Unearth The Voyage
Pennsylvania may be landlocked, but that has not stopped it from stacking up an impressive list of beaches, lakeshores, and swimming spots that can hold their own against any coastal destination. From a massive Lake Erie shoreline with actual surf to quiet mountain lakes wrapped in Pocono forest, the state has more water fun than most people realize.
Some of these spots are wide open and action-packed, while others are tucked away and wonderfully calm. Pack your towel, slap on some sunscreen, and get ready to discover twelve of the best places in Pennsylvania to spend a summer day in or near the water.
Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s only surf swimming spot is not some hidden secret, but it still manages to surprise first-time visitors with its sheer size and variety.
Presque Isle State Park curves out into Lake Erie like a sandy arm, offering seven miles of beaches and thirteen designated swim areas. That is not a typo.
Thirteen beaches, all in one park.
Lifeguards are on duty at select beaches from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, typically noon to 7:15 p.m. Beach 6 has sand volleyball courts, while Beaches 1, 3, 7, and 8 offer ADA-accessible mobi-mats and beach wheelchairs for visitors who need them.
Beyond swimming, the park has 21 miles of recreational trails, a marina, picnic areas, playgrounds, and food concessions at several locations. The park opens at 5 a.m. and stays open until sunset year-round.
Early arrival on summer weekends is strongly recommended because this place fills up fast and for very good reason.
Mt. Gretna Lake & Beach, Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania
There are beach destinations that feel modern and polished, and then there is Mt. Gretna Lake and Beach, which feels like it was preserved in a pleasant time capsule from about 1955.
Tucked into the wooded village of Mount Gretna, this family-run spot has a genuine summer camp atmosphere that is rare to find anywhere in the state. The lake is calm, the picnic grove is shaded, and the recreation lawn gives kids room to run between swims.
The beach draws a loyal crowd of Lancaster County families who return summer after summer, which tells you something about how well it delivers on its low-key promise. It is not flashy, and that is exactly the point.
Admission is charged, and the facility operates seasonally, so checking current hours before your visit is a smart move. Bring a picnic, wear your swim shoes, and plan to stay longer than you originally intended.
That always seems to happen here.
Mauch Chunk Lake Park Beach, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Jim Thorpe is already one of Pennsylvania’s most charming small towns, and the fact that it also has a solid lake beach nearby feels almost unfair to the rest of the state.
Mauch Chunk Lake Park Beach sits within Carbon County’s Mauch Chunk Lake Park, where the lake provides a clean, calm swim area backed by forested hills. The sandy beach area is popular with families looking for a relaxed alternative to crowded Pocono resorts.
The park also has picnic facilities, boat rentals, and hiking trails that connect to the broader trail network in the region. Visitors often pair a morning swim with an afternoon walk through Jim Thorpe’s historic downtown, which is only a short drive away.
The combination of a mountain lake setting and a walkable Victorian-era town in the same day trip makes this one of the most well-rounded outings on this list. Parking is available on site, and fees apply for day use during the summer season.
Seven Points Beach, Hesston, Pennsylvania
Raystown Lake is Pennsylvania’s largest entirely in-state lake, and Seven Points Beach is arguably the best place to actually get into it.
Located about eight miles south of Huntingdon, the Seven Points Recreation Area offers two distinct swim zones. The larger area has a concrete bottom, while the smaller kiddie beach features a sandy bottom and shallow water that parents with young children tend to claim immediately and never leave.
Amenities include two bathroom facilities, a shower house, Lighthouse Concessions, and plenty of picnic tables spread across open grassy hillsides. Water trampolines are anchored offshore, and day-use mooring posts are available for boaters who want to anchor up and jump in.
The beach is open daily from dawn to dusk, Memorial Day through Labor Day. There are no lifeguards on duty, so swimming is at your own risk.
Pets are not permitted in the beach or surrounding grassy areas, so leave the dog at home for this one.
Beltzville State Park Beach, Lehighton, Pennsylvania
A 525-foot sand beach might not sound like much on paper, but at Beltzville State Park, that stretch of shoreline punches well above its weight class.
The 949-acre Beltzville Lake sits in the southern foothills of the Pocono Mountains in Carbon County, giving the whole park a scenic backdrop that makes even a quick swim feel like a proper escape. The beach has a bathhouse with showers and toilets right next to it, and a food concession operates daily during the summer season.
Beltzville is a designated smoke-free beach, with smoking areas located away from the main swim zone. The beach opens at 8 a.m. and stays open until sunset from late May through Labor Day, which gives early birds a solid head start on the crowds.
Speaking of crowds, this park fills up fast on summer weekends and holidays. Arriving early is not just a suggestion here.
It is the difference between finding a good spot and circling the parking lot in defeat.
Moraine State Park, Portersville, Pennsylvania
Most western Pennsylvania beach days happen at Moraine State Park, and once you see Lake Arthur, it becomes pretty clear why.
The park offers two swim beaches on the 3,225-acre lake, giving visitors enough room to spread out even on busy summer weekends. Rolling hills, wooded coves, and the occasional sailboat drifting across the water give the place a relaxed, scenic quality that does not require any effort to appreciate.
The North Shore and South Shore both have beach access, picnic facilities, and parking. The South Shore is generally busier, while the North Shore tends to attract visitors looking for a quieter afternoon.
Both are solid choices depending on your mood.
