Guide to New Buffalo Michigan Beaches
Discover New Buffalo’s Best Beaches
Looking for the best New Buffalo Beaches?
You’re in luck! With almost 16 miles of pristine Lake Michigan shoreline, the New Buffalo area is a must-visit destination for fans of beautiful Great Lakes beaches…just as it has been for generations of beachgoers.
From sprawling lakefront parks to hiking trails along Lake Michigan shores to towering sand dunes, the beaches of New Buffalo Michigan are some of the best in the Midwest.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for the New Buffalo Beach Map!
Why You Need to Visit a New Buffalo Beach
Located in a sandy corner of southwest Michigan and just a short drive from downtown Chicago, New Buffalo is known as “The Gateway to Michigan.” It’s definitely the gateway to Michigan’s beaches: there are seven public beaches with minutes of each other, offering unparalleled access to the Lake Michigan coast.
With towering dunes – completely “climbable” – that offer spectacular views of the unspoiled Lake Michigan shoreline and surrounding areas, the beaches in New Buffalo are a favorite with visitors from across the United States who love the natural beauty of this popular beach vacation spot.
New Buffalo’s beaches are some of the best in Michigan, and many of the beaches offer excellent ADA beach access for users of wheelchairs and other mobility devices, as well.
Read on to discover the best beaches, including both ADA and Wheelchair-accessible and dog-friendly beaches, in the New Buffalo area.
New Buffalo’s Singing Sands
Visitors to New Buffalo City Beach in the heart of Harbor Country are in for a amazing sound. The “Singing Sands” of the beach are a natural phenomenon only occurring on Lake Michigan shores: you can literally hear the sands resonating at a high pitch as you walk the beach.
According to Wikipedia, the singing sands phenomena can be explained this way: “The sound emission may be caused by wind passing over dunes or by walking on the sand. Certain conditions have to come together to create singing sand: The sand grains have to be round and between 0.1 and 0.5 mm in diameter.”
Go experience it yourself and you’ll discover that the singing sands really DO sing.
Explore New Buffalo Michigan
Tiny New Buffalo packs a lot of fun into their beach town. Discover this southwest Michigan vacationland and plan your getaway now!
New Buffalo Explored
To explore New Buffalo, walk down Whittaker Street (the town’s main street), where you’ll pass New Buffalo standby’s like the Third Coast Surf Shop and the Stray Dog restaurant, toward the city boat launch.
You’ll cross the Galien River and see the pretty Marina Grand Resort and Oselka Marina on the river banks. Keep walking towards New Buffalo’s City Beach (if you’re driving, be ready to pay the small parking fee).
At the beach, you’ll find kayak and SUP rentals, a wide sandy beach with concessions, restrooms and quite possibly, one of your favorite Michigan beaches.
You’ll also find beach wheelchair access through the city of New Buffalo.
Best New Buffalo Beaches
Cherry Beach
Beach, Swimming, Handicap-Accessible Observation Platform and Picnic Area
Grand Mere State Park
It’s a bit of a hike to get to this stunning beach, but you’ll find one mile of amazing Lake Michigan beach. Leashed dogs are allowed, too. You’ll find vault toilets, a few picnic tables and a covered shelter.
New Buffalo City Beach
Beach, Swimming, Concessions, Wheelchair-Accessible Walkway, Kayaking, Grills, Restrooms, Children’s Playground *LIFEGUARDS on Duty Memorial Day to Labor Day
Pier Road Public Beach
Wide Swimming Beach, Stairs, Rarely Crowded
Townline Beach
Park along the road and take the steps down to this quiet beach. Great for swimming and rarely crowded.
Warren Dunes State Park
Beach, Swimming, Dunes, Boardwalk, Concessions, Kayak and SUP Rentals, Dog-friendly, Hiking, ADA-accessible beach mat from parking lot to mid-beach
Weko Beach
Beach, Swimming, Picnic Area, Grills, Campground, Restrooms, Playground, Kayaking, Paddle boarding
ADA and Wheelchair Accessible Beach in New Buffalo, MI
New Buffalo City Beach
This public beach does more than just offer an ADA-Approved walkway to the beach; they also offer a beach wheelchair for use through the City of New Buffalo.
FIND MORE ADA ACCESSIBLE MICHIGAN BEACHES HERE
Dog-Friendly Beaches in New Buffalo MI
Michigan has many dog-friendly beaches, and New Buffalo has three dog-friendly beaches. It is important to remember that these are not off-leash areas; dogs must remain on leashes.It’s also important to remember pet-owner etiquette: remember to clean up after your dog to keep the beaches nice for everyone.
Grand Mere State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
Warren Dunes State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
Weko Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
New Buffalo Beach: Kayak and Paddle Board Fun
Enjoy beach kayaking or paddleboarding?
Check out for kayak rentals or a paddleboard rental at Third Coast Paddling and then head for the city boat launch to start your water trail adventure. Galien River County Park is a quiet nature preserve, a great place to start exploring the natural beauty of New Buffalo marshlands along the Lake Michigan coast.
You’ll find a stunning three-mile water trail through a peaceful stretch of the river, perfect for beginners and pro’s alike.
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Brenda Chesnut
Wednesday 29th of June 2022
Looking for the beach that is closest to parking. We're all retired & want to walk the shortest distance to the beach. Also a beach with restrooms. And what's the cost of parking?
My Michigan Beach Team
Thursday 30th of June 2022
Hi Brenda, Thanks so much for reaching out. I think you would like New Buffalo City beach; it's just a short walk to the beach and you'll also find amenities like clean restrooms. The 2022 parking fee is $7.50 for the half day and $15 per day. Enjoy!