Michigan Beach Towns: A Local’s Guide by Shoreline

Last Updated: June 2026

Michigan beach towns are the part of a Great Lakes trip that turns a good beach day into a weekend you actually remember — the walkable downtowns, the ice cream counters, the harbor sunsets, and the local shops just steps from the sand. With the longest freshwater shoreline of any state, Michigan has more of these towns than any one trip can cover, which is exactly why I built this guide as a starting point rather than a finish line.

This is my lifelong-local’s map of Michigan’s best beach towns, organized by shoreline so you can find the right one fast. Each town gets a short, honest take on who it’s for and what makes it different — and a link to my full guide for that town, where you’ll find the addresses, hours, restaurants, and where to stay. Think of this page as the index; the deep dives are one click away.

Use the Interactive Map of the Best Michigan Beach Towns

The towns below run roughly south to north, grouped by shoreline. If you’re planning a multi-stop trip, the regional hubs at the end of each section connect the towns into a route you can actually drive.

Lake Michigan Beach Towns

Michigan’s west coast is the postcard side — dune-backed beaches, sunset water, and a string of walkable towns from the Indiana line up to the Leelanau Peninsula. These are the towns most people picture when they think “Michigan beach town,” and there are enough of them to fill a whole summer. For the full west-coast lineup, see my guide to the best Lake Michigan beach towns.

New Buffalo

New Buffalo is the pick for the Chicago-weekender crowd who want sand and sophistication in one walkable town. Set in southwest Michigan’s Harbor Country, it pairs a sprawling public Lake Michigan beach with surf shops, art galleries, and a genuinely good dining scene. Get the full breakdown in my New Buffalo travel guide and my roundup of the best restaurants in New Buffalo.

St. Joseph

St. Joseph — the “Riviera of the Midwest” — is the best all-in-one family beach town on the southwest coast. Silver Beach brings the Lake Michigan fun with a giant splash pad and a historic carousel, and the bluff-top downtown has wide, accessible sidewalks, shops, and good food. Start with my St. Joseph travel guide, plus the St. Joseph beaches and Silver Beach.

South Haven

South Haven is my pick for a first-timer’s classic Michigan beach weekend. It’s both family- and dog-friendly, with historic downtown shops, the Michigan Maritime Museum, and the title of Blueberry Capital of Michigan — so you’ll leave with jam and a hard cider from a nearby brewery. Dig in with my South Haven travel guide, the South Haven beaches, and where to stay in my guide to South Haven hotels.

Saugatuck

Saugatuck is the art-and-beauty town — the one to choose when you want galleries and dining alongside the dunes. Oval Beach has been called one of the world’s most beautiful, but it’s the art scene, the Saugatuck Dunes State Park, and the walkable downtown shared with Douglas that earn the overnight stay. See my Saugatuck travel guide, Oval Beach, and the best places to stay in Saugatuck.

Grand Haven

Grand Haven — Coast Guard City — is the quintessential west-coast beach town, with two beaches, a boardwalk, and a trolley. Grand Haven City Beach and Grand Haven State Park are both walkable from a downtown full of shops and shady parks, and Holland’s tulips and beaches are a short drive south. Plan it with my Grand Haven travel guide and things to do in Grand Haven, or detour to Holland.

Ludington

Ludington is the outdoor-adventure beach town, framed by sand dunes to the north and south. Ludington State Park is one of the most beautiful — and most accessible — in the state, and the casual downtown is built for a beach-day pace. Don’t skip House of Flavors, the ice cream institution that set a Guinness World Record in 2016 for a half-mile-long sundae down Ludington Avenue. More in my Ludington travel guide and things to do in Ludington.

Frankfort

Frankfort is the northwest-Michigan two-water town — Lake Michigan on one side, Crystal Lake on the other. A Lake Michigan beach sits just steps from a Main Street of gift shops and the popular Stormcloud Brewing Company, and the beach is one of the best sunset spots in the state. See my Frankfort guide to plan it.

Traverse City

Traverse City is the do-everything beach town — wineries, beaches, and a downtown big enough to fill multiple days. Set on Grand Traverse Bay with West and East Bay beaches, the Cherry Capital pairs Old Mission Peninsula vineyards with a walkable Front Street of galleries and fudge shops. Start with my Traverse City guide, the Traverse City wineries, and the best restaurants in Traverse City.

💡 PRO TIP: The west coast strings together into one of the best road trips in the state. My guide to the West Michigan Pike connects St. Joseph, South Haven, Saugatuck, Grand Haven, and Holland along the old shoreline highway — the easy way to hit several of these towns in one trip.

