Grand Haven State Park

What a breathtaking place! I will most definitely return in the warmer weather. There is a park for the children nearby and plenty of parking throughout the area. No matter what time of year this is a must see if you're in the are!

Love this state park, so cool being able to camp right on the beach and the water! The spots are very tight though so keep that in mind, it took me a couple tries to get in the spot and I usually never have a problem with backing up my camper. I could barely fit my camper and truck in my spot, but once you get over how tight it is, it is a beautiful place. I will say be careful getting a site next to the bathrooms by the river, they do not turn off the outside lights and they are super bright at night, no problem for us in a camper we could just close the blinds but a tent would be rough.

The sites were spectacular and their accommodations were great. Lake Michigan was wonderful and the lighthouse was so special. The paths that they laid down on the sand made it easy to get near the water without sinking in the sand. I have never seen the material that was used, but even more "mature" people could walk easily on the paths.

This is a great place to enjoy a massive beach that is deserted in the off-season days during the school year. Parking is available on the north side by the pier at the Fisherman's parking lot against the channel, and also on the south end at the Grand Haven City Beech parking lot (expect it to be full during sunset viewing times). Be aware of the rules for the near shore waters when red-flag wave conditions exist. God bless and enjoy the great creation the Lord has given us.

Needed a roadtrip and some time to decompress from the evils of the world. Decided to head up to Grand Haven and take a nice long walk at their State Park. Ended up witnessing amazing views, friendly people and an amazing new to me tan. “I’ll be back” 😎

I made a 3 hour drive to this park simply to take pictures of the lighthouse at sunset. The park closes promptly at 10, they used a bullhorn to announce the park closing and cars need to be out by 10. Well, the lights on the pier didnt turn on until 9:30 and its a 10 minute walk to the parking lot. If you're there to take pictures, either enjoy the 20 minute window or park outside of the state park parking lot literally anywhere else so you have more time to stay. Besides the narrow photo window, the lighthouse was gorgeous and offered a very nice walk up and down the pier. There are SOO many people there during the day, and even into sunset its very crowded. The window of very little people happens at 9:55 right before having to run back to the parking lot lol

Thanks to the state for providing such a nice public beach with easy access for everyone. The beach is spacious with fine sand, and the restrooms and shelters are well maintained. Lots of parking spots, grills and picnic tables for BBQ, and volleyball nets.

Our first RV night experience in Michigan was amazing at this park right on the beach and a canal. We loved the biking and the walks along the canal, as well as the experiences in town, including the nightly water feature with great music and ice cream!😍

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Had such a great time at the beach today. The waves were good and it was fun to walk out on the pier to the lighthouse. The parking happened to be full when arrived, but we paid a local resident $10 to park on their driveway. It was very convenient.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

**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)

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

We had such a nice time at this park! The sandy beach and water were very clean and the water temperature was perfect. We walked along the shore to the lighthouse and pier which was a nice walk. Some adventurous people were jumping off of the pier which did look fun. There is a RV campground right on the beach and they also have bathrooms and food trucks nearby as well. Our day at this park was relaxing and enjoyable and I highly recommend it.

Could Grand Haven State Park be any more GRAND?! What a beautiful beach, lake, and place to be in Michigan. If entering the park with a vehicle or what not then you need the MI Recreation Passport ($11.00 at SOS, worth the investment). The park is easy to get to and tucked away on the coastline. Getting there early is key, especially during summer as there isn't a lot of parking. We arrived around noon or so and felt like we just kept circling and circling to find a spot. We arrived with our normal clothes on and went to change at the park in changing stalls. Those weren't the cleanest, but I don't think I ever went into a public changing stall that was. We went on a Saturday in July and it was pretty crowded, not crowded enough where we couldn't find a place to sit for the day, but still busy. The crowd got lighter the closer it got to dinner time. Lots of interesting people watching. The beach itself is great! Sandy shore line and a beach that stretches far of Lake Michigan. The beach and water was clean and lots of people were swimming. The water was cold but refreshing in 80 degree weather. One of the touristy things to do is take a walk to the lighthouse, beautiful views! There were two or 3 food truck as well as a concession stand. We brought our own food into the park, but it was nice to know if we wanted a sweet treat that they had it. Do not pass this beautiful nature up - go visit! Going especially in fall is crazy with the massive and high waves.

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

I love Grand Haven state park. Holland is closer but..... I almost need an excuse to go but enter the Great Lakes Kite fest!!! What a spectacular day it was. Little to cold for the water but the action was in the sky on Saturday. We had a lot of fun and it was beautiful weather. Oh and we ate at both Electric Hero food truck and Pronto Pup! Beat that

I think that this is the second best beach that I've been to in Michigan. I liked how open this beach/park was. Everyone look like they were having fun canoeing, biking, paddle boarding and so much more. I would have to say that this beach is a must if you were going to visit Michigan. I will definitely be coming back here again.

