North Beach is a little harder to get to than South Beach, which is easily accessible from the main strip of downtown. The entrance to the beach area is a tiny little side road that goes through the beach neighborhood houses. If you can navigate to it, it's totally worth the visit. The beach area is massive, and has small swings and a play area for kids, volleyball nets, and a standalone ice cream shop. Since it's across the canal, there are generally a lot less people on this side as well, and also several vacation rentals that sit right on the edge of the beach. I love riding my bike down here and watching the sunset . read more

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I grew up going to both North or South Beach in South Haven and really have never thought too much about which side I like more than the other other than sometimes it was based on crowd numbers. This trip, I had my Dad in tow, and he always loves the piers and walks out to the end, fisherman at heart. I hadn't put my toes in the warm Michigan sand or water since before moving to Florida in 2007, so I was excited about that and let my Dad wander off with my nephew while I walked along the water on the very short beach area now. I didn't care, I walked slowly along the water and let others walk around me. What I did love was that they now have boardwalks on the beach that let you get out to almost the water without having to walk on the hot yellow sand. In Clearwater, we have white sand so we can walk as slowly as we want without burning our feet. It's definitely something I love and don't miss about Michigan sand but bring up childhood memories. South Haven will always hold a special place in my heart, North and South Beach. read more

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A gigantic beach whose job is... just beach. This one is tough for me, because my whole family had some sort of nasty virus our whole trip and I was skirting by on easy street.. that is, until our beach day at North Beach. I felt like utter rubbish and will try not to let that color my views here. There is a pretty big parking lot here where you can pay $10 per day in season for parking; nothing is THAT far in this town, however hauling beach chairs, umbrellas, kids, etc. will make you want to get a spot here. We were behind someone who got the very last public spot, unfortunately, but found parking on a side street. The beach is the biggest in town; there's a nice snack bar, a small playground, and then like I opened with, just beach. The only shade is the shade you pack along, so don't even think about going barefoot here in July as you may as well be walking across hot coals. I thought it was nice, although my weary, sick and tired self hated the slog back and forth between the car as it's a decent distance. The snack bar was pretty great! Fair prices, and a delicious swirl soft serve that was a highlight for everyone. Ultimately, we ended up enjoying the scenery and vibes of a couple other South Haven beaches a bit more than this one, but it was good overall. Stake out a spot early, and don't be surprised if it feels crowded in season and especially on the weekends. read more

My fiance and I came to the beach to relax on a Saturday morning at the peak of 9 am. It was cloudy but a good temperature to be by the water. We laid out our blanket and our tent. It sprinkled for 15 minutes and the sun peaked out a little but it was the perfect weather to be on the beach. We had snacks that we briught but the snack shack was opened. We were one of the first people to arrive and the entire coast of the beach was filled with people. It was so relaxing that we atayed for 3 hours. We watched families go into the cold water and ride on their paddle boards. You could also rent paddle boards or kayaks right on the beach. They do have a restroom connected to the snack shack but it opened up a little later than we arrived. read more

North Beach - Ride on the coast - Beaches Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

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Great beach always stinks being charged $10 to be there. It has a playground and the beach is groomed in the morning. The kids had a blast as always since we love Lake Michigan and the sand. Plenty of space so you are not on top of people. read more

The concession stand sells everything from coffee to ice cream/food! The ice cream has various flavor selections and is very convenient after a long beach day! It's a bit expensive but worth it on a hot day. read more

North Beach - View from public beach/concession stand - Beaches Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

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Nice public beach. Gets crowded. Food stand and more. Lots of rentals utilize this public beach with blocked off areas. You can walk off shore. read more

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Very nice beach, they have a little playground with swings and slides, the water is a little rough so definitely not for smaller kids without being cautious but we loved it here, definitely will be going back soon read more

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This is one of my favorite beaches in South Haven, because it is not very crowded, there's a rest area and concession area if you need it, there are stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals, and a play area for kids. Did I mention it's not very crowded? The water is a bit colder, and there are definitely more waves, than at South Beach (which is protected by the pier). However, it is well worth it to have room to play and swim, and not jostle for space on the beach or in the water. LOVE. read more

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This is my beach when I'm in South Haven. I might have to circle around and around in my car to finally get a parking spot but I don't care I'll do it. I might have to take a few trips back and forth from the car to the spot I picked on the beach though hot sand but I'll do it cuz I LOVE NORTH BEACH. Nice beautiful sand, clean lake water, a snack bar, a swing set & slide, a volley ball net and great people watching as the walk by you on the beach. There is no lifeguard but they have makers in the water for you not to pass and it's pretty shallow for a while with lots of sandbars. Not to crowded & very clean read more

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A beautiful beach across the harbor and very nice. I prefer South beach due to the accessibility of the lighthouse and the pier. Also downtown and the area where the music concerts are more easily accessible from the South Beach side. read more

We stayed at a house nearby in early June. It was nice because the beach wasn't very crowded (not sure if it's because it was too cold to swim or because that's how it always is). The sand is soft (as opposed to grainy, rough sand) and the water is beautiful. There's a lighthouse close by that you can walk to. One yelper did mention that there is no lifeguard so swim at your own risk. They sell everything from ice cream, shave ice, snacks, beach towels etc. But the hours are very limited. It's a beautiful beach and I would definitely come back! read more

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My first time in South Haven and this beach is absolutely beautiful! I'll be back and I will bring my family.

