15 Best Beaches Near Detroit, MI
Michigan State is home to several lovely beaches and seaside attractions perfect for visitors of all ages and many groups.
If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of Metro Detroit, we have the perfect weekend getaway for relaxation.
Even though Michigan does not have an ocean, this mitten-shaped state is proud to be home to more than 11,000 inland lakes that may please your craving for a refreshing dip.
To help you plan the ideal well-deserved vacation, check out our selection of the top beaches around Detroit, Michigan, filled with the most crystal-clear waters, miles and miles of sandy shores, and the most stunning scenery for a memorable escape.
Pack your luggage, put on that swimsuit and trunks again, and drive to the next beach paradise.
- Belle Isle Beach — Detroit
Belle Isle Beach gives enchanting sights for everyone, known as one of Detroit’s most beautiful beaches.
Why We Recommend this Beach
Belle Isle Beach is open for visitors and locals throughout the week and is in Detroit’s famous island park. Also, it offers a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy, including swimming, sunbathing, and simply taking in the most beautiful city sunsets.
Expert Tip
While inside the city, if you are searching for a low-key location that is accessible, this beach is a safe pick since most Detroiters have not had the opportunity to explore this waterfront site.
- Clover Beach — Linden
A one-hour journey from Detroit makes Clover Beach the ideal day trip destination. It is open from 8 am to 8 pm every day.
Why We Recommend this Beach
Clover Beach has plenty to offer everyone, including locations with great photo shoots and expansive stretches of sand to relax on. Cool and refreshing water from the enchanting Byram Lake has just the right temperature to wallow.
Expert Tip
If you want to add some thrill to your trip after an exciting day at the beach, you can explore the vast open areas rich with wildlife and lush forests for an incredible hiking adventure.
- Lakeside Park — Port Huron
Nothing compares to spending a day in the sun at Port Huron’s Lakeside Park.
Why We Recommend this Beach
With more than a thousand feet of beachfront beauty, this spectacular beach is ideal for an old-fashioned beach day. It is along the beautiful and serene shores of Lake Huron.
Expert Tip
If you are seeking quick beach access near Detroit, we recommend this beach since it is only an hour’s drive away.
Due to the availability of rental BBQ grills, this beach is also ideal for families. You can prepare some meat here while the kids play outside.
- Thelma Spencer Park — Rochester Hills
The city of Rochester Hills owns and manages Thelma G. Spencer Park.
Why We Recommend this Beach
One of our top suggestions for families seeking kid-friendly beaches close to Detroit is Thelma Spencer Park. A life-guarded waterfront attraction conveniently nestled within a 113-acre park provides access to a picturesque 38-acre lake.
Expert Tip
Rochester Hills is full of museums of all kinds, so make sure to stop after your beach trip to get a glimpse of the small city’s culture and history.
- Atwater Park — Shorewood
Atwater Park is one of Detroit’s newest and closest beach attractions.
Why We Recommend this Beach
This expansive 5-acre open space is home to a lovely sandy beach, captivating public art exhibits, a kid-friendly playground, and Shorewood’s most stunning and picturesque lake views.
Expert Tip
This beach offers a private setting for tourists, especially early risers, and is relatively new to Shorewood and Detroit.
- Walter and Mary Burke Park — New Baltimore
Walter and Mary Burke Park in the lovely city of New Baltimore offers a great experience with its well-maintained shoreline and refreshing seas.
Why We Recommend this Beach
This location offers picnic areas, tetherball options, a small but attractive beach, a magnificent boardwalk that leads to a beautiful waterfront view at Anchor Bay, and many more. It is absolutely an exciting opportunity for a healthy day along the coast.
Expert Tip
As a well-known coastal village, New Baltimore, Michigan, will not let you down if you want to go boating, fishing, or enjoy a relaxing day on the water.
- Stony Creek Metropark — Shelby Charter Township
This beach is one of Michigan’s most famous vacation spots, and it is undoubtedly worth the 50-minute drive from Detroit.
Why We Recommend this Beach
With Eastwood Beach and Stony Creek Lake at its heart, this park, which spans a massive 4,461 acres, is one of the most underrated locations in the city and offers wide-open spaces that are ideal for relaxation.
Expert Tip
While you are there, stop by Shelby’s small town’s breweries, pubs, and wineries to taste some fantastic drinks.
