Ohio's most charming beach towns
Few might consider Ohio when discussing the best beaches in the United States. Instead, they associate salty waters, tropical weather, and white sandy shores to coastal states, countries and the Caribbean. However, it might be surprising to find out that nice sunny beach days (and more!) are easily accessible in Ohio.听
The Buckeye State, Ohio, is truly the heart of it all as many say and in this article, we will take a closer dive into its clear Lake Erie and man-made waters that account for the best beaches in the region. These towns are perfect for a quick weekend getaway, or even a permanent relocation if tired and ready to leave the busy city and crowded highways!
Sheffield Lake聽
The quiet and relaxing small city of Sheffield Lake is a small shoreline that stretches along Lake Erie鈥檚 edge with some of the most charming nature views. Home to an amusement park on the beach, Lakewood Beach Park, and OVI Civil War Museum. The town is a calm destination for many favorite watersports and wholesome family trips. Sheffield鈥檚 Beach offers a mix of rocky and sandy shores with a paved jogging path and plenty of outdoor exercise equipment for a full beach day experience.听
Bay Village
Bay Village is a gorgeous beach town, home to famous Huntington Beach which attracts swimmers from surrounding towns all summer long. Bay Village is a suburb of Cleveland with a population of roughly 16,000 in the southern part of western Cuyahoga, known to be home to the famous poet, Edgar Alla Poe. Although it is named Bay Village, the small suburb grew to become its own city in 1950 after reaching a population of roughly 7000 residents.听
Bay Village beach is not a typical sandy beach and instead is more akin to a Canadian-style beach by being rocky with a side of greenery. Perfect for a picnic or relaxed water-watching sessions, Bay Village鈥檚 Huntington Beach also offers waterfront homes to rent under the shaded canopy of the surrounding cottonwood trees.
惭别苍迟辞谤-辞苍-迟丑别-尝补办别听
Located on the northeast shores of Ohio, Mentor-on-the-Lake is a small town with several parks and many welcoming local businesses. It is part of Lake County and home to over 7500 residents despite its land size of 1.6 sq. mi. Mentor-on-the-Lake features two main beach parks, The Green Overlook Beach Park and Mentor Beach Park. Additionally, it neighbors two other beautiful parks that are part of Willoughby, Ohio鈥揙sborn and Sunset. Willoughby is only a few miles from Mentor-on-the-Lake.
Along the 283 highway lies many beaches. From Chagrin Harbor to the famous one-mile Headland Beach, this area is a local go-to destination every summer with Headlands Beach State Park of Mentor, Ohio, being the largest beach in the region.听
Put-in-Bay
Put-in-Bay is among the most unique, charming, beach towns on this list. An island located 35 miles east of Toledo, Ohio, it is by far the most popular beach in the area, featuring everything from fine entertainment and amusement parks, to nature preserves and wildflower hiking trails. Known for its delicious wine, a trip to Put-in-Bay promises to be romantic, explorative, or a mind-calming break on a semi-secluded island for a few days or more!
奥补测苍别蝉惫颈濒濒别听
Waynesville is a special beachfront town and boasts a classy reputation, being known as the capital of antiques in the Midwest. Waynesville is a popular shopping destination for crafty individuals and draws thousands of people from across the states thanks to its thrifty culture! Waynesville is also a main attraction for its beautiful Caesar Creek Beach, attracting visitors to its clear waters which are unlike any other beach on this list.听
The Waynesville Caesar Creek beach is part of a man-made park created by the U.S. Army Corps to aid flood control in 1978. Despite being an old, artificial lake, Caesar Creek Marina was ranked Platinum Level in cleanliness in 2019. This perfect beach for picnics, romantic cotton candy sunsets in greenery under tree shades, and activities such as kayaking and boating are sure to dazzle all who visit.听
惭补谤产濒别丑别补诲听
Home to the iconic lighthouse, Marblehead is a lakeside town with the oldest operating lighthouse on the American side of the great lakes, a beautiful landmark, distinguishing itself from other rocky shores on this list. A green landscape surrounds the lighthouse with trees that nearly touch the lake鈥檚 waters. The town has many unique, experience-based activities, including orchid tours, wine tasting, a ferry line to聽Kelly鈥檚 Island, camping parks, and an art gallery with pieces inspired by the city鈥檚 beauty.听
颁辞苍苍别补耻迟听
Conneaut in the language of the Seneca people translates to 鈥淩iver of many Fish鈥�, hence this part of聽Lake Erie is the ultimate go-to location for fishing trips for neighboring communities. Situated in Northeast Ohio, Conneaut鈥檚 waters are more of a family-friendly park than a beach, appealing to those who admire a secluded, peaceful area for swimming and enjoying quality time. One of the finest beaches in Ohio鈥檚 wine district, enjoy a romantic wine-tasting experience near the water, practice some favorite sports under the sun, or tag along on the weekly Conneaut Lighthouse cruise.听
厂补苍诲耻蝉办测听
Finally, Sandusky is yet another underrated charming beach town in Ohio on the shoreline of Sandusky Bay. It features a range of family-friendly destinations such as the Cedar Point amusement parks, the Merry-Go-Round Museum, and a 海角社区-class waterpark, giving the town its nickname of 鈥淥hio鈥檚 waterpark capital.鈥� A very popular summertime spot, Sandusky is the largest beach town on this list and is home to many beaches, a few islands, and the beautiful Castaway Bay complete with gorgeous waterfront houses.听
Conclusion
Ultimately, Ohio is home to many beautiful, colorful beach towns to visit this summer. The vibe in each city is different: some sandy, some pebbly, while others may remind of coastal states on the Pacific Ocean! Visit the charming beach towns of Ohio, and explore what this underrated state has to offer. Additionally, if the beach towns of Ohio are not in the vicinity, find a list of beach towns for almost every state on our website or check out the all-inclusive articles of聽 America's 12 most charming beach towns.听
