beach
One of the nicest Columbus, Ohio beaches is Lake Hudson beach. This location has a beautiful sandy shoreline that is ideal for everyone.
Apart from the swimming amenities available, you can enjoy natural shades created by the many trees around the area. Additionally, grass fields abound adjacent to the lake. You can enjoy various beach games with your loved ones.
Lake Hudson Beach is one of the best beaches in Ohio for a day of family fun. You have access to facilities like playgrounds and waterslides, making it perfect for you and the kids. There are even covered picnic tables if you plan to have lunch with your family.
You can swim at Lake Hudson Beach, but we advise you to verify with the most recent information from the local authorities whether the beach is safe to swim. This beach is excellent throughout the year but perfect in the summer.
Deer Creek State Park Beach
Deer Creek State Park Beach is one of the most beautiful Ohio beaches. Many consider this expansive sandy beach the perfect spot to relax and unwind.
Accessing the beach is convenient since there are many parking spots nearby. You can quickly get to the state park from Columbus’s central business district within 40 minutes.
Deer Creek State Park has multiple picnic tables for you and your loved ones or significant other to have a pleasant lunchtime. When you’re not swimming or strolling in the sand, you can enjoy the shade created by an abundance of trees. This fantastic feature makes it one of the most ideal beaches in Ohio for the summer months.
Old Field Beach
Old Field Beach is one of the best beaches near Columbus and is among the most popular beaches in Ohio. During the summer, this famous Indian Lake beach can get quite busy, so ensure you get there early if you want to find the best spot.
Old Field Beach is a beautiful sandy beach with facilities for a fantastic day of swimming and soaking up the sun. You can also come along with the kids who can have fun at the beach’s playground. There are also trees nearby the shore that offers refreshing shade on a sweltering summer day.
Another significant part about visiting one of the best Ohio beaches is the occasional fun events you will love. One of such events is the annual fireworks display. However, verify that there is an event before coming if you don’t want to miss out.
Alum Creek State Park Beach
Alum Creek State Park Beach is a top sandy beach in Columbus, known for its expansive sandy shores. The beach is very close to the Alum Creek Reservoir and has a variety of amenities for a fun day.
You can have a splash, take a walk along the long, sandy coastline, or relax in the sizable grassy area in the state park. The beach also has showers and a summerhouse with picnic tables for those who want to enjoy a meal.
Alum Creek State Park Beach is one of the most extensive inland Ohio beaches. It’s also a perfect spot for fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts. While you can swim at Alum Creek State Park Beach, you should always verify recent safety advice from local authorities.
Prairie Oaks Dog Beach
One of the most fantastic Ohio beaches for dogs is Prairie Oaks. Several things make this location ideal for your dog, including a large running area and a dock from which your dog can leap into the water for a swim.
Additionally, this dog beach has chairs where you can relax and unwind. There are also some benches in the shaded area for relaxing while your dog has fun splashing around.
If you’re not watching your dog, you can go on a hike using any of the numerous trails in the park adjacent to the beach. You can always take your furry buddy hiking with you too.
However, people are not allowed to swim on this beach. But we still believe it’s a worthy mention among the best beaches in Ohio.
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Best Cleveland, Ohio Beaches
Cleveland is one of the cities and things that Ohio is known for, but there are still plenty of hidden gems to explore. The Cleveland area has some of the best beaches in the Midwest. If you want to relax on the sand with a beautiful view, these are the best Ohio beaches in Cleveland.
Headlands Beach State Park
One of the most famous beaches in Cleveland is the 35-acre stretch of natural sandy coastline called Headlands Beach. The state park beach is one of the longest Ohio beaches lying on Lake Erie. It has various amenities for beach fun and different types of water sports.
Of course, you can swim and tan on this beach. But when you’re not doing either, you can go hiking. Both the Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve and the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse are popular spots to explore. The kids can also enjoy kite flying on the spacious beach.
Additionally, you will love the entertaining events held at Headlands beach every year. For instance, the Headlands Beachfest has many fun, family-friendly activities, including a sandcastle competition for skilled sand sculptors and families. This and many other facilities make Headlands beach one of the best Ohio beaches for everyone.
Mentor Lagoons
Mentor Lagoons is a quiet and peaceful beach on Lake Erie, about 25 minutes from Cleveland. It has several running, hiking, and dog-walking trails around the shore and is connected to Headlands Beach.
There aren’t many natural shades, but you can bring your beach chair, towel, umbrella, and any other items you need. You can also bring your pet along. So, while you’re not swimming, you can play fetch with your pet.
Mentor Lagoons has rentals for every kind of water sport, including kayaking. Additionally, it’s one of the loveliest beaches in Ohio for couples. You can rest and enjoy its intimate setting or the view from an excellent spot underneath the nearby bridge.
Fairport Harbor Beach
Another of the best Cleveland, Ohio beaches is one on Fairport Harbor Lakefront. You can find it on the side facing the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse.
Fairport Harbor Beach is a small but lovely spot with soft sand and fun activities. This beach is perfect for families because it has a playground, soft sand for the kids, a concession stand, and beach rentals for kayaking and paddleboarding.
One of the facilities that put Fairport Harbor among the safest beaches in Ohio for families is the lifeguards. You can use the boat ramps close to the beach to launch a jet ski into the water. But be careful not to wander too far off. And make sure the lifeguards are on duty before any water activity.
Edgewater Beach
Edgewater Beach is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Ohio. In addition to being the closest beach to Cleveland, it provides a wide range of amenities for you.