Boating is a major draw at Moraine, and the lake accommodates sailboats, motorboats, kayaks, and paddleboats. Rentals are available for those who did not bring their own.
The park is open year-round, but the swim beaches are seasonal, so check current operating dates before making the drive from Pittsburgh.
Bald Eagle State Park, Howard, Pennsylvania
With 1,200 feet of combined sand and turf beach, Bald Eagle State Park gives you a lot of room to find your perfect spot without elbowing anyone out of the way.
The park wraps around Foster Joseph Sayers Lake, a 1,730-acre reservoir in Centre County that offers broad water views framed by mountains, fields, and forest on all sides. The beach area is ADA-accessible, which makes it one of the more inclusive swim spots in the state park system.
Beyond the beach, the park supports power boating, warm-water fishing, camping, hiking, and picnicking. The combination of activities makes it appealing to groups where not everyone wants to swim.
The swimming area is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, late May through mid-September.
Families with young children tend to appreciate the open layout of the beach, which makes it easy to keep an eye on everyone. The mountain backdrop and big-sky views make the whole experience feel more dramatic than your average lake day.
Raccoon Creek State Park Beach, Hookstown, Pennsylvania
At over 7,500 acres, Raccoon Creek State Park is one of the largest state parks in Pennsylvania, and somehow it still manages to feel like a well-kept local secret.
The beach sits beside calm Raccoon Lake, a small reservoir that keeps the swim area peaceful even on warm summer days. The park was largely developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and that history gives the whole place a sturdy, timeless character that newer recreational areas simply cannot replicate.
Picnic areas, a bathhouse, and open grassy spaces surround the beach, making it easy to set up for a full day. The wildflower reserve within the park is a bonus attraction for visitors who want to take a walk between swims.
Located in Beaver County in western Pennsylvania, Raccoon Creek is within easy reach of Pittsburgh, making it a logical first choice for city residents who want a low-cost, low-hassle summer outing without a long drive.
Laurel Hill State Park Beach, Somerset, Pennsylvania
Tucked into the Laurel Highlands of Somerset County, Laurel Hill State Park Beach delivers the kind of mountain lake experience that makes you want to cancel all your other summer plans.
The lake sits at an elevation that keeps the water noticeably cooler than lowland lakes, which is either a refreshing feature or a bracing shock depending on your tolerance for cold water. The sandy beach is long and well-maintained, with nearby picnic facilities and trail access for visitors who want to hike before or after their swim.
The park connects to a broader network of Laurel Highlands trails, including sections near Laurel Hill Creek and the surrounding state forest land. It is a strong pick for active families who want more than just a beach day.
The swimming area is open from 8 a.m. to sunset during the summer season. Somerset County is also home to several other outdoor attractions, so pairing this beach with another nearby stop is very doable.
Cowans Gap State Park Beach, Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania
Hidden in the Tuscarora Mountain range of Fulton County, Cowans Gap State Park Beach rewards the visitors who make the effort to find it.
The lake is small, the setting is quiet, and the surrounding state forest creates a natural buffer that keeps the whole experience calm and uncrowded compared to larger parks. That sense of seclusion is part of the appeal, especially for visitors who find big, busy beaches more exhausting than relaxing.
The park has picnic areas, a campground, and hiking trails that wind through the forested ridges surrounding the lake. The Tuscarora Trail passes through the park, giving hikers a connection to a much longer route if they want to explore beyond the immediate area.
The beach opens in late May and operates through mid-September. Cowans Gap tends to attract repeat visitors who discovered it quietly and would rather keep it that way.
Admission is free for day use, which makes it one of the better bargains on this entire list.
Black Moshannon State Park Beach, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
Not every lake beach looks the same, and Black Moshannon State Park makes that point in the most visually striking way possible.
The 250-acre lake has notably dark, tea-colored water caused by tannins leaching from the surrounding bogs and sphagnum wetlands. It is completely natural, completely safe for swimming, and completely unlike any other lake you have probably visited in the state.
First-timers always do a double take.
The ADA-accessible sand beach leads directly to the swim area, and the park’s open hours run from 8 a.m. to sunset, mid-May through mid-September. Beyond swimming, the park supports fishing, boating, picnicking, camping, and wildlife watching in the adjacent bog ecosystem.
Black Moshannon is located in Centre County near Philipsburg, roughly 20 miles from State College. The bog trail system around the lake is worth exploring after your swim, as the wetland habitat supports plant and animal species not commonly found elsewhere in central Pennsylvania.
This place earns its reputation as one of the state’s most distinctive parks.
Tobyhanna State Park Beach, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania
Tobyhanna Lake has a reputation for unusually clean, clear water, and a single afternoon at Tobyhanna State Park Beach is enough to confirm that the reputation is well-earned.
The 170-acre lake sits in the Pocono Mountains, surrounded by quiet woodland that keeps the atmosphere calm even when the beach is busy. The sandy beach leads to a roped swim area, and restrooms, showers, and picnic tables are all conveniently located nearby.
Kayaks and paddleboats are available for rent if you want to explore the lake beyond the swim zone.
Admission to the park is free, which makes it one of the most accessible Pocono summer destinations for families watching their budget. The park is open from Memorial Day through mid-September for swimming.
Tobyhanna also connects to a trail system that circles the lake, giving walkers and joggers a pleasant route after their swim. Monroe County has no shortage of Pocono attractions nearby, but this beach has a way of making visitors decide the lake is enough for the day.
