This isn't my favorite beach but its nice to birdwatch at especially during the waterfowl migration. Plenty of parking and the beach is vast. Check the water conditions before you go. read more

A fabulous time here and if you arrive early enough, there isn't an agent at the entrance to take fees. So that's a bonus for me. Clean, soft sand and an onshore breeze today made for a wonderful visit. On top of that, there was an open outlet on one of the light poles so I parked next to that and spent the afternoon with a free Level 1 charger to bring my onboard battery up to 100%. Great beach, free charging, I had a very good time! [Review 1517 of 2024 - 433 in New York - 22540 overall] read more

Woodlawn Beach State Park - Woodlawn Beach State Park, Blasdell - Beaches Near Me - Blasdell, New York

See all

Super fun and clean!! Paid parking was worth it. We were with the kids but we plan to come back without them for adult beverages

When entering the state park there is a $7 fee per vehicle to park on their lot.The beach is huge, clean and well maintained. You can play volleyball, build a sand castle , work on your summer tan or stay late to watch a gorgeous sunset. They have a bar sole to grab drinks and maybe catch a band on certain nights. read more

See all

There is a $7 vehicle fee to enter with plenty of onsight parking. There is sole, a bar area to grab a drink and listen to a band.The beach is clean and kept up.There is a volley ball net to enjoy a game.Other wise just come out for quality family time , to sun worship or just catch a beautiful sunset. read more

See all

Great place to go if you need a mental break and or physical activity. Gorgeous and breath taking. I love it. read more

See all

Wow, I haven't been here in 10+ years but people have been telling me about how different Woodlawn has become and I still can't believe it. The sand is soft and upkept, swimming is safe and there are lifeguards there to direct you into the safe areas to swim (guarded area is just for swimming, unguarded area is where you can bring balls to throw and floaties to sit on). There are volleyball courts and even a big bar area where you can get some light food and drinks. It's amazing what they did with this place. It's $7 admission fee for parking and worth every penny. read more

I can hang out at the beach all day, everyday. I like going to Woodlawn because it is close to the city and a short drive. One con about this beach is that it is rocky. I went last week, and there so many rocks and pebbles... it hurt to walk I had to put my flip flops back on! However, today the beach looks much more cleaned up and less rocky. I hope they keep it up! read more

This is my go-to beach in the 716. I've been here dozens of times. It is the closest beach to where we live in the Northtown burbs, so my regular beach haunt after work. When it's not frozen, anyway. Woodlawn is a BIG beach with a long stretch of waterfront. I love walking the shoreline, as walking in the sand is great for the hammies. You can easily clock two miles or more of walking if you go up and down the shoreline from the windmills, to where the public beach ends past the tiki bar. It's a well-attended beach, so it isn't always the cleanest or quietest beach. But it's generally well kept and mostly peaceful when I'm there later in the day on weekdays. When the weather is nice, I try to get here at least once a week to trek up and down the sand, soak up some rays, enjoy the lake views, and do my best to turn my brain off for a bit. There is a park entrance fee, but after 6pm it is free to get in. The bathrooms are a bit of a walk from the beach, so best to use them before heading down to the water. They are big bathrooms, which I've found to be clean enough anytime I've used them. No outdoor spickets here, but there are showers in the bathrooms to de-sand your feet. There can be loud boomboxes or rowdy bar patrons on occasion, but I have kids, so it's not hard for me to block out chaos or transcend it to white noise. As I look out my window at the lightly falling flakes in the 29-degrees air, I definitely miss my Woodlawn strolls. Hasta la vista for now, baby, but I'll be back! read more

See all

Event area review. I'll start by saying that it's a state park so I do not expect all that much and the beach is very nice to go spend the day if you like that sort of thing. I was here the other day for an event hosted by some friends that took place in the event center. I must say I don't think I'd ever venture to have an event here. The layout is very awkward and broken up. Also due to it being a public park you will have the odd vagrant wandering through your event. Even saw a guy walk up to the bar that definitely wasn't invited. In addition there is a cop on stand by waiting for people to leave to give that one buddy of yours that third DUI. All in all I would never book an event here based on my experience. If you want to get married on the beach; do that and have the reception elsewhere. read more

