These 20 Ohio Beach Towns Are Perfect for a Summer Getaway

By CityBeat Staff on Fri, Aug 2, 2019 at 1:45 pm

Yes, Ohio has beach towns. They may not tout the perfect white sands of warmer climates, but the North Coast is full of places right on a body of water of some sort just waiting to be explored. Check out the places on this list any weekend through the rest of the summer. Slideshow via Cleveland Scene

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Geneva-on-the-Lake

Ashtabula County
Established in 1869 as a public picnic grounds, Geneva-on-the-Lake has been a recreational destination for generations of Ohians. Today you can enjoy fishing, boating and swimming at the nearby Geneva State Park, shoot a round at one of the in-town golf courses and explore a selection of arcades, restaurants, nightclubs and wineries. If traveling with kids, be sure to visit Adventure Zone, a family fun center featuring a zipline, go karts, bumper boats, mini-golf, batting cages and more.
Photo via Facebook.com/OldFirehouseWinery

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Mentor-on-the-Lake

Lake County
Perched off the shores of Lake Erie, Mentor-on-the-Lake contains four parks within its small lakeside community, two of which sit directly overlooking the lake. It is only a short drive from Headlands Beach State Park, the longest natural beach in Ohio.
Photo via cohen_alex/Instagram

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Russells Point

Logan County
This Northwest Ohio waterfront town is situated on Indian Lake. It offers a marina, camping resort, yacht club, a roller rink and access to the Indian Lake State Park beaches.
Photo via frybuilds/Instagram

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Oregon

Lucas County
Just east of Toledo, this beach town claims one mile of shoreline on Lake Erie. Visitors can swim on the sandy beaches of Maumee Bay State Park, bike along the “Oregon Trail” or relax at one of three regional parks.
Photo via sunkissedmags/Instagram

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Put-in-Bay

Ottawa County
Less than a five-hour drive from Cincinnati, Put-in-Bay offers an island getaway experience. You’ll have to take a ferry to reach the island, but once you're there, the recreational opportunities are boundless — explore a cave, go parasailing or jet skiing and tour the island by helicopter or train. While Put-in-Bay offers an extensive list of attractions, one of the most popular has to be Perry’s International Peace Memorial, an observation deck where you can see the Detroit, Toledo and Cleveland skylines from an observation deck.
Photo via ryanrockeverywear/Instagram

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Sandusky

Erie County
Sitting on Sandusky Bay, this large beach town occupies 26 miles of Lake Erie’s shoreline. After exploring the amusement park, visitors can relax on the mile-long Cedar Point Beach, set sail from the marina or hang out at one of the many parks and piers scattered across the city.
Photo via lonigrophotography/Instagram

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Sheffield Lake

Lorain County
Sheffield Lake is a small beach town off the shores of Lake Erie in Northeast Ohio. This lakeside city offers access to Erie through a public boat ramp, a public swimming beach and 10 excellent parks.
Photo via erinthornerealtor/Instagram

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St. Marys

Auglaize County
Located in Western Ohio, St. Marys is an unlikely beach town. Grand Lake St. Marys alongside the town was once a man-made reservoir designed to supply water for the Miami and Erie Canal, but it has since become an Ohio State Park and recreational area. The park offers a grand total of four public swimming beaches, along with five public launch ramps. In town, you can find a mini-golf course, family aquatic center, bowling alley and a variety of antique and specialty shops.
Photo via Nyttend/WikimediaCommons

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Vermillion

Erie and Lorain Counties
Bordering both Lake Erie and the scenic Vermillion River, Vermillion is a quintessential beach town. The historic downtown features a plethora of waterfront restaurants, marinas and old-timey storefronts, giving the town a vintage feel. A sidewalk connects downtown to Main Street Beach, where you can see the historic Vermillion Lighthouse and watch the sunset from the beach’s observation platform.
Photo via terithelibrarian /Instagram

