GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Meteorological summer still doesn’t start for a few more weeks, but we’re past Memorial Day — so close enough.
Summer in West Michigan means ice cream, sunshine and days at the beach. That’s why the News 8 team asked about our viewers’ favorites.
Lake Michigan Summer Beach Guide
The top answer, without a doubt, was a variation of “we’re not giving up our secrets.” But some were happy to share their favorites, so we have taken that feedback and compiled it into a not-so-scientific list of *8 of West Michigan’s best beaches.
STEARNS PARK — LUDINGTON
Stearns Park in Ludington.
This one got the most responses and it’s actually the farthest north on the list: Stearns Park in Ludington.
It’s just down the street from Ludington State Park and offers up nearly a half-mile of Lake Michigan shoreline. The park also sits next to the North Breakwater Light, which is available for tours. Visitors can also catch a glimpse of the S.S. Badger on its trips to and from Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
CHARLES MEARS STATE PARK — PENTWATER
Mears State Park in Pentwater. (April 22, 2024)
No. 2 is also further north: Charles Mears State Park in Pentwater.
The 50-acre park sits on the north side of the channel that connects Lake Michigan and Pentwater Lake. It is named after Charles Mears, an early Pentwater settler who owned the land before his family donated the land to the state in 1923.
Mears State Park includes a campground, concessions and a beach house, along with a playground and hiking trail.
GRAND HAVEN…
The beach at Grand Haven State Park on July 28, 2021.
Several people mentioned Grand Haven, but didn’t bother to clarify whether they prefer the city beach or the state park. Though, truth be told, there’s not a major difference. View-wise, the beaches but up to one another.
Grand Haven State Park is a popular spot for campers and is closer to the lighthouse and the pier. Unlike the state park, the city beach has some limited free parking and allows dogs on the southern edge of the property.
HOLLAND STATE PARK — PARK TOWNSHIP
Lake Michigan at Holland State Park on April 16, 2025.
Viewers were more specific about Holland. People prefer Big Red. The Holland area has several great beaches, including Tunnel Park and one other that will be mentioned later. But Holland State Park gets its own nod.
It’s one of Michigan’s most visited state parks for a reason. The giant beach offers a little bit of everything, including updated bathroom facilities, a playground and great views of the channel and the city’s historic lighthouse.
WEKO BEACH — BRIDGMAN
Weko Beach in Bridgman. (Courtesy City of Bridgman)
For our friends to the south, Weko Beach in Bridgman was declared their favorite. Settled in between 42 acres of wooded dunes, the city-owned beach offers 960 feet of shoreline along with a boardwalk and two observation decks to take in Lake Michigan.
The beach also regularly hosts free live music during the summer and plays “Taps” at sunset every night between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
OVAL BEACH — SAUGATUCK
Oval Beach in Saugatuck on July 27, 2021. (Luke Stier/WOOD TV8)
There’s no secret that Oval Beach is one of West Michigan’s gems. It was named by TripAdvisor as one of the 25 best beaches in the country based on reviews from its users.
Oval Beach has all of the amenities any beachgoers would want, and some of the best views on Lake Michigan. But another feature that makes Oval Beach great? If the parking lots are full, Saugatuck runs a bus that will take people to and from the park for a small fee.
PERE MARQUETTE PARK — MUSKEGON
People enjoy Lake Michigan at Pere Marquette Park Beach in Muskegon on July 11, 2020. (Luke Stier/WOOD TV8)
Pere Marquette Park, just north of the Muskegon Channel, covers 27.5 acres and includes a handicapped walkway to help those with mobility issues to get closer to the water. Pere Marquette Park officials rake the beach daily, which provides a notably clean and soft sand.
Shuttle service will transport beachgoers in Muskegon this summer
Aside from all of the typical accommodations, Pere Marquette Park is also nearby “The Deck” — a sprawling restaurant that offers up great views of the lake and hosts live music daily.
*THE HIDDEN GEMS
Dyckman Beach in South Haven. (May 22, 2021)
Few “8 lists” rarely have eight actual items. Usually, there are much more, things like honorable mentions or whatever near-misses came up short of the cut. And for this one, it’s the hidden gems.
Everyone has some features they prize over others. Many want privacy and quiet, and that’s why plenty of people are reticent to name their favorites.
Personally, one of my favorites is Kirk Park. Holland State Park, Tunnel Park and Grand Haven get all of the headlines for that stretch of the lake, but Kirk Park is my favorite. It is rarely crowded and offers plenty of shady picnic land atop the dune.
South Haven’s public beach system is also really cool. They have the two big beaches on the north and south sides of the piers, but they also have a series of pocket parks further up the northern shoreline. If you’re looking to avoid crowds but don’t want to make a long hike, just take a quick trip up North Shore Drive to find the Dyckman Street or Packard Park beaches.
A couple more parks that deserve a shoutout are Meinert Park in Montague and West Side County Park in Fennville.
