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

Tuesday looks like the best day across this list.

Strongest single forecast: Lakeport State Park on Tuesday (67).

Within 60 mi

Maumee Bay State Park

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

Decent day for photography.

53°F air 9 to 13 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (66)

Lakeport State Park

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

Decent day for photography.

50°F air 9 to 15 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (67)

Cedar Point Beach

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

Great day for photography.

54°F air 16 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (62)

Edgewater Beach (Cleveland)

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

Skip the beach today.

51°F air 23 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (57)

Sims Park Beach (Euclid)

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

Decent day for photography.

54°F air 18 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (60)

Headlands Beach State Park

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

Skip the beach today.

54°F air 20 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (57)

Port Crescent State Park

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

Decent day for photography.

49°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (59)

Tawas Point State Park

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

Great day for photography.

51°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (62)

Presque Isle State Park

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

Skip the beach today.

52°F air 15 to 23 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (51)

Holland State Park Beach

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

Decent day for photography.

54°F water 51°F air 7 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (48)

Grand Haven State Park

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

Decent day for photography.

54°F water 49°F air 14 mph wind Best this week: Veterans Day (42)

Warren Dunes State Park

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

Decent day for photography.

51°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (61)

Silver Lake State Park

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

Decent day for photography.

54°F water 50°F air 9 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (46)

Washington Park Beach (Michigan City)

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

Decent day for photography.

51°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (62)

Ludington State Park

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

Decent day for photography.

54°F water 49°F air 8 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (45)

Indiana Dunes National Park

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

Decent day for photography.

50°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (62)

Marquette Park Beach (Gary, Miller Beach)

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

Decent day for photography.

50°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (65)

Empire Beach (Lake Michigan Beach Park)

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

Decent day for photography.

54°F water 51°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (46)

Petoskey State Park

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

Decent day for photography.

47°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (63)

63rd Street Beach (Chicago)

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

Decent day for photography.

51°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (65)

57th Street Beach (Hyde Park)

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

Decent day for photography.

51°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (66)

Ohio Street Beach (Chicago)

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

Decent day for photography.

51°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (65)

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

Decent day for photography.

51°F air 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (65)

North Avenue Beach (Chicago)

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

Decent day for photography.

51°F air 5 to 10 mph wind Best this week: Tuesday (63)

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.