South Beach Park
Marquette, MI
South Beach Park sits on the south side of Marquette, a long sandy beach with a playground, picnic areas, and lifeguards in summer. It's calmer and more family oriented than McCarty's Cove. The view north looks back toward the ore dock and downtown.
A family-friendly beach with lifeguards and room to spread out, though it's less scenic than the cove.
How we score beachesBring the kids here instead of McCarty's Cove on a busy day. It's easier to park and spread out.
A lot at the park.
A short walk from the lot to the sand.
Lifeguards return around Memorial Day. The shallow water here warms a bit faster than at McCarty's.
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.