Where to begin? Grand Haven State Park is a Sandy beach location full of young adults and some families that play volleyball, fly kites, walk the pier, and wear itty bitty bikinis while frying in the sun. I had the privilege to change in the bathroom, where a gaggle of girls walked in talking loudly about making out with different boys and hooking up. When I came out of the stall, these young looking women were in their thong bikinis adjusting their makeup and deciding what they were planning to do next. I remember being their age, but I don't remember bragging about my sexual conquests. Are these the spoils of feminism? Objectifying and gaining body counts like some frat boy club? I suppose if it is, the beach is a good place for it and Grand Haven does have a storied history of late night cruising to pick up walkers along the strip. I remember in my youth listening to our CD player jam to Eminem and Chronic 2001 while we cruised the strip being "cool" and admiring people's car kits with hydraulics and black lit lighting. I remember thinking cut off shorts and a bikini top were revealing then. I suppose, culture keeps pushing the limits and I should just be happy that people are still wearing something over their private parts. Right? My family did love the huge kites. My children loved playing in the waves. Parking can be a bear, but once you find a spot most things are within walking distance including an interesting boardwalk with shops, restaurants and ice cream. Don't miss a walk on the pier to admire the Big Red Lighthouse and see if a lucky fisherman caught anything. read more

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Beautiful beach! We came on a windy May weekend to explore. Parking was easy and we were able to walk down the beach to the pier with the lighthouse. We passed several bathrooms along the way. Plus a campground right on the beach. read more

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Nothing but good vibes and experience at Grand Haven State Park. Yes there are large multiple parking lots that are able to hold a ton of people so on a nice day expect this place to be PACKED. You get in with a park pass or you pay the entrance fee. We have the park pass on our license plate so access was a breeze. There are restrooms, RV camp sites and handicap Mats from the parking lot to the beach. Love the walks on the pier to watch the boats come in or the sunset. Always a good time. Plus the surrounding area has small shops and restaurants so you can make it a day. read more

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Did the 30min walk along the water and through parks and greenery from the downtown strip to the Grand Haven State Park, pier and lighthouse. Made for a nice holiday weekend activity! The beach part of the park was packed with sunbathers and swimmers, super lively. A little too sunny for me, with no shady areas on the beach. For sitting out, I'd probably prefer one of the shadier grassy spots along the walk here! Was nice to walk down the pier and check out the red lighthouse up close as well. There were people fishing off the pier, and even saw one guy catch a fish and weigh it in at 24 pounds! Before releasing back into the water. There are public bathrooms at the entrance to the pier, which were cleaner than expected considering it's on a beach. Lots of folks walking their dogs up and down the pier, but no dogs allowed on the beach. read more

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This one was kind of a mixed bag. We were here during an unseasonably warm off-season (Mar 2025). That made for fewer crowds & bigger waves. It was quite lovely & we enjoyed the boardwalk, as well as beach strolls. The lake is huge - might as well be the ocean. I will say the notes of stores/shops along the walkway are slightly exaggerated, as it's 99% ice cream. Of course, off-season, they were closed. I'm good there. The bigger negative comes with all the restrooms being closed. This left one very defiled porta-potty. It was criminal having that as the only option. I spared you all by skipping the feces smeared, dirty underwear shoved inside, overflowing with booze bottles & feminine hygiene products pic. You're welcome. For camping, it is just a parking lot, so I'd probably skip that and just come enjoy the park while camping elsewhere. Still, it's beautiful. read more

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Definitely one of the larger and more populated beaches along the Michigan coast line. Sadly that makes it more susceptible to trash/litter. The water here is pretty dirty. It's overall still an okay beach, parking is close to the water but there's lots of other beaches nearby that are less busy and more clean. read more

Okay, so where do I start. I do A LOT, of camping. This park isn't really a good "campground" per say. It's a parking lot. You don't get sufficient space really either, which is kind of weird. However, the views here are great. There is TONS to do. There are so many places to explore, there is great food, awesome swimming and recreation, and people in bathing suit everywhere! It is a very light hearted, happy place to be. If you're looking for a typical campsite, with a fire pit, trees, trails, etc.. this is not your campground. However it is pretty fun and you will enjoy your time here. Just gotta know what you're getting yourself into. read more

