Closest Beaches

Beaches Near Detroit, MI

Detroit has no Great Lakes beach of its own — the Detroit River fronts downtown, and the nearest open-lake swimming is up the Lake Huron shore. Lakeport State Park, roughly 80 miles north past Port Huron, is the closest verified state-park beach; Port Crescent and Tawas Point are further into the Thumb. Lake Huron runs cold well into June, so plan the season accordingly.

Plan This Week

Friday looks like the best day across this list.

Strongest single forecast: Warren Dunes State Park on Friday (86).

Within 60 mi

Maumee Bay State Park

48 mi · ~1 hr 9 min drive · Lucas County, OH

Skip the beach today.

86°F air 14 mph wind Best this week: Friday (85)

Lakeport State Park

61 mi · ~1 hr 28 min drive · St. Clair County, MI

Skip the beach today.

76°F air 16 mph wind Best this week: Friday (81)

Cedar Point Beach

62 mi · ~1 hr 29 min drive · Erie County, OH

Skip the beach today.

88°F air 18 mph wind Best this week: Friday (85)

Edgewater Beach (Cleveland)

89 mi · ~2 hr 8 min drive · Cuyahoga County, OH

Skip the beach today.

85°F air 17 mph wind Best this week: Friday (85)

Sims Park Beach (Euclid)

93 mi · ~2 hr 14 min drive · Cuyahoga County, OH

Skip the beach today.

86°F air 14 mph wind Best this week: Friday (80)

Headlands Beach State Park

99 mi · ~2 hr 22 min drive · Lake County, OH

Skip the beach today.

84°F air 15 mph wind Best this week: Friday (85)

Port Crescent State Park

115 mi · ~2 hr 46 min drive · Huron County, MI

Skip the beach today.

74°F air 20 mph wind Best this week: Friday (79)

Tawas Point State Park

134 mi · ~3 hr 14 min drive · Iosco County, MI

Decent day for photography.

78°F air 15 mph wind Best this week: Friday (83)

Presque Isle State Park

149 mi · ~3 hr 34 min drive · Erie County, PA

Skip the beach today.

81°F air 14 mph wind Best this week: Monday (84)

Holland State Park Beach

164 mi · ~3 hr 56 min drive · Ottawa County, MI

Great day for photography.

71°F water 75°F air 13 mph wind Best this week: Friday (84)

Grand Haven State Park

170 mi · ~4 hr 5 min drive · Ottawa County, MI

Great day for a beach walk.

71°F water 74°F air 13 to 17 mph wind Best this week: Friday (79)

Warren Dunes State Park

185 mi · ~4 hr 26 min drive · Berrien County, MI

Ideal for photography.

79°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (86)

Silver Lake State Park

198 mi · ~4 hr 45 min drive · Oceana County, MI

Ideal for a beach walk.

71°F water 78°F air 12 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (79)

Washington Park Beach (Michigan City)

202 mi · ~4 hr 51 min drive · LaPorte County, IN

Ideal for photography.

81°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (86)

Ludington State Park

210 mi · ~5 hr 3 min drive · Mason County, MI

Ideal for a beach walk.

71°F water 77°F air 13 mph wind Best this week: Thursday (80)

Indiana Dunes National Park

211 mi · ~5 hr 4 min drive · Porter County, IN

Great day for photography.

76°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (86)

Marquette Park Beach (Gary, Miller Beach)

222 mi · ~5 hr 19 min drive · Lake County, IN

Ideal for photography.

77°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (85)

Empire Beach (Lake Michigan Beach Park)

229 mi · ~5 hr 29 min drive · Leelanau County, MI

Great day for a beach walk.

71°F water 75°F air 15 mph wind Best this week: Friday (80)

Petoskey State Park

232 mi · ~5 hr 33 min drive · Emmet County, MI

Great day for a beach walk.

75°F air 15 mph wind Best this week: Friday (81)

63rd Street Beach (Chicago)

235 mi · ~5 hr 39 min drive · Cook County, IL

Ideal for photography.

78°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (85)

57th Street Beach (Hyde Park)

235 mi · ~5 hr 39 min drive · Cook County, IL

Ideal for photography.

78°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (85)

Ohio Street Beach (Chicago)

236 mi · ~5 hr 40 min drive · Cook County, IL

Ideal for photography.

78°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (85)

12th Street Beach (Chicago)

236 mi · ~5 hr 40 min drive · Cook County, IL

Great day for a beach walk.

31st Street Beach (Margaret T. Burroughs Beach)

236 mi · ~5 hr 40 min drive · Cook County, IL

Ideal for photography.

78°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (85)

North Avenue Beach (Chicago)

236 mi · ~5 hr 40 min drive · Cook County, IL

Ideal for photography.

78°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Friday (84)

Distance is straight-line, drive times are estimates

Mileage shown is straight-line distance from the center of Detroit. Real drive times depend on highway routing, weekend traffic, and where in the metro you start. For summer Saturdays, plan 20–40 minutes longer than the estimates here. The range slider above filters by the same straight-line distance.