What a fabulous lil' place to visit during my first trip to Saugatuck. My boyfriend and his family have visited this beach in past years, so when he and I took our first trip together here, just the two of us, he was eager to show me this spot that means so much to him. If you're planning on driving and parking, know that there's a $10 "vehicle fee," which basically is a parking fee. Get those dollars, Oval Beach! The young dude working the entry hut seemed cool. Once you enter, you'll notice there's a concession stand as well. I'm going to take a wild guess and say they're only open during the summer, though! This beach sits on a hill, which makes for an even more gorgeous view than your average beach. It reminded me of a movie theatre: a good view from pretty much wherever you are, because no one's really obstructing your line of vision. We visited during a July weekend that was particularly rainy, so it drizzled on and off during the first half hour or so and even poured a bit. But once the sun came out and it got warmer, we could see the farthest edges of the beach, which were gorgeous. If you're visiting Saugatuck, Holland, or any of the nearby towns, this beach and the nearby dunes are a must-see, and worth the $10 if you're driving in! read more

Oval Beach - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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Great beach with fine clean sand. Plenty of parking, lots of kids, and a snack stand if you didn't bring food. This place gets crowded so if you don't like crowds then this isn't the place for you. The parking is $10 for the day or if you bought the state park pass for your vehicle then you're good to go. read more

Oval Beach - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Great spot for sunbathing, swimming, and playing sands. It costs $10 to park and enter the oval beach. Parking was easy to find. We were there the week after 4th of July and there were quite a bit of people. Saw dogs on the further end of the beach read more

This beach was voted one of the best in the country so I had to check it out. I am on a girl's weekend so we decided to come here for the sunset. Unfortunately, it was cloudy but that was okay since we experienced a spectacular one the night before. Oval Beach is large so more likely than not you will be spread out from you neighbors. The sand here is perfect. It's the kind that feels like a spa treatment on your feet. It's also one of the cleanest beaches I've seen. I was planning on retiring to Lexington, but with this sand and town I'm starting to rethink things. Simply gorgeous. read more

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I visited Oval Beach around 6 pm last evening in hopes of seeing a beautiful sunset. Unfortunately it was too cloudy. I still managed to enjoy myself. The beach has a large sandy area without many rocks or shells. I felt completely safe walking barefoot and the sand felt good. I went for a short swim. The shallow area had some seaweed floating around but once I got past that it was wonderful! Clear water, slight waves, and a beautiful serene landscape. I enjoyed sitting on a pool noodle to float in the water while looking at the sun and it's reflection before it escaped behind the clouds. So relaxing! The beach wasn't crowded at that time but there was still a lot of activity - kids swimming, playing in the sand and throwing frisbees, couples relaxing, and photographers completing photo shoots of people. There is a $10 fee to park at the beach. We noticed that the attendant left about 8:30 pm. Not sure if that's a regular thing or not. But if you're going to the beach for sunset only it would be worth it to wait until after 8:30 pm. Park closes at 10 pm. I would definitely visit Oval Beach again. read more

Beautiful beach. Challenging to go down an up the sandy hill to get to the actual beach, especially if your hands are full. Definitely worth visiting the beach. Clean, relaxing and the waves are calming. Best to get there with enough time to enjoy. There is a $10 charge. read more

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Had a fun day at the lake here. The concessions hut had amazing BBQ pulled pork on a brioche bun which was a great lunch for 5 dollars. It's a nice clean beach with SUPER close parking. It is $10 entry/parking but the concessions and changing station plus proximity to the water is worth it. It's a great beach to spend a day at on Lake Michigan. read more

I love Oval beach. Its huge with beautiful views of Lake Michigan especially at sunset. Despite the popularity, its not overcrowded. It is very clean also. It is well deserved as one of Michigans top beaches. read more

Oval Beach - Sunset and very chilly water. Relaxing - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Beautiful beach! Nice and clean water. Gorgeous views as always of Lake Michigan. One of my fav beaches to visit out West.

Fantastic beach! All day parking is $10. The restrooms are clean, outdoor showers are avails to clean off the sand, and there's a concession stand for snacks. There are plenty of picnic tables. The sand is clean and laKe views are fantastic. Some dunes are near by. Perfect spot for a fun time with family or friends. read more

Voted as one of the best beaches in the country, I thought I would take the opportunity to go and visit. Tucked away in the tiny town of Saugatuck, you will not be disappointed for coming here and spending the day. Parking for the day is $10 or you can buy a season pass for $50, which is good only for Oval Beach. My first time here I lucked out and got beachfront parking. There are restrooms on site and actually a snack bar that had decent eats at very inexpensive prices. I grabbed my stuff and walked down to the water. At first glance, this place is just magnificent. Clean, beautiful, and the water just perfect. From Lansing, this took roughly an hour and a half. The sand was so soft, plenty of places to lay your blanket, eat some lunch and relax. Overall, this should definitely be on your list of beaches to come to when in Michigan. This place is perfect, I look forward to a return trip. read more

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There's a reason why it's ranked one of the world's best beaches: it is. Clean, quiet, and peaceful. Minimal amenities so byo chairs, umbrellas, cooler. read more

