Point Betsie Beach
Frankfort, MI
Point Betsie Beach sits beside the Point Betsie Lighthouse, a white tower built in 1858 on a point of land north of Frankfort. The shoreline is a mix of sand and stones, and the lighthouse is one of the most photographed on Lake Michigan. It's a windy, dramatic spot.
An iconic lighthouse beach, though parking is limited and the point is often windy.
How we score beachesVisit at sunset for the best light on the lighthouse. Check the lighthouse's tour schedule if you want to climb it.
A small lot near the lighthouse; parking fees may apply.
A short walk from the lot to the beach and lighthouse.
Tours of the lighthouse run in the warmer months; check the Point Betsie schedule. November storms hit this point head on, and the waves over the breakwall are a show from the parking lot.
More Great Lakes beaches
Sleeping Bear Dunes Beach
Empire, MI · Great Lakes
Freshwater Lake Michigan surf below towering sand dunes, some over 400 feet tall, with water clear enough to rival a coastline and a hike back up the dune to burn it off.
New Buffalo City Beach
New Buffalo, MI · Great Lakes
New Buffalo City Beach is the first real Lake Michigan beach you hit crossing from Indiana, a wide stretch of sand at the end of Whittaker Street beside the harbor and the Galien River channel. Chicago weekenders fill it in summer. The town's shops and restaurants are a five minute walk back up the street.
Warren Dunes State Park
Sawyer, MI · Great Lakes
Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer has roughly three miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and some of the tallest dunes in southwest Michigan. Tower Hill rises about 260 feet above the lake, and climbing it and running back down is a rite of passage. On a hot July Saturday the beach feels like a small city.