At under two hours away, Cacapon Resort State Park in West Virginia is a nice option for beachin for a day trip or an overnight at the resort which has buckets of activities.

I enjoyed a serene hour there, with only me and a few teenage lifeguards starting the season on Memorial Day weekend. There is a cash only entrance fee, but I got waved in because I was just hanging out and not going in the water (and the only one there). The beach area is not very large, but deep with soft sand and shaded in the back. Being a small lake, the water appearance is no match for ocean but the evergreen background is so lovely.

The details:

From the website: Summer beach hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays except on holidays. Subject to change due to school session resuming in August. Swimming reopens on Memorial Day weekend. Lake entry is cash only: $6 for 12 and older and $5 for 11 and under as well as seniors. 

What I liked:

• Great sand
• Basic amenities
• Boating option
• Fee is not that bad
• Lots of other activities in the area

Not a fan of:

• Small so during the summer I can see it getting crowded
• The stairs to get down to the beach would be difficult for those with limited mobility. I think there is another access point

Concluding thoughts…

I really want to bring the fam all back here for an overnight. Beyond beachin, there is great hiking, biking, horseback riding, clay shooting, and more, in addition to Berkley Springs just ten miles down the road.