Updated August 2026
Best beaches in Pennsylvania by water quality
Pennsylvania has 14 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 8 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. . Full ranking below. National lists: cleanest beaches in the US and beaches that exceed bacteria limits most often.
Pennsylvania beaches on the map
| Grade | Beach | County | % over limit | Samples | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Beach 10 (Budny Beach) | Erie | 5.6% | 447 | Good |
| B | Freeport Beach | Erie | 6.1% | 228 | Good |
| C | Beach 9 (Pine Tree Beach) | Erie | 7.3% | 423 | Fair |
| C | Beach 1 | Erie | 9.6% | 586 | Fair |
| C | Barracks Beach | Erie | 10% | 329 | Fair |
| C | Beach 7 (Water Works Beach) | Erie | 11.7% | 614 | Fair |
| C | Beach 6 | Erie | 11.8% | 561 | Fair |
| D | Beach 11 | Erie | 16.1% | 471 | Poor |
Download the full Pennsylvania beach safety ranking
All 8 graded Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania beach grade updates
Get new grades and water-quality updates for Pennsylvania beaches by email.
Where to stay near Pennsylvania beaches
Find beachfront hotels, condos, and vacation rentals across Pennsylvania — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Pennsylvania beaches
Prices for Oct 2–4, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Watch Pennsylvania beach grades
Get an email when a graded Pennsylvania beach posts a new sample or swim advisory.
Frequently Asked Questions
The table ranks Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania beaches vary. Of 8 graded beaches, 0 earn an A for the fewest bacteria exceedances and 0 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.