Edgewater Beach provides public restrooms, a sizable refreshment counter, kayak rentals, and beach volleyball nets. Two sections are accessible to all. The area along the sand is dog-friendly, has no lifeguards, and permits boats to approach the coast.
Additionally, the beach park organizes events like Edgewater Live every Thursday. You can enjoy a variety of live music and classic Ohio food at this event.
Whether you bring your friends, family, or significant other, you will have a good time at one of the best Cleveland, Ohio beaches.
Huntington Beach
We can’t leave Huntington Beach out of a list of lovely Ohio beaches. The stunning views, lovely shoreline, and soothing atmosphere are only a few things you’ll love about this beach.
You can go swimming, paddleboarding, or kayaking on this beach. Suppose you’re in the mood for something different. In that case, you can also go hiking along numerous trails near the Huntington Reservation area.
Huntington beach has a beautiful picnic area located on an elevated part of the beach area. From the picnic area, you can take in breathtaking views of Lake Erie. To top it all, Huntington beach is known to be one of the cleanest beaches in Ohio.
Best Cincinnati, Ohio Beaches
While there aren’t too many beaches in Cincinnati, you can find some of the best beaches in Ohio within driving distance. These beaches are perfect for couples, families, and even company outings.
East Fork State Park
East Fork State Park is one of the beaches closest to Ohio. If you’re in Cincinnati, it’ll take only 34 minutes by car to get to this location.
While East Fork doesn’t have pristine sands, many people consider it the best swimming beach. The calm waters and sandy shoreline make it excellent for swimming and relaxing. You can also have a relaxing afternoon lunch with your loved ones at the nearby picnic area.
You can also stroll along the 1,200-foot stretch if you’re in the mood to walk. The terrain of East Fork includes hills covered in dry woods, rocky cascades, densely vegetated floodplains, and swamp forests. This landscape makes it one of the best beaches close to Ohio for various plant and animal species.
Nolin Lake State Park
Nolin State Park is a lovely park in Kentucky, USA. But it has one of the best beaches close to Ohio and is only about three hours away from Cincinnati.
At Nolin Lake, you have access to a wide variety of activities. You can swim at the lakefront or enjoy fishing on the lake. While not swimming or resting, you can also enjoy any of the many campsites in this location.
Furthermore, the Mammoth Cave National Park is just around the lake. You can experience beautiful nature at one of the loveliest beaches closest to Ohio.
Caesar Creek State Park
There are numerous beautiful beaches in Ohio. But Caesar Creek has one of the best sights in the state, and it’s only about 46 minutes away from Cincinnati.
You can swim in the crystal clear waters at the state park if you’d like. But even if you don’t want some splashy fun, there are many other things to enjoy in this location. Take a stroll around the area and enjoy captivating woods, meadows, and ravines.
Caesar Creek is also among the top beaches in Ohio for fishing enthusiasts. You can take a boat ride or water skiing even if you’re not fishing. There are also biking and hiking trails if you prefer to stay on land.
Brookville Lake
Brookville Lake, Indiana, is one of the most amazing beaches close to Ohio. It’s within driving distance of Cincinnati, and it is worth the trip.
You can swim and chill at this location. The lake also provides amenities for paddleboarding, water skiing, and boating. However, fishers and anglers will love a day at this location more than anyone else.
If sport fishing is your thing, you’re in luck. You have the opportunity to catch bluegill, catfish, crappie, smallmouth bass, striped bass, and walleye at Brookville lake. You may also bring the kids for a day of boating and fishing at one of the best beaches closest to Ohio.
Other Famous Beaches In Ohio
Geneva State Park Beach – Ashtabula County
Many travelers and vacationers love Geneva State Park beach. It is among the top Ohio beaches with everything you can look for. It’s family and pet-friendly, has a fantastic tourist area, and provides picnic shelters for everyone.
You can also enjoy a 600-foot natural swimming area and several freshwater marsh regions.
There are also many acres of gorgeous wooded areas in the park and six miles of multipurpose paths utilized by hunters, hikers, and cross-country skiers. We’re sure you’ll also have fun at one of Ohio’s most famous sandy beaches.
Kelleys Island State Park Beach – Kelleys Island
While there are more extensive Ohio beaches, Kelleys Island has one of the best and busiest in the state. You can enjoy one of the most stunning shorelines with only 100 feet of sand.
One thing that makes Kelleys Island beach outstanding is its distinctive limestone environment and wildlife preserves. You can tour the area if you’re tired of water activities like swimming and kayaking. You can also collect beach glass on this Lake Erie coastline or spend a whole day of fun with the family.
Cedar Point Beach – Erie County
Cedar Point Beach is a hidden gem on the Lake Erie playground that is less famous than the park’s exhilarating, top-notch roller coasters. Although it does not receive as much attention as the coasters, the beach was one of Cedar Point’s first attractions.
Anyway, this beach is one of the top family beaches in Ohio. You can have fun playing beach volleyball, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply taking in Lake Erie’s breeze.
Nighttime beach activities, including parties, music, and fireworks, are expected during the summer at the beach. But you don’t have to wait until summer. You’ll love every day at Cedar Point. This is one of the famous landmarks in Ohio.
Visiting The Best Beaches In Ohio
If you’ve never been to Ohio beaches, The Buckeye State is home to some of the most relaxing beaches in the country, and you can enjoy them all year round.
While Ohio lacks ocean access, it is one of the states with access to the Great Lakes and boasts over 300 miles of Lake Erie beachfront. Whether you’re looking to sunbathe, engage in some serious surfing, or enjoy a lovely day in the sun, you’ll love the best beaches in Ohio.
