Since the weather is warming up, we figured you might need some vacation inspiration, and who doesn’t love a good beach trip? Ohio may not be on a coast, but don’t let that fool you — we have plenty of breezy beach options for when the water is calling your name. Yes, they may be on a lake or riverfront, but they check most of our boxes when we’re in need of a little sand between our toes, sunshine on our skin and a cool, refreshing dip in the water.

​​Alum Creek State Park 3615 S Old State Road, Delaware, Ohio Distance: 2 hours Bring the whole family (including the dog) to this beautiful lake where you can do everything from swimming to mountain biking. Camp along the waterfront of Alum Creek Lake, play the 18-hole disc golf course and take your pup to the dog park and swim area. The giant lake is ripe for tons of water activities like jet skiing, boating and kayaking. And the Ohio Department of Natural Resources says the “3,000-foot beach is (the) largest inland beach in Ohio’s state park system.” Photo: Facebook.com/AlumCreekStatePark
Caesar Creek State Park 8570 OH-73, Waynesville, Ohio Distance: 1 hour Caesar Creek State Park offers a 1,300-foot beach that is open to the public from dusk to dawn. After a day of hiking, mountain biking, fishing or boating, hang out on the beach or take a dip in the lake. Photo: Jason Hale Photo: Jason Hale
​​Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park 301 Huntington Beach Drive, Fairport Harbor, Ohio Distance: 4 hours Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park has breathtaking views a Lake Erie all year long, which are only interrupted by a white-and-red lighthouse. The 21 acres of shoreline is filled with sand for sunning and relaxation. When the weather is warm, there are boats available for rentals plus spaces for picnicking, sitting around a campfire and hiking. Photo: Facebook.com/fairportharborlakefrontpark
Geneva State Park Beach 4499 Padanarum Road, Geneva, Ohio Distance: 4 hours 15 mins Geneva State Park is home to a child-friendly beach that sits on the shore of Lake Erie in Northeast Ohio. After spending some time on the shore, head over to Geneva-on-the-Lake for some time in the quaint, old-school beach town. Photo: Facebook.com/OldFirehouseWinery
East Fork State Park 3294 Elklick Road, Bethel One of Ohio’s largest state parks, East Fork in Clermont County is home to a beach on East Fork Lake. Additional camping amenities and trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking, as well as access to fishing and boating, making East Fork a must-see weekend getaway this summer. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
​​Lake Logan State Park 30443 Lake Logan Road, Logan, Ohio Distance: 2 hours Located inside the popular Hocking Hills area of Ohio, the 400-acer Lake Logan offers tons of space for boating, fishing and swimming. Plus, the scenic areas along the shore are perfect for picnicking and hiking. Stay the night at one of the many beautiful Hocking Valley cabins available for rent. Photo: Facebook.com/hockinghillsstatepark
Indiana Dunes National Park 1600 N. 25 East, Chesterton, Indiana Distance: 4 hours Indiana Dunes is the state’s only National Park. With a 15-mile coastline, 70 miles of trails and several sand dunes on the shore, the park is a beautiful hidden gem in northern Indiana. Photo via Facebook.com/INDUNES Photo: Facebook.com/INDUNES
Nolin Lake State Park 2998 Brier Creek Road, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky Distance: 3 hours The 333-acre Nolin Lake State Park is on the northern perimeter of Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, but the lake itself covers nearly 5,800 acres. Nolin Lake is home to unique wildlife, beautiful scenery and plenty of areas to explore. Caves along the water and plenty of jumping rocks make the destination a no-brainer for the adventurous, and the beach at the state park is a great place to relax after a long day on the water. Photo: Facebook.com/NolinLakeStatePark
Jump Rock Swimming Hole Robbie Ridge Road, Stanton, Kentucky Distance: 2 hours Jump Rock is a famous spot to those familiar with Red River Gorge. Drive into the RRG Geological Area and soon after passing through Nada Tunnel, park at the Sheltowee Trace Trail parking lot. Hike the short trail and cross the suspension bridge over Red River to gain access to the small sand beach and the best swimming hole in the gorge. Photo: Facebook.com/OfficialRedRiverGorge
Hueston Woods College Corner, Ohio Distance: 1 hour Hueston Woods Beach is free to the public and open dawn to dusk. Sit on the beach and watch boats pass by, rent a kayak, camp or stay in one of the many cabins or the lodge within the state park. Photo: Facebook.com/HuestonWoodsStatePark
​​Stonelick State Park 2895 Lake Drive, Pleasant Plain, Ohio Distance: 1 hour Stonelick State Park, located just about an hour east of Cincinnati, features 1,058 acres of nature to explore. The beaches along Stonelick Lake are the perfect place to do everything from relaxing and swimming to boating and fishing. Camp on the grounds at one of the park’s more than 100 campsites and wake up early for a morning hike on one of the easy or moderate trails. Photo: Facebook.com/StoneLickStateParkFriendsGroup
Old Field Beach at Indian Lake State Park OH-235, Lakeview, Ohio Distance: 2 hours Within Indian Lake State Park, Old Field Beach provides two beaches for swimmers on its 5,100-acre lake. Stay at one of the many cottage and cabin rentals or enjoy the open at one of the nearly 20 campsites. There are tons of activities at Indian lake, from fishing to golfing to hiking. Photo: Indian Lake State Park Facebook
