This Unique Spot Near Grand Rapids Is Worth the Trip

Waves splash the red lighthouse and my lens at the end of an idyllic boardwalk on Lake Michigan. The coastal charm here is unreal, making South Haven one of the best day trips from Grand Rapids. My eyes dart beneath my sunglasses from canals to windsurfers to boutique shops to a splash pad with a pirate ship hosing down passersby with its water cannon. It feels like I’m on the Atlantic Coast, but somehow I’m less than an hour from Grand Rapids. 

Why People Are Making the Trip From Grand Rapids

When you’re tired of Saugatuk and not in the mood for the 2-hour haul to Indiana Dunes, South Haven is the obvious solution. Yet somehow it’s always evaded my road trip itinerary, one of those mysteries that prevents me from going to a place that’s “right there” because it’s always either a little too close or a little too far from home. Well, the secret’s out now that USA Today listed South Haven as its "number 1 beach in Michigan," which means I had to make the road trip from Grand Rapids ASAP. We first paused at North Beach, which was delightfully deserted, before heading to the livelier South Beach.

What Makes This Michigan Beach Town So Appealing

South Beach is definitely where it’s at, a clear award-winner at first glance. But it’s certainly not new, so why all the sudden buzz? You can’t really call South Haven a hidden gem near Grand Rapids, because everybody knows it’s there. Nor can I say it’s a unique attraction in Michigan either because beaches are the state’s defining feature. I have a hunch it's the small-town charm that's making everyone swoon, myself included. South Haven boasts barely 4,000 residents, but still has all the amenities you could hope for in a beach getaway. There are 10 unique beaches (North Beach, South Beach, Deer Lick Creek, and Van Buren State Park are among the best known), designated beach parking, concessions, and surfboard rentals, plus a canal walk, adorable boutique shops, and the iconic red South Haven lighthouse that you can walk to. 

What To Expect When You Visit

South Haven’s South Beach is particularly well-known for its accessibility, with a long, wide, packed-sand entry and tons of beach parking for $3 per hour. We parked by the splash pad because it’s the perfect place to rinse toes before getting back in the car. Then we grabbed a cone at the South Beach Cafe and sauntered our way along the canal and up to the lighthouse. That’s a whole experience: getting splashed by the waves and whipped by the wind, all while steering clear of the dropoffs. 

As the day went on, the newly top-rated Michigan beach became appropriately busy but, incredibly, never got crowded, even on a warm, sunny Saturday afternoon. If you continue to the southern end of South Beach, you will find some pockets of dunes from Superior Street to the Corner Beach access near Monroe Street. It’s worth the walk to see a wilder side of the beach. 

I pulled away from South Haven, wondering why in the world we don't live in this outdoorsy Michigan small town. It’s so peaceful, picturesque, and family-friendly. But that will have to remain a puzzle to solve until we do this again, because how can we not when it’s less than one hour from Grand Rapids?