The real question is, having lived in Michigan 95% of my life and having been to most beaches here, what isn't 5 stars about this place. It's clean, quiet, big, comfortable, not full of idiots with stereos and trying to strut. This is a 5 star beach no matter how you cut it. People come from everywhere to vacation here This beach has been rated in the top 5 beaches in America by numerous travel magazines and sites 4 out of 5 Great Lakes prefer Michigan Salt and Shark Free read more

Oval Beach - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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You'll forgive me if I was skeptical about various Top Beaches in the U.S. claims. Exaggerated boasts aside, Oval Beach was a pretty nice shoreline excursion during our recent vacation to the area. The good feature about Oval was how deep the beach actually was--probably 75 yards from edge to shore, which meant a lot of space for beach-goers. Even with a lot of people it never felt overly crowded. It seemed that the beach was pretty kid-/family-friendly without much distraction from any party crowd. It was also nice being at a beach that wasn't sullied with a lot of development and eye-sores (I'm looking at you Indiana Dunes). The sand was clean, and the water, though lake, was swimmable. The facilities were basic but convenient. There is a small concessions area as well as a rudimentary playground for kids. Parking was ample, and the $8 entry though a bit pricey covered your reentry for the entire day. All in all we were very pleased with our relaxing day at Oval. read more

Oval Beach - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

This is one of the world's most beautiful beaches (attested by Conde-Nast). White sand, blue water, and a broad horizon. Indescribable! NOTE: the map shows it in downtown Saugatuck. It's actually on the other side of the Kalamazoo River. Cross the bridge, go right at the first traffic light, and follow the signs down the hill and over the dunes. You'll be glad you did! read more

Oval Beach - Oval Beach & Lake Michigan Looking North - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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We reached here around 9:30pm and we found only 4 cars parked. It is a very secluded and quiet beach. It was a memorable trip.

No dogs allowed. Really wanted to enjoy a day at the beach with my family- my whole family but they don't allow dogs not even on a leash.

One of the smaller beaches on Lake Michigan. My 2 star rating is because they do not offer senior or disability discounts to visitors putting it a bit to the cheesy side. But when all you have to offer is some grassy dunes and 10' of shoreline, I guess you have to do anything to make a dime. read more

We made it to oval beach on a chilly fall night. We intended to hike up Mt. Baldy to watch the sunset, but we walked along the beach for awhile before our hike. Very windy! I'm glad I layered several coats, because it is definitely chilly right on the water. The waves were also gigantic that night - they were the biggest waves I've ever seen in Lake Michigan. After our stroll along the beach, we hiked up some dunes to the top of Mt. Baldhead. O M G Wow, I'm out of cardiovascular shape. I was huffing and puffing up those dunes. Hiking in sand is not easy. However, there was some great views at the top and we took a lot of pictures. This is a great public beach and I can see it being very busy in the summers. read more

Oval Beach - Oval Beach - 10.15.11 - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Had a beautiful day at the beach. Not crowded after Labor Day and parking after Labor Day is free. Technically no dogs or booze allowed, but we saw both. Close access from parking lot. Showers and bathrooms. There is a concession stand but closed after Labor Day. read more

Oval Beach - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Not what we expected at all. It's a hill of sand. You can only lay your towel or sit your chair one way...facing the water. So, if you're trying to get sun and face the sun you can't do it. It was packed with kids running up and down the hill kicking sand all over you and your towel. No alcoholic beverages allowed even if you have them in a can. Won't be going back. Silver beach and Jean Klock beach in St. Joseph are much better. read more

Beautiful beach family friendly! Parking wasn't awful. Areas where you can park right up the sand and lay out.

My favorite beach in West Michigan. The sunsets here are spectacular, better than any place I have seen on Lake Michigan. The park is always well cared for and the staff has always been great. This beach gets really busy during the summer so keep that in mind when you go to see a sunset. Getting there a little bit earlier is a great idea. It is a municipal park, not a state park so there is a charge to get in (I think it was $8) but they have to pay for the services somehow. read more

What an absolutely beautiful beach! We came here five times during our recent weeklong stay in Saugatuck, and each visit was wonderful. I'm more than happy to pay for parking when it provides for a beautiful, well-maintained beach, clean restrooms, ample parking and more. We came at various times, depending on whether we made it out before or after nap time. No matter what time we came, there was plenty of parking, lots of space to set up for our crew, and beautiful views. I think this is one of the best beaches I've ever been to in terms of natural beauty, ease of use, and just overall enjoyment. The dunes are stunning and the beach is exactly the kind of memory-making experience we were looking for. I hope we come back many times while our kids are little. read more

Great beach! Very clean! We come to the beach whenever we are in Saugatuck!! It can get crowded, so come early. It's also a great place to watch the sunset. read more