Lake Huron Beach Towns (The Sunrise Coast)

The Lake Huron side is the quieter, warmer-bay coast — the Sunrise Side, where the water faces east and the towns are less crowded and easier on the wallet. It’s also the closest Great Lakes shoreline to Detroit. For the full lineup, see my guide to the best Lake Huron beach towns.

Cheboygan

Cheboygan is the underrated northern-tip town with crystal-clear, warm shallow bays. Just south of Mackinaw City, it mixes quaint downtown shops with sandy Lake Huron beaches, and the nearby Mullet and Black lakes add warm inland swimming. See my Cheboygan travel guide.

Alpena

Alpena is the hidden-gem city on Thunder Bay, with a historic downtown and shipwreck diving. The drive in along US-23 passes the old lumber-baron mansions, and Mich-E-Ke-Wis Park has a swim beach and splash pad. Plan it with my guide to things to do in Alpena and the Lake Huron beaches.

Oscoda

Oscoda is the family beach town where the Au Sable River meets Lake Huron, with one of the most accessible parks in the state. Brick-lined streets put ice cream shops and cafes steps from the ADA-accessible Oscoda Beach Park, and the River Road Scenic Byway runs inland to Lumberman’s Monument and Iargo Springs. See my Oscoda travel guide and things to do in Oscoda.

East Tawas

East Tawas is the “Cape Cod of the Midwest” — harbor-front charm with old-fashioned Main Street shops. Tawas Bay and the harbor fill up all summer, and Newman Street still has a five-and-dime, a candy store, and fudge and ice cream within a few blocks. Plan it with my Tawas travel guide.

Lexington

Lexington is the closest classic beach town to metro Detroit — a picturesque harbor under 90 minutes from the suburbs. It checks every box: a big harbor, a shady garden park, a sandy beach with a pier and play structures, and a cute downtown of shops and restaurants. See my Lexington guide, and for the rest of this stretch, my Michigan Thumb coast guide.

Upper Peninsula and Lake Superior Beach Towns

Cross the Mackinac Bridge and the beach towns change character — bigger water, wilder shorelines, and a different pace. These are the towns to build a trip around when you want adventure with your sand.

St. Ignace

St. Ignace is the Upper Peninsula gateway just across the bridge — your jumping-off point for Mackinac Island. Beyond the ferry docks, it’s a clean, visitor-friendly town steeped in Native American heritage, with lakefront parks, galleries, and a must-try U.P. pasty. Pair it with my guides to the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island.

Marquette

Marquette is the U.P.’s big city with a beach-town soul, built entirely around Lake Superior. Marquette Harbor and McCarty’s Cove are the swimming spots, but the hiking and biking trails and a historic downtown of breweries and eateries make it a true destination. Start with my Marquette travel guide and things to do in Marquette.

Michigan Beach Towns at a Glance

Beach Town	Lake / Region — Best For
New Buffalo	Lake Michigan (SW) — Chicago weekenders, dining
St. Joseph	Lake Michigan (SW) — families, Silver Beach
South Haven	Lake Michigan (SW) — first-timers, dog-friendly
Saugatuck	Lake Michigan (West) — arts, dining, dunes
Grand Haven	Lake Michigan (West) — boardwalk, two beaches
Ludington	Lake Michigan (NW) — outdoor adventure, dunes
Frankfort	Lake Michigan (NW) — two-water town, sunsets
Traverse City	Grand Traverse Bay — wineries, do-everything
Cheboygan	Lake Huron (North) — quiet, clear warm bays
Alpena	Lake Huron (Sunrise) — diving, historic downtown
Oscoda	Lake Huron (Sunrise) — families, accessibility, river
East Tawas	Lake Huron (Sunrise) — harbor charm, Main Street
Lexington	Lake Huron (Thumb) — closest to Detroit
St. Ignace	Upper Peninsula — Mackinac gateway, heritage
Marquette	Lake Superior — big-water adventure, breweries

Plan Your Michigan Beach Town Trip

Whether you say “beach towns” or “beachtowns,” these spots are what make a Michigan shoreline trip more than a day on the sand — and they’re alive year-round with festivals, fall color, and holiday events, not just in summer. Use the town guides above to go deep on the one you’ve picked, or browse by region with my Lake Michigan beaches, Lake Huron beaches, and best beaches in Michigan guides.

Planning a multi-town trip and want it all in one place? I’m building a downloadable Michigan Beach Towns planner with what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and the best season for each town. Join the newsletter and I’ll let you know the moment it’s ready — plus you’ll get Michigan trip ideas a few times a month.

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