Your guide to the 15 best public beaches in New Buffalo MI & the surrounding area!
New Buffalo is a charming beach town located on the shores of Lake Michigan.
With several beaches to choose from, each with unique features and attractions, it can be hard to decide which one to visit.
We will cover the best beaches in New Buffalo MI and the surrounding area (southwest Michigan and Northeast Indiana).
All of the 15 public beaches on this list are within 20 miles of downtown New Buffalo!
Best Beaches in New Buffalo, Michigan
The beaches on this list are located from closest to farthest away from downtown New Buffalo.
1. New Buffalo City Beach
(New Buffalo, MI) – New Buffalo Public Beach is located at the North end of Whittaker Street.
New Buffalo Beach Highlights
- 800 ft of public beach access
- Restrooms & sand washing stations are available
- Seasonal concessions
- Lifeguards on duty Memorial Day through Labor Day, Th-Sun 11 am to 7 pm.
- Handicap access – sand wheelchair available from lifeguards
- Playground (on the sand, but not close to the water)
- New Buffalo Lighthouse
- Walking distance to the harbor and main street shops/restaurants
- Hiking trails through the dunes that overlook the beach/Lake Michigan
- Recently added an awesome boardwalk nature trail with benches that overlook the beach.
- Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at the City Boat Launch across from the beach parking lot.
- Dunes are great for winter sledding
New Buffalo Beach Parking/Things to Know
- Parking fees are enforced from April 1 to October 31 between 8 am-8 pm. Parking is paid by self-service kiosk or by app. It’s $15-$20 per day depending on the month. 3-hour parking is $7.50. Parking is frequently monitored, so do not try to get away with not paying or you will get a ticket.
- The parking lot is not very big & fills up quickly in the summer.
- Swimming is only permitted in designated areas; a double red flag prohibits all water access
- The beach area closes at 10. No overnight parking.
- Alcohol, pets, fires, and glass containers are prohibited at the City of New Buffalo Beach.
2. Townline Road Beach 3. McKinley Street Beach 4. Berrien Street Beach 5. Harbert Road Beach
These 4 beaches are lumped together because they are all small road-end beaches.
While there is public access to these beaches, parking is very limited and the accessibility is not as easy as the bigger public beaches, but they are much less crowded.
There are no lifeguards, restrooms, or concessions.
- Townline Road Beach (Union Pier) – 50 yards of rocky beach; long winding stairs required to access the beach from a small dead-end parking lot.
- McKinley Beach (Union Pier) – 43 stairs down to the beach; nice sandy beach, not too rocky
- Berrien Street Beach (Union Pier) – Small parking area at the end of Berrien St/Lakeshore Drive; steps down to public beach access; small public beach area is surrounded by private beaches with security guards
- Harbert Road Lake Access (Harbert, MI) – 35 steps down to 50+ yards of beach; limited parking at road end and along road shoulder
6. Cherry Beach
(Chikaming Township, MI) ~ 8 miles from New Buffalo
Cherry Beach Highlights
Cherry Beach is another small-town public beach in the Chikaming Township (near Three Oaks) with a slightly bigger parking lot. There are wood stairs that lead down to the beach.
Cherry Beach was recently expanded to 657 feet of public beach. Undeveloped grassy dunes and forest back the beach, giving it a serene, natural feel.
The surrounding beaches are private, but all shoreline is considered public. It’s fun to walk along the shore of the private beaches and look at the beautiful houses – just make sure not to go beyond the shoreline.
Cherry Beach Parking/Things to Know
- There are no lifeguards, restrooms, or concessions.
- There are about two dozen parking spots available
7. Washington Park Beach
(Michigan City, IN) ~ 10 miles southwest of New Buffalo
Washington Park Beach Highlights
- Open daily from 5 am to 10 pm
- Iconic pier and working lighthouse
- 2 miles of beach
- Lifeguards on duty seasonally
- Picnic tables, shelters, grills, and concessions available
- Sunset Grille (concession like food & drinks) has a nice rooftop overlooking Lake Michigan
- Various walking paths/trails – along the pier, in the park, on the dunes
- A splash pad, park, lighthouse museum, and zoo are located next to the beach
- Bartlett’s Fish Camp & Base Camp Marina Cafe are two other restaurant options located close by
- Huge parking lot (much bigger than New Buffalo City Beach)
Washington Park Beach Parking/Things to Know
- Parking is $15/day. You can come and go as you please throughout the day.
