Best Beaches in West Michigan
West Michigan has over 50 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, full of amazing beaches, and cute little beach towns! From Muskegon down to Saugatuck, there are vast amounts of large and small beaches to choose from, all with their unique qualities that make them special to visit. In this post, we will share the best of the best of west Michigan beaches, complete with details and information about how visitors can enjoy each!
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Muskegon State Park
Up first on this list of the best west Michigan beaches is Muskegon State Park. Located on the north side of Muskegon Lake, this state park is home to three miles of breathtaking shoreline—two miles along Lake Michigan and one mile along Muskegon Lake. This state park also has picnic areas, 12 miles of groomed hiking trails, and a gorgeous overlook. This beach area is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and picnicking!
If you want to stay within the state park you have several options including two campgrounds, mini-cabins, and even a yurt! Within the campground, visitors have access to modern and semi-modern campsites some with 50 amp service.
Thanks to Muskegon’s track chair program visitors can explore areas of the park where traditional wheelchairs might not. These off-road, electronic chairs can easily handle trails, snow, sand, and up to eight inches of water. They are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at no cost to visitors.
Pere Marquette Park
Pere Marquette Park is the next great beach on this list! Located just south of the Muskegon Channel, this beach is a clean sandy area that is raked daily. There is also a 200-foot handicapped walkway to allow easy access down to the water. You can often see kit boarders, kayakers, and paddleboarders while enjoying the sun. Visitors can also find a restaurant, snack bar, playground area, restrooms, picnic tables, and volleyball courts within the park. There is also a popular Dog Beach at the south end of the park.
Make sure to grab a bite of food near the beach! One of the best local spots is The Deck. This restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. The best part is that the outdoor seating is on a deck overlooking the water or right on the beach! The beach seating has fun games and live music.
While enjoying your time at Pere Marquette Park, don’t forget to take a walk down to the Muskegon South Pierhead! A beautiful historical lighthouse located right on the shores of Lake Michigan. You can even schedule a tour and learn more about the lighthouse, just click here.
Pere Marquette Park is also home to the Burning Foot Beer Festival, the Great Lakes Surf Festival, and the Bright Lights Lighthouse Festival.
P. J. Hoffmaster State Park
Located just south of Muskegon, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park features over three miles of beautiful Lake Michigan Lakeshore! The park also features towering sand dunes, 10 miles of hiking trails, stunning views of Lake Michigan, and so much more. One of the main attractions at Hoffmaster State Park is the Dune Climb Stairway which leads to the top of a high sand dune where a large observation deck offers amazing views of the lake and sand dunes below.
To get a better understanding of the dunes and ecosystem nearby stop by the Gillette Sand Dune Visitors Center, which features educational exhibits and weekly programming. If you have little ones, they have a wonderful weekly preschool learning hour that is completely free!
There is also a 297-site modern campground. See more information on the campground by clicking here!
North Beach Park
North Beach Park is next on our list of Best West Michigan Beaches! Located in Ferrysburg, just north of the channel, this beach offers visitors tons of fun options to enjoy the day. These include great swimming waters, a beach walkway, dune stairs, a deck with a scenic view, a playground, picnic tables, a volleyball court, and modern restrooms.
This park also provides life jackets for the little ones—simply borrow one for the day! It’s also good to note that as an Ottawa County park there is a small fee to enter. The fee is $8.
Pro Tip: This is a great, slightly more secluded beach to take family photos at! See examples by Jaky Janine Photography below:
Grand Haven State Park
As you walk along the boardwalk along Lake Michigan, visitors have no choice but to run directly into Grand Haven State Park and the Grand Haven Pier. This 48-acre state park has a massive beach area, campground, bathroom/shower facilities, a kids’ play area, and a snack/souvenir shop. This is by far the most popular area of Lake Michigan beaches and, therefore, the busiest. So, make sure to arrive early and claim your spot! There’s also a wonderful campground within the state park where you can camp literally right in the sand with views of Lake Michigan.
If you don’t feel like dragging all of your gear with you to the beach, you can rent yourself a Beach Cabana! Check it out here!
Grand Haven State Park is also home to several big events throughout the year including the Annual Kite Festival, Sand Sculpture Contest, Soccer in the Sand, and more! See the full list of events by clicking here.
You will need a Recreation Passport to park at the State Park. Get yours by clicking here! You can also find parking down by the beach via city parking or walk down the boardwalk from the main city center.
Rosy Mound Natural Area
Rosy Mound is a wonderful example of the Great Lakes dune system, including high wooded dunes, open dunes, and a gorgeous sandy Lake Michigan beach. It’s a bit of a hike to get to the beach (.7 miles) but the journey is very enjoyable! There’s also a lovely dune walk and boardwalk trail to enjoy closer to the water. Rustic toilets are the only option near the beach but there are modern restrooms near the parking area.
A parking permit is required to access Rosy Mound.
