Sick of hours of traffic heading to Maryland or Jersey shores? Not to mention crowded beaches and boardwalk shops that make a big dent in your wallet. You don't have to go down the shore to enjoy a beach vacation. Pennsylvania offers an entirely different beach experience. More than likely, if you live in PA, you're within an hour or two of a beach. Most of the lakefront beaches in the commonwealth are in our pristine state parks, but you'll find private and public beaches throughout the state.
Thirty-five of Pennsylvania's 121 state parks have beaches that are typically open and free to the public for swimming from late May to mid-September. Many of these beaches have a swim-at-your-own-risk policy. They are generally open from 8 a.m. to sunset, daily, but may have adjusted schedules, so check the website before hitting the road.
- Bald Eagle State Park, Howard
- Black Moshannon State Park, Philipsburg
- Chapman State Park, Clarendon
- Hills Creek State Park, Wellsboro
- Little Pine State Park, Waterville
- Lyman Run State Park, Galeton
- Ole Bull State Park, Cross Fork
- Parker Dam State Park, Penfield
- Poe Valley State Park, Coburn
- Raymond B. Winter State Park, Mifflinburg
- Canoe Creek State Park, Hollidaysburg
- Colonel Denning State Park, Newville
- Cowans Gap State Park, Fort Loudon
- Gifford Pinchot State Park, Lewisberry
- Greenwood Furnace State Park, Huntingdon
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Gardners
- Prince Gallitzin State Park, Patton
- Shawnee State Park, Schellsburg
- Whipple Dam State Park, Petersburg
- Beltzville State Park, Lehighton
- Gouldsboro State Park, Gouldsboro
- Hickory Run State Park, White Haven
- Locust Lake State Park, Barnesville
- Promised Land State Park, Greentown
- Ricketts Glen State Park, Benton
- Tobyhanna State Park, Tobyhanna
- Tuscarora State Park, Barnesville
- Worlds End State Park, Forksville
- Clear Creek State Park, Sigel
- Keystone State Park, Derry
- Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset
- Moraine State Park, Portersville
- Presque Isle State Park, Erie
- Pymatuning State Park, Jamestown
- Raccoon Creek State Park, Hookstown
- Yellow Creek State Park, Penn Run
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