- Alcohol, glass, pets, camping, ground fires, and overnight parking are prohibited
8. Mount Baldy Beach
(Michigan City, IN) ~ 11 miles southwest of New Buffalo
Mount Baldy Highlights
Mount Baldy is the largest living dune in Indiana Dunes National Park. The massive dune moves about four feet each year.
Mount Baldy Beach (behind Mount Baldy) is open year-round and can be accessed via stairs and a short hike via a sandy, roped-off trail. (~0.35 miles). Authorized park rangers must lead hikes to the summit of Mount Baldy, but anyone can use the trail leading to the beach.
While this beach is not the easiest to get to, that makes it much less crowded and more serene than other beaches in the area.
Mount Baldy Parking/Things to Know
- Fees: Indiana Dunes National Park Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required. More info here.
- There are no lifeguards – swim at your own risk
- The views from Mount Baldy and the beach are excellent as long as you don’t look at the big factory to the west, which is quite an eyesore.
- Pets are allowed on the trail and beach as long as they are leashed.
- There are restrooms and picnic tables by the 70-space parking lot.
9. Warren Dunes State Park Beach
(Sawyer, MI) ~ 12 miles northeast of New Buffalo
Warren Dunes Highlights
- 3 miles of Lake Michigan Shoreline
- Backed by gorgeous 260-foot sand dunes and great hiking trails
- Seasonal concessions and food trucks
- Restrooms and foot washing stations
- Pet-friendly beach (leashed pets)
- Kayak/SUP rentals (Third Coast Paddling)
Warren Dunes Parking & Rules
- Must pay State Park entrance fee ($11/day or $18-39 for an annual Michigan Recreation Pass)
- Huge parking lot with plenty of spots
- No lifeguards on duty; swim at your own risk
If you are looking for serenity, you can hike 1.5 miles via Mt. Randall Loop Trail to another 3 miles of Warren Dunes State Park beach which is never crowded (even during peak season). Park at the trailhead just north of the park entrance on Floral Lane to skip the entrance fees.
10. Central Avenue Beach
(Michigan City, IN) ~ 13 miles southwest of New Buffalo
Central Avenue Beach Highlights
A quarter-mile wooded trail from the parking lot will lead you to Central Avenue Beach.
This beach has shallow water, making it great for kids. The semi-pebbly beach is backed by tall dunes. The dunes have been severely eroded and are dangerous to climb, so the National Park urges people to remain on the beach and off the dunes.
Central Avenue Beach Parking/Things to Know
- Fees: Indiana Dunes National Park Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required. More info here.
- Open 6 am to 11 pm daily
- Seasonal restrooms available near the 70-car parking lot
- No lifeguards on duty; swim at your own risk
- Pets are permitted on a leash
- Alcohol is permitted when used responsibly; glass containers are prohibited
11. Weko Beach
(Bridgman, MI) ~ 16 miles northeast of New Buffalo
Weko Beach Highlights
- 960 feet of shoreline
- Kayak/SUP Rentals available ($25-$35/hour)
- Many walking paths & wooden steps up the dunes to various elevated boardwalks/observation decks with great views
- Seasonal restrooms and concessions are available
- Playing of Taps at sunset is a 50+ year tradition (between Memorial Day – Labor Day)
- There is a “Free Little Library Box” if you’re looking for something to read on the beach
- Free concerts held throughout the summer
- A boat launch, campground/cabins, picnic areas, a playground, and a small event venue are also on-site
Weko Beach Parking/Things to Know
- Entry Fee of $15/vehicle enforced 7:00 am to 8:00 pm Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day
- The parking lot and beach are not as big as others in the area and can fill up quickly
- Alcohol, pets, and glass are prohibited
- No lifeguards; swim at your own risk
12. Lake View Beach
(Beverly Shores, IN) ~ 17 miles southwest of New Buffalo
Lake View Beach Highlights
- Restrooms and drinking water are available
- Covered sitting area and picnic tables overlooking Lake Michigan
- Very close to Dunbar and Kemil beaches
- Check out the 1933 Century Progress Homes which are located 1/3 mile west along Lake Front Drive
Lake View Beach Parking/Things to Know
- Fees: Indiana Dunes National Park Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required. More info here.
- Parking is close and convenient but extremely limited. Spots fill up quickly. Do not park in the nearby Beverly Shores Beach Parking lot.
- Leashed pets are allowed.
- Glass, fires, and littering are prohibited.