We take the kids in the off season to look for beach glass and fossils, it's okay them, but half the summer it seems like swimming is closed true to high levels of e coli (read: sewage). I was all happy to take my family there one day and we got there to find puddle of stinking, black sewer water washed up onto the beach. The city and county need to get a handle on our waste management, it's disgusting and sad. Call and check the status before you go. At least you *can* call and check first, unlike some beaches in the south towns where you can't even do that. And at least it's open to everyone, unlike Hamburg beach. But yeah. Today, on a beautiful 4th of July, swimming is closed. read more

Decent beach for Buffalo where you don't have to drive far. I come here over Sunset simply because it's closer. The water can be gross so I try very hard not to swim in it. There is a volleyball court and portapotties. There are regular bathrooms towards the front. I do really enjoy the tiki bar next to the beach. They have DJs playing and more volleyball courts. You do need your ID to get into that area but I thinks it's the best additive to the beach. read more

Woodlawn Beach State Park - Beach day on a hot 90 degree weather day - Beaches Near Me - Blasdell, New York

Haven't been here in years and came just to see fireworks. Didn't realize they had a hopping beach. Felt like I was in Florida, Maryland or any beach area with lots of things to do. Can't believe they have cabanas for rent, a tiki bar/restaurant. I am not a fan of swimming in lake erie but I think they have enough going on just to enjoy the beach area, people watch, grab some food and drinks. They had a great walkway from the entrance to the beach. That was a nice surprise. It just gave a nice vibe for a beach in Buffalo. Might have to try this place during the day and try the Tiki Bar. Fireworks were awesome and traffic was not bad and they had police directing which was a great idea. read more

We have fun at the beach. Someone lost their life a Young, 16 year-old boy drowned in the water.

Hectic beach. Water is not clear and doesn't feel super nice to swim in. There is a bar onsite for food, etc so it's nice if you want to come and hang out, but not the best for swimming. More of a party beach than a relax beach. There is volleyball onsite which is nice, but I haven't had a chance to play. There is a parking fee, which I've heard you can get around by parking nearby and walking in if you really want to. On a hot day, it's the closest option to downtown Buffalo and it's fun with the right people. I was happy to practice some yoga on the beach and took a dip, but I'd only come back if I really had to. read more

This is the perfect little beach getaway if you are strapped for time and don't want to drive to Canada or far down Route 5. The water isn't as crystal clear as further down Lake Erie and the sand has a lot of driftwood - but otherwise, it's a really fun beach. First of all, it's large - if there are private areas on this beach, they are really far away. You can easily find a spot away from the masses if you prefer a little more peace and quiet. During their regular hours there are lifeguards positioned near the swimming area. But if you feel like being a rebel and swimming after hours, no one will stop you. You can watch the sunset while bobbing in the waves. If volleyball, badminton or another racket game is your thing, they have three nets open and available. They're pretty low for regular volleyball but that's not necessarily a bad thing for those of us who are less than 5'8". If you came here to drink, there are bars both in the sand near the water and also back in the trees. Bathrooms are located in the building by the parking lot, or you can brave the porta-potties on the beach. Now for the cherry on top, which many may not even notice when visiting: there is a beautiful, well-maintained boardwalk that goes from the building, through the plush trees/undergrowth and down to the sand. It's absolutely beautiful and is worth seeing. All this only 15-20 minutes outside downtown Buffalo! read more

Woodlawn Beach State Park - Beaches Near Me - Blasdell, New York

You can never go in the water here its too contaminated. But lets talk about weddings. My daughter was married here recently and while the wedding was taking place on the beach someone. (Presumably staff. The only people up there) went into the brides room and dumped out all the purses and stole money among other belongings. Management was informed immediately who said they would look into it but have not heard back from them. So if you go there lock up your belongings because someone there steals. The catering was great I do have to add which is the only reason 2 star's read more

It's a local beach. It's not too shabby. Make sure you bring some insect repellent because the Mosquitos will attack. I've been going here the past year and a half and I like it. It's pretty close to where I reside in south Buffalo. They have kayak rentals, two bars, a mini hut where you can buy food and a okay area for the kids. It's a fun filled adventure for those with children and for Those who just want to get out and do something. read more

