Best park! I love that this year there are lifeguards (or maybe that was normal and I've never noticed?). Nice sand, a nice area to swim before you run into boats and you can borrow life vests. I like the flag warning system as well. The lifeguards were moving around swiftly to change them when the weather turned quickly which was nice. Bathrooms near the splash pad and a spot to buy food and ice cream is a nice touch. Also, if the kids tire of the water, there's a playground in the sand near the sidewalk. Perfect! read more

South Beach was just ok for us. The beach itself is nice and spacious, so it never felt overcrowded, which we appreciated. There was quite a bit of seaweed near the pier though, and that made the water less enjoyable than we were hoping. Safety is obviously important, and I completely understand the rules around rip currents and only allowing Coast Guard-approved flotation devices. My only suggestion would be to do a better job communicating that before people get into the water. A sign near the parking lot or beach entrance explaining the current conditions and flotation rules would've been really helpful. We didn't find out until we were already in the water, and it would've saved some frustration. One thing I did really like was the little beach shop and cafe. They were both super cute and made it easy to grab a snack or pick up anything you forgot, which was a nice touch. The staff clearly cared about keeping everyone safe, which I appreciate, but it also made us feel like we were being watched the whole time instead of being able to relax. We ended up heading over to the splash pad. read more

Very clean and beautiful beach that is walking distance from downtown South Haven. Paid parking available but you can also find free parking in downtown and walk down the beach. Love that were are life vests available to borrow for FREE. read more

See all

What's not to love about sun, surf, and sand! A day at the beach is always fun. There is a concession stand, souvenir shop, and restrooms available. We saw kayak and paddle boards for rent. read more

See all

Be prepared for a packed day and full parking lot. Arrive early for best choices of parking. However, very much worth spending some time visiting. There are nearby bathrooms and a concession shop. The beach itself is clean although busy with visitors. Once you're done with the beach, there are lots of places to eat and shop if that is more your jam. read more

Very nice, clean, beautiful beach. They had bathrooms and a concession stand up by the pier. Plenty of parking when we went but it was the start of off season. Parking is $10 from May 15th -September 15th. Totally worth $10 to not have to walk far to the beach. The beach wasn't over busy but again, we went towards the end of the season. read more

South Beach Park - Parks Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

See all

South Beach and North Beach are the big kahunas in South Haven, and I have to say after a day at both, South Beach gets the slight nod! For starters, this beach feels massive; one end has the pier and lighthouse, plus a snack bar, gift shop, and the parking lots. The other end is just beach, so you can set up wherever you are most comfortable. We were at this beach on a Saturday in late July so it was PACKED, including the lunch hour at the snack bar. They handled the rush well and it all worked out just fine. We got a good spot, but also, people kinda set up right in front of us despite us being up against the water. It's a slog to walk up and down the stairs and into the neighborhoods here while carrying a day's worth of beach stuff, but we made it work. There's not a ton of parking so you'll need to be prepared to find a neighborhood spot and trek it. I do wish there was a bathroom on this end of the beach. Otherwise a nice variety of views, lots of people having fun, swimming, playing, digging, relaxing.. hard to go wrong! read more

South Beach has been perfect for our visit to South Haven! The beach and water are clean, there is tons of space, and it's patrolled regularly by beach staff and the sheriff. It has a sidewalk that goes about halfway up, which makes it easily accessible for all people. We looked at other beaches but defaulted back to South Beach each day. It's walkable for the surrounding neighborhoods, but they also have paid parking for $10/day. Absolutely recommend! read more

South Beach Park - Overlook onto South Beach - Parks Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

See all

This was another great stop in south haven. The only part that was difficult was the parking situation. They also have a shop and a concession stand for some snacks. We really enjoyed our time here read more

South Beach is a beautiful park in the South Haven area that is popular for swimming so bring your bathing suit and enjoy a refreshing dip into Lake Michigan. Stick around for a sunset for an extra special moment. The lighthouse, concessions, playground and historical memorials allow for more activities to be enjoyed than just swimming. I've always been a fan of lighthouses and gone on several tours of different ones around the country, so I appreciated the beauty of the lighthouse here at South Beach. No unleashed animals are allowed according to the state website, so bring a leash if you plan on bringing your pet. While we were there nobody had pets so I was curious if the rule I read was even accurate because I was convinced someone would have a leashed dog on a nice day. $10 parking fee per car but if you are willing to walk a bit there are some spots to get free parking elsewhere. Bathrooms are available and was clean when I used it. Overall a very enjoyable beach. read more

See all

Small beach on the shores of Lake Michigan, located adjacent to the lighthouse. Being so close to the lighthouse adds a bit of additional character to the skyline. Water is fairly shallow for a good way out. The beach is small enough to be a good choice for families. A snack bar is located on the lighthouse side. As is a place to rent bikes. Between the beach and the marina is a splash pad for kids. It is a great way to rinse all that beach sand off of them. A paid parking area is the closest parking to the beach. Limited free parking is located by the marina. Even if you don't want to take a dip in the water, or sun on the sand, this park makes for an enjoyable walk while visiting South Haven. read more

See all

2 stars for the sand and gift shop. This beach is small, packed, and unkept. Well, what can you really expect from Lake Michigan??? The water is stupid cold and lakey (I know, I'm ridiculous!). At least there's a gift shop where you can buy an umbrella and other beach essentials. There's also a snack bar with bar food, coffee, and ice cream! There's a place for rentals for kayak and paddle board, about $25 per hour for each. This is the family side, so there are tons of kids! I hope you like 'em =) TIP: if you go on the other side, called North beach, there's a larger sandy area with less kids. But there's no gift shop and no snack bar. read more