Good beach but poor facilities for changing. The town upgraded the outdoor shower but it is still a muddy mess Need to rework the pad, elevate it, slats, drains, etc. It unusable at the end of the day unless you want to fill your car with mud See the excellent shower and rooms at Grand Haven city beach read more

North Beach - Failed shower update is a muddy mess. Also very poor changing rooms - Beaches Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

The beaches in South Haven are a real treat. But, if I had to choose either North Beach or South Beach, I'd pick the former. It is a long, wide strip of nice sand that tends to be less busy than South Beach (I presume because it is a little harder to get to). We prefer to go in the mornings. The holidays can get crazy but the local police agencies seem to be monitoring things more so drunken craziness is not repeated. read more

North Beach - Great concession stand too! - Beaches Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

Is it just me or am I too old for North Beach nowadays? I feel like an old crotchety woman, and if I had a cane I'd shake it at those loud and rowdy kids. I think anyone older than 20 is in the minority. Also, if you want a little impromptu high school reunion, head to North Beach for the Fourth of July. That being said, we just went, and as a family of 9, we had enough players for a beach volleyball game! The rental was $13 for a net and ball (and I think an umbrella), plus a deposit. And I daresay it was the best time I've had on North Beach. read more

So me, my sister & my niece took a spontaneous trip on Friday morning to South Haven, MI for the sole purpose of sitting on the beach ALL DAY LONG. And that's exactly what we did! It was wonderful. We arrived in almost four hours due to traffic. The parking is an entire situation. The town is clearly a beach town as everywhere you look, you see people in beach attire headed to or from the beach. There are a lot of vacation rental properties that sit on or across from the beach and in little cul de sacs, as well as residential homes and streets. The parking was full. We didn't understand the parking lots; it seemed they were paid but a lot of the lots said they were private so we couldn't tell which were which. After arriving, I would guess we spent about 20 minutes driving back and forth looking for a place to park. The beach was full of people and I'm not sure if that was due to the holiday or that's just the way it is. There is a lot of free on the street parking, but that's if you are lucky/patient enough to find a space and then you might be in a for a walk. Luckily we found a spot, parked and had a mild walk from the car to the beach, so we condensed things and carried only the stuff that was absolutely necessary. There were people sitting out in their yards with their dogs, talking and waving to passerbys. There is a heavy young crowd, I would guess late teens into early 20s. We arrived at the beach in part that was actually 'private' to the vacation homes that sat in front of it. Fortunately, there was an area near the shore that allowed us to move to the public section. The beach is huge. Lake Michigan is really beautiful and there was no shortage of people, children, boats, water sports such as jet skis and paddle boats and of course, the beautiful sun. We found a spot and literally stayed there the whole day. We got up to go swing and peruse the volleyball games. It was like being at a college family day event. There was a mix of all ages and there were LOTS of people having a good time. Lake Michigan is so large that it almost looks ocean like. The only thing that is different is the shore and the way the waves roll in. They are too calm and delicate to be ocean water, but it was beautiful nonetheless. I spent a small amount of time in the cold icey waters of the lake, but it was worth it. Besides the water being full of seaweed looking 'stuff' and random bits of dirt, it was great ! I wouldn't swim in it because of the amount of muck & dirt that you can clearly see under your foot. Maybe that's normal, but not for me. I walked off into the distance in the water. YOu can go a ways out and still only have water nearing your waist. It was a loud sense of peace. We relaxed and were not bothered or stepped on or kicked around. We did notice the police were there collecting bottles of alcohol (no alcohol permitted on the beach), and they even had a station set up. I believe it was in part to the heavy crowd being a 'younger' crowd. The youngun's were out having a great time. They came in droves and by the time we left the beach, there had to be 1000s of people playing music, volleyball, football or sunbathing. It was beautiful and it's great to have such a nice beach be so close to home!!! The biggest problem I had was I didn't know you couldn't access the pier from North Beach. It is actually on the South Beach side and separated by a portion of the water where the boats go thru. That was disappointing, especially because we thought there was a beach shuttle that came once an hour to transfer people between both beaches (that's what I read). We never found it, saw it and didn't know where it would even be coming to. So that was a bummer. But not too much. The sand was soft, the people were having a good time and hey, how can you be mad when on the beach during good weather in the middle of the summer???? read more

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Proper signage is not provided for parking. Parking attendant informed me that there are signs on 2 roads leading into the beach. Neither of these were the road that we took and there was not a sign anywhere near the spot we parked in. The parking attendant was rude and completely unapologetic. They are simply preying on tourists. $20 fine for a 2 hour beach visit. Very unimpressed. read more

Great place. Would definitely come back! The beach was clean and the water was pretty clear. We spent a number of hours enjoying the rays!

AGREE! BEST beach on Lake Michigan. Clean, Large Sand Area, Restroom and Shower area. Limited parking and concessions for beach, however restrooms and shops within walking distance. read more

The most gorgeous beach on Lake Michigan. It really makes you feel like you're looking at the ocean. I've always felt this area had a New England-type feel to it. The beach is lined with beach houses than range from adorable to jaw dropping. The stretch of beach is so long that it can accommodate hundreds of people. There is a concession stand that sells items like beverages, ice cream, burgers, fries, and other snack foods. There are public restrooms, which is considerably better than some beaches that only offer porta potties. (I mean, who wants to go inside one of those when you're in a swim suit!?!?) The well known lighthouse is on North Beach, which really is a must see. The downside to this beach is the parking. You could spend 45 minutes trying to find a space within walking distance. This gets very frustrating when you consider all the items one typically lugs to the beach. Also, to stay in this area is ridiculously expensive. We looked into a one bedroom condo on North Beach for a week. We quickly realized that a week in Mexico (flights included) was going to be significantly cheaper. Still a really great place to visit for a day. read more