How Many State Parks Have Beaches?
Often the desire to visit a state park is driven by the wish for fresh air, mountain views, forests, and wildlife. However, a beach is also a potential criterion for some vacationers. Luckily, it isn't difficult to find a state park that has a beach. In fact, there are 2,391 state park beaches in the US. To narrow down which you might like to take your family to, consider first whether your interest is a beach on the ocean or a lakeside beach. This will help you determine whether you need a coastline state such as California or Florida which have the most ocean beaches or something inland, such as Michigan (Great Lakes beaches) or New York (Finger Lakes and Great Lakes beaches). The states with the most state park beaches to choose from are California (228), New York (173), Oregon (134), Florida (121), and Michigan (106).
Ocean Beaches
Ocean beaches are the ideal choice if you appreciate looking out at endless water, are considering taking an ocean excursion for fishing, love the sound of crashing waves, or enjoy looking at large watercraft. There are 23 US states that have ocean coastlines. Fourteen sit on the Atlantic, five on the Pacific, five on the Gulf, and one on the Arctic. Some states fall into more than one category. For example, Florida has both Atlantic and Gulf coastline. New York has an Atlantic coastline as well as a Great Lakes shoreline. Alaska is unique in that it has both a Pacific and Arctic coastline.
California
It is no wonder that California comes to mind when looking for a state park with beaches. It has more than any other state, despite both Alaska and Florida having considerably more miles of coastline. There are a few state parks that stand out for one reason or another. One is Border Field State Park Beach. This is the southernmost beach in the state. This beach is so far south that it borders Mexico. One thing to keep in mind is that this state park is often closed to vehicles due to flooding and even when that is not a concern, they only open the gates on the weekends. While not conducive to swimming due to contamination, this park is a good one to add to your list for a quick stop if you plan to head up the California coastline and hit as many of the state park ocean beaches as you can. If you want a truly magnificent ocean beach, consider Robert C. Frazee State Beach at Carlsbad. Your family can enjoy all the waterfront activities here, including surfing, fishing, sunbathing, running and walking, and swimming. There are plenty of amenities here including benches, showers, restrooms, and a lifeguard. Some state parks have more than one beach. For example, Crystal Cove State Park has Los Trancos Beach (Historic District), Moro Beach, Reef Point Beach, Pelican Point Beach, Treasure Cove Beach, and Little Treasure Cove.
Florida
Florida has many state parks that have ocean beaches, and this state also has the distinction of having Gulf Coast beaches as well. One of the ocean beaches is John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. This Palm Beach County state park has two miles of Atlantic beach as well as trails through mangrove swamps and a lagoon. A great time to visit is in June or July if you want to experience a guided sea-turtle walk. The Florida Keys are a special part of the state and Bahia Honda State Park gives you the chance to experience the beach in every possible way. Top of the list for many is the amazing snorkeling and fishing opportunities here. Lovers Key State Park is another option in Florida. It is located near Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast and offers two miles of beach and five miles of trails, making for a varied experience. Since Florida has the longest ocean coastline of the contiguous states, it's not difficult to find the perfect beach for your needs.
Alaska
To give an idea of the vastness of Alaska's coastline, consider that it is longer than all the other states combined. That's a lot of opportunities for beaches, but not all coastlines are suitable for beach activities. Alaska also has over 120 state parks, as well as other protected areas. The park system in this state is larger than any other state. Of the state parks, the most known for beachcombing activities are Eagle Beach near Juneau, Black Sands Beach which only has boat and floatplane access, Chilkat State Park that also has hiking trails, and Kachemak Bay State Park with both accessible and remote areas.
Lake Beaches
If you want to avoid ocean coastline beaches which are often crowded but also do not want a tiny lake with very little beach to enjoy, you will find the adventure you are looking for at state parks that have nice bold lakefront beaches. For example, the Great Lakes are an amazing backdrop for several state parks in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. New York's Finger Lakes are worth considering as well.
Michigan
Michigan is one of the most uniquely shaped states in the US. Its shape results in 3,288 miles of Great Lake coastline between the upper and lower peninsulas and its many islands. It has the distinction of touching four of the five Great Lakes. It also has many state parks that have beaches and shoreline access. On Lake Superior there is Tahquamenon Falls State Park and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. On Lake Michigan there is P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, Warren Dunes State Park, Ludington State Park, Holland State Park, Silver Lake State Park, Saugatuck Dunes State Park, Petoskey State Park, Grand Haven State Park, and Fayette Historic State Park. On Lake Huron is Port Crescent State Park. On Lake Erie is William C. Sterling State Park, the only Michigan state park on that lake. There is also Straits State Park on the Mackinac Straits. Near Lake Huron is Algonac State Park.
Indiana
On the southern shore of Lake Michigan is Indiana Dunes State Park. It has three miles of beach that is open seasonally with lifeguard service. The park also has 16 miles of trails, a nature center, and a pavilion that has a bathhouse and observation deck.
Ohio
Ohio enjoys 312 miles of Lake Erie shoreline. Ohio is home to the East Harbor State Park and Headlands Beach State Park. East Harbor is on a peninsula that extends into Lake Erie, but also includes a prairie marsh zone so visitors can camp here and get the best of two worlds, wetlands and beach. Headlands Beach State Park has a 35-acre beach and is known for beach glass hunting. Other activities include boating, hiking, swimming, and fishing.
New York
New York is a unique state in that it has Atlantic shoreline, Great Lakes shoreline, and the Finger Lake region with 11 Finger Lakes. One of the most popular state parks in the Finger Lake Region is Watkins Glen State Park. Within a 2-mile hike, visitors can be astounded by 19 waterfalls. Two other popular state parks are Letchworth State Park and Taughannock Falls State Park. Not all Finger Lake parks have beaches, however. If you want more than waterfalls, consider Fair Haven Beach State Park for its white sandy beaches and remarkable lake views.
Drop in the Bucket
The state parks discussed here are a mere drop in the bucket, or one grain of sand on the beach. Beaches don't necessarily need to be on ocean front or even lake front to be a great destination. Many other states, such as Maine, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, Colorado, and more have excellent state parks with beautiful beaches. River beaches are just as enjoyable and may even be preferred if you enjoy freshwater fishing. With more than 2,300 state park beaches, you could spend a lifetime exploring and still have places left on your list.
