Favorite Detroit Area Beaches
Are you looking for a Detroit beach?
It’s true, and there’s even more good news. There are many beaches in the metro Detroit area, just a short drive from the city.
Michigan beaches hold something for everyone, whether it’s a vast, sandy dune overlooking one of the Great Lakes, or a sandy patch of land at a local swimming hole.
Whether you’re a child splashing along the shore; a teenager gathering with friends; a family enjoying time together or simply seeking some contemplative time alone, the beaches in Michigan are special and speak to all of us.
Read on to discover 17 of our favorite beaches in the Metro Detroit Area. If you’re looking for a beach near me, scroll to the bottom for an interactive map of out favorite Detroit-area beaches!
Best Detroit Beach
Belle Isle Beach: BEST Detroit Beach
Where: 2 Inselruhe Ave, Detroit, MI 48207
Here it is: Your Detroit beach!
What’s not to love about a beach in the city: the Detroit skyline at the forefront and Windsor, Ontario at your back? Belle Isle Beach is a must -visit, as is the entire Belle Isle State Park.
Belle Isle really IS the jewel of Detroit, and this pretty beach on the Detroit River is one of the reasons for the title. Clean water, clean beach and clean restroom’s, too. Don’t miss the opportunty to explore the Belle Isle Aquarium, the Nature Center and the other attractions on Belle Isle, too.
There’s a nice clean beach and clear water, with lots of shady lawn to spread out. Jump Island, an inflatable waterpark featuring a floating rock-climbing wall and more, is also located at the park.
Beaches West of Detroit
Bishop Lake: Brighton State Recreation Area
Where: 6360 Chilson Rd, Howell, MI 48843
If you really want to feel like you’ve gotten away from it all, Bishop Lake is the spot for you. It’s not a Detroit beach proper, but it’s close enough to count.
It might be the pastoral setting: think green, rolling hills and a dirt road kicking up the dust before you turn into the parking lot, but once there, it is hard to believe you are just minutes from downtown Brighton.
Half-Moon Lake
Where: 8725 Hankerd Rd, Gregory, MI 48137
It’s one of the prettiest inland lakes in southeast Michigan, with a nice sandy beach and good swimming. You’ll find picnic tables, restrooms and lots of grass for spreading out and enjoying the sun.
Island Lake State Recreation Area
Where: 6301 Kensington Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
Like Kensington, you’ll have two beaches from which to choose at this State Park in Brighton, Kent lake and Spring Mill Pond. In additon to the swiming beaches, you’ll find camping sites, cabins to rent and track wheelchairs, too.
Spring Mill Pond
You can’t help but relax here. Spring Mill Pond gives off a real “up-north” type of feeling. Additioally, you’d be hard-pressed to find a beach with better water than this small, spring-fed pond.
Thanks to the spring, the water stays crystal-clear and cool all summer long, so it’s always immensely refreshing. There’s a sprawling, shady, grassy area with picnic tables and grills as well as a sand volleyball court, and the requisite restroom.
You’ll also find a fairly big beach, too, with enough room to sprawl out on a warm summer day.
The drive to the pond itself is part of the experience, too. It’s at least a mile or two through the park to get to the pond, under tunnels of trees and alongside wide, open, scenic meadows.
Kent Lake Beach
Kent Lake, also part of the Island Lake State Park, is a bit bigger than Spring Mill Pond.
You’ll find a sandy beach, a children’s play structure and a large lawn area with picnic tables and grills. Restrooms here, too.
Kensington Metropark Beaches
Where: 4570 Huron River Pkwy, Milford, MI 48380
Summer visits to Kensington – and other Metroparks for that matter – are part of a long-standing tradition: an opportunity to escape the pavement of the city and suburbia and get back to nature.
Although you feel miles away, it is really just a short jaunt up the expressway into another world, and that’s the beauty of it.
There are two beaches at Kensington Metro Park in Milford: Maple Beach and Martindale Beach, both located on Kent Lake. We like both beaches for different reasons, and both are worth a visit.
The beaches and water here are clean with spacious, clean restrooms. Plenty of parking make the visit easy, too.
Martindale Beach
This Metropark beach is the larger of the two beaches, and the focal point is the giant splash pad – complete with a twisty water slide – right on the beach.
Visitors will find a sprawling, shady picnic area: comfortable for sprawling out on a blanket and enjoying the view of the lake. Martindale Beach also has a concession stand with the standard beach fare: hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream treats and more.
The Martindale Beach Splash-N-Blast is one of more than 20 water parks in Michigan.
Maple Beach
Although it’s bit smaller than its sister beach across the lake, we love Maple Beach too.
We’re all about ADA accessibility and this beach offers amazing accessibility for users of users of wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
There’s a spacious, accessible children’s play area, a wide, paved path along the lake front and leading to the beach. Best of all, there is a mobility mat leading to water’s edge.
Gently rolling hills dotted with shady hardwoods surround this beach and provide an excellent setting for a beach day.
Best North Of Detroit Beach
Clover Beach
Where: 15349 Linden Rd, Linden, MI 48451
Right on Byram Lake is a sandy beach that Michiganders love.
Clover Beach, a Genessee County Park, is a family-friendly beach that has picnic tables, grills, and restrooms all at no cost. In case you forget to bring a snack for the group, they have vending machines as well.