- Marine City Beach — Marine City
Marine City Beach is a small, spotless beach community close to Detroit that offers a relaxing waterfront experience.
Why We Recommend this Beach
This beach is the perfect place to sunbathe, read a book, or relax while the waves touch your submerged feet. It has soft white sand, cool and refreshing water, and stunning scenery.
Expert Tip
Expect a calm and relaxing atmosphere when you visit Marine City Beach because it is rarely crowded despite being a popular destination in the area.
- Lake St. Clair Metropark — Harrison Charter Township
The best beach for swimming close to Detroit is Lake St. Clair Metropark, which has miles of sandy shoreline and calm, well-maintained water.
Why We Recommend this Beach
This park, only 30 minutes from downtown Detroit, has a vast, well-maintained sandy shoreline ideal for relaxation, swimming, and sunbathing.
This beach offers a 1,600-foot boardwalk along the edge of the lake with an Olympic-size swimming pool with two slides.
Expert Tip
Keep a lookout for different bird species because this beach is home to an abundance and variety of bird and marine life.
We recommend taking a boat as you stroll around the waters and catch a variety of fish with a fishing rod.
- Kirk Park — West Olive
Kirk Par is a lakeside picnic area surrounded by towering cliffs and wooded dunes on Lake Michigan’s serene and beautiful shoreline.
Why We Recommend this Beach
Kirk Park is at the top of our list of suggestions for lake beaches close to Detroit. With its expansive stretches of crystalline blue waters that spread as far as the eye can see, this beach is ideal for experiencing the most mesmerizing sights.
Expert Tip
If you wish to spend the night, you can reserve a lodge within the park, with a wide dog-friendly beach area.
Therefore, if you have a furry pet, you can bring them to this lovely beach without any problem.
- Black Rocks Beach — Marquette
If you are looking for a weekend beach getaway from Detroit that will take you somewhere serene and peaceful, Black Rocks Beach is our top choice.
Why We Recommend this Beach
The Black Rocks Beach is a lonely beach squeezed between two cliffs on the island’s north side, hidden within Presque Isle Park, with the most intriguing rock formations and natural wonders amid cold breezes and gentle waves.
Expert Tip
This beach offers a space of privacy and is usually accessible by kayak, allowing you to travel as relaxing as the destination.
- Van Buren Park Beach — Belleville
Van Buren Park Beach is one of our top picks for quick beach trips from Detroit and is only a 30-minute drive away.
Why We Recommend this Beach
This beach is more than just a sandy shoreline and calm waves; present in the charming city of Belleville.
Along Lake Belleville, Van Buren Park Beach surrounds by hiking trails, pavilions, picnic tables, and concession areas.
Expert Tip
If you want to avoid the crowd, travel early because this beach park is quite a popular tourist attraction.
The least busy hours are from 7 am onwards.
- Fisherman’s Island State Park — Charlevoix
For those who like adventure, the Fisherman’s Island State Park offers one of the best beach getaways from Detroit.
Why We Recommend this Beach
Fisherman’s Island State Park is a large public recreation area covering more than 2,678 acres.
This location is one of our favorites for fun days under the sun because it is home to a large area of crystal-clear waters of Lake Michigan.
Expert Tip
When planning an exciting vacation to Fisherman’s Island State Park, remember that Charlevoix is home to numerous medieval houses and castles. Take the time to explore all.
- Kensington Metropark — Milford Charter Township
Warm water from Kent Lake flows onto Milford’s Maple and Martindale beaches at Kensington Metropark.
Why We Recommend this Beach
This location is ideal for families and friend groups and is only 45 minutes from Detroit.
This beach provides something for everyone to enjoy, offering a wide variety of aquatic activities, excellent water views, wide-open wilderness, and thrilling attractions.
Expert Tip
Explore the water on your own with a kayak, canoe, paddleboat, rowboat, or stand-up paddleboard, or take a ride around the lake on the elegant Island Queen III, a 46-passenger pontoon boat.
- William C. Sterling State Park — Monroe
One of the greatest and finest beaches close to Detroit, Michigan, is William C. Sterling State Park.
Why We Recommend this Beach
Only 50 minutes south of Detroit, in Monroe, William C. Sterling State Park has a mile-long sandy beach right on the Lake Erie beaches and boasts warm waters, unlike other Great Lakes.
Expert Tip
If you are looking for an overnight adventure close to home and are planning to stay longer, lakefront campsites are available.
