Plastic pollution is a growing problem in lakes and rivers, but we still don’t fully understand where plastics collect along shorelines. This study looked at plastic debris on six beaches on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain. Sand samples were collected in 2024 during two periods: first from all six beaches between July and October, and later from two beaches in Burlington in November, focusing on areas with more or fewer visitors. Researchers examined the plastics by size, shape, color, and type using lab techniques. Most plastics found were smaller than 5 mm, called microplastics. Oakledge Beach had the highest amount of plastic, while Sandbar had the least. In November samples, most plastics were found in the vegetation line, where waves and wind tend to push debris. At one beach, plastics were more common in less-visited areas; at another, they were more common where people visit more. Most plastic pieces were small fragments, and the most common colors were transparent and white. The most common plastic types were polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene. These results help us understand how and where plastic pollution builds up on freshwater beaches and can guide future cleanup and research efforts.