{"id":8125,"date":"2025-03-28T18:52:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T22:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/?p=8125"},"modified":"2025-03-28T19:09:20","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T23:09:20","slug":"the-best-beaches-in-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Beaches in Michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Shalee\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n

\n\t\tThe Best Beaches in Michigan\n\t<\/h1>\n\t

March 28, 2025\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\"The<\/a>\nMichigan is home to some of the most breathtaking freshwater beaches in the world. With over 3,200 miles of shoreline along the Great Lakes, the state boasts everything from towering sand dunes to hidden rocky coves. Whether you’re searching for soft, golden sand or secluded, untouched beauty, these 11 beaches are some of the best Michigan has to offer.\n

The Best Beaches in Michigan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Empire Beach\/Sleeping Bear Dunes – Empire<\/strong><\/h3>\nNestled along the shores of Lake Michigan, Empire Beach offers stunning views of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The towering dunes provide a dramatic backdrop to the crystal-clear waters, making it an incredible place to relax, swim, and take in a sunset.\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Sand Dunes Beach – Brevort<\/strong><\/h3>\nLocated in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Sand Dunes Beach is a hidden gem near the small town of Brevort. This beach features rolling sand dunes and peaceful surroundings, perfect for a quiet day by the water. It’s also a great stop along US-2, one of Michigan’s most scenic drives.\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Ludington State Park Beach – Ludington<\/strong><\/h3>\nLudington State Park is a beachgoer’s paradise with miles of sandy shoreline, hiking trails, and the historic Big Sable Point Lighthouse. The beach is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and beautiful sunsets over Lake Michigan.\n\"best<\/a>\n

4. Iron Ore Bay – Beaver Island<\/strong><\/h3>\nIf you’re willing to take the ferry to Beaver Island, you’ll be rewarded with the remote and breathtaking Iron Ore Bay. Located at the southern tip of the island, this beach features crystal-clear water, smooth stones, and an untouched, serene landscape.\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Caseville State Park – Caseville<\/strong><\/h3>\nFamous for its annual Cheeseburger Festival, Caseville is home to a fantastic sandy beach along Saginaw Bay. The shallow, warm waters make it ideal for families, while the nearby town provides plenty of entertainment and local eateries.\n\"best<\/a>\n

6. Frankfort Public Beach – Frankfort<\/strong><\/h3>\nFrankfort’s beach is a local favorite, with soft sand and a picturesque pier leading to the Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse. This charming beach is within walking distance of downtown Frankfort, making it a great spot to enjoy the water and explore the town’s shops and restaurants.\n\"\"<\/a>\n

7. Besser Natural Area – Alpena<\/strong><\/h3>\nTucked away on the shores of Lake Huron, Besser Natural Area is perfect for those seeking a secluded beach experience. The shoreline is lined with scenic forest trails and remnants of an old ghost town, adding a unique historical element to this peaceful retreat.\n

8. Mears State Park – Pentwater<\/strong><\/h3>\nMears State Park offers a fantastic sandy beach along Lake Michigan, just steps away from the charming town of Pentwater. With picnic areas, dunes, and a relaxed atmosphere, this beach is a top spot for summer getaways.\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

9. Saugatuck Dunes State Park – Saugatuck<\/strong><\/h3>\nFor those who love adventure, Saugatuck Dunes State Park provides a scenic hike through towering dunes before rewarding visitors with a pristine, undeveloped beach along Lake Michigan. The hike is worth it for the peaceful and secluded experience.\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

10. Great Sand Bay – Eagle Harbor<\/strong><\/h3>\nLocated in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Great Sand Bay is a stunning beach with a remote, rugged charm. The golden sand, blue waters, and lack of crowds make it a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.\n\"\"<\/a>\n

11. Christmas Cove Beach – Northport<\/strong><\/h3>\nTucked away at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, Christmas Cove Beach is a peaceful escape with a mix of sand and smooth stones. It’s a great place to search for Petoskey stones, enjoy a quiet swim, or take in the natural beauty of Lake Michigan.\n\"\"<\/a>\n

12. Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness<\/h3>\n

10-15 years ago, you could grab a tent and take a backpacking trip along Lake Michigan to some of the best camping spots along Lake Michigan. Those spots still exist to this day, but the secret of it has long passed. If you want to claim a spot, you’ll have to get out there before the weekend rush. However, even if you don’t like camping, the day use beaches here are pure magic.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Plan Your Beach Getaway in Michigan<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhether you’re looking for an adventure among the dunes or a peaceful spot to soak in the sun, Michigan’s beaches offer something for every type of traveler. Pack your beach bag, hit the road, and discover the incredible shorelines that make the Great Lakes State a summer paradise.\n\t\t\t\t\"travel\n\t

At any given moment, Shalee is either lost, hunting for ice cream, or obsessively planning her next adventure.<\/p>\n

