Part of our Pennsylvania guide.
Pennsylvania’s beaches are found on inland lakes, rivers, and the Lake Erie shoreline. The five spots below cover the state’s best sandy shores, from the western Allegheny region to the eastern Delaware Water Gap.
Related travel guides: 9 Scenic Hikes To Take In Erie, Pennsylvania and Beaches In Ohio.
Sun And Fun At Keystone Lake Beach In Keystone State Park
Keystone Lake Beach in Keystone State Park offers a clean swimming area with picnic tables and boat rentals. Families can spread out on the sand, and hikers can use the park’s trails. Bring sunscreen and a camera; the lake is surrounded by forested hills.
Delaware Water Gap Islands
The Delaware Water Gap Islands sit within the national recreation area along the Delaware River. These islands combine hiking through hardwood forests, kayaking on calm stretches of the river, and picnicking on undeveloped sandbars. The area also holds remnants of 19th-century canal locks and iron forges. No motorized vehicles are permitted on most islands, so you’ll hear only water and birds. This is one of the secrets hidden in Pennsylvania that rewards a little planning: check river levels before wading or paddling.
Allegheny
The Allegheny River hides a chain of river islands between Warren and Oil City. These islands are accessible only by canoe or kayak and offer primitive camping, wildlife viewing (bald eagles, herons, deer), and miles of undeveloped shoreline. No services exist on the islands; pack out all trash. The Allegheny Islands Wilderness, a federally designated area, protects seven of these islands. For a full day trip, put in at Tionesta or Hickory Creek and paddle downstream. These isolated spots are among the true secrets villages in Pennsylvania—not villages of people, but villages of sycamore and silver maple groves that flood each spring.
Lake Erie Bliss At Presque Isle's Pristine Beaches
Presque Isle State Park, a recurving peninsula on Lake Erie, has 13 miles of sandy beaches. You can watch the sun rise over the lake from Beach 1 and set over the water from Beach 11. Swimming is lifeguard-protected at designated beaches from late May to early September. The park also has a 13.5-mile multi-use trail for biking and inline skating, plus a marina, a nature center, and seasonal birding (Presque Isle is a major stopover for migrating warblers). The Tom Ridge Environmental Center at the park entrance provides exhibits on the peninsula’s shifting sand ecosystem. For outdoor adventures and sweet escapes in Pennsylvania, this is a full-day destination—arrive early in summer because parking lots fill by mid-morning.
Mountain Lake Beach Bliss At Cowans Gap State Park
Cowans Gap State Park, in the Tuscarora Mountain range, centers on a 42-acre lake with a sand beach, a bathhouse, and a roped swimming area. Hiking trails—including a 1.5-mile loop around the lake—wind through mixed oak and hemlock forest. The park also has a campground, a boat launch for non-motorized craft, and a picnic pavilion. The beach is open from late May to Labor Day; the lake water is cool even in July because the spring-fed source stays around 70 °F.