Recreation enthusiasts are attracted to this beach in Fenton Township because it is right by the trails where many like to hike, bike, or horse ride on. This is one of the best go-to beaches for active individuals – go ahead and take a dip.
Lake St. Clair Metro Park
Where: 31300 Metro Pkwy, Harrison Twp, MI 48045
One of the most popular metro Detroit beaches with one mile of shoreline along Lake St. Clair, you’ll get a definite resort-feel from this fun spot.
First, there’s the giant Olympic-sized swimming pool right on the beach; a water slide with flume and a splash pad for kids and that’s only some of the activities at this busy east-side beach.
Lexington State Harbor Beach
Where: 7411 Huron Ave, Lexington, MI 48450
Just north of Port Huron, about 90 minutes from Detroit is one of the state’s cutest little beach towns. Lexington, home to Lexington State Harbor Beach, is one My Michigan Beach’s most popular beach towns.
Perhaps it’s because the squeaky-clean sand against the bright blue Lake Huron is amazingly close to Metro Detroit: you really don’t have to go too far to really get away.
There’s a long, paved pier that juts out into water, and its perfect vantage point to take in both the Lexington State Harbor and the Lake Huron coast.
It’s a big, comfortable beach, and the grassy park area is well groomed and even features a butterfly garden.
After spending some time at the beach, stroll over to the charming Main Street and duck into the quaint gift shops and restaurants.
Orchard Lake/ Dodge #4 State Park
Where: 4250 Parkway St, Waterford Twp, MI 48328
You’ll find a mile of shoreline along this 1200-acre inland lake in northern Oakland County. You’ll find restrooms, grills, picnic tables and shelter areas, too.
Silver Lake Beach at Pinckney Recreation Area
Address: 8555 Silver Hill Rd, Pinckney, MI 48169
Within 11,000 acres of land, this park has a beach like no other.
Often referred to as a “paradise”, this beach in Pinckney State Recreation Area promises a serene setting for outdoor lovers.
If you’d like to avoid the crowds, come during the week and paddleboard, or kayak, on your own lake.
Stoney Creek Metropark
Where: 4300 Main Park Dr, Shelby Township, MI 48316
This near 5000-acre metro park has everything that Michigan has to offer all in one area. From beautifully scenic trails for hiking, biking or inline skating to sand-filled beaches, Stoney Creek guarantees an enjoyable time for all kinds of visitors.
At Stoney Creek’s clean beach, you can rent out bikes, kayaks, campgrounds, and even swan-shaped boats.
A trip here results in a day filled with never-ending activities.
Find Detroit Beach Further North
Lakeport State Park
Where: 7605 Lakeshore Rd, Fort Gratiot Twp, MI 48059
It’s one of Michigan’s best kept secrets, and it’s little over an hour from Detroit.
What you’ll notice first is the water: Lakeport State Park has one of the bluest bodies of water in Metro Detroit and it’s both clean and clear.
With shores covered in pebbles (you’ll find the occasional Petoskey Stone here, too) and incredibly spacious campsites placed not too far away, you can easily turn your day trip into a weekend getaway.
Lakeport State Park maintains very clean restrooms, showers, and parks. Campers with RVs will have electricity available to them.
Marine City Beach
Where: 102 Pearl St, Marine City, MI 48039
Just on the edge of town is Marine City Beach, a beach that many like to flock towards to unwind after a long day.
This beach is on the smaller side, however, just like the town it neighbors, it is just as charming.
This beach provides barbecue grills and pavilions for your family to picnic in during the sunshine and rain.
If you’d rather stay out of the water, fishing is allowed away from the swimmer’s areas, there is bird or freight watching, and reading books on the shaded grass spots is a popular activity amongst some.
This is normally an uncrowded beach and is a great location in which to decompress.
Port Huron Lakeside Park
Where: 3670 Gratiot Ave, Port Huron, MI 48060
Right on one of the Great Lakes is Lakeside Park, a beach where the public visits for its clear water and infamous views.
Visitors are able to set up their barbecues while children run around on the park’s playground. Lakeside also has multiple beach volleyball courts where groups can meet and play with new friends.
Port Huron Lakeside Park is a beautiful destination year-round, and it provides well-maintained restrooms.
Whether you’re wanting to build castles in the sand or simply want the cool lake breeze to help you bask in the summer season, beaches make for the perfect family-friendly outings.
Each of the many beaches in metro Detroit have their own personalities, visit them and find out which is the right fit for you.
Near Detroit Beach on Lake Erie
William Sterling State Park
Where: 2800 State Park Rd, Monroe, MI 48162
Just a short jaunt down I-75 is the only Michigan State Park Beach on Lake Erie: William C. Sterling State Park. With a mile of sandy Lake Erie beach, you’ll get a true Great Lakes experience at this pretty spot.
You’ll find picnic tables and a shelter, and an area for metal-detecting, too. It’s shallow here, so the water warms more quickly than some of the other Great Lakes.
Use the Beach In Detroit Michigan and Surrounding Areas Map
About the Author-
Arrianna Bichara is a Content Writer at mymichiganbeach.com. Originally from California, she later moved to Michigan where she now attends Madonna University. She is currently majoring in Journalism and Public Relations with a minor in Criminal Justice. Travelling and storytelling has always been a hobby for Arrianna, and she is excited to bring the two together. In her free time, Arrianna likes to binge watch television shows, take photographs, and plan her next trips.
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