There are many ways when you look for a place to sit back and relax, but spending your vacations on the beach outweighs other options.
Especially if you are looking for a place where you can enjoy the sandy beaches and want to stay near the water, then the fifth-largest populous state of the United States, Pennsylvania, is all you need to visit.
Spend your vacations on these beaches’ beautiful shores, clean water, and soothing sunlight, and experience the magic in the air of the beautiful beaches in Pennsylvania.
The beaches in Keystone State are not only vibrant and full of scenic beauty, but the clear water of the lakes paves your way to enjoy the water activities here.
If you are confused about the lakes and beaches to visit in the state, you can check out our list of the finest beaches in Keystone state. In this article, you will also learn about the availability of timings and the facilities available here.
So, stay calm, and let’s dive into the pristine waters of these beautiful beaches of Pennsylvania.
Presque Isle State Park, Erie
Opening Hours: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Allowed Activities: Scuba Diving, Surfing, Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Biking
Located on lake Erie, Presque Isle State Park is a perfect location to enjoy the sandy beaches and learn about the ecological diversity of the peninsula. This park has covered total land of 3200 acres with a very thin area connecting this park to the mainland.
The park is also considered a National Natural Landmark and is one of the best locations to visit in Pennsylvania for beaches. This place offers 11 stunning beaches in Pennsylvania state.
Barracks beach, Kohler Beach, Lyons Beach, Waterparks beach, Budny Beach, and Pettinato beach are some of the beaches in the Presque Isle State Park in Erie.
This park is in a great location at the famous Lake Erie and is open all year round for visitors worldwide.
Moreover, you will find the best budget and luxury hotels near this Park that will make it easy for you to access this beautiful place whenever you want in the day.
Bald Eagle State Park Beach, Howard
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Allowed Activities: Boating, Fishing, Swimming, and Nature Walk
One of the state’s biggest state parks, Bald Eagle State Park, has 5,900 acres. In addition, Bald Eagle Creek and other streams in the park were constructed to form the 1,730-acre Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir.
Additionally, this enormous reservoir is the Bald Eagle State Park Beach location, a small but charming beach area. Additionally, it offers you front-facing breathtaking views of Bald Eagle Mountain.
The best time to visit this beach is during the fall season. This beach in the state park is among Pennsylvania’s most beautiful beaches.
Numerous things set it apart from other places, like its stunning coastline, soft sands, and stunning vistas of Bald Eagle Mountain.
This place is a perfect spot for families and friends to spend vacations, offering vibrant and scenic beauty to the eyes. This park is a perfect spot for water and land activities as well.
You can enjoy the activities such as swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, boating, and picnicking on this beautiful beach.
Moreover, you can also easily find luxurious accommodations near this place if you come here with hefty pockets.
Gretna Lake and Beach, Mt. Gretna
Opening Hours: 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Allowed Activities: Kayaking, High Diving, Picnic, Life Guarding, and Sand Volleyball
Mt. Gretna Lake & Beach is owned by a family privately. It is a family-run swimming and recreation area for which a daily fee is charged to use the facilities here.
One of Pennsylvania’s most picturesque beaches, Mt. Gretna Lake and Beach, has 8 acres of sandy shorelines and a well-kept lawn.
This place is a great adventure and fun for families coming with kids. Teens can engage in various activities, like diving from high dive platforms, swinging above the water, and jumping off dive boards.
It has a separate children’s dock with much shallower water. Also, it is away from all the extreme activities, making this one of the greatest beaches in Pennsylvania for families with young children.
This place will provide you with unforgettable memories. The best thing about this place is that everything from tubes to kayaks is affordable.
Beltzville State Park Beach, Lehighton
Opening Hours: Open in Specific Hours. Contact the park office for the required information.
Allowed Activities: Guided Walks and Hands-on Activities
Pennsylvania’s Beltzville State Park was opened in 1972 and covered an area of 2972.39 acres. Annually, thousands of visitors come to this park.
In particular, its beautiful swimming lake is a great attraction here. This state park beach boasts 525 feet of sandy shoreline.
Summer is the best time to visit Beltzville State Park Beach, as it usually opens from May to September.
Additionally, this beach has a bathhouse, shower, and concession stand. This is why this beach is considered one of Pennsylvania’s best family beaches.
You can also find a hotel that provides excellent services and comfortable stays for the guests.
Poe Valley State Park Beach, Penn Township
Opening Hours: 08:00 AM to Sunset
Allowed Activities: Fishing, Hiking, Grilling, Boating
Poe Valley State Park, located in a mountain valley and surrounded by spectacular forest surroundings, provides tourists with a lovely forest lakeside atmosphere.
This beach has a kid-friendly beach and is located directly on the man-made Poe Lake’s shoreline. The beach is a perfect choice for spending time with your kids, as there are no water waves here.
Moreover, the deepest point of water here is 5 feet. Your kids can enjoy several activities live, making sand castles and forts.
