Tawas Michigan Travel Guide: East Tawas, Tawas City, and Tawas Point (2026)

Last Updated: March 2026

East Tawas and Tawas City sit on either side of the same sheltered bay on Lake Huron — together they’re called “the Tawas area,” and they make one of the most complete Lake Huron beach destinations in Michigan. I’ve been coming here for years. Tawas Point State Park has some of the best shallow-water family swimming on the Sunrise Coast, downtown East Tawas on Newman Street is a genuine walking street, and the Corsair Trail system gives you 44 miles of woods trails when you want to get off the beach. Here’s everything you need to plan your trip.

About East Tawas and Tawas City

East Tawas and Tawas City are two separate municipalities that share one bay — in practice, most visitors treat them as one destination called “Tawas.” East Tawas has the Newman Street downtown, the state harbor, City Park Beach, and most of the shops and restaurants. Tawas City has Gateway Park, the Shoreline Park beach, and the longer stretch of bay-front. Tawas Point State Park — technically in East Tawas — is where they share a lighthouse, one of the best family beaches on Lake Huron, and the area’s best birding.

The bay itself is what makes the Tawas area work as a destination. Tawas Bay is a protected arm of Lake Huron — shallow, calm, and warm by mid-June in a way that the open Sunrise Coast rarely is. Kiteboarding and sailing thrive here because of consistent winds, and the Lake Huron swimming is genuinely good for families with young kids. The 16-mile Tawas Bay Pedestrian and Bike Path runs from Tawas City south to Au Gres along the shoreline — one of the better rail-trail rides in northern Michigan.

Best Things to Do in Tawas Michigan

🏖 East Tawas City Park Beach

East Tawas City Park Beach is where you go for a full beach day right in town — soft sand, calm swimming water, a playground, picnic areas with grills, and the best ADA beach access on the Sunrise Coast. A MOBI-Chair floating beach wheelchair and access matting are available free at the park office, thanks to the advocacy of former resident James Murtha who helped the city secure both. This is a standout accessible beach option on Lake Huron.

• 📍 407 W Bay St, East Tawas, MI 48730
• ⏰ Open daily; seasonal facilities — confirm before you go
• 💰 Free
• 📞 (989) 362-6161
• 🌐 east-tawas.com
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on leash in park [VERIFY beach-specific policy]
• ♿ MOBI-Chair floating beach wheelchair + access matting — free at park office. ADA-accessible pavilion, restrooms, and paths.

🌅 Tawas Point State Park and Lighthouse

Tawas Point State Park is the anchor attraction of the whole area — a narrow sandy peninsula jutting into Lake Huron with bay water on one side and open lake on the other, giving you sunrise views over the lake and sunset views over the bay from the same stretch of beach. The 1876 Tawas Point Lighthouse sits at the tip of the point and is one of the Michigan lighthouses where you can spend the night as a volunteer keeper. Nearly 300 bird species have been recorded here — serious birders make the trip specifically for the spring and fall migration windows.

• 📍 686 Tawas Beach Rd, East Tawas, MI 48730
• ⏰ Open daily; lighthouse tower open Memorial Day through Labor Day — confirm hours before visiting
• 💰 Michigan Recreation Passport required
• 📞 (989) 362-5041
• 🌐 Michigan DNR — Tawas Point State Park
• 🐾 Designated dog-friendly beach section between campground and lighthouse — leash required, clean up required
• ♿ ADA-accessible cabins, picnic shelters, and playground on-site; contact park for beach access details [VERIFY]

🛍 Downtown East Tawas — Newman Street

Newman Street in East Tawas earns an afternoon even if you’re not a shopper — the street runs from the harbor up through three blocks of local businesses, and the combination of the water view at one end and the tree cover overhead makes it one of the better walking streets in northern Michigan. Village Chocolatier does handcrafted truffles and sweets; Mooney’s Ben Franklin is a nostalgic five-and-dime that’s been there for decades; Local Basket Case has Michigan gifts and beachy finds. Grab an ice cream and walk it toward the harbor.

• Village Chocolatier — handcrafted sweets and truffles
• Mooney’s Ben Franklin — nostalgic downtown staple, decades-old
• Local Basket Case — Michigan gifts and beachy finds
• Windjammer Gifts and Clothing — lake-inspired fashion
• Brew Krew Kitchen and Bath — upscale home finds

🎣 Gateway Park and the 300-Foot Fishing Pier — Tawas City

Gateway Park is the first stop in Tawas City coming from the south and one of the most underrated parks in the area — a curved rocky shoreline with shade trees, picnic shelters, a beach volleyball court, a concession stand, and a 300-foot lighted fishing pier that’s ADA-accessible. The Northeast Michigan Regional Farm Market operates here Saturday mornings in season. It’s a calmer, less-crowded alternative to the main East Tawas City Park beach.

• 📍 400 W Bay St, Tawas City, MI 48763
• ⏰ Open daily; seasonal facilities — confirm before you go
• 💰 Free
• 📞 (989) 984-1100
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on leash [VERIFY beach-specific policy]
• ♿ ADA-accessible pier and park paths; accessible restrooms

🚲 The 16-Mile Tawas Bay Shoreline Trail

The Tawas Bay Pedestrian and Bike Path is one of the best rail-trail rides in northern Michigan — 16 miles of paved path running from Tawas City south to Au Gres, hugging the Lake Huron shoreline for most of the route. Good for biking, walking, or a casual run. Sunset timing is the move here — the eastern sky over the bay turns extraordinary as the sun drops behind you to the west.