Woodlawn Beach State Park - Let's kayak :) @lukework - Beaches Near Me - Blasdell, New York

Great spot to visit during COVID 19, with nice staff, reasonable prices and policies; and within earshot of things unlike far-away Sunset and Mickey Ratts, both of which are overpriced and 45-hour away. Would be 5/5 if not for the water sometimes being closed. Great bargain and site. read more

This beach is infamous and it lived up to its infamy today. Notes: -The nickname for this beach is "E.coli beach" because its often shut down for high E. coli levels, I would never swim here (My group, teachers, came here to explore whether or not we'd take students here for water samples for testing.) -You have to pay 7 bucks to get in, why????? The parking lot isn't well maintained, so where is that money going? -The beach is debris filled, but they do keep up the swimming, and playground areas pretty well -There are bars here, bounce house area, and playground on the beach. (I'm sorry going to the beach shouldn't involve any of those things. You're at a beach, not a beach bar.) -There is a marsh area with a beautiful boardwalk. -There are bars here.....(I'm sorry I can't get over it.) -Great view of the turbines and Ford plant This beach/state park is trying to be too many things at once. There's the beach, the beach bar, the marsh conservation area with educational signs, dune preservation area, bounce house, playground. Its like this place is having an identity crisis, its too much! When I want to go to the beach I want to be at the beach not a bounce house place, or beach bar or "beach museum". I would never come here again. read more

This was the first time I've visited this beach. In WNY, I've only ever been to Beaver Island. This one was much cleaner and the sand just felt more ... real? There were several bathrooms available on the beach, too. I liked that the beach area was very large. The size made it easy for us to avoid children and other obnoxious groups. There was a separate area available for adults, too. It appeared as though they had a full bar in there but I wasn't looking for drinks on this day so I can't be sure. There were multiple food vendors so I had a choice in what kind of beach snack I wanted. There were a few downsides to this beach - both having to do with the food vendors. The guy selling the hot dogs was very confused with our simple 3 item order. My friend specifically asked for no mustard on her hot dog and when he made a mistake about it - he pressured her to take the one he made in error instead of making her a correct one. He eventually made a new one but he made a deal about it. He also went ungloved at some points and when he did have them on - he touched food and money with the same ones. Another problem I had was with a teenage boy who used a racial slur to his coworker as I was purchasing ice cream from the stand. I made a disapproving comment to him about it and he mocked me. Other than the staff on the beach, I really liked what this beach had to offer. I will definitely be back. Hopefully the management reads Yelp reviews I would like for them to be aware of these problems with their beach staff. read more

Best beach in buffalo to take kids. Nice sized playground in close proximity to a fenced in bounce house area. $5 per kid to bounce all day. Kids have a blast going back and forth between the water, playground, bounce area and playing in the sand. Clean beach and only $7 to park read more

Weird seeing this beach in the middle of Hamburg/Blasdell surrounded by wind turbines and the Ford factory. Even weirder that you have to pay $7 for lot parking and you walk through a little forest to get to the beach. It's a pretty dirty beach both on shore and in the water but it's surprisingly packed with ppl of all ages. Also, it's weird having a beach on a lake which was a first for me. You can go out 30-40 yards into the water without any change in depth. Volleyball and beach tennis nets are up but make sure you bring sandals b/c there's so much wood debris in the sand. But just the mere existence of a beach 15 minutes outside the city is impressive in itself. read more