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Grand Haven State Park has always been my go-to for a beach destination. I've never camped there, but to be honest, I don't think I'd actually want to. It's basically a parking lot that's right next to the beach and the sites are pretty crammed in there. The beach itself is wonderful! It's a huge sandy beach that can get pretty busy. Parking is available there but you can also park at the YMCA up the street and walk down. I highly recommend getting there super early on weekends, because lines to park start forming pretty early in the afternoon. Most recently we arrived around 10 am on a Sunday in late August and as we were leaving around noon it was getting a bit busier. The beach is wide enough to have room for lots of people, and it's fun to walk around and look at everyone's beach set up! Lots of fun tents and shelters. Walking on the pier in good conditions is fun but be careful and check out all postings. If there's bad weather, just don't go out on the pier. People have been swept away off of it and it can be pretty scary. Lake Michigan is beautiful and so vast and we're lucky to have it. Be respectful, pick up your trash, and enjoy this slice of paradise. read more

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Avoid this place. It is overcrowded and doesn't have enough parking. Someone even recently drowned at the beach I no doubt believe was caused by the sheer amount of people in the water. Go elsewhere. read more

Beach front park with many options from pleasant stroll to overnight camping. We visited to see the pier and lighthouse on a beautiful September late morning. The wind was blowing, creating some waves as we walked along the pier. Be prepared for some spray or even waves hitting you on windy days. It's a fun walk out to the end of the pier with sweeping views of the coastline. The restrooms at the campground were clean. Overall, the park was clean. Looks like RV camping might be the best route with all the sand and wind. Some swimmers in the surf. Tip: if you don't want to pay for parking at the park, park up the road and walk in along the waterfront path from nearby free parking. read more

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Grand Haven State Park was a blast! So much to look at. The place was huge! We got blessed and found on street parking right next to the Lake. This lake was so big! I couldn't believe how big it was! The lake looked just like the ocean! Seagulls flying all around! Sandy beaches! And the Lighthouse adds that final cherry on top! Walking way out onto the lake by the lighthouse was magical! I couldnt believe the visuals, the boats, the people! We had a blast watching Yachts, speedboats zooming across the waters of Lake Michigan! We spent some time sitting at the end of the pier watching boats and people. Some guy caught this huge Rainbow Trout. The park was clean with plenty of beach and sand to get in between your toes. They had plenty of porta potties. The park was clean, we felt safe. I was impressed. read more

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Beautiful place but......No alcohol allowed. No consumption, no POSSESSION?? Really? Also very unfriendly check in. read more

Love the area, beach, boardwalk, even the walk to the lighthouse. But BEWARE of the young kids jumping off the pier. I was there on the 4th of July and there was 100+ taking over a whole area and everyone had a hard time getting by them. The police actually had to come and close the pier. Over the past 2 years this is not the first time I've seen this. I wish Grand Haven would do something about this. read more

I booked five days in May at this campground. Not a lot of people on Wednesday so it was perfect! The weather was a little cool, but we did have some sun. The park is clean. The showers are great. I was in site #2 and I have a big window in the back looking at the lake just beautiful. read more

Grand Haven State Park - Sunset in May Grand Haven State Park - Beaches Near Me - Grand Haven, Michigan

After checking out the light house in Holland,decided to check out this park as well. Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Light is the inner light of two lighthouses on the south pier of Grand Haven, Michigan where the Grand River enters Lake Michigan. Loved walking the River Walk to the pier.It's nice to sit and relax for a while. read more

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i love the grand haven pier! everything is walking distance--like, you can get ice cream and hit the beach without breaking a sweat. it's so pretty, it looks like a postcard came to life. everything is clean, which is shocking for a place with so many seagulls. honestly, it's perfect. if i could live there, i would, but for now, i'll settle for being obsessed. read more