One of the best ways to access the beach area at Rosy Mound is by boat! Simply head out the Grand Haven Channel and head south, the beach is located approximately 2.5 miles down the coast. Don’t own a boat? You can easily rent one in Grand Haven at Grand Haven Boat Rental or Sun Sports Rentals!
Tunnel Park
Located just north of Holland, Tunnel Park is a 22-acre park with a large Lake Michigan beach perfect for swimming and relaxing! The park gets its name from the unique tunnel which goes straight through a sand dune. to access the beach area. The park also has a playground area, sand dune stairway with great views of Lake Michigan, picnic areas, picnic shelters, volleyball courts, horseshoe pit, modern restrooms, and vending machines.
It is also good to note that as an Ottawa County park, there’s a small fee to enter. The fee is $8.
Holland State Park Beach
Up next on this list of Best West Michigan Beaches is Holland State Park! This is one of Michigan’s most visited state parks famed for its expansive beach, located near the Big Red Lighthouse, and stands out for its amazing sunsets. This beach is perfect for swimming, fishing, sunbathing, and relaxing! There is also a boat launch, concession stand, modern restrooms, changing area, playground, and campground. Want to see what the beach conditions are before you visit? Check out the 24/7 Beach cam at Holland State Park!
Pro Tip: You’ll need to purchase a day pass or Recreation Passport to access the beach.
Saugatuck Dunes State Park
Saugatuck Dunes State Park features 2.5 miles of secluded beach and a 200-foot wooded dune area! With four trails and a massive Lake Michigan beach area, this beach park is the perfect spot to spend the day. The four trails range in length from 2.5 miles to 5.5 miles and give visitors a chance to explore the dunes and relax with some amazing views.
- Beach Trail: Trail Length is 2.50 Miles*
- Livingston Trail: Trail Length is 2.50 Miles*
- North Trail: Trail Length is 2.50 Miles*
- South Trail: Trail Length is 5.50 Miles*
Dogs are also allowed at this beach but must be kept on a 6-foot leash at all times. For those ages 21 and over, you can enjoy Alcohol on the beach—just make sure to leave the glass bottles at home, plastic only.
A Recreation Passport is required to access the park.
Oval Beach
Voted one of the world’s best freshwater beaches by National Geographic, Oval Beach has a sweeping shoreline and backdrop of beautiful Lake Michigan dunes. This is a great Michigan beach! In addition to the amazing sandy beach, there is easy parking, concessions, and a nice picnic area. The beach is located just north of the wonderful, artsy town of Saugatuck.
Parking Information: $10 per car (collected from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.), $50 season pass. Day passes and season passes may be purchased at the beach gate. Cash and credit cards are accepted.
Other ways to get to the beach include taking the Chain Ferry from downtown Saugatuck for just $2 per person, or taking the Interurban Bus for $1 per ride, each way.
Millennium Park
Sprawling across four of west Michigan’s cities is the 1,400 acres of millennium park. With six acres of sandy beach along the 100-acre lake and a huge splash pad area, Millennium Park is a beach in west Michigan that you don’t want to miss.
The beach features a well-marked swimming area and boat rentals for those who want to get out on the water! There are also multiple conveniences within the VanAndel Beach House so visitors don’t need to leave throughout the day, including a concession stand with hot food options, snacks, and frozen treats—as well as lockers, changing rooms, and restrooms.
There’s a small fee to enter the park and enjoy everything it has to offer.
Fee Rates:
- Adults, 16 to 62 are $4
- Seniors, 63 and older are $3
- Children, 3 to 15 are $2
- Ages 2 and under are free
Season passes are also available and can be purchased here.
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Sara Moore
Sara is a mom, wife, and Grad student living in Coopersville Michigan! She is a lifelong lover of all things West Michigan. She loves writing and sharing all the wonderful things to do in the West Michigan area especially Grand Rapids and the lakeshore!
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[…] This Grand Haven Best Western is south of downtown and offers an indoor pool, hot tub, and a sundeck. One of the best hotels in Grand Haven Michigan! It’s a 5-minute drive from the Grand Haven City Beach and the hiking at the Rosy Mound Natural Area. Check out some other great West Michigan beaches within driving distance- here! […]
I’ve always heard of the beautiful beaches in Michigan, but have never been. Would love to check them out.
I had no idea there were so many great beaches in Michigan. They are beautiful and your photography is great.
I didn’t even realize there were so many cool beaches in Michigan! Thanks for sharing!
[…] This Grand Haven Best Western is south of downtown and offers an indoor pool, hot tub, and a sundeck. One of the best hotels in Grand Haven Michigan! It’s a 5-minute drive from the Grand Haven City Beach and the hiking at the Rosy Mound Natural Area. Check out some other great West Michigan beaches within driving distance- here! […]
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[…] right on the sand at Pere Marquette Beach in Muskegon, The Deck features beers and BBQ complete with amazing views of Lake Michigan. […]