Woodlawn Beach State Park - Beaches Near Me - Blasdell, New York

Being a Hamburg, NY native (I live in Arizona now), I was excited to visit Woodlawn Beach for the first time. I'd heard good things about Longboards (the former bar/restaurant), and the beach in general. Upon arriving, we made our way down to the beach and found a beautiful wooden boardwalk, sand dunes and pretty decent beachfront. However, it seems a bit scattered in terms of whether this is trying to be a beach or an amusement park. The bounce house, playground and ice cream stand were great for the kids...but the employees were inattentive, apathetic and somewhat rude. Our daughters went into the bounce house area, but had troubles. They got scared and confused, and got stuck in the attraction. Despite the screams and crying, not a single employee even rose to their feet to help (they were sitting in chairs under a tent. When we eventually moved on to another bounce activity, an employee appeared to be napping in it (no joke!). When the rains came, we went up to the bar/restaurant...and I had to basically beg someone behind the bar for service. The girls (three of them) appeared more interested in talking to each other than in serving my family. The food was pretty good, but the service really ruined the experience. All-in-all, a pretty frustrating experience. Save your time and money and just head anywhere else. Disappointed in the Town of Hamburg for this failure of a project. Is the $7.00 parking fee that critical? If you're not going to do something with a focus on integrity and class, don't do it at all. read more

Finally have teenage kids that make going to the beach enjoyable & relaxing~ We headed to Woodlawn to check it out for the 1st time. We were shockingly surprised with excitement. Kids and I walked through the woods to a Beautiful Beach front close to Buffalo. My son even mentioned that minus the palm trees, you'd never know you were in Buffalo NY. We packed a lunch & drinks, which was easy and convenient. Brought a floaty, wet football and towels too. Bathrooms by entrance were very clean, with showers if needed. Lockers for rent. The vending machine must of been out of a few drinks, because a man was asking if there was anywhere else to purchase a pop. On the beach were port a potties, a Playground (no swings), volleyball nets, soft peebles/sand beach. Water was shallow and clear, I was shocked after all the reviews over past years. Love feeling the soft sand ripples under your feet, the sound of kids and seagulls. Tiki bar next door had soothing Caribbean style music playing. Overall we had a Positive experience, we are beach lovers, and will be back this summer. And don't forget your $7.oo to Park~ read more

See all

The beach itself is always great. The bar is always out of popular liquor both at the beach and in the parking lot bar. Food? Forget it, it took 45 mins for a cheeseburger and had to walk up to the parking lot. This used to be a great place to stop on the boat have a drink grab a bite and hang. Now it's the pits. Bring back the previous operator it was a 5 star show. We will return when that happens, otherwise worth The ride to Mickey Rats or even sunset. We all thought it would become the new Mickey Rats but that has since changed. read more

Woodlawn Beach State Park - View from the Boat - Beaches Near Me - Blasdell, New York

Had so much fun here with bestie and the kids!! Love how the beach is being built up looks great clean and super fun!!! Amazing job!! Going back every chance I get!!! read more

See all

Went to this beach for the first time. Was thrilled with the experience! Yes, there is a view of turbines...and yes, it IS lake water. But apparently, this beach has undergone a major overhaul...sand was GREAT, must have brought new sand in? Or really cleaned it up - I didnt notice any debris from driftwood like others mentioned. There was a gorgeous boardwalk down to the sand. A huge bounce house area open 11-6pm, for my kids that was awesome (extra $5/child though). Snack shacks, bars, kayak rentals. Beach is over 1 mile long...plenty of space, even volleyball nets are setup. Lifeguards also out floating IN the water, to be sure little ones don't go in the water too deep. We had a great time...would definitely return. We are in East Aurora & this was literally a 20 minute drive! nice. read more

My favorite beach in Buffalo! This place has 2 separate bars and one is only for adults - no children allowed. They have table service and large couches and cabanas you can rent. They do a bonfire on weekend nights and it's the perfect ending to a day full of sun. The water is warm and shallow, and there's usually live music. The bathrooms are very large and clean, and they have a ton of amenities. Parking is free after 6 so it's a great place to go and walk and take in the sunset, or picnic. read more

We had a beach party here they were very accommodating with out arrangements. Love the bar on the beach made it easy to entertain our guests. The sand was clean and the water was awesome we had a great time. There is also a volley ball net up as well read more

Most times I've showed up to soak up the sun the beach has been closed due to contamination in the water. They've had far too many outbreaks but definetely a good thing that they remain closed. Just wish this weren't the case since this beach is so conveniently close and me and the girls enjoyed coming here. read more

