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I know, I know. When you first hear the word “Ohio,” you immediately think the word “beaches,” or “beach towns” right? No? Well, you should and I’ll tell you why. In my hometown of Cleveland, there are at least 5 beaches within an hour’s drive of my house filled with picnic shelters, basketball and volleyball courts, outdoor recreation, and other beach life activities. And if you’ve never visited a Great Lakes beach on a family trip, you don’t know what you’re missing. But, I can tell you. You are missing the jellyfish and sharks to start with. The waves are more gentle, which is great if you have a little one or a non-swimmer in your family. And, if you’re on a budget, Ohio is one of the best places for an affordable family vacation.
So, let me introduce you to our best-kept secret and your next family road trip: Ohio’s beaches.
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Nickel Plate Beach – Huron Ohio
Nickel Plate Beach is a small beach near Sandusky, home of The Roller Coaster Capital of the World, Cedar Point. It’s smaller than most of the other beaches, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Nickel Plate Beach is tucked into a neighborhood in Huron and can be a little tough to find at first. Nickel Plate Beach features a playground, picnic tables, and beach gear rental. We recently rented a small house near the beach, it was a perfect weekend getaway!
Pros: Nickel Plate Beach has lots of activities for the whole family to enjoy, including ping pong, cornhole, and volleyball nets on the beach. Nickel Plate Beach is also less rocky than many other Lake Erie shores.
Con: No lifeguards on duty.
TJ is a man on a mission
Where to Stay
For Nickle Plate Beach, I highly recommend looking for a house on Air Bnb or VRBO near the beach so you are only a short walk away from the shores of Lake Erie. You can use the map below to find a great one by the area you’d like to be. If you prefer a hotel with services, a wonderful one to try that’s right by the water is the Comfort Inn River’s Edge.
Huntington Beach – Bay Village Ohio
Huntington Beach is located on the West Side of Cleveland. This public beach has a unique set up because it is located on the other side of a literal cliff. You park up top and then take stairs down to the beach area. (There is a boat ramp/handicap accessible entrance to the beach, but it’s drop off only, no parking). Huntington Beach has lifeguards on duty throughout the summer, a picnic pavilion “up top” and concession stands.
Pro: The “Hut” Concession Stand sells Honey Hut Ice Cream, which is made just up the road in Cleveland. Honey Hut ice cream is an absolute staple on hot summer days in Cleveland. You haven’t lived until you have tried the Fresh Banana ice cream.
Con: You have to haul your toddler down a lot of stairs. I consider a trip to Huntington Beach to be leg day.
Con: You have to haul your toddler down a lot of stairs. I consider a trip to Huntington Beach to be leg day.
TJ considers himself an amateur food critic, he rates the sand at Huntington Beach a 4 out of 10.
Where to Stay
There’s a Courtyard Cleveland Westlake and a TownePlace Suites Cleveland Westlake pretty close to Huntington Beach, or you could stay closer to Downtown Cleveland and take in the city!
Edgewater – Cleveland Ohio
Edgewater is located just outside of Downtown Cleveland. Edgewater Beach frequently has special events, including the popular Edgewater Live concert series on Thursday nights during the summer season. Edgewater has lifeguards posted during the summer. It’s a really beautiful beach, with a great view of the Cleveland skyline.
Pro: The beach is dog-friendly in some areas.
Con: Edgewater park has a lot of “red flag” days when swimming or even just putting your feet in the water, is not allowed due to the risk of rip currents or the wave height. If your kids love to swim, I would recommend you check the water conditions before you go.
Edgewater is a great spot for a birthday party! Photo courtesy of Sarah of Sarah Jean Strong
Where to Stay
There is a Days Inn by Wyndham Cleveland Lakewood close to Edgewater if you are traveling on a budget. If money is no object, check out Metropolitan at the 9, Autograph Collection in downtown Cleveland. The 9 is a great place that offers an indoor dog park and there’s even a chance you’ll spot a traveling professional sports player, that’s one of the hotels traveling teams usually stay in when they are in town.
The Cleveland script sign at Edgewater is a popular spot for both 2 and 4 legged families to get a picture! Photo Courtesy of Sarah of Sarah Jean Strong
Headlands Beach State Park – Mentor Ohio
Headlands was my first beach growing up, and I know a lot of Ohioans can say the same. It’s the largest beach in Ohio, with a mile-long beach. It has ample parking and picnic areas. It’s a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the large beach, so be prepared. Headlands has a gorgeous historic lighthouse. It’s not open to the public but you can walk around the grounds. There are also many trails in the park that are the perfect place to get a break from the beach, or from your kids.
Pro: Because Headlands is one of the best beaches to avoid crowds because it is so large, there are many different parking lots. Don’t be afraid to drive around until you find one that isn’t crowded. Good to know: There is a bathroom in front of every other parking area.
Con: This beach is pretty rocky, especially down by the water. Water shoes would be a solid investment.
There’s nothing better than Headlands in the morning and mini-golf in the evening. Photo Courtesy of Erik Drost via creative commons.
Where to Stay
Your best bet to find a hotel nearby will be to look in Painesville Ohio. Use the map below to find one of several bed and breakfasts you can choose from, as well as a Residence Inn by Marriott Cleveland Mentor.
Bonus Beach: Presque Isle State Park- Erie Pennsylvania
I consider Presque Isle a bonus because it’s not in Ohio, it’s right over the border in Pennsylvania. But it’s a really nice beach and a really great area so I’m sneaking it in. The first thing you need to know is that Presque Isle is not actually an island, it’s a peninsula. The second thing you need to know is that it’s huge. There are many great beaches to choose from and they offer different amenities. My family is a fan of beach 11 because it has a ton of playground equipment nearby and changing areas. Beach 7 is wheelchair-friendly. Even though we live less than 15 minutes from Edgewater, we still find ourselves coming to Presque Isle for a weekend getaway.
Pro: Lots of amenities to choose from and a lot of space to spread out, so not a lot of crowds.
Con: Not located in my favorite state, Ohio. Just kidding! Because Presque Isle is so big, you can find yourself driving around in circles if you don’t go in with a game plan.
If you aren’t afraid of heights or stairs, you can get a great view of Presque Isle from the nearby lighthouses. Photo Courtesy of Diane Homza-Dacek
Where to Stay
I’m a big fan of the Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront located near Presque Isle, because it has 2 pools, both an indoor and an outdoor pool. Looking to add a little fun to your weekend? Then check out Splash Lagoon, an indoor waterpark with a hotel attached.
If you’re looking for a unique road trip this year, consider visiting the less crowded beaches of Lake Erie. Ohio and Pennsylvania are a lot of fun to visit and you can take in all of the unique sites that both states have to offer as add-on day trips.
Getting There
If you are coming to the Ohio beaches, your best bet will be to fly into Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Use the field below to book through my favorite discount airfare provider. Pick up a rental car at the airport. Public transportation is unavailable to any of the beaches except Edgewater, which is serviced by Cleveland’s RTA system. If you would like to visit Presque Isle State Park, Erie PA does have an airport, or it’s about 90 miles from Cleveland.
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