The Best of Michigan’s Beach Towns

These beach towns in Michigan are worth exploring on your next vacation.
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Charlevoix’s downtown is on Round Lake, which connects Lake Charlevoix (bottom) to Lake Michigan (top). // Photograph courtesy of Zuma Press Inc/Alamy Stock Photo

Thanks to our Great Lakes, there’s no shortage of Michigan beach towns to visit. These towns throughout the state have made waves among national publications as being among the best.

1. Traverse City

Among Reader’s Digest’s 15 most underrated American cities worth a visit; home to one of Architectural Digest’s 39 most beautiful main streets across America; and No. 1 on Wallet Hub’s list of the best lake beach towns to live in.

2. Holland

Among House Beautiful’s 50 best U.S. cities to visit that look just like Europe and Architectural Digest’s 55 most beautiful small towns in America.

3. Grand Haven

One of Trips to Discover’s 16 best small beach towns in the U.S. for summer.

4. South Haven

One of WorldAtlas’ 15 most beautiful towns in America.

5. Charlevoix

One of Travel + Leisure’s 15 best lake towns in America.

6. Saugatuck/Douglas

Among Thrillist’s 20 greatest beach towns in America.

7.Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, Ludington, Petoskey, Saugatuck, South Haven, and Empire

Among WorldAtlas’ nine cutest small towns in Michigan.

8. Munising, Grand Haven, Petoskey, Saugatuck, and St. Joseph

Among WorldAtlas’ nine most underrated towns in the Great Lakes region.


This story is from the July 2023 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. Read more in our digital edition.