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Waynesville

Warren County
This small town in Southwest Ohio lays claim to Caesar Creek State Park, including its 1,300-foot public beach and fully stocked marina. A walk around town will charm you with dozens of independently owned and operated antique stores, home-style restaurants and specialty shops.
Photo via ThomasDwyer/FlickrCreativeCommons

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Port Clinton

Ottawa County
Commonly referred to as the “Walleye Capital of the World,” Port Clinton upholds its namesake with several marinas and fishing charters dispersed throughout the town. With plenty of quaint restaurants and shops in the downtown area, along with a lighthouse, five unique parks, a nature preserve and a sandy beach, this good ol’ fishing town has something to offer everyone who visits.
Photo via jason.florez.photography/Instagram

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Huron

Erie County
Situated on the south shore of Lake Erie between Cleveland and Toledo, Huron is the ideal place for a weekend getaway on the water. The beach town boasts five parks with scenic views of Lake Erie, including two with public beach access. Additional attractions include the Huron Lighthouse (maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard), a mile long fishing pier and an amphitheater hosting weekly events that overlook the municipal marina.
Photo via heavyebby/Instagram

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Fairport Harbor

Lake County
Off the shores of Lake Erie, this charming harbor town boasts one of the most beautiful public beaches in the state. Visit the historic Marine Museum and Lighthouse, grab lunch at one of the many seaside restaurants and explore the quaint shops before heading out on the water. With three boating ramps, a fishing pier, several marinas, plenty of public swimming area and canoe/kayak access, Fairport Harbour offers endless opportunities for recreation.
Photo via fotomatt82/Instagram

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Craig Beach Village

Mahoning County
Craig Beach Village sits on the shore of Lake Milton in between Youngstown and Akron. It is home to the sandy Lake Milton Beach, and features a boat club, boat ramp and two golf courses. Moreover, it is only a five-minute drive from Lake Milton State Park, where visitors can spend a weekend boating, fishing, hunting, hiking and swimming.
Photo via dpatt330/Instagram

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Marblehead

Ottawa County
Marblehead gets its name from early settlers, who mistook the limestone bordering the shore for marble. Sitting at the tip of the Marblehead Peninsula, this seaside town offers two miles of sandy beach. Visitors can enjoy boating, swimming, picnicking and camping at East Harbor State Park, go on a tour of the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, stop by the historic Keeper’s House and museum or even catch a ferry to the Lake Erie Islands.
Photo via mara.engstrom/Instagram

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Bay Village

Cuyahoga County
This beach town spans five miles along Lake Erie's wooded southern shore. Bay Village is famous for the Huntington Beach and Reservation, a 103-acre park on Lake Erie that offers fishing, swimming, boating, sailing and paddlesports, along with picnic areas and trails for hiking and biking.
Photo via daniel_john814/Instagram

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Lakeview

Logan County
One the shores of the Indian Lake in Northwest Ohio, Lakeview features its own protected harbor, docks and boat ramp, while providing visitors with easy access to the many beaches and recreational opportunities at Indian Lake State Park.
Photo via courtney.packard/Instagram

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Kellys Island

Erie County
Take a ferry to the largest freshwater American island in Lake Erie. Once there, swim at a sandy beach, rent a bike or kayak, go scuba diving, tour the historic Kelley’s mansion and fish from various piers or boats. Be sure to check out the Glacial Grooves State Memorial — the largest and most breathtaking example of glacial grooves in the world.
Photo via codybradford10/Instagram

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Jerusalem Township

Lucas County
Perched off the shores of Lake Erie on Northwest Ohio, this lakeside community is home to Reno Beach and Maumee Bay State Park.
Photo via eculeozspamm_/Instagram

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Conneaut

Ashtabula County
Located at the far Northeast corner of the state, this beach town is home to world-class fishing in both Lake Erie and Conneaut Creek. The Conneaut Port Authority provides a boat launch, sand bar, fuel dock and several fishing charters, while Conneaut’s marina houses hundreds of boats each year.
Photo via asailoratnight/Instagram

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