We visited GHSP in its most likely busiest season, August. I went online on February 25th in hopes of booking a week vacation but I could only snag 3 weekdays and had to move sites while there. Of course it's a prime location on a beautiful beach but the sites are very small. Half of the sites you have to move your vehicle to other parking, because your car can not fit on the site. It's basically a parking lot next to the beach. The staff were very friendly tho and helpful. We very much enjoyed our time at GHSP but the difficulty of even booking sites is a very big drawback. I suggest booking on January 1st if you want a site in its prime season. The beach is very clean but they were doing some work on the pier, so we could not enjoy the walk out there. Good luck in booking a site!

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.}

OK, pretty beach plenty of benches & grills if you get there early enough and stake out a spot but the bathrooms are truly disgusting. I would prefer to risk kidney infection rather than step foot in those bathrooms again. Come on people, have some decency and don't throw your tp & pads on the floor. You should be ashamed of yourselves!

Well this Klingon is here on off season and loving it! No crowds and people seem friendly. Beach was clean and and un occupied. Wind and slight rain made the day perfect. Lighthouse was cool too Might have to come back during summer just to see what it's like then. But it's nice now in October.

Whah is with everything in this town closing down before Labor Day?! Half of everything we've tried to do has been closed. Super frustrating. Saved all year for this trip. Won't be coming back next year.

This is a fun place to hang out. Simply walking around is nice. Walking the beach and watching the scenery from the pier (and listening to the waves) is so relaxing. Getting there can be a pain with traffic but it's worth it.

We loved the beautiful beach. Bathrooms were handy and it was also nice that there were food trucks in the parking lot everyday

Never before have I been more angry in my entire life. I have been tricked, bamboozled, duped, deceived, and -- in the most extreme case -- hoodwinked. I had been fooled so bad, it should have been criminal. Now, I was told that Grand Haven State Park was one of the city's most prestigious and beautiful attractions, and this is where all went wrong. Upon my arrival to the so call 'State Park', I realized that this was not a park, rather, it was a land fill. Children played in garbage, they swam in acid, and the adults were liked beached whales just waiting to die. I cannot begin to describe just how appalled I was. I was so disturbed that I fell into an epileptic fit during which I frothed at the mouth and soiled my entire being in fecal matter (not my own). Before I lost consciousness, I saw one of the whales waddle over to my person, I was sure I would be consumed by her and regurgitated to her young. This was not to be. As I came to, I soon realized I was still lying there, covered in filth, and hoping to die. The whale, between winded breaths for air, spoke to me, "Doo yoo need enny halp surrrr?" I panicked and screamed. Before the whale could even blink or move a muscle, a challenge I'm sure it is still trying to overcome to this day, I was on my feet, and running back to my 2013 Toyota Prius. I found it where I had parked it, then I leapt through the window. In haste, I turned over the engine and accelerated to a safe yet swift twenty-five miles per hour. I was finally free. To this day, I still will wake up, drenched in urine and sweat, screaming from the night terrors that have begun plaguing my life since that dreadful day.

This is a stupid, overcrowded beach with no parking. You can't drink on the beach, what an oversight and an ode to the conservative bourgeoisie that reside in Grand Haven. When I am on the beach, I am not satisfied with expensive lemonade and water. Speaking of water, it's usually ice cold, and when it is warm, filled with algae and e-coli, thanks Lansing... Drive 20 minutes north to Muskegon and find a larger, more liberal, uncrowded beach. The only plus is that on wavy days, walking out the pier provides an exceptional alternative to paddling out your surf board for us shiftless surfers.

Great place to go for a jog or walk. Even better for camping. Good parking. Would definitively come back.

This is in regard to the campground at the state park. First, I love being at the beach so this place is perfect for me. The campground is very sunny but the beach is just steps away. We spent all of our time in the sand, right down to walking to the actual state park for a cookout on one of their grills. The actual campground is pavement and sand. Sand DOES get "everywhere", but all of the bathrooms/showers are close. The campground is not large and you had better like being close to people because that's what you get! I was a little surprised and disappointed that there are no water hookups at the campsites. This was challenging when it was time to wash dishes or just clean my hands while preparing food. I hope the park doesn't mind that I filled my dish pan in the shower! That would be my only complaint, no water hookups. For that, the campground gets 4 stars. Will I return? Hell yes!