Where to find Lake Michigan beaches and fun side trips this summer

This looks north toward Michigan City at Central Avenue Beach along Lake Michigan in the Indiana Dunes National Park on June 30, 2024.

Are you seeking more to do on summer trips to Lake Michigan beaches?  Find kayaking, bike rides, nature hikes, concerts, museums and groovy eats in this annual beach guide. 

Swimmers: Look for beach warning flags. Check for beach hazards at weather.gov/greatlakes/beachhazards. Rip currents claim lives each summer, including the “good swimmers.” 

From Michigan City to Gary: Indiana Dunes National Park  

Indiana Dunes National Park is way more than beaches, even though there are several scattered along 15 miles of coastline. The 15,000-acre park has a bog (with limited access only on scheduled days), a huge marsh with a quiet road and a paved trail for walking or biking and tons of hiking trails through dunes and woods. There’s park camping, too.  

The park has a growing network of paved trails. Ride the Marquette Greenway (formerly the gravel Calumet Trail) from Michigan City to Beverly Shores and from Mineral Springs Road to Indiana Dunes State Park. This year, the former Marquette Trail is closed while it’s being paved between Gary and Portage. 

The Indiana Dunes National Park has some small beaches, like this one in Beverly Shores, seen in June 2024.

Beaches stretch from Mount Baldy at Michigan City to the Marquette Park area in Gary. Some are small access points to the water. The Lake View Beach and its accessible picnic shelters are just one mile down a paved path from the South Shore rail station at Beverly Shores. The only national park beach with lifeguards is West Beach near Gary. 

The beaches are packed on warm weekends; arrive early.  

Call the visitor center at 219-926-2255. 

A public deck and restaurant look out from the historic pavilion building at Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton in May 2024.

Chesterton: Indiana Dunes State Park  

Nestled inside of the national park, the beach at Indiana Dunes State Park starts at a historic brick pavilion building with a small restaurant, snack booth, outdoor deck and rooftop lounge.

Do the 3 Dune Challenge on the climbing trails, or try the flat and shaded Trail 2 through oak woods and marsh or find shorter options. There is camping and a nature center with a schedule of naturalist-led walks and programs, too.  

The lake opens for swimming only when lifeguards are on duty: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT weekdays and until 7 p.m. weekends. For conditions, call 219-926-1390.

∎ Accessibility: Mobility mats lead almost to the water’s edge. 

A beach mat at Indiana Dunes State Park makes it possible for wheelchairs to roll between the edge of Lake Michigan, seen here, to the pavilion building.

Michigan City: Washington Park beach   

The Washington Park beach is next to a walkable pier and lighthouse. It’s also next to a boat ramp to launch your kayak or canoe on Trail Creek, which takes you past big pleasure boats before reaching a quiet, wooded stretch at Hanson Park (with its own launch).

Ride your bike on the Singing Sands Trail, a part of the Marquette Greenway, found along Michigan Boulevard. It goes east to Trail Creek and west to Beverly Shores.  

Visit the Washington Park Zoo. See the latest art at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts. Learn history in the Old Lighthouse Museum, an original 1858 lighthouse structure at 100 Heisman Harbor Road.  

Lifeguards are at the beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. 

∎ Accessibility: There are mats on the beach. As you enter, check with a park attendant for the beach wheelchair. 

New Buffalo beach  

New Buffalo’s beach offers a wide view from its dune boardwalk, plus lots of cool places to eat in town.  

Kayak on the Galien River by launching from the sandy shore by the parking lot and working your way upstream out of the marina. For a quieter experience, try the launch on Red Arrow Highway just north of town, where you can paddle in either direction. Third Coast Paddling offers rentals here at www.thirdcoastpaddling.com.

Hike at the nearby Galien River County Park for a dramatic view of the river from the treetop tower or the marsh boardwalk.

Hop on the city’s new three-mile section of the Marquette Greenway; find the trailhead at Smith and Mechanic streets in downtown.

At the beach, lifeguards will be on duty from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays until the end of June. Starting in July, guards will be there from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for the rest of the summer.  

∎ Accessibility: A handicap-accessible boardwalk goes from the concession stand halfway to the water.   

From Warren Dunes to Union Pier: Chikaming Township beaches   

Chikaming Township has seven small beaches between Warren Dunes and Union Pier. Be mindful of “private property” signs. If you walk where there are homes, you must stay at the water’s edge. 

Coleman Schroeder, from left, Drew Holub and Jacob Barbour skimboard Tuesday at Cherry Beach in Harbert, which Chikaming Township rallied to preserve.