This is a small cute beach in a quite sweet town of saugatuck. The drive from Grand Rapids to the beach is so beautiful and green. You have to watch out for the people walking and greenery. The beach was warm, not the water. But was totally relaxing. Since it was weekend a lot were locals, hanging out and enjoying. Next to beach and parking area is a small shack where you can get refreshments some drinks chips ice cream, don't expect food. Beach was clean. But only downside to that was the parking lot, it's small and fills up quickly and slots don't open as people don't leave so early. There was a traffic hold up for up to 2 miles just to be told by cops that parking is full and you can turn around. So that bummed me out a lot. We went back to the mount baldhead park, circled the area few times found a parking and climbed 302 stairs up and then 1-2 miles in sand to oval beach. You can do it too, if you are adventurous. Coz it is hard trekking up, but the exercise and relaxation on the beach makes up for the day. But be prepared hiking up the sand is much difficult then trekking down. read more

Loooooooove this beach! Me and my husband travel from the city of Chicago just to visit this great beach. The town it's in is soooo cute and so much to do read more

Oval Beach - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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I live in saugatuck about 10 minutes away from oval beach. It's an amazing beach but in the summer it's always really crowded, I suggest walking a little ways toward the lighthouse to avoid people. Getting a season pass saves time, you wont have to pay every time you go. I love oval beach. read more

A good place to chill and relax. Shallow for swimming. Busy during mid-week in July. Lots of kids and families.

A haiku for Oval Beach: Lovely and clean beach, Plenty parking and bathrooms, Great sunsets await. read more

If the state refuses to check the bacteria count of the speech we should consider it contaminated.

Beautiful I was there with a group of friends and we had a blast. The beach is nice and clean and is not too crowded like here in Chi town. Parking is easy and even tough is 6 bucks it is worth the money. It is a big beach, that ,as said before, is super clean. read more

While I am not sold on some magazine's claim that this is one of the best beaches in America, I am a solid fan of Oval Beach. It's a large beach blanketed by sand dunes. The sand is groomed daily and with a gradual slope into the water, it's great for all ages. When we were there in August, the water temp was 73 degrees and felt wonderful. They do have a snack stand on site with changing/bathrooms. Obviously, a killer spot to watch the sunset. read more

During my time in Saugatuck I was fortunate to visit Oval Beach on two occasions. Once to see the sunset and another to just bum around on the beach during the day. Both trips were just magnificent. I agree with Aurore L. that getting to see the sunset on the water was quite a treat. Please note that during the summer there is a $6 fee to enter with a motor vehicle. Other points of interest are that you can grill on the beach if you wish, however there is a concession stand that is open as well. The view of the Lake Michigan from Oval Beach is lovely - both during the day and night. I look forward to my next visit, whenever that may be. read more

Great sand 6$ parking. Clean bathrooms. Sand is soft, and plenty of beach to spread out on. There is not as much shallow water as South Haven or St. Joseph for throwing a football in the water or a frisbee but the beech isn't rocky. If your feeling sporty follow the trail toward the large golf ball on the east horizon. You climb up Mt. Baldy through a beautiful trail. Or park at Mt. Baldy and hike up all those stairs and then avoid the 6$ parking. (warning, it is quite the hike elevation change, and distance) read more

Ahhhh....Saugatuck...such a cute little place on Lake Michigan where you can FINALLY experience the sunset on the water! When you are from Chicago this is by itself worth the trip. A treat to be appreciated and enjoyed over and over again. Oval Beach is the best spot for the show. If you drive you'll have to pay an entrance fee ($6 as of August 2011) so be prepared to come with cash (we didn't and had to track back in order to find an ATM - which was not small feast since the closest two were out of order). Parking is a breeze but if you stay in town I would recommend to walk down the road; it's an easy 15-minute (max) stroll. You will welcome by soft, white sand and an unobstructed view of the lake, for miles on. Sit, and enjoy. Or take a dip. Whatever you want. You are...on Oval Beach. read more

This is one of the best beaches I've ever been to - ocean or lake! The beach is super clean, sand is wonderful and the water temp in late July is perfect! During high season they do close off the parking lot when they're at capacity so I'd recommend getting there before noon to be safe. It's also a great spot to watch the sunset! read more

Oval Beach - Maybe the best beach I've ever been to--freshwater or saltwater. Quality crowd, pristine, clean surroundings, beautiful sand. - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

This is my fourth year living in West Michigan and Oval Beach is my favorite beach that I've been to on Lake Michigan thus far. The biggest draw is that it is in Saugatuck, which is just an awesome town to visit - all the shopping! The beach is nice, though, and there is plenty of parking. I like the addition of the boardwalk at the side of the beach, which makes it easier trudging back up to your car at the end of the day with all your stuff when you don't want to fight the sandy beach uphill to the parking lot. The sand is great - the beach is a nice size to spread people out. The only downside is that the first few feet wading into the water can be quite rocky. read more

I've liked Oval Beach for many years. Today I was there with my kids, and there were a couple of very young, like teenaged, beach patrol employees in neon green tee shirts patrolling the beach. They told a group of mature women not to drink on the beach, and then a cop showed up a few minutes later and told these women they had a drink, and they had to get out, immediately. He was very rude. Is this what we want at Oval Beach? Teenagers calling the police on mature ladies and telling them to get out, when you know half the people on the beach are drinking beer? read more

Beautiful water and great parking with easy beach access. My grandson loves the swings and watching the sea gulls. Tables for resting or eating and bathroom clean read more

Oval Beach - Beaches Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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