Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park
4.5
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About
Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200-acre sandy peninsula that arches into Lake Erie and offers travelers a beautiful coastline and lots of fun in the water. Stop by the 19th-century lighthouse to enjoy the views, then go for a swim in one of the park’s sandy beaches or take a boat tour on the open waters of Lake Erie. You can also hike the marshy shores of the Gull Point Trail while spotting several threatened species and migrating birds. Presque Isle State Park is open from the early morning to sunset year-round. If visiting during winter, you may get to do some ice fishing too. – Tripadvisor
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
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  • David C
    Wadsworth, Ohio3,166 contributions
    A peaceful respite
    If I lived in this area, I would be here all the time. There are so many places to picnic, walk the beach, fish, fish or just hang out. It’s a beautiful peninsula. I really hope to be back. Enough space for a lot of people with 10 beaches. The bathrooms at the light house were very nice. Impressive park.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 8, 2023
  • Daydream02439512997
    Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania6 contributions
    Great and unique state park
    I visit this park often sometimes with just my spouse, sometimes with guests, often with grandkids. Great hiking trails, Great beaches. Camping, Waldemeer, and restaurants can be found near the entrance.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 13, 2023
  • Dennis D
    Saint Clairsville, Ohio1 contribution
    Great spot for beaches!
    My wife and I visit every summer for many years. We have come in each season over the years. We absolutely love the area. The beaches are many. As I recall like 10 different ones. Some are waveless some have waves just take your pick. The water is pretty clear and clean. We enjoy setting under an umbrella and reading. Occasionally I go in for a swim. It’s a wonderful property and only 5 hours from me.
    Visited July 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 26, 2023
  • Ron Gillen
    Poland, Ohio4 contributions
    So much to do…..
    Only live 1 1/2 hours away and never been here till now. Absolutely wonderful, beaches were very nice. We took a tour on The Lady Kate which gave us a great view of the water and lighthouses. We toured the one lighthouse where you can go to the top. Awesome. There is so many trails and beaches to explore. We will definitely be coming back.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 5, 2023
  • Suzanne D
    Nashville, Tennessee76 contributions
    Beautiful summer drive or extended stay
    A fun detour on our road trip. I wish we had planned more time. It seems to be about a 20 mile scenic drive thru here but we did not allow enough time. We just drove in a few miles, went to the lighthouse (buy your tix in the building in the parking lot).
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 19, 2023
  • Dede K
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania225 contributions
    A beach close to home!
    A beach close to home! When we were craving beach time, we took a road trip to Presque Isle Beach, and were not disappointed! Plenty of sand to sit on, make sandcastles, swim. The view of the gorgeous, sparkling water from the sun and the birds walking nearby on the edge of the water made this place an absolutely wonderful vacation spot or road trip stop. We will definitely be returning!
    Visited August 2022
    Traveled with family
    Written July 2, 2023
  • Maureen K
    Fayetteville, Georgia137 contributions
    A natural beauty!
    Wow. What an unexpected gem! This fee-free state park has something for everyone! Natural beauty, historical sites with plenty of beaches, trail, playgrounds and comfort stations. It was definitely worth the drive out there from the interstate on our road trip. Wish we lived closer!
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 10, 2023
  • Stephen S
    33 contributions
    Great Summer's Day
    Lovely way to spend a day in Erie! Takes nearly an hour to drive this loop on the peninsula and many activities are supported. These include swimming at some 11 beaches, boating, kayaks, bicycle and surrey rentals, fishing in some areas, and even archery while we were there. There is a lodge area that offers food and other amenities.
    Visited July 2023
    Written August 2, 2023
  • WorldTraveler
    Columbus, Ohio315 contributions
    Beautiful Scenery
    Very scenic drive surrounded by trees throughout the isle. Plenty of beaches with semi-soft sand along most of the isle. Plenty of picnic and shelter areas. Activities for families and anybody alike. Lighthouse is interesting to go up into and cost is about $8. Can spend a lot of time at this state park!
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 10, 2023
  • F4981JCmichaels
    Vancouver, Washington2,091 contributions
    A relaxing experience.
    This state park, located on a peninsula in Lake Erie, by Erie, Pennsylvania, was a nice place to visit. The speed limit keeps things at a slow pace, and in some places there is a one way loop. Great views of the lake and Erie too, and some nice beaches. There is also a place to view turtles, a monument to Admiral Perry, trails, and lighthouses to visit. Entrance is free. Restrooms are well located by many beaches and places of interest.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 13, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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weavertj
Punxsutawney81 contributions
Aug 2020
Have been coming here for 50+ years for family fun..and will continue to return again & again! The sparkling water, sandy beaches, & waves are always a treat! We have always enjoyed the Short Jetty beach but this time enjoyed Beach 6 very much. Come early if you need a picnic table and/or a shaded spot. Life guards do a great job. On this trip there was a very big dead fish afloat in the water. Without being told, the Lifeguard saw the smelly problem, & with a shovel, waded out retrieved the fish & removed it. Very much appreciated this & that the beaches are very well clean of debris. Considering that hundreds of folks visit the beaches, this means that they are committed to keeping them clean for all to enjoy!
