Cincinnati and Dayton aren’t exactly known for their beaches. But there are actually lots of picturesque places to plan a “beach day” — each just a short drive away. Pack up the cooler, slather on the sunscreen and spend a day at one of these beaches near Southwest Ohio.
Remember, these beaches are part of living ecosystems and sometimes close due to algae. Check the website for each park before you go.
The best beaches near Cincinnati and Dayton
Rocky Fork State Park
9800 North Shore Drive, Hillsboro, OH 45133
Rocky Fork is a solid all-day destination for families who want more than just a beach. The 2,080-acre lake offers unlimited horsepower boating along with a marina, docks, and six launch ramps. Several fishing piers — including wheelchair-accessible options — give anglers plenty of room to work the water.
Two public beaches provide 800 feet of lake access on the north and south sides of the lake. Swimming is permitted during daylight hours only; no lifeguards are on duty. Overnight options include a full-service campground, group camping, and the Dovetail Activity Area. Hiking trails wind through cool woodlands, a scenic gorge, and natural wetlands. Algae occasionally closes parts of the lake, but the North Shore beach is usually unaffected — check the website before you go.
Hueston Woods
College Corner, OH
Hueston Woods has a 1,500-foot sandy beach on Acton Lake that’s free and open to the public from dawn to dusk. Sit on the beach and watch boats pass, rent a kayak, or stay in one of the park’s cabins or the lodge. Boating on Acton Lake is limited to 10-hp motors, which keeps things relatively calm on the water. A playground, concession stand, sand volleyball courts, and a bathhouse round out the beach area.
East Fork State Park
3294 Elklick Road, Bethel, OH 45106
One of the largest state parks in Ohio, East Fork in Clermont County has a 1,200-foot swimming beach on William H. Harsha Lake. The beach has changing booths and restrooms, and there’s room for soccer, cornhole, and volleyball. No lifeguards are on duty; swimming is permitted in designated areas during daylight hours only. Beyond the beach, the park has one of the most extensive trail systems in the state — hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and backpacking — plus camping, fishing, and unlimited-horsepower boating. Check for closures before visiting.
Stonelick State Park
2895 Lake Drive, Pleasant Plain, OH 45162
A 500-foot public beach sits on the south shore of Stonelick Lake. Swimming is permitted in designated areas during daylight hours only; no lifeguards are present. Nearby you’ll find dock fishing, a kayak launch, disc golf, hiking trails, and kayak rentals. The Friends of Stonelick have upgraded the campground area and host events throughout the season.
Caesar Creek State Park
8570 E State Route 73, Waynesville, OH 45068
Caesar Creek has a 1,300-foot public beach on a 2,830-acre unlimited-horsepower lake. Swimming is permitted in designated areas during daylight hours. After a day of hiking, mountain biking, fishing, or boating, it’s a good place to wind down. The park also has a marina, a renovated nature center, and a Pioneer Village with 15 historic buildings depicting early 1800s life.
Brookville Lake
Brookville, IN
Brookville Lake is a 5,260-acre reservoir about an hour from downtown Cincinnati. Mounds Beach, within the Mounds State Recreation Area near the campground, stretches roughly half a mile and is the park’s active swimming beach — open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Camping, hiking, and unlimited-horsepower boating are all on the table. Note: the Quakertown SRA beach on the west side of the lake is permanently closed.
Cowan Lake State Park
1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, OH 45177
A 1,000-foot public beach sits on the south shore of this 700-acre lake. Swimming is permitted during daylight hours in designated areas only. Sailing is popular here, and boat swimming and boat camping are available in the northern portion of the lake. The campground has more than 250 sites and 21 fully-equipped cabins.
Old Field Beach at Indian Lake State Park
13156 State Route 235 N, Lakeview, OH 43331
Indian Lake State Park has two public beaches — Old Field Beach and Fox Island Beach — on its 5,100-acre lake. No lifeguards are present; swimming is at your own risk in designated areas. A paved multi-use path runs between Old Field Beach and Lakeview Harbor if you want to add a bike ride to the day.
Jump Rock Swimming Hole
Stanton, KY
Jump Rock is one of the more well-known swimming spots in the Red River Gorge Geological Area in Kentucky. As the name suggests, it’s marked by a large rock from which swimmers jump into the river below. To get there, drive into the Red River Gorge, pass through Nada Tunnel, and park at the Sheltowee Trace Trail parking lot off KY 715. A short hike and a walk across the suspension bridge over the Red River gets you to the small sand beach and what most people consider the best swimming hole in the gorge. Always check water depth before jumping — and know that the parking lot fills fast on summer weekends.
Lake Logan State Park
30443 Lake Logan Road, Logan, OH 43138
Sitting in the Appalachian foothills of the Hocking Valley, Lake Logan is one of the better fishing lakes in the state. A 527-foot public swimming beach is on the north shore of this 400-acre lake — a good reason to make the drive east if your family also wants to spend time in Hocking Hills.
