Updated August 2026
Best beaches in Ohio by water quality
Ohio has 62 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 53 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. 1 earn an A for consistently clean water, while 21 grade an F for frequently exceeding the safe-swimming limit. Full ranking below. National lists: cleanest beaches in the US and beaches that exceed bacteria limits most often.
Ohio beaches on the map
| Grade | Beach | County | % over limit | Samples | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | East Harbor State Park | Ottawa | 1.9% | 155 | Excellent |
| B | Cedar Point Chausee | Erie | 5.1% | 350 | Good |
| B | Lakeside Beach | Ottawa | 6.8% | 324 | Good |
| C | Catawba Island State Park | Ottawa | 8.2% | 134 | Fair |
| C | Port Clinton (Deep\Lakeview)) | Ottawa | 9% | 646 | Fair |
| C | Oberlin Beach | Erie | 9.5% | 518 | Fair |
| C | South Bass Island State Park | Ottawa | 9.5% | 74 | Fair |
| C | Fairport Harbor | Lake | 10.6% | 284 | Fair |
| C | Kelleys Island State Park | Ottawa | 10.8% | 74 | Fair |
| C | Pipe Creek Wildlife Area | Erie | 10.9% | 285 | Fair |
| C | Crystal Rock | Erie | 11.8% | 110 | Fair |
| C | Edgewater State Park | Cuyahoga | 11.9% | 623 | Fair |
| D | Walnut Beach | Ashtabula | 12.7% | 71 | Poor |
| D | Geneva State Park | Ashtabula | 12.8% | 78 | Poor |
| D | Battery Park | Erie | 12.9% | 279 | Poor |
| D | Showse Park | Erie | 13.5% | 260 | Poor |
| D | Headlands State Park (E) | Lake | 14.2% | 282 | Poor |
| D | Cranberry Creek | Erie | 17.6% | 108 | Poor |
| D | Conneaut Township Park | Ashtabula | 17.8% | 163 | Poor |
| D | Heidelberg Beach | Erie | 18.3% | 262 | Poor |
| D | Nickel Plate Beach | Erie | 18.4% | 299 | Poor |
| D | Parklawn Beach | Cuyahoga | 20% | 50 | Poor |
| D | Bay View East | Erie | 20.9% | 325 | Poor |
| D | Maumee Bay State Park (Erie)) | Lucas | 22.1% | 195 | Poor |
| D | Sawmill Creek | Erie | 22.2% | 99 | Poor |
| D | Lagoons Beach | Erie | 22.3% | 439 | Poor |
| D | Huntington Beach | Cuyahoga | 22.8% | 523 | Poor |
| D | Wagar Beach | Cuyahoga | 23.3% | 86 | Poor |
| D | Villa Angela State Park | Cuyahoga | 23.8% | 1,233 | Poor |
| D | Century Beach | Lorain | 24.3% | 494 | Poor |
| D | Edgecliff Beach | Cuyahoga | 24.4% | 86 | Poor |
| D | Pickerel Creek | Erie | 24.5% | 102 | Poor |
| F | Bay Park Beach | Cuyahoga | 25.3% | 87 | Failing |
| F | Clifton Beach | Cuyahoga | 25.7% | 144 | Failing |
| F | Arcadia Beach | Cuyahoga | 25.9% | 162 | Failing |
| F | Moss Point Beach | Cuyahoga | 26.7% | 86 | Failing |
| F | Royal Acres Beach | Cuyahoga | 26.7% | 86 | Failing |
| F | Main Street Beach | Erie | 28% | 289 | Failing |
| F | Whites Landing | Erie | 29.2% | 161 | Failing |
| F | Clarkwood Beach | Cuyahoga | 31.8% | 85 | Failing |
| F | Sherod Park Beach | Erie | 32.8% | 274 | Failing |
| F | Noble Beach | Cuyahoga | 35.8% | 95 | Failing |
| F | Camp Perry | Ottawa | 36.4% | 55 | Failing |
| F | Lake Front Park | Erie | 36.8% | 291 | Failing |
| F | Beulah Beach | Erie | 36.9% | 282 | Failing |
| F | Lion's Park | Erie | 37.1% | 97 | Failing |
| F | Maumee Bay State Park (Inland) | Lucas | 37.8% | 180 | Failing |
| F | Bay View West | Erie | 38% | 263 | Failing |
| F | Darby Creek | Erie | 39.8% | 216 | Failing |
| F | Sims Beach | Cuyahoga | 41.2% | 97 | Failing |
| F | Columbia Park Beach | Cuyahoga | 42.6% | 101 | Failing |
| F | Lakeview Beach | Lorain | 48.4% | 279 | Failing |
| F | Lakeshore Park | Ashtabula | 53.5% | 99 | Failing |
Download the full Ohio beach safety ranking
All 53 graded Ohio beaches with their Beach Safety Grade, exceedance rate, sample counts, and program status — from EPA monitoring data. Enter your email to download. A grade is a multi-year classification, not a same-day safety clearance.
Ohio beach grade updates
Get new grades and water-quality updates for Ohio beaches by email.
Where to stay near Ohio beaches
Find beachfront hotels, condos, and vacation rentals across Ohio — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Ohio beaches
Prices for Oct 2–4, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Ohio beach grades
Get an email when a graded Ohio beach posts a new sample or swim advisory.
Frequently Asked Questions
The table ranks Ohio beaches by Beach Safety Grade from EPA bacteria samples. Grade A beaches have the fewest exceedances of the safe-swimming limit.
Hotels, condos, and vacation rentals for Ohio beaches are on the map on this page. Compare water quality in the table, then book from the town you actually want to swim from.
Ohio beaches vary. Of 53 graded beaches, 1 earn an A for the fewest bacteria exceedances and 21 earn an F for exceeding the safe-swimming limit most often. A grade is a multi-year record, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory the day you swim.
The day you swim. A grade is a history of samples, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory before you get in.