Beaches

The best spots for sunsets along Lake Erie can be found along the shorelines with beach access available to dip your toes in the water and settle into the sand at the Lake Erie Bluffs, Lake Erie North Perry Reservation, Madison Township Park, and, coming soon, Osborne Park in Willoughby, OH.

Woman in white dress holding yellow sandals on a boardwalk, looking at a lighthouse in the distance under a blue sky.
Sunset over a beach with driftwood, dark clouds, and ocean waves.

Headlands Beach State Park

9601 Headlands Rd, Mentor, OH 44060
Sunset at a beach with a picnic table, people relaxing, and trees in the foreground under a colorful sky.

Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park

301 Huntington Beach Dr, Fairport Harbor, OH 44077

  • 🏖️Largest Lake Erie Beach in Ohio: 1-mile-long natural sand beach 
    🧺Picnic on the beach
    🌊Swimming - no guards on duty
    🏸BYOB - Bring Your Own Beach Games 
    💎Beach Glass  
    😎Sunbathing & toes in the sand
    🚻Restrooms are available
    🌅Sunsets + Sunrises
    🚲Paved Walking & Biking Trail - The Buckeye Trail 1.5 miles, pet-friendly
    🐦Bird Watching
    👨‍🦽 ADA-Friendly Beach
    🅿️Free Parking
    📷Lighthouse views - not open for tours to the public
    🛝Playground nearby
    ⏰Open Dusk to Dawn
    🚫Sorry, no glass, alcohol, or pets are allowed on the beach.
    🥾Dunes State Nature Preserve

  • 🏆Named Best Beach in Ohio by Coastal Living Magazine 
    🏖️Unofficially Our Local’s Named Favorite Beach for Families
    🌊Swimming is designated areas; life guard times vary
    🏸BYOB - Bring Your Own Beach Games 
    🛝Playground on the beach
    🌭Concessions for snacks 
    🪣Sandcastle and big hole digging
    🛶Canoe, paddleboard, and kayak access to Lake Erie 
    💎Beach Glass
    😎Sunbathing & toes in the sand
    🚻Two restroom areas and feet showers
    🚩Shaded Pavilions and Tables and Paved Sidewalks
    👣Elevated wooden boardwalk; perfect for strollers, seniors, guests with mobility impairments, or when the sand is just too hot!
    🍦Short Walk or drive into our Fairport Harbor Beach Town
    🌅Sunsets + Sunrises
    📷Lighthouse views & tours
    ⏰Open Dusk to Dawn
    🚫Sorry, no alcohol or glass containers are permitted
    🐾Dogs must be on a leash and are allowed only on the paved parking lot or in the designated dog area at the east of the park
    👉Due to recent shoreline erosion, access to the lake for dogs is closed for the safety of both pets and their owners.
    🎶Host to Summer Events including Live Music, Vendors, and Food Trucks
    🎦View the Webcam http://bit.ly/LMharborcam

A crowd of kids flying colorful kites on a beach.

Headlands Beach & Lake Erie Sand Sculpture Event

Lake it Easy

Need more “summer-luvin” inspo? Check out our summer blogs!

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A road with a wood fence on the shoreline.

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Two couples in two canoes canoeing on Marsh Creek.
A fishing boat on a lake headed to a building on the coast line.
A picture of Fairport Harbor from the outside. Also includes a view of the lake with waves coming in.
Colorful beach ball with red, yellow, and blue segments on a transparent background.