❄️ Corsair Trail Network

Corsair Trail is the outdoor draw that brings people to Tawas in every season except summer — 44 miles of trails through the Huron National Forest just west of town, used for hiking and mountain biking in summer and fall, cross-country skiing in winter. It’s one of the largest groomed cross-country trail systems in the Lower Peninsula and a main reason the Tawas area functions as a four-season destination rather than just a beach town.

🛶 Kayaking and Paddleboarding on Tawas Bay

Tawas Bay is one of the better paddling destinations on the Sunrise Coast — calm, shallow, and protected enough that beginners do well here. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available near the harbor area in East Tawas. The bay also draws serious kiteboarding and windsurfing crowds when the wind picks up — if you arrive and the sky is full of kites, the energy is worth watching even if you’re not on the water yourself.

🍓 Summer Events and Street Fairs

The Tawas area runs community events from June through September — street fairs, sidewalk sales, outdoor concerts, farmers markets, and live music that spills out onto Newman Street on summer weekends. The Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce calendar at tawas.com is the best source for specific 2026 dates as they’re announced.

❄️ Perchville USA — February 5–8, 2026

Perchville USA is Michigan’s best winter ice fishing festival and one of the most genuinely local events on the Sunrise Coast — the 76th annual edition ran February 5–8, 2026, centered on the East Tawas State Dock. The festival includes a polar bear swim (this year with a “Splash or Stash” fundraiser twist), the “Chilly” Cook-Off on Newman Street where nearly 20 local businesses compete, a Family Expo at the East Tawas Community Center, live music, and the Perchville fishing tournament on the final day. It’s free to attend most activities. Plan ahead — lodging near Tawas fills early for this weekend.

Beaches in the Tawas Michigan Area

East Tawas City Park Beach

Best for families who want full amenities in town — soft sand, calm swimming, pavilion, grills, playground, and the MOBI-Chair accessible beach wheelchair available free at the park office. Address: 407 W Bay St, East Tawas, MI 48730.

Tawas City Shoreline Park

Best for longer strolls and pier fishing — an ADA-accessible sidewalk runs the length of the park, connecting picnic shelters, grills, restrooms, and a playscape. There’s an electric vehicle charging station and bike path access, plus concessions and pier fishing right from the shore. A calmer, slightly less-crowded feel than East Tawas City Beach.

• 📍 Shoreline Dr, Tawas City, MI 48763
• ⏰ Open daily; seasonal facilities — confirm before you go
• 💰 Free
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on leash [VERIFY current beach policy]
• ♿ ADA-accessible sidewalk, restrooms, and pier; EV charging station on-site

Tawas Point State Park Beach

Best overall beach in the Tawas area — wide, shallow, and calm bay water that warms fast, with a lighthouse walk at the end of the peninsula. ADA-accessible cabins, picnic shelters, and playground are on-site. The designated dog beach sits between the campground and the lighthouse. Michigan Recreation Passport required.

Explore Downtown East Tawas

Newman Street runs through the heart of East Tawas from the harbor up through downtown — three walkable blocks of local shops, restaurants, and the kind of businesses that have been there long enough to feel like part of the town rather than passing through it. The scent of fudge and popcorn is genuinely present on a summer afternoon. Here’s what to look for:

• Ben Franklin (Mooney’s) — nostalgic downtown staple, decades-old institution
• Village Chocolatier — handcrafted sweets and truffles worth a stop on any visit
• Local Basket Case — Michigan gifts, quirky finds, beach-adjacent décor
• Windjammer Gifts and Clothing — lake-inspired fashion
• Brew Krew Kitchen and Bath — upscale home finds in an unexpected location

Where to Stay in Tawas Michigan

Lakefront cottage and cabin rentals are the primary lodging type in the Tawas area — search Airbnb or VRBO filtered to East Tawas or Tawas City for the widest inventory. Many properties sit directly on Tawas Bay with private dock or beach access, and summer weekends book months in advance. For camping, Tawas Point State Park has a campground within the park itself — some of the best-positioned campsites on Lake Huron, with direct beach access. ADA-accessible cabins are available at the state park. A few motels operate in East Tawas for shorter stays; the Tawas Area Chamber at tawas.com maintains a current lodging directory.

Tawas Michigan FAQ

What is the difference between East Tawas and Tawas City?

East Tawas and Tawas City are two adjacent but separate municipalities sharing Tawas Bay on Lake Huron. East Tawas has the main downtown (Newman Street), the state harbor, City Park Beach, and Tawas Point State Park. Tawas City has the Gateway Park, Shoreline Park beach, and the southern stretch of bayfront. Most visitors refer to both together simply as “Tawas” and spend time in both without thinking about the boundary between them.

How far is Tawas Michigan from Detroit?

Tawas is approximately 2.5 hours from metro Detroit via I-75 north to US-23 north. The scenic US-23 Sunrise Side route along the Lake Huron shoreline adds time but passes through Oscoda, Harrisville, and other beach towns worth stopping at on the way. From Grand Rapids, plan about 3.5 hours.

What is Perchville USA in East Tawas?

Perchville USA is an annual winter ice fishing festival held in East Tawas, typically the first week of February. The 76th annual edition ran February 5–8, 2026. It includes a polar bear swim, chili cook-off on Newman Street, a family expo, live music, and an ice fishing tournament on the bay. Most activities are free. It’s the most well-attended event in the Tawas area each year. Check tawas.com for 2027 dates.

More Lake Huron Michigan Guides

• 20 Best Lake Huron Beaches in Michigan — full Quick Facts including Tawas Point and East Tawas City Beach
• Lake Huron Michigan Travel Guide — full regional overview and drive times
• Best Lake Huron Beach Towns — how Tawas compares to Oscoda, Alpena, Caseville, and the rest
• Lake Huron Lighthouses Guide — Tawas Point Lighthouse and overnight keeper details