I didn't go...my boyfriend was seeing up his new girlfriend there. So I'm sure he was thinking of me

Happened to have all the gates closed when I came here on April 26. However I parked by the road and trudged up to the beach. Everything was very nice. I sat on a bench and just enjoyed watching the Lake. Then I read for awhile, it was all very relaxing. It was all very clean. Overall a 4 1/2 stars which I'm rounding down to 4. Would I return? Yes. read more

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During the winter, this park is really nothing more than a spot for people to catch amazing sunsets. The gates are open for people to come in, but the rest of the place is shut down. I've stopped in several times since moving up to Grand Haven and it's always packed around sunset. Watching the sun set over Lake Michigan is beautiful to watch, especially when it's warm enough to be out on the beach. read more

This really is a great beach and it feels like you're on the eastern shores! Clean and pretty busy with locals and tourists alike. Volleyball nets and lots of room for roaming around, with a boardwalk pier if you want to go for a nice long stroll. There were several food trucks there which is nice because there's not too much around, and the nearby walk-up food and ice cream places had very long lines. One thing I did not like is the portable toilets for use. I saw a building under construction, so it's possible this is a bathhouse? But I literally had to try to get dressed in the car with a towel blocking the windows. I gave up, and went to the campground bathroom and changed. It was a far walk with chairs and bag and towels and drinks and such, but it was better than nothing. On the plus side, the place was completely packed for Memorial Day weekend and we were still able to easily find a nice parking spot, within reasonable walking distance from the sand. Not bad at all. My biggest gripe is - who pays daily to enter a state park?? That's just craziness! It's literally supposed to be created and maintained with tax dollars, but this can get really costly if you don't quickly find out the difference between a state park, county park, etc. I was paying more for those than for my campsite in the evening. Next time I will get the annual pass for sure. read more

I usually love this camp ground but absolutely hated how the hosts this year treated us as we worked on leaving the campground/ going to the dump station. Extremely rude is an understatement. I get that these two years have been hard on everyone. But lord almighty. She started YELLING. Hopefully they aren't here next year and there is different hosts! read more

Came here last night for the first time this year and I have to say it never disappoints. The pier is beautiful, the beach is clean, and the water is unbelievable. I have always been from Michigan, so seeing Lake Michigan is a "normalcy" , but it is a must see if you are from out of town. You will be shocked that it's a lake and not an ocean with it's sandy beaches. This is one of the many reasons Michigan is the best state in the summer! read more

Grand Haven State Park - Beaches Near Me - Grand Haven, Michigan

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Grand Haven State Park. We knew going into it that there would not be any shade or vegetation and they were cement plots with sand. So that was not a surprise. That being said we originally we planning to camp with our kids in a tent. Last minute i was very nervous it would be too hot so we rented a RV, which was amazing, and would do again in a heart beat. I am so glad we did as we had campsite 65. This particular spot backs right into the playground and does not any hardly any room to put up a tent. Would be nice to know how much sand is available for each campsite as it varies throughout the campground. We really liked being next to the playground as the kids could play as often as they liked as we were right there. Bathrooms and shower house were very close, just a short walk. campsite 65 is also right next to path to the playground, water spigot and one of the bathrooms, so there is constant traffic. That being said it never bothered us as people kept to themselves and were not loud at all. If you have kids and plan to walk into town, i highly suggest bringing scooters!! That saved us on the .7-1 mile into town. There is a musical fountain that goes off every night during the summer around 10pm, we missed it. Also, you can see amazing sunsets from the campsite or take a stroll down the pier to the light house for unobstructed views. We booked our spot 6 mouths out exactly at the time they opened and we had the last spot. This is a very in demand campground. We cannot wait to go back. such a easy beach vacation! read more

Grand Haven State Park - Campground playground - Beaches Near Me - Grand Haven, Michigan

