Buck Creek State Park Beach
Springfield, Ohio
Swim
Buck Creek State Park is a breezy lakeside escape just outside Springfield, Ohio, built around the sparkling 2,120-acre C.J. Brown Reservoir. With a long sandy beach, wide-open water, and rolling meadows and wetlands alive with wildlife, it's one of west-central Ohio's most popular spots to swim, boat, and soak up a summer day.
The swimming is the star. The park's main beach stretches some 2,400 feet of sand near the boat launch — plenty of room to spread out a towel, build a sandcastle, and wade into the cool reservoir. There's also a quieter second beach, Autumn Beach, near the campground, a lovely spot for an evening swim or to watch the sunset over the water. The big reservoir is equally beloved by boaters, sailors, anglers, and paddlers.
A couple of helpful tips: while the beaches are sandy, the lake bottom is rocky, so bring water shoes to protect your feet, and note that pets aren't allowed on the swimming beaches. The main beach parking lot is open in the warm season (it closes November through April).
Summer is prime for swimming and water play, while spring and fall are wonderful for birding the wetlands and hiking the park's trails. Beyond the beach, Buck Creek offers camping, picnicking, fishing, and miles of shoreline to explore. Bring sunscreen, water shoes, and a picnic, keep an eye on kids in the open water, and pack out your trash. Easy to reach yet genuinely relaxing, Buck Creek State Park is a classic Ohio lake day done right.
More Information
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Springfield, Ohio
- Head north on S Limestone St toward E Main St (0.1 mi)
- Turn right at the 2nd cross street onto E Columbia St (0.4 mi)
- Slight left onto US-40 E (3.4 mi)
- Turn left onto N Bird Rd (1.1 mi)
- Continue straight onto Buck Creek Ln (0.7 mi)
- Turn leftDestination will be on the right(394 ft)
From US Route 40 east out of Springfield, turn north at the traffic light onto Bird Road. The road changes names to Buck Creek Lane at the next traffic light. Continue north into the park.
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