​​Cowan Lake State Park 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio Distance: 1 hour Spend the night at a cozy cabin or camp under the stars and enjoy the beauty of Lake Cowan at Cowan Lake State Park. Just an hour outside of the city, this park is full of nature and activities like fishing and hunting plus the lake features a massive shoreline perfect for swimming, boating and relaxation. Photo: Facebook.com/CowanLakeStatePark
​​Maumee Bay State Park 1400 State Park Road, Oregon, Ohio Distance: 3 hours Where Lake Erie meets land sits the Maumee Bay State Park. Over 300 species of birds can be spotted throughout this unique wildlife area within the marshes, wetlands and meadows. Stay at the resort lodge, take a golf trip or spend time on the water boating, fishing and swimming. Photo: Facebook.com/MaumeeBayStatePark
​​Natural Springs Resort 500 S. Washington St., New Paris, Ohio Distance: 1 hour 30 minutes Natural Springs Resort is made up of 46 acres a beautiful Southwestern Ohio nature and features more than 200 camping spots, including some along the Silver Lake waterfront. There are also RV hookups and 15 cabins available for rent within the resort. Relax on the sandy beach or rent a boat for fishing. There’s tons for kids to do including a floating obstacle course and swimming pool with a splashpad. Photo: Facebook.com/naturalspringsresort
Brookville Lake 14108 State Route 101, Brookville, Indiana A lakefront park only an hour from downtown Cincinnati that offers camping, hiking and boating in addition to a beach that you can kick back and relax on. Photo via Facebook.com/BrookvilleLakecom Photo: Facebook.com/BrookvilleLakecom
​​La Grange Quarry at Falling Rock Park 2201 Fendley Mill Road, La Grange, Kentucky Distance: 1 hour 30 minutes This spot just outside of Louisville is the perfect place to relax, float and dive. An oasis fed by spring water, this place has so much to offer including paddle boarding and kayaking, plus some land-based activities like sand volleyball. La Grange Quarry is 18+ and alcohol free. It is only open on select days so check their website for openings and tickets. Photo: Facebook.com/FRPLaGrangeQuarry
Burr Oak Lake Beach 10220 Burr Oak Lodge Road, Glouster, Ohio Distance: 3 hours Burr Oak Lake is a small man-made lake in Glouster, Ohio. The 500-foot beach lies within Burr Oak State Park and is a great place to take in the natural landscape of Ohio. Sit back and watch the diverse bird population or start up a game of beach volleyball right by the water. Photo: ohiodnr.gov
Nickel Plate Beach 1 Nickel Plate Drive, Huron, Ohio Distance: 3 hours 45 minutes Nested on Lake Erie, Nickel Plate Beach is on the shore right between Toledo and Cleveland. Cookout on one of the available grills and play beach volleyball at the courts, or rent paddle boards and kayaks and hit the water. Photo: Facebook.com/NickelPlateBeach
Headlands Beach State Park 9601 Headlands Road, Mentor, Ohio Distance: 4 hours Headlands Beach State Park is home to the largest natural beach in the state of Ohio and neighbors the Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve. Photo: ohiodnr.gov
Kelleys Island State Park Beach 920 N. Division St., Kelleys Island, Ohio Distance: 4 hours 15 minutes Kelleys Island State Park is located in Lake Erie’s Emerald Isle. The small but beautiful 150-foot beach is great for families and those looking for some relaxing time with Mother Nature. Photo: kelleysisland.com/swimgatsandybeach
East Harbor State Park Beach 1169 N. Buck Road, Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio Distance: 3 hours 30 minutes East Harbor State Park on Lake Erie is home to a 1,500-foot beach. Spend the day hiking in the State Park or check out the Marblehead Lighthouse before relaxing on the sand. Photo: Facebook.com/EastHarborStatePark
Salt Fork State Park Beach 14755 Cadiz Road, Lore City, Ohio Distance: 3 hours Salt Fork is the largest state park in Ohio. Fire up one of the provided grills to cookout on the beach, go fishing or hiking within the park, or spend a day on the water at this 2,550 inland beach. Photo: Facebook.com/SaltForkStatePark
Cedar Point Beach 1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio Distance: 4 hours Starting July 9, Cedar Point’s world famous amusement park will open its doors for Season, Gold and Platinum pass holders. The park will fully open to the public on July 11. Cedar Point isn’t only home to the world-class amusement park however. Visitors at Cedar Point Amusement Park and Soak City Waterpark also have access to Cedar Point Beach, a one-mile beach along Lake Erie. During the summer, stick around the beach for parties and firework shows, as well as late park hours. Photo via Facebook.com/CedarPoint Photo: Facebook.com/CedarPoint
Bass Islands Distance: 3 hours and 45 minutes + ferry ride to the island Just north of Sandusky, Ohio, you’ll find North Bass Island, Middle Bass Island and South Bass Island, surrounded by the beautiful water of Lake Erie. The Bass Islands are small in size, but there’s more than enough to do with state parks, boating, water sports, eating and shopping. North Bass Island, however, is only open for camping. Put-In-Bay, located on South Bass Island, is considered “The Key West of the North” and has a great nightlife scene and many places with live entertainment. To get there, you’ll have to take a ferry, boat or plane. Photo: Facebook.com/PutInBayOhio

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