Just to be clear, the Campground and staff were great! The reason for the bad review is the size of the camping lots/lack of parking for campers. If I'm paying for a campsite, it should be more than big enough to keep my vehicle in my campsite along with my camper. If it is not, there should at least be dedicated parking for the people whom are camping. I shouldn't have to walk a half mile or drive in circles for 20 minutes until a parking spot opens up because the only parking is shared with the public. This is how every other state, county, and private campground we've been to has been! read more

Grand Haven State Park remind me of California beaches and not in a good way. There are a lot of people, lots of trash, and lots of little wood chips in the sand. To be fair, I went over July 4th weekend. The area in front of the RV campground area was the nicest. My favorite western MI beach is still Oval Beach! On the bright side, if you have the recreation passport, you don't have to pay for parking since this is a state park. 199/365 read more

Winter Wonderland today, and everyday. Climbing up the "snand" (snow/sand) dunes to get to the pier. No "pancakes" today. Not enough wind. Just peace and Pure Michigan read more

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Fun place to visit and walk around. Each is nice, great place to walk the dog and people watch. Shops around town are cool too and love the board walk. Favorite place for a stroll. read more

It was perfect today! Hardly anyone around no trash floating around the beach. The pier was clean and perfect for walking read more

Grand Haven State Park - Boardwalk to the pier. - Beaches Near Me - Grand Haven, Michigan

Gorgeous state park. Mikes and miles of sand. They have indoor restrooms and changing areas as well as a few porter potties outside. On the day we were there, a volley ball tournament was going on with 3 food trucks as well. I wish there would have been a little hut with food, but no dice. They did have vending machines inside. Lots is parking with a minimal charge. Street parking also available. Cute huts to rent, but in the pricey side. $10/hr, $50 for 8 hours. read more

Beautiful white sand beach that is extra wide and extra long. Great beach volleyball and food trucks of all kinds. Nice restrooms and shady areas. Easy walk to the harbor, downtown, the stunning lighthouse, and Pronto Pup! It's $33 for a years pass to all the Michigan parks, or $9 A day. But....here's a tip. Plenty of free street parking! read more

Drove to Muskegon/Grand Haven for Labor Day Weekend from Metro Detroit area. Stayed in Muskegon for 2.5 days while driving back in forth from Grand Haven. Very clean beach, beautiful water, and lovely restaurants along the beach and right near downtown. Highly recommend coming here even if it's for just a day trip! read more

Grand Haven State Park - Grand Haven Beach - Beaches Near Me - Grand Haven, Michigan

**this review is for the campsite** Grand Haven SP campground is located directly on the beach. There is zero shade, and unless you have secured a beach-front site you will be enjoying a view of asphalt and other RVs. The spots are quite tight, and they do not provide fire pits so you must bring your own. If you are fortunate enough to be on the beach, the views are spectacular. This state park has a different feel to it, perhaps because the beach is so busy, but it really felt that the campground was a second thought to the DNR. Aside from check in we only saw them on the public beach side. Likewise there is a campground host, but there was no on site activities or programming for the kids. The campground is getting a brand new upgraded playground, which was installed but not yet open when we were there. There are 2 facilities there. MY daughter describes them and the icky one or the far away one. The "icky" one is located on the channel, and is well pretty icky. There are toilets, but this one get much of the public use, and the building is not that great. (it is also locked at night) The "far away one" really depends on where you are located. It has showers and toilets and is much nicer. Overall if you are a sun-loving, beach fan this park will be your jam. I wilted after 2 days in the direct sun (don't forget your beach umbrella!) and I found myself missing the shade of the forest. (3.5 stars rounds to 4) read more

Grand Haven State Park - Site 131 - Beaches Near Me - Grand Haven, Michigan

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This was the first beach I came to on one of the first sunny days since I've been in the Michigan area. This was during the week so the beach was not too overcrowded and there was plenty of space for parking. If you have the MI recreation pass, parking is free, if not the fee for daily use will run you$9. I opted to park right by the restroom area which had volleyball courts adjacent to it. If you get there early enough there is also street parking available which is free of charge. The sun was out, the wind however was a bit on the chilly side and the water was way too cold to enjoy. However, just opting to be outside was my main focus. The pier was awesome with the bright red cherry lighthouse. Only downer, it was under construction and you couldn't walk out to the very edge of the water. I definitely recommend packing a lunch, unless the weather is warm out. The food trucks were all closed and the closest place was a burrito place up the road. This place was great, I look forward to making a few return trips while in the area. read more

