5 Lake Erie Beaches to Visit Near Cleveland
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Lake Erie is a beautiful summer destination for nature lovers, seaglass collectors, and anyone else who just loves being by the water. It is the 4th largest of the 5 Great lakes. About 316 of shoreline are found in Ohio and the water depth ranges from 24 to 60 feet. Cleveland is the perfect base for exploring these gorgeous Ohio beaches. There is a lot to do in the city of Cleveland itself (including visiting the wonderful Cleveland Museum of Art). Add in easy access to great beaches and you have a fun & affordable summer destination. Since moving to the Cleveland metro, I have explored many of these beaches. In this guide, I will highlight 5 wonderful beaches which you can daytrip to in under an hour.
Headlands State Beach
Location: Mentor
Distance from Cleveland: 35 min
Highlight: Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse, Great birding, Longest sand beach
In my opinion, this is the most beautiful beach to plan a daytrip to. Obviously, a lot of people agree with me as this beach attracts more than 2 million visitors per year! The long stretch of sand (it’s the longest natural beach in Ohio) is great for sunbathing. Swimming is great, just check the water quality report. I love the views of the gorgeous lighthouse (built in 1925, now automated) which you can walk to for a closer view (the walk through sand is a bit challenging!).
Lots of birds here, especially during migration season (spring & fall). It’s a known hotspot for seaglass collectors with many reports of rare red and blue finds (honestly, I have not had much luck here). Overall, just a great beach for walks, relaxation, and scenery! Other amenities include: picnic facilities, a bike/walking path, access to Headlands Dune Nature Preserve, and breakwall fishing.
Edgewater Beach
Location: Cleveland
Highlight: Lots of seaglass, Great skyline views, Access to a bike path, Volleyball nets, Paddle rentals
Edgewater is the closest beach to downtown Cleveland. The skyline views are fantastic and there’s lots to do here. 1000 feet of shoreline are open to swimming (lifeguards on-site) with the western portion dog friendly. Other amenities include: cabana rentals, walking trails, volleyball nets, kayak rentals, a fishing pier, picnic tables, and a boat launch. I love the convenient access to the 17 mile Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway. I also love that you can take a picture by one of the famous Cleveland script signs with the skyline/water in the background.
The beach’s western edge (Perkins) is my favorite spot to collect seaglass. I have found a lot of great pieces here. Smaller than what I was accustomed to finding when I lived on an island off the coast of Maine, but beautiful nonetheless.
Sheldon Marsh Nature Preserve
Location: Huron
Distance from Cleveland: 1 hour
Highlights: Secluded beach, Great birdwatching destination, Beautiful nature trails
This hidden gem is a great choice for anyone looking to escape the crowds for a bit of relaxation. I really love this place as I can get in a bit of hiking (2 miles of trails available) and take a beach stroll. It’s not a swimming beach (not allowed), but one to enjoy the scenery and look for seaglass. I have found some great beach glass here including a few rare blue pieces! The diverse habitats found throughout the preserve include: hardwood forest, woodland swamps, cattail marsh, barrier sand beach, and old field. An amazing birdwatching destination: over 300 species have been identified. On a side note, definitely visit in spring to see the beautiful wildflowers blooming.
Huntington Reservation
Location: Bay Village
Distance from Cleveland: 25 min
Highlights: Nature trails, Scenic & clean, Gorgeous picnic areas, Lots of seaglass
This is a really great place to spend a summer day, whether it be swimming, relaxing, collecting seaglass, or picnicking. It is one of the cleanest and most gorgeous near Cleveland. Huntington is located in Bay Village, a beautiful upscale suburb home to beautiful old homes. Asides from swimming (when there are no red flags), strolling the beach, or collecting seaglass, you can hike through forest and creeks on 3 miles of nature trails or explore the Lake Erie Science center. I love that there is a walking path and picnicking areas high above the beach so you can take in the beauty from above. Really, this is one of the most photogenic beaches on Lake Erie.
Main Street Beach
Location: Vermillion
Distance from Cleveland: 1 hour
Highlights: Beautiful Lighthouse, Ample birdwatching, Walkable to a charming Main St.
This is a small, quaint little beach located within walking distance of Vermillion’s charming Main Street district, hence the name. The beach is clean and new comfort stations (restrooms/changing stations) have been added. The highlight here is a gorgeous replica of a historic lighthouse (built in 1847, replica in 1992). You can swim, birwatch, take pics by the lighthouse, kick back in a colorful adirondack chair, relax and sunbathe, kayak (launch available), or simply enjoy a beautiful Lake Erie sunset.
Vermilion is one of the nicest small towns on Lake Erie. It’s well worth a daytrip from Cleveland to enjoy the beach, Main Street shopping and dining, and year-round events. Check out my Vermillion vacation guide for more details!
