Are you looking for the best West Michigan beaches? Listed below are some of the most popular, unique, and stunning beaches in the state of Michigan.
Planning a trip to Michigan is super exciting! If you’re anything like me, you’re here because you love to research and plan your trip ahead of time. As a Michigander born and raised, I am giving you a list of 11 stunning West Michigan Beaches.
You are going to learn about the best beaches for families, dog friendly beaches, and state parks with beautiful campgrounds and beaches. After learning about these places, you are going to be ready for your next dessert adventure!
This post is my list of 11 stunning West Michigan beaches.
West Michigan Beaches
If you are a Michigan resident and plan to go to any Michigan State Park beaches, I highly recommend purchasing a recreation passport when purchasing your license plate tabs. At just $19.00, these special tabs will allow you free entrance into all of the Michigan State Parks.
If you are not a Michigan resident, you can purchase a one-day, or multi-day pass to any Michigan State Park at the time of entrance. For county and private parks, plan to pay a small fee.
Grand Haven
1. With not one, but two lighthouses, Grand Haven State Park is a true landmark of West Michigan. You’ll often see photographs of the big red lighthouse at the end of the pier. This beach is great for families and young adults alike. What I like most about this state park beach is that if the parking lot gets full, there is plenty of alternate parking nearby. I also like that it is adjacent to downtown Grand Haven so after enjoying the beach, you can easily walk to town for lunch or dinner. I recommend Pronto Pups and The Kirby House!
2. A great dog friendly beach is Kirk Park! This park allows off leash dogs! Check out this smaller beach with your furry friends so they can soak up the sun and sand with you.
Holland
3. I love going to Holland State Park because of its accessibility. There is a large parking lot that is right off of the sand, making it a short walk to your sunny spot for the day. I recommend arriving early as the parking lot does fill up quickly. Once it’s full, the entrance is closed and street parking is quite a distance from the beach. It’s a nice family friendly beach.
4. If you do end up being denied entrance into Holland State Park, it’s a short drive to the Ottawa County Tunnel Park. This park is named after the large tunnel that leads to Lake Michigan. Beyond the tunnel, there are some stairs and a steep hill before getting to the beach. This park usually has parking spaces available in the connected parking lot. If not, there is additional parking across the street. Note that if you are not an Ottawa County resident, there is a fee to enter the park. This park is also great for picnics and cookouts! There are several outdoor grills available for use.
Muskegon
5. Muskegon State Park is 3 miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. It has become one of my favorite campgrounds and beaches! This part of the lake seems to always be the perfect color blue! The beach is easily accessible with the parking lot right off of the beach.
6. Pere Marquette Park is wheelchair accessible as it has a 200 foot handicap walkway! Unique to other parks, Pere Marquette offers kiteboarding rentals and lessons! There are also paddle board and jet ski rentals.
7. Another dog friendly park is Kruse Park. Unfortunately the beach portion of the park is closed due to erosion, but you can still enjoy other parts of the park with your furry friends!
8. P.J. Hoffmaster State Park has a great campground and a half-mile round trip dune climb. This is a great family friendly and kid friendly beach. There is a playground on site and it’s located right next to the campground.
Saugatuck
9. If you’re looking for a little more adventure, I recommend Saugatuck Dunes State Park. This park involves a small hike from the parking lot to get to the beach. If you’re in Saugatuck, I recommend going for a Dune Buggie ride along the dunes. As one of the only cities still offering dune rides, it’s a one of a kind experience!
10. Across from Rosemont Inn is the small Douglas Park beach. This park has only 10 parking spots, but offers beautiful views of the sunset. I suggest getting dinner in Saugatuck or Douglas and making your way to Douglas Park for a sunset nightcap.
11. Named by Conde Naste as one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States, Oval Beach is definitely worth checking out. This park does require a fee to enter. You will experience the softest white sand and witness some of the most beautiful sunsets at this beach.
Michigan is truly a beautiful state, especially with its seemingly endless shoreline of Lake Michigan. There are so many different beaches and parks to enjoy in the summer. I highly recommend visiting one (or many) of these beaches the next time you’re in West Michigan.
If you’re looking for more things to do in Saugatuck, check out my post 17 Super Fun Things to do for a Weekend in Saugatuck.
If you plan to visit Michigan beaches in the winter, check out 25 Things to Do and Wear in Michigan Winter Weather.
This post is my list of 11 stunning West Michigan beaches.
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