Born and raised in rural Michigan, she began exploring the shores of Great Lakes as a teen, often sleeping in her car to save money. Eventually, her urge to explore pushed beyond her Midwest borders. Today, Shalee shares her tips and stories to thousands of readers interested in adventure and outdoor tourism. Her pack now includes two spunky hiking cats<\/a> and her partner, Josh. Learn more about her here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t\tJoin the Adventure \n\t<\/h2>\n\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\"Shalee\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

shaleewanders<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t
\n
\n \n #ad Cooke City, Montana, is only accessible by sno<\/span>\n \t <\/path><\/svg> \"#ad\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
\n \n That\u2019s one way to start a fire \n\n#camping #hikin<\/span>\n \t <\/path><\/svg> \"That\u2019s\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
\n \n May 1st we are renting out our house and diving ba<\/span>\n \n\t <\/path>\n\t <\/svg>\t \"May\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
\n \n Here are ALL the upcoming group trips I\u2019m hostin<\/span>\n \n\t <\/path>\n\t <\/svg>\t \"Here\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
\n \n Experts say the best time to climb Mount Kinabalu <\/span>\n \n\t <\/path>\n\t <\/svg>\t \"Experts\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
\n \n Here\u2019s what it\u2019s like taking a cat on a backpa<\/span>\n \t <\/path><\/svg> \"Here\u2019s\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
\n \n Moments from Patagonia - \n\nOn day one we all looke<\/span>\n \n\t <\/path>\n\t <\/svg>\t \"Moments\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
\n \n We\u2019ve been traveling with cats since 2017 - and <\/span>\n \t <\/path><\/svg> \"We\u2019ve\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
\n \n Annual photo round up - stoked for this year to be<\/span>\n \n\t <\/path>\n\t <\/svg>\t \"Annual\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tLoad More...<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n \n \n\t <\/path>\n\t <\/svg> Follow on Instagram<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/span>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n\t \n\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\"Blank\n\t

A Complete Guide to Road Tripping Western Scotland\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

I’m 26 and I’ve Traveled the World. Here’s How I Afford it.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The Michigan Bucket List<\/a><\/p>\n

Everything You Need to Know About the Eurail Pass<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Best Beaches in Michigan March 28, 2025\u00a0 Michigan is home to some of the most breathtaking freshwater beaches in the world. With over 3,200 miles of shoreline along the Great Lakes, the state boasts everything from towering sand dunes to hidden rocky coves. Whether you’re searching for soft, golden sand or secluded, untouched beauty,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"tpl-no-header-footer.php","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[691,6,692],"tags":[163,468,864,868,1127,185,208,1128,620,68,1126,469],"class_list":["post-8125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destination-guides","category-michigan","category-outdoor-adventure","tag-adventure-blog","tag-adventure-travel-blog","tag-best-beaches-in-michigan","tag-michigan-beaches","tag-michigan-beaches-to-visit","tag-michigan-blog","tag-michigan-blogger","tag-outdoor-travel-blogger","tag-shalee-super","tag-shalee-wanders","tag-the-best-beaches-to-visit-in-michigan","tag-travel-blogger"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Best Beaches in Michigan - Shalee Wanders<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Great Lakes State has over 3,000 miles of shoreline. Here are the best beaches in Michigan to add to your list.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Best Beaches in Michigan - Shalee Wanders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Great Lakes State has over 3,000 miles of shoreline. Here are the best beaches in Michigan to add to your list.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shalee Wanders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/shaleewandersblog\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-28T22:52:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-28T23:09:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/250-4.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shalee Wanders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@shaleewanders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@shaleewanders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shalee Wanders\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Best Beaches in Michigan - Shalee Wanders","description":"The Great Lakes State has over 3,000 miles of shoreline. Here are the best beaches in Michigan to add to your list.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Best Beaches in Michigan - Shalee Wanders","og_description":"The Great Lakes State has over 3,000 miles of shoreline. Here are the best beaches in Michigan to add to your list.","og_url":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/","og_site_name":"Shalee Wanders","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/shaleewandersblog\/","article_published_time":"2025-03-28T22:52:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-28T23:09:20+00:00","og_image":[{"width":900,"height":500,"url":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/250-4.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Shalee Wanders","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@shaleewanders","twitter_site":"@shaleewanders","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Shalee Wanders","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/","url":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/","name":"The Best Beaches in Michigan - Shalee Wanders","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/250-4.jpg","datePublished":"2025-03-28T22:52:38+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-28T23:09:20+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7b95945fb0d6e1b1cea8832c3ceda44b"},"description":"The Great Lakes State has over 3,000 miles of shoreline. Here are the best beaches in Michigan to add to your list.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/250-4.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/250-4.jpg","width":900,"height":500,"caption":"The Best Beaches in Michigan"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/the-best-beaches-in-michigan\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Best Beaches in Michigan"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/","name":"Shalee Wanders","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/#\/schema\/person\/7b95945fb0d6e1b1cea8832c3ceda44b","name":"Shalee Wanders","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/41ff23dd43748a0f94ec6c01886c4fc8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/41ff23dd43748a0f94ec6c01886c4fc8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Shalee Wanders"}}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/250-4.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4SpCW-273","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8125\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}