Michigan is home to many great beaches, especially near the Great Lakes. A couple of our favorites are Traverse City and Grand Haven.
If you don’t have the time for a beach vacation, then take your family to these local beaches in metro Detroit. We’ve even included some beaches that are a little further away, but still within driving distance for a fun beach day.
This article was recently updated on June 3, 2024 by Metro Parent’s Assistant Editor, Nikki Roberts. The update included her research and fact-checking expertise to provide the latest information on metro Detroit beaches for families. Questions? Please reach out to nikki@metroparent.com.
Best kid-friendly beaches in Macomb County
Lake St. Clair Metropark
- Address: 31300 Metro Pkwy., Harrison Township
- Cost: $10/daily vehicle pass, $40/annual resident pass, $45/annual non-resident pass
Also known to most as in the area as, “Metro Beach,” this 600-foot sandy beach is located on Lake St. Clair. Families can enjoy swimming, fishing and boating on the lake. The splash pad and swimming pool are located near the beach, as well.
Stony Creek Metropark
- Address: 4300 Main Park Road, Shelby Township
- Cost: $10/daily vehicle pass, $40/annual resident pass, $45/annual non-resident pass; $2/slide, $10/wristband to slide all day
This park has two kid-friendly beaches. Baypoint Beach has a covered concession stands with tables to eat at. It’s a great place to enjoy a picnic with your kids. They also have lifeguards, bathrooms, showers and a changing area. Eastwood Beach is family-friendly beach has a playground, food bar and an inflatable slide. Kids at least 42 inches can fly down their 50-foot tall, 230-foot long Quadzilla slide for an extra cost.
Walter & Mary Burke Park
- Address: 36300 Front St., New Baltimore
- Cost: Free
This beach features a swimming area, fishing docks, boat docks, bocce ball courts and restrooms. There are two pavilions you can rent.
Best kid-friendly beaches in Oakland County
Bald Mountain State Recreation Area (Lower Trout Lake Beach)
- Address: 1330 E. Greenshield Road, Lake Orion
- Cost: Recreation Passport required; additional fee for water park
- Note: The beach inside the day-use area is closed Sept. 3, 2024-May 23, 2025.
It features a swimming beach, boat launch, picnic areas and lots of nearby hiking trails. It is also home to a floating water park, “Water Warrior Island.”
Deer Lake Beach
- Address: 350 White Lake Road, Clarkston
- Cost: Free
This beach is located within the Village of Clarkston, between Holcomb and Dixie Hwy and is open Memorial weekend to Labor Day. There is a swimming area for the little ones and older kids.
Dodge #4 State Park
- Address: 4250 Parkway Drive, Waterford
- Cost: Recreation Passport required
It features a sandy beach and one-mile stretch of shoreline, located on Cass Lake. It is one of the busiest recreational lakes in the region and is great for boaters, anglers, paddlers and swimming.
Holly State Recreation Area
- Address: 8100 Grange Hall Road, Holly
- Cost: Recreation Passport required; additional fee for water park
This park is home to a floating water park, “WhoaZone at Heron Beach.” There’s swimming, a boat launch, picnic areas, disc golf, trails and more.
Kensington Metropark
- Address: 4570 Huron Parkway, Milford
- Cost: $10/daily vehicle pass, $40/annual resident pass, $45/annual non-resident pass
Maple Beach features a swimming area, fishing docks, boat docks, bocce ball courts and restrooms. There are two pavilions you can rent. Martindale Beach is a beautiful beach located in Kent Lake’s circumference that features a sandy beach, picnic tables, swimming area and grills. It is also where the Splash ‘N’ Blast water playground is located.
Lakeshore Park – Novi
- Address: 601 S. Lake Drive, Novi
- Cost: Free
This park features a swimming beach, located on Walled Lake (the largest lake in the city). It also has picnic shelters, fishing, restrooms and more.
Pontiac Lake Recreation Area
- Address: 7800 Gale Road, Waterford
- Cost: Recreation Passport required
It includes the headwaters from Huron, Clinton and Shiawassee rivers. Visitors can enjoy swimming, picnicking, hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, camping and sightseeing here.
Seven Lakes State Park
- Address: 14390 Fish Lake Road, Holly
- Cost:Recreation Passport required
The park is great for camping, fishing, row boats, canoes, paddle boats, hiking, swimming, bicycling and more.
Thelma Spencer Park
- Address: 3701 John R. Road, Rochester
- Cost: $35/annual for resident, $70/annual for non-resident
This beach is equipped with a lifeguard (Memorial weekend to Labor Day weekend), a concession stand, watercraft rentals, accessible fishing pier, picnic areas with charcoal grills, play structure, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts and more.
Best kid-friendly beaches in Washtenaw County
Independence Lake County Park
- Address: 3200 Jennings Road, Whitmore Lake
- Cost: $6/day for residents, $10/non-residents, $30/annual for residents, $45/annual for non-residents
This beach features swimming, fishing and boating. The playground and splash pad, Blue Heron Bay Spray Park, are near the beach.
Waterloo Recreation Area
- Address: 16345 McClure Road, Chelsea
- Cost: Recreation Passport required
This is the largest state park in the Lower Peninsula. It features 11 inland lakes, a swimming beach, several picnic areas, eight boat launches, horseback riding and more. This is also where the Gerald Eddy Discovery Center is located.
Best kid-friendly beaches in Wayne County
Belle Isle Beach
- Address: 99 Pleasure Drive, Detroit
- Cost: Recreation Passport required
This beach is located on Belle Isle and open year-round. The island park spans 985-acres and is located in the Detroit River. Visitors can swim at the designated swim beach, paddle, fish, ride bicycles and more.
Robert C. Valade Park
- Address: 2670 Atwater St., Detroit
- Cost: Free/admission; parking/fee
This park features a sandy beach with chairs and umbrellas, playscapes for children to climb on, a children’s musical garden, a community barbecue pavilion and a floating bar, “Bob’s Barge.”
Family-friendly beaches near metro Detroit
Bluebell Beach
- Address: 5500 N. Bray Road, Flint
- Cost: Free
This beach is home to the area’s first splash pad/spray ground and is great for families who want to swim, picnic and enjoy the Flint River Bike Path.
Chrysler Beach
- Address: 1660 River Road, Marysville
- Cost: Free
This sandy beach is located along the St. Clair River. It features a playground, boat launch, fish cleaning station, gazebo, concession stand, restrooms, wifi and charging station and on-site parking.
Lakeside Beach
- Address: 3870 Gratiot Ave., Port Huron
- Cost: Free/Port Huron residents, $5/St. Clair County residents, $30/St. Clair County non-residents
This beach has a splash pad, playground, bathrooms, pavilions, a volleyball court, grills, concessions and picnic tables.
Lexington Beach
- Address: 7411 Huron Ave., Lexington
- Cost: Free
This beach in Tierney Park has a playground, beach volleyball net, shaded picnic areas, bathrooms and more. It is close to downtown Lexington where there are plenty of great restaurants and shops.
Lighthouse Beach
- Address: 2900 Conger St., Port Huron
- Cost: Free/Port Huron residents, $5/St. Clair County residents, $20/St. Clair County non-residents
This beach has a playground, outdoor exercise equipment, grills, picnic tables, bathrooms and a bike pump and tool station.
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