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