Washington Park Beach
Michigan City, IN
Washington Park Beach is Michigan City's main beach, anchored on the west by the Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse at the end of the breakwater. The park has a small zoo across the street and plenty of room on the sand, and downtown Michigan City is a short walk south.
A big, lively town beach with a lighthouse and a zoo, though it's crowded in summer.
How we score beachesWalk out to the lighthouse on a calm evening, then visit the zoo across the street.
Paid parking at the park, more on weekends than weekdays.
Paved paths lead to the sand and pier.
Summer weekends are busy. Stay off the pier when waves break over it.
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.