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Boyfriend and I watched the sunset here on the beach. So beautiful! Perfect date night :) read more

Grand Haven State Park - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Grand Haven, Michigan

First timers over here! Drove up from Illinois. Perfect little getaway. $48 dollars to camp and an $18 dollar parking fee. They do offer other options, but since we are out-of-towners this was the best option for us. Not crowed, quiet and relaxing. They have very clean and new shower houses. The light house pier is beautiful and newly renovated. Perfect walk while watching the sun go down. They offer beach volleyball (byob) and have bicycle paths. Must bring your own fire pit. DOGS are welcomed, just not on the beach. Alcohol is prohibited. (Be respectful and keep your drinks in cups and no one will bother you) Overall, we loved this place and will most definitely be visiting again! I hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did! read more

Grand Haven State Park - Beaches Near Me - Grand Haven, Michigan

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I would give this park one star, but the staff was really friendly and understanding of my concerns, and that goes a long way! The problems however lie in the fact that this park is really poorly designed. The campsites are not campsites, but more so a 3x5 plot of sand. There is no vegetation or tress anywhere, and no privacy between sites! I understand that being on a beach it is expected not to be forested, but the campsites are so close to one another that you would join hands with someone and be touching two other campsites with arms outstretched. It's in a lovely town, and has great views but I wouldn't consider it to be a camping experience. read more

Wonderful state park and good for couples, friends, families and groups. Love the west side of the state with all the beautiful beaches and Lake Michigan views. The lighthouses are an added part to the scenery. On a summer day, it is so hard to leave this park. Large parking lot but due to its popularity can get full. read more

Nice park right on the coast of Lake Michigan. It was my first time to the area in the Fall. Would image it being wonderful in the Summer time. read more

Looooove this place. GH is one of my favorite cities and favorite beaches, and I'm from the East Coast, too. I hadn't been back in about ten years but it was as I remembered it: you can park and walk, although it's a bit of a walk, to be fair. Beach is long but wasn't very crowded, we went on a Friday afternoon so perhaps that's why. They used to have a cafeteria of sorts but it looks like they got rid of it, they still have bathrooms and vending machines on the other side of the beach though (left-side). Looking forward to my next trip here! {edit, July 2015: if you want to avoid the long walk from the [free] parking downtown to the beach, I recommend taking the trolley - it's $1.50 per adult, or 75c for seniors and kids, and you get 1 free roundtrip. We took it to the beach, and later from the beach back to downtown.} read more

Pros: gorgeous beach Cons: swimming area is not deep, crazy crowded during peak time, parking traffic nightmare, surf I really love this place. During peak times this very long beach gets completely overun with people. Youll be arms length from the next blanket. Its just the cost of such a nice beach in America. If you are like me, I wait until August to take a swim as its just too cold for me earlier. Im used to the gorgeous warm waters of the atlantic and caribbean. These great lakes definitely take their time to warm up. The water is pretty clear and it can be nice and calm to the point you can just chill out there for hours. I wish the swimming area extended further out. The boat and jetski traffic is no joke. Again, the cost of such an awesome beach. Im a decent swimmer but I've seen some surf here that keeps me from going in. Its one thing to swim in big waves in the ocean, but with this being fresh water its just a recipe for disaster. It seems way too many people drown here, so dont be a fool. Exercise caution when the lake is angry. The beach is so nice that even if you dont go in you can have a blast on shore. I also really like walking along the pier. You can do some great people, boat, and fisherman watching there. In closing, get yourself to grand haven for an awesome day at the beach. Its a seasonal destination. You may want to go during the week to avoid the crazy weekend crowds, but even if you cant the crowds should not deter you from this beautiful location. read more