Best beach towns on the Great Lakes
Best beach towns on the Great Lakes
Whether you're going through the peak of summer or the dead of winter, a warm, sunny day at the beach never loses its appeal. And the five different bodies of water that make up the Great Lakes—Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario—provide those perfect beach days in spades.
The Great Lakes contain a whopping 21% of the planet's freshwater supply and 84% of all surface freshwater in the U.S. The watershed area also supplies a habitat for animals like gray wolves, moose, and bald eagles, while the lakes' surfaces hide even more activity—fish like walleye, trout, muskellunge, and more swim the deep waters here.
All of that natural beauty has attracted plenty of attention. Travel + Leisure ranked Lake Superior as the #1 destination for a lake vacation in the summer of 2025, citing its top-notch fishing. But fishing is just the start of the Great Lakes' activities and attractions. Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario encompass a variety of diverse landscapes, from the sandy coasts of Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to the cliffs and caves of the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. The Great Lakes also beat other waterfront destinations in terms of travel costs. An April 2025 study from Beach.com found that vacationing in Great Lakes towns like Milwaukee and Buffalo can save travelers money compared to most other beaches in the country.
Beyond factors like scenery and affordability, though, what makes a good beach town? Access to a beach, of course, but also plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to keep kids entertained, warm weather, and a long beach season (the average number of days beaches are open for swimming).
Stacker determined the best beach towns on the Great Lakes by several factors, giving the most weight to the number of beaches within a quarter mile of a city or town and the total shoreline of those beaches. Weather patterns and the duration of each beach's swim season affect town scores. The ranking also takes into account the prevalence of beach-related businesses, unemployment rates, and median home prices.
The EPA lists more than 250 beaches on the Great Lakes, totaling more than 100 miles of beach shoreline.
#50. Long Beach, Indiana
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 3.32 miles
- Average swim season length: 98 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.7 degrees
- Median home price: $497,100
#49. Whites Landing, Ohio
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 0.05 miles
- Average swim season length: 102 days
- Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
- Median home price: $152,100
#48. Winthrop Harbor, Illinois
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 1.3 miles
- Average swim season length: 90 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.5 degrees
- Median home price: $206,900
#47. Ossineke, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 0.85 miles
- Average swim season length: 105 days
- Average county summer temperature: 66.8 degrees
- Median home price: $135,400
#46. Port Clinton, Ohio
- Number of beaches: 1
- Beach length: 0.65 miles
- Average swim season length: 102 days
- Average