The park also provides rental places for celebrating events like birthdays, anniversaries, parties, etc., with a maximum capacity of 100 people.
Conneaut Lake Park Beach
Opening Hours: 08:00 AM to Sunset
Allowed Activities: Fishing, Water Skiing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking
Conneaut Lake beach is the largest beach in Pennsylvania and is the best destination to visit with family. You can enjoy several fun activities here with your kids.
The picturesque view of this lake is difficult to describe in words. You can relax in the sun by enjoying sunbathing on the beach along with enjoying swimming, water skiing, boating, and kayaking at this beach.
A water park for kids is also available on this beach. Your children can enjoy several water activities with full safety in Kiddie Cove on Conneaut Lake Park Beach.
The best time to visit this beach is during the summer season. People usually spend time at the beach houses or enjoy visiting the Conneaut Lake Park for various fun activities.
Mauch Chunk Lake Park Beach, Jim Thorpe
Opening Hours: 08:30 AM to 04:30 PM
Allowed Activities: Camping, Picnic, Hiking, Swimming, Boating, Biking
Located in the Jim Thorpe region of Pennsylvania, Mauch Chunk Lake Park Beach is also a popular destination for tourists.
Plenty of outdoor and recreational activities are offered at this park’s beach. Annually, around 150K tourists visit this beach because of the beautiful scenic beauty of this place.
You can enjoy camping at weekends with your kids in this place. All the facilities are available at this beach because of the nearby shops opened near the lake.
The food available at this place is also very tasty. The kid’s playground, concession stand, rental shops, and beach pavilion will offer comfort to your visit to this beautiful Mauch Chunk lake park beach.
Laurel Hill State Park Beach
Opening Hours: Contact the park office for the required information
Allowed Activities: Swimming, Row Boating, Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Fishing, and Camping
Laurel Hill State Park Beach is located between the forest lands and the state park. This lake covers 63 acres of the area with 1200 foot sandy beach.
This beach is also perfect for you to have fun with your kids or relax from your daily schedule. This place is fun for visitors of any age group, as it is covered with beautiful landscapes and dense forests.
From swimming to kayaking, this place offers many popular water activities. Most people enjoy the picnic here with their friends and families. You can also have fun by staying overnight camping at this place.
During winter, you can also enjoy activities like sledding and snowshoeing. Although the thickness of the snow is not measured by the beach authorities, these activities are quite a risk.
While coming to this beach, it is better to avoid digital payments here as people do not rely much on this area. ATM machines are also not available in this area, so it is better if you carry enough cash to enjoy your visit to this place.
Raccoon Creek State Park Beach
Opening Hours: 08:00 AM to Sunset
Allowed Activities: Swimming, picnic, Fishing, Boating, Kayaking
If you are seeking a place that is less crowded than other beaches in Pennsylvania, then Raccoon Creek State Park Beach is all you need to visit. With less crowd and a cozy area, this state park beach covers an area of 7572 acres.
This stunning sandy beach is a perfect location for families, couples, and travelers. Sand and turf beach is only open here from the end of May till mid-September.
If you are making up your mind to swim in the cold waters of this Raccoon Creek, make sure you know the swimming well and do not go farther as there are no lifeguards here, which makes this activity a bit risky here.
This place is clean and provides amenities like changing stalls, concession stands, clean bathrooms, and picnic tables in the park.
Raccoon Creek State Park Beach is a perfect spot for enjoying the scenic view as well as having a relaxing outing.
Palmyra Township Public Beach, Hawley
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM to 05:00 PM
Allowed Activities: Sunbathe, Volleyball, Picnic
Located at Lake Wallenpaupack, Palmyra Township Public Beach is a perfect place to get loose and relax over the weekends with your near and dear ones.
The water at this beach is shallow and warm. If you want that your little kids can also enjoy the water, then Palmyra Township beach is a suitable place for you to visit.
As this place is peaceful and consists of safe waters, this area is super crowded in the summer season. You can enjoy beach volleyball here as separate courts are available to enjoy the sport.
Also, you can enjoy bathing in the sun and relax your mind and body from hectic routines. You can also enjoy swimming and fishing at this place with your kids.
This beach is also one of the gorgeous beaches in Pennsylvania, where you can calm your mind from the noise of the daily chores.
Ending Note
Pennsylvania’s lakes, parks, and beaches are beautiful and offer a peaceful and serene environment to eliminate the daily nuisance arising in our lives.
Pennsylvania is famous for many reasons, like Chocolate Capital Hershey, Philadelphia, and several other reasons. However, people usually never talk about the amazing experience that serene beaches and water provides by spending time there.
In fact, add the beaches of the state of Pennsylvania to your travel list and enjoy visiting this place at any time of the year.
We hope you liked our list of beaches and parks in several cities in Pennsylvania. So, pack your bags and hit these amazing beaches.
