We’ve had several people reach out to us with questions about the beach at Maumee Bay State Park so I thought I would put together a quick little guide for anyone thinking about visiting! It’s no secret that our family loves this beach. It’s only a 25 minute drive from our house and the beach offers some gorgeous views of Lake Erie. And since it’s a state park, the beach and the marshy trails surrounding it are open to the public during Ohio’s Stay at Home Order (just make sure you social distance yourself from others and bring your masks!).
Even though the beach is currently open, there are some limitations due to the current public health emergency. For starters, there are no public restrooms available. Under the Ohio Governor’s Stay at Home Order, all public restrooms are currently closed. Second, it is mandated you practice social distancing, so make sure to remain six feet away from others (park rangers do drive around regularly). Third, and this is true all the time, there are no lifeguards on duty on the main beach so you swim in the lake at your own risk!
Even though it’s probably obvious, I do need to point out that Ohio beaches are much, much smaller than beaches on the East Coast, in Florida, or California beaches. Because they are so small, what they lack in amenities such as access to refreshments, they make up for in less crowds and a more relaxed atmosphere .
So, without further ado, here are a few tips:
- Bring your own beach towel, blankets, or chairs (I love to bring our Turkish beach towels from Anchors Aweigh Supply Co.). During the summer months I recommend a beach umbrella, too.
- Pack a picnic basket or cooler with snack and refreshments.
- Bring extra clothing – it’s always at least ten degrees cooler along the shore than it is inland.
- Get there early, especially in the warmer months. Because Ohio beaches are smaller, they do fill up quicker. We always get there around 10 a.m., which is at least an hour or more before the crowds. This past weekend we had the entire beach to ourselves and it was amazing!
- Bring toys if you have kiddos – shovels, pails, buckets, bath toys, etc.
- If you are an adult, bring a book, some music, or a magazine.
- The beach is more gravely than sandy, so just keep that in mind.
- This beach doesn’t boast a ton of shells, so if you are looking to search for seashells by the seashore you will be quite disappointed.
- I’m not an expert on high tide and low tide, but currently it appears as though spring low tide is between 10am-1pm. I include this because you have much more beach to walk around on.
Another local tip, if the main beach is too crowded, the park also boasts a 57-acre in-land beach and lake! It’s about half a mile from the main beach and offers a much quieter atmosphere. Plus, you can swim, fish, paddleboat, and rent canoes on this lake!
Hopefully if you are planning a safe trip to the bay, these tips will help and prepare you for a lovely day at one of Ohio’s many Lake Erie beaches.
Slainte,
Shannon
A Dash of Solt 