- No lifeguards; swim at your own risk
13. Dunbar Beach
(Beverly Shores, IN) ~ 18 miles southwest of New Buffalo
Dunbar Beach Highlights
- Seasonal restrooms and drinking water are available
- Located between Lake View Beach and Kemil Beach
- Check out the 1933 Century Progress Homes which are just to the east along Lake Front Drive
Dunbar Beach Parking/Things to Know
- Fees: Indiana Dunes National Park Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required. More info here.
- Parking is limited. Spots fill up quickly.
- Leashed pets are allowed.
- Glass, fires, and littering are prohibited.
- No lifeguards; swim at your own risk
14. Kemil Beach
(Beverly Shores, IN) ~ 18 miles southwest of New Buffalo
Kemil Beach Highlights
- Restrooms and drinking water are available
- Located next to Dunbar Beach
- Shares a parking lot with Dune Ridge Trailhead (great views of the Great Marsh)
Kemil Beach Parking/Things to Know
- Fees: Indiana Dunes National Park Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required. More info here.
- Bigger parking lot than the other two nearby beaches, but spots fill up quickly.
- Leashed pets are allowed.
- Glass, fires, and littering are prohibited.
- No lifeguards; swim at your risk
15. Indiana Dunes State Park Beach
(Dune Acres, IN) ~ 19 miles southwest of New Buffalo
Indiana Dunes State Park Beach Highlights
- 3 miles of beach
- Shower house and restrooms
- Concessions available
- Views of the downtown Chicago skyline on a clear day
- Lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to mid-August
- 16 miles of hiking trails through the dunes and state park
- Try the 3 Dune Challenge!
- In addition to the beach, the state park (which is surrounded by the National Park, confusing, I know) includes picnic shelters, a nature center, various hiking trails, fishing, and camping (cross-country skiing and sledding in the winter)
Indiana Dunes State Park Beach Parking/Things to Know
- $7 fee for Indiana plates/$12 for out-of-state plates
- Open daily from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm
- Pets, glass, and littering are prohibited
- Huge parking lot
Here is a graphic showing all of the beaches within Indiana Dunes State/National Parks.
Our Personal Favorite Area Beaches
We have young kids, so it is easier for us to visit the bigger beaches that have ample parking, easy access, and more amenities. Our favorite beaches to go to with our kids are Warren Dunes State Park Beach, Washington Park Beach, and New Buffalo City Beach.
If we are visiting the area without our kids, we try to visit some of the quieter beaches that require a bit more effort to get to (i.e. a hike in or a longer drive to get to). Our favorites are Kemil/Dunbar/Lake View Beaches (they are all connected), Mount Baldy, and Cherry Street Beach.
We went to Indiana Dunes State Park Beach once and had fun conquering the 3 Dune Challenge before cooling off in the lake!
Our favorite beach hiking areas are Warren Dunes, Indiana Dunes State Park, and the Beach Succession Trail at West Beach in Porter, IN
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the New Buffalo Beaches have Lifeguards?
New Buffalo City Beach, Washington Park Beach, and Indiana Dunes State Park Beach have lifeguards on duty on the weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Is Alcohol Permitted on New Buffalo Beaches?
Alcohol is not permitted on most of the area’s public beaches, including New Buffalo City Beach.
Responsible consumption of alcohol is allowed at certain beaches in Indiana Dunes National Park.
When is the Best Time to Visit New Buffalo Beaches?
The best time to visit the New Buffalo beaches is during the summer months, from June to August.
During this time, the weather is warm and sunny, making it perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and other beach activities.
The water temperature is also warmer during these months, which is ideal for those who want to take a dip in Lake Michigan.
If you want to avoid crowds, it’s best to visit on a weekday. Weekends tend to be busier, especially during holiday weekends.
The beaches are also less crowded during the early morning and late afternoon hours.
Off-Season Attractions
While the summer months are the best time to visit New Buffalo’s beaches, there are still plenty of things to do during the off-season.
The fall months, from September to November, are a great time to visit for those who enjoy hiking and biking. The cooler temperatures make outdoor activities more comfortable, and the fall foliage is stunning.
In the winter months, go sledding on the sand dunes, cozy up in one of the local restaurants, wineries, or breweries, or enjoy one of the area winter festivals. Whittaker Street is magical during Christmastime and many of the local shops are great for gift shopping.
Spring brings blooming wildflowers and mild temperatures, making it a great time to explore the town’s parks and nature preserves and hike the dunes.
Overall, New Buffalo is a great destination year-round, with each season offering its unique attractions and activities!
I hope you found the perfect beach to visit in the New Buffalo area – you really can’t go wrong with any of them!
