8 Stunning Iowa Beaches That Look And Feel Like The Ocean
By Raymond Goldfield|Published June 28, 2022
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Raymond Goldfield
Author
Raymond Goldfield is a life-long New Jersey resident and an avid traveler and foodie who can be usually found on the Jersey Shore during the offseason or checking out the latest seasonal flavors at The Bent Spoon in Princeton. He has been working for Only In Your State for since early 2022, where he writes for New Jersey and Iowa and edits the Mid-Atlantic region. He can also be found writing about pop culture for GeekDad. When at home, he enjoys reading comic books and is part of The Rabbitt Stew podcast team. While New Jersey is his home base, he travels regularly and has visited Virginia, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, and Canada as well as all of NJ's border states. Ultimate travel goal? Visit all the best buffets in the United States.
Ready to go to the best beaches in Iowa? For an oceanfront getaway, you might have to travel halfway across the country – but that doesn’t mean you can’t find Iowa’s own personal slices of seaside paradise without ever leaving the Hawkeye State. From state parks to public lakeside beaches to unique retreats, these eight beaches will make you say “Atlantic Who?”
This is Iowa's largest lake, which definitely helps the ocean feel. You'll usually find the lake full of canoes during the summer months, and it's a popular spot for fishing.
This massive state park also has Iowa's longest beach, and the artificial sand area is a popular spot for building sandcastles or just soaking up the sun.
This large park has four different lakes open for fishing, boating, and swimming. Whether you want to get in the water or just soak in the cool lakeside air, this is a must-see getaway.
Arnolds Park is the closest thing Iowa has to a traditional coastal boardwalk town - so it's not a surprise that their public beach feels just like the ocean. This is a very popular spot during the summer.
This top-tier resort located in the middle of a state park has access to a stunning lake - complete with a sand beach where guests and park visitors can soak up the sun.
Have you been to any of these Iowa beachside getaways? Let us know about your trips, or tell us any personal favorite beaches we didn’t cover, in the comments section. If you’re interested in another peaceful summer getaway in Iowa, make sure to check out the most remote lake in Iowa.
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