5 Michigan Beach Trips to Take Right Now

Sunrise over a lake.

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Michigan has so many beautiful beaches. Have you ever thought about trying to go to each one of them? That's pretty impossible, since there are so many Michigan beaches. According to Tripprivacy.com, Michigan has 83 named beaches. "This number can be broken down to 30 in the Upper Peninsula and 53 in the Lower Peninsula," they say, adding, "beaches on the Great Lakes make up the coast of Michigan." So, what are some Michigan beach trips to take before the season ends?

First of all, it's worth noting that there is really no official definition of what is a "beach" in Michigan. But, I consider a beach to be any sandy area around a lake. Duh. Another fun fact about Michigan's lakes, according to Tripprivacy.com, is that the Great Lakes make up over 84% of Michigan's freshwater coastline. "Beaches in Michigan can be classified by their location on the Great Lakes and their orientation to the shoreline," they explain.

It's difficult to pick a No. 1 favorite beach trip. But, I personally love going to Lake Michigan. My uncle lives off Lake Michigan, and it's like heaven going there to visit during the summer. Read on for some beach trip suggestions. Reach out to me with your favorite Michigan beach trips on social media.

5 Michigan Beach Trips to Take Before the Season Ends:

Grand Haven

Grand Haven is located on Lake Michigan's eastern shore. It's about 30 minutes away from Grand Rapids and offers beautiful, sandy shoreline. Some of the area's most popular beaches are Grand Haven State Park, Grand Haven City Beach, and North Beach Park.

https://visitgrandhaven.com/

Holland/Saugatuck

Holland is known for the annual tulip festival in the spring, but the area also attracts travelers with its amazing Lake Michigan beaches. It's about three hours from Detroit and two hours from Chicago. Some of the great spots include Laketown Beach, Tunnel Park, Saugatuck Dunes State Park, and Holland State Park. Saugatuck is also an adorable tourist town nearby.

https://www.michigan.org/city/holland

Empire

Empire is on the radar because it's where you can visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You can take the picturesque M-22 highway to get to Empire, which is a bonus. The beaches are on the northeast coast of Lake Michigan. It's a great spot to build sand castles.

https://www.michigan.org/city/empire

Bay City

Heading north of Detroit and Flint, you'll find Bay City. The Bay City State Park has more than 1,000 feet of beach. When you're not on the beach, you can check out the nightlife in Bay City.

https://www.baycitymi.org/

Lexington

Lexington has lots to offer, from delicious local food to sandy beaches. As for the latter, Lexington State Harbor has a picturesque waterfront beach area with boating, beach volleyball and more. It's a special spot and about an hour and a half north of Detroit, so close to home, if you like in the D.

https://villageoflexington.com/

Anne EricksonWriter

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.