Very disappointed...new proprietor for the beach bar was NOT prepared for Memorial Day Weekend....NO Beach chairs, tables, umbrellas, chaises etc. No port-a-potties...Only picnic tables....how do you layout on one of those ? No servers and no credit card service on the beach.... bartender was nice, but beer was warm ...we left after 30 minutes. We come here every week in season...and Woodys Taqueria had it's issues-inconsistent food quality and service with bartenders/servers. So we will give the new owners a chance to redeem themselves....and work to enhance the experience, and make Woodlawn Beach a choice destination... for the 2014 season.. read more

We hosted our daughters wedding at Woodlawn on 9/8/18. The site could not have been more beautiful. From entering the beach on the boardwalk to crossing the manicured packed sand in front of their lovely rustic wood trellis, in front of our beautiful lake Erie, it was exactly what the kids wanted as the backdrop for their commitment to each other. The indoor and outdoor event space was perfect for entertaining our 200 guests. They put up a large tent immediately adjacent to the building and portico which included propane heaters to make everyone comfortable in what was a surprise drop in temps - given the 90 degree days just 3 days prior. The portico was set up for buffet tables and turned into the dance floor so efficiently/professionally you didn't even notice the transition. They also have a room for the bride and her attendants for "get ready" photos and a place to stash ALL the countless paraphernalia that 6 girls "need". Woodlawn staff was very accommodating and with few instructions put in place all the decorations dropped off in tubs, boxes and bags just the day before. We highly recommend Woodlawn and its staff as a great choice for hosting an event. read more

I am a kite surfer who frequently travels from Rochester to this wonderful park to enjoy the beautiful beach and lake for my recreation. I can't say enough about how great this place is and how warmly we have been made welcome by Ray Pawlowski and the entire staff that runs this place for the Town of Hamburg. The facilities are clean and well maintained. The beach is kept pristine. We have a great community of kiters and have made good friends from all over western New York, who are drawn here to play. During the summer, the beachgoers and the music and beach bar creates a vibe that is unique and fun. read more

Wasn't allowed to park handicap when I had a driver... wasn't allowed to walk in front along the water near the beach club. As a hamburg resident all my life I will no longer return. read more

Get there at sunrise during the summer and bring a coffee and snack and watch Lake Erie.

We stopped last Friday night for sunset and to see what it looks like. The only good part was the sunset. We did see Woodys on the beach, pretty packed with their fenced in drinking area. They had portapotties at the back of the beach. Which we could actually smell at the waters edge. The sand was ok until you reached the water. It looked more like mud and it smelled!! The water was not clear and we really did not want to walk in there. Gross. The beach needs a major clean up. It could be a nice beach as to the left and right of where we were was un-occupied. With the history of water issues in the area, we will not be coming here again. We chose to go to Crystal Beach Canada. The water is clean and clear. Our other choice would be Presque Isle in Erie, PA. Both are worth the ride. read more

I have had the opportunity to visit beaches in Florida, California and Hawaii and for a Lakeside beach, I think Woodlawn Beach is great! Whether you stroll down the sandy entrance or the bridge to the beach, they are both picturesque. At my first visit there, I watched an entire bridal party, formally dressed, pull off their shoes and run down the beach. That is something you do not see at most beaches. The sand is maintained and the beach attendants, I feel take care not to litter. It is family oriented with plenty to do for both the adults and the children shown by the presence of the bounce houses, swing sets, picnic areas, variety of alcoholic beverages, variety of food, gift shop and fire pits as well as availability of the banquet facility for an event. I wish the new owner good luck and hope the current beach attendants continue to support this beautiful location. read more

Great beach. Clean and well-maintained. My only gripe is that there are lifeguards. They are total beach nazis. They start yelling if you go too far out into the water. I would think that if you pay $7 to get in, you should be able to do whatever you want. I would give this place 5 stars if they would just get rid of the lifeguards. read more

I remember going to this beach many years ago and not being impressed, but it has really really improved. 7 dollars for parking isn't bad, especially if a few people come in one car. The new boardwalk and conservation area is beautiful. The beach is spacious with pretty clean sand and what a view of the lake - just beautiful. I'm not really interested in the Tiki bar or the bounce castle, but if you're a young single or bringing kids you might find it fun. Once in awhile swimming is closed because of bacteria levels, but that is true of all of Lake Erie. That is a shame. At least they warn us. Great beach. I enjoy it. read more