South Beach
South Haven, MI
South Beach is South Haven's busiest beach, a wide stretch of sand beside the south pier and its red lighthouse. It's steps from downtown shops and restaurants. On summer weekends the sand fills with families, beach volleyball, and people walking out to the light.
The lighthouse and downtown make it the quintessential South Haven beach, but crowds and hourly parking drag it down.
How we score beachesWalk the south pier to the red lighthouse at sunset, but stay off the pier when waves break over it; currents near piers are dangerous.
The city switched to hourly beach parking in 2026; weekly passes are also sold.
The lot is right behind the beach with a short walk onto the sand.
Dogs are not allowed on South Beach during the summer season.
July and August are peak. Offshore winds can suddenly flip Lake Michigan cold on this shore, so check the water before planning a full swim day.
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