Maumee Bay State Park
Oregon, OH
Maumee Bay State Park, east of Toledo, has two sand beaches: one on Lake Erie and one on the park's calm inland lake. Unlike many rocky Lake Erie shores, the Lake Erie beach here has a big, soft sand area. Restrooms and outdoor showers sit between the two beaches, and the park also has a lodge, a golf course, and a long boardwalk through the marsh.
Two soft sand beaches and a great boardwalk, though western Lake Erie's water quality varies in late summer.
How we score beachesBring the little kids to the inland lake beach; it's calmer and warmer than Lake Erie.
Free parking at the beach lots; Ohio state parks don't charge entry.
Paved paths and a long boardwalk make much of the park easy to get around.
Western Lake Erie is shallow and warms early, but late summer algae blooms can bring swim advisories, so check before going in.
This isn't one entrance, it's a stretch with a few. Here's where locals actually meet up.
Inland Lake Beach
A calmer beach on the park's inland lake, usually warmer and better for small children.
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