Lake Erie State Parks

This directory lists 17 state parks and recreation areas on or beside the U.S. shore of Lake Erie in Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, counting the Niagara River parks that belong to the Erie system. Together they cover about 13,123 acres where an area is recorded. Canadian provincial parks are not included. County, city and national parks are not counted here.

Presque Isle State Park, at 3,112 acres (4.9 sq mi). Next come East Harbor State Park (1,831 acres) and Maumee Bay State Park (1,336 acres). Areas are as the park's record gives them; some include inland tracts well back from the water.

By the year each park's record gives as its founding: Niagara Falls State Park (1885), Presque Isle State Park (1921), Beaver Island State Park (1935). Some parks grew out of older federal or city land, so "established" means the year it became a park, not the year the land was first protected.

Every vehicle entering a Michigan state park needs a Recreation Passport, bought with your license plate registration or at the park. Many New York state parks charge a vehicle use fee in season; an annual Empire Pass covers it. Ohio does not charge an entry fee at its state parks. Camping and lodging are paid. Pennsylvania does not charge an entry fee at its state parks. Camping and some activities are paid. A few parks are run by towns, counties or commissions and set their own rules; each park page says so.