Written August 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

307leven
Stroudsburg, PA284 contributions
Aug 2022
Visited the last weekend of August. This park has it all: beaches/swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, bicycling, picknicking, lighthouses, monument/history, etc. There is literally something for everyone at Presque Isle. Entrance to the park is free, but they accept donations. After making a donation, I received a map which was helpful at illustrating all the trails, beaches, boating/fishing areas, etc. I toured the Presque Isle Lighthouse which cost $10, but had historical exhibits that I viewed before walking to the top. The other lighthouse - the North Pier Light - is not available for tours, but can be viewed from the pier on which it sits. The Perry Monument is within an easy walk to the parking lot and commemorates Oliver Hazard Perry's successful defense of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. There are multiple trails throughout the park and they are easy to walk or bicycle as they are all on level ground. The park offers many parking areas and pull over areas to either walk to beaches, picnic areas or other points of interest. But, the park gets very crowded on the weekends, so plan accordingly and consider going during the week if you have that option. Also, if you can, plan to spend more than 1 day at this place because there are so many outdoor activities to do that you will want to spend more time here.
Written September 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John B
Newcomerstown, OH36 contributions
May 2020 • Family
We were out on a business trip in the middle of the week and my meeting got canceled because of COVID. We decided to enjoy the sunshine today instead of just going back home and we drove out on the peninsula for Presque and ended up spending an hour walking the beach. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much out of the shores of Lake Erie but the sunshine and the calmness of the lake was just what we needed to escape the stress of the economic downturn, if only for a short time.
Written May 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mrs C
7 contributions
Sep 2021
We have three grown children and our family of five had a wonderful time!! We've already told others they should go here for a visit.
We spent two full days on the beaches and the Bay side.
We wre able to swim and play in the water with plenty of room away from other people so it made it a nice time with just our family and not feeling like we were with a whole group of strangers. We don't like crowded beaches! With 13 beaches to go to it was easy to find one not crowded. There are life guards on duty and you are not allowed to swim until they get there at noon. There is even a beach that has waves big enough to surf. We enjoyed just body surfing in the waves.
We toured the main lighthouse. The $7 fee is worth the view from the top and the history is interesting. The other two lighthouses do not allow you to go inside of them.
We rented jet skis from the Bay side one day and had a blast. The park does not have jet ski rentals but they do offer other boat and bike rentals. There is even a free pontoon boat ride we didn't have time to take advantage of.
We went during Labor Day weekend and it wasn't crowded so I was really impressed!
Written September 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alison P
Wyomissing, PA625 contributions
Mar 2021
We could see the park from out hotel window and were thrilled to be able to drive over. The park is quite diverse in activities. We saw many people fishing, from the docks, shore and boats as well as paths for runners and walkers and cyclists. Beaches are available during warm weather. There is a monument and lighthouse to explore as well as seeing all the wildlife.
Written April 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David S
6 contributions
Oct 2020
I grew up going to "the peninsula" and always had a good time while there. I liked going in the water at the various beaches as a kid although I did get an infection once which wasn't pleasant at all. Overall considering the wear and tear Presque Isle gets each year it is not a bad experience. I think that cars should pay a fee to get onto the peninsula--fewer cars and more nature. Presque Isle once had cranberry bogs, but as usual human interference messed that up in time. Presque Isle is best appreciated in the off season.
Written September 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve P
North Ridgeville, OH18 contributions
Aug 2019
Presque Isle is one the hidden gems of Lake Erie I feel people are missing. This State Park is a Peninsula that has 12 unique beaches offering something for everyone. Inside the park there is paddle boarding, bike rental, jet skiing, and more. I know when you think of Lake Erie, you think of dirty murky water. However that is not the case here! You can literally stand in water to your chest and see your feet clearly! Do your family a favor and visit this location, you won't regret it.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tammys4224
Baldwinsville, NY186 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
Took a Lady Kate sunset cruise. Went out to Lake Erie to catch the sunset. On the way out our captain shared the history of Presque Isle and the role Lake Erie plays in the life of residents and wildlife there. Very informative and fun. Great for both adults and kids. Well spent 90 min and we captured the most beautiful sunset.
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Donna Z
Mountain Top, PA9 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
The 8 sandy beaches are awesome…,7 miles of it….the water is blue. Just beautiful…waves coming off Lake Erie it is so large and deep…. Beautiful sunsets Lots of camping in the Erie area…paddle boats and bikes to rent. Lighthouses to see. Boat tours are available for reasonable rates….parry’s luck will be with you!!
Written June 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TYPSUKR
Arlington, VA758 contributions
Aug 2022
We went to Beach 6 on a Friday in August. Unsurprisingly, people came out to enjoy the sun (bring some sunscreen). This freshwater beach is free to visit, and the only possible issue you may run into is getting a good parking spot. There are lifeguards stationed along the beach, and they only let you swim where there is coverage. The sand is decently clean and easy to walk on, and there is plenty of space to set up your beach, whatever it may be. While the lake is as clean as it has been in recent memory, we still opt to only go in waist-deep, but plenty of people were still swimming.
Written September 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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