The biggest is Cherry Beach, on Cherry Beach Road in Harbert, with 657 feet of shoreline. It also has the most parking: 28 spots. The others, known as “road-end beaches,” have scarce parking. Townline Beach has 15 spots. Harbert Beach has about six. On busy weekends, you may have to walk or bike into the beaches. You’ll be on charming small roads in the woods and passing old summer homes and cottages.

Except for Berrien Beach, all beaches involve walking down a set of stairs. Pier Beach has stairs, but it lacks any beach.   

None have lifeguards. No pets, fires or alcohol allowed. 

Berrien and Cherry beaches have portable toilets for the summer. 

For sweet and savory breakfasts and lunches, try Luisa’s Swedish Bakery & Market at 13698 Red Arrow Highway, Harbert (among many great other choices). 

∎ Accessibility: Berrien Beach offers a mat leading to the beach. 

Want to beat the crowds at Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer? This was on a summer weekday morning in 2022.

Sawyer: Warren Dunes State Park   

At 1,500 acres, Warren Dunes State Park is a treat for dune and nature lovers well beyond its big beach. The huge parking lot is a tipoff that the beach can get packed. The 260-foot dunes are great for sandy climbs. But the six miles of hiking trails also explore shaded and hilly woodlands rich with native species (access that from a parking area on Floral Lane, off of Red Arrow Highway and north of the main entrance).

The park has restrooms, bathhouses and a campground. No lifeguards.  

∎ Accessibility: Beach mats come close to the water. Beach wheelchairs and a motorized scooter that rolls over sand are available. Ask for them at the park's entrance booth, the ranger station or the gift shop, or call the park at 269-426-4013. 

Bridgman: Weko Beach  

Listen to “Taps” being played on trumpet every night at sunset at Weko Beach, a city beach, through Labor Day.  

Enjoy free summer concerts outside at 7 p.m. every other Sunday starting May 25. See the city’s online calendar. And join a free, hour-long aerobics session at 8:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday yearround in the beach house. 

There’s a campground at Weko. No lifeguards. Pets aren’t permitted on Weko’s sand, but you can walk your pooch a short way along the boardwalk to the south and connect with the pet-permitted beach at Warren Dunes.   

Nosh on pizza and deli items at Emma’s Hearth & Market at Lake Street and Red Arrow Highway. Or enjoy eats, microbrews and a beach mural inside of Lake Time Brewing & Spirits at 4242 Lake St. 

∎ Accessibility: Beach mats take you near the water. Sand wheelchairs can be checked out at the beach house, open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. 

St. Joseph: Lions Park beach   

This small city beach in St. Joseph, a few blocks south of Silver Beach, has restrooms, picnic pavilions, sand volleyball courts and a playground. No lifeguards.  

St. Joseph: Silver Beach County Park   

Brand-new playground equipment is among the full amenities at Silver Beach County Park, including volleyball courts. A live webcam lets you check how busy the beach is. 

Lifeguards are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily from May 31 until about mid-August. 

Within walking distance, romp in a large splash fountain, ride the Silver Beach Carousel, or tour the Curious Kids Museum & Discovery Zone. Then eat at the classic Silver Beach Pizza. 

Above the scenic bluff, find many more places to eat and drink in downtown St. Joe. The outdoor John E.N. Howard Bandshell, 550 Port St., overlooks the St. Joe River with occasional free concerts. 

∎ Accessibility: Paved walkways lead to beach buildings and restrooms near the parking lot. Beach wheelchairs can be checked out at the beach house, next to the restrooms.

St. Joseph: Tiscornia Beach  

Just on the north side of the St. Joseph pier, this city park is much simpler and more chilled out than Silver Beach, with restrooms and a picnic pavilion. No lifeguards.

∎ Accessibility: Beach mats extend toward the water.   

Benton Harbor: Jean Klock Park   

Third Coast Paddling rentals are available at the beach and at the Paw Paw River launch site on Graham Avenue. 

Trails link into the Harbor Shores Golf Course and scenic neighborhoods. Ride your mountain bike on the 7.5-mile Lakeview Trail from nearby Whirlpool Corp. headquarters. And enjoy eats and drinks (like The Livery) in Benton Harbor’s hip historic downtown, where you can take in a play at GhostLight Theatre.

∎ Accessibility: A concrete walkway by the parking lot’s edge has benches to sit.   

Benton Harbor: Rocky Gap County Park   

This unassuming beach, on Rocky Gap Road off of Michigan 63, has 1,100 feet of beach, a picnic shelter and overlook deck. There are vault toilets and no running water. Parking is free. No lifeguards.