Growing up in Michigan there are few things you get to look forward to once it starts to get warmer. That would be Lake Michigan and if you're from the Kalamazoo area like I am, that would mean South Haven. There is a North and South Beach as many people have mentioned and there are two different "feels" to each of them for sure. I do find it pretty funny to see people mention how crowded the beaches are though. When you get MAYBE 3 months of acceptable beach weather out of 12 months, isn't that something you should except?? People will be there in large numbers so go early if you want parking just like any other beach! Things at the beach close at dusk... so you'll just have to be okay drying off and staying in your bathing suit if you stay later or for sunset. Honestly, I have never changed before going home from a beach you just put on a dress or beach cover, in Michigan or in my current state of Florida so I don't see the problem with bathrooms being closed. If it does bother you that much, South Haven has many many options as far as restaurants that you can pop into and change real quick. Grab some food or a drink while you are at it and support local!!! My latest visit to South Beach was to take my boyfriend for his first time visit to any of the Great Lakes. As with most people, he had no idea really how big they really are and was in awe. It was later in the season and for us Floridians (yes, I am one now) it was freezing and we were in hoodies. The park, the lighthouse and the beach itself reminded me of so many things that I miss about Michigan and really just how beautiful it truly is. Even in winter here, the ice along the pier and on the lighthouse are picture perfect but PLEASE do not go out there when the weather is bad or waves are high/strong. Year after year we grew up hearing about senseless deaths of those going out on dares or whatever the reason. I miss you Pure Michigan!! read more

See all

Nice beach, but not RV friendly. The whole town is not RV friendly . Paid parking is everywhere , get there early as it gets packed! Dog friendly too, read more

This is probably one of the more crowded Lake MI beaches I've been to since I've been in Michigan. There are two sides to it, North & South. The south beach side has the lighthouse and I feel is more tailored to families and children. The North part is a bit larger and you have more room to spread out. Parking for the day is $10. If you opt to use the coin machines for a few hours, be sure to bring plenty of change. There are concessions located on site and a small beach store selling merchandise. There are also restrooms on site and some stalls to change out of your wet swim suit. Overall, I enjoyed a warm sunny day along the shore line. The walk up the pier to come up close to the lighthouse was spectacular as well. Great experience as well as a great place to come and relax with the family for a day. read more

See all

This is, perhaps, the least favorite for me, of all the South Haven beaches. But still, LAKE MICHIGAN. Pros: restrooms and changing areas 2 concession stands right by the Black River, so you can see the boats heading out, or in at dusk kids play area warmer water than north beach less waves than north beach the pier and the lighthouse - gorgeous! Cons: restrooms close at dusk, so if you're swimming, no place to change paid parking before 6pm SO MANY PEOPLE. You will be crowded both in the water, and on the beach Why do we still go here sometimes? If it is a particularly beautiful sunset, we'll come to take photos, because the lights on the pier are lovely at night. If waves are high, they will be much less here. But honestly? Head to north beach, unless you're walking from downtown, and just want a straight shot to the big lake. read more

See all

Not the first visit, but still a good time! Good to get a solid walk on the shoreline, pier, along with some improv hiking. Still open during the pandemic!! read more

South Beach Park - Parks Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

Beautiful beach but can be crowded due to popularity. Arrive early to get a space, $10 for the whole day. This beach is protected from larger waves by the pier so it is likely to be a green flag more often which is safe for all swimmers. There is accessibility to the pier and the lighthouse also. Your can watch various boats coming in from the river into the Harbor and onto Lake Michigan. In the later afternoon hours, the kiteboarders come out. Sunset is beautiful to watch here also. read more

This is probably my most-visited beach of the west MI Lake Michigan shore. I drive from Kalamazoo, so it's also one of the closest for me. It's a big beach, and yes, it draws a crowd on a nice summer weekend. But they have the pier, concession stand, restrooms, paddle board and kayak rentals, and parking nearby. You have to get here before noon or after 3pm though if you want a parking spot on a weekend, otherwise you'll get stuck parking on the neighborhood streets and it can be a hike if you have a bunch of stuff like chairs and coolers. It's not a state park, so entry is not free -- I think parking has gone up to $11 for the day? The beach is very clean and not rocky, and the swim area is shallow and sandy. read more

South Beach Park - Beach on the pier side - Parks Near Me - South Haven, Michigan

We loved this little beach park. Our 20-month old son did, too. There is paid parking, but also free street parking if you're willing to walk a bit further. Easy in, easy out. Nice, clean beach area. Lots of recreational structures for my son to explore. The south side has walking access to the lighthouse, as well. Recommended. read more

I love that beaches are still open and bring maintained. This whole summer has really been a mess. It's great that my family and I can still get out and do SOMETHING while the rest of the country is cowering. read more

South Beach Park is great for getting to the light houses and watching the ships go in and out from Lake Michigan. There's ample parking, but some of it comes with the distance. Especially in the summertime, this is a pretty bustling place in the summer! Street parking is available with meters or you can pay a small fee to park in the beach parking lot. In the summer the parking lot always fills up very fast. I don't particularly care for the beach here in the summer because there are so many people, but I love to walk along here in the fall and in the spring. You can walk the pier to the lighthouse street from the beach. There are also a few little pop-up shops, bathrooms, and a few concession stands at serve food and ice cream. read more

The beach was very crowded but we walked a little North and found a great little space that wasn't far from the bathrooms. There does appear to be a lot of home construction in the entire area. We stayed for 5 hours to allow the kids to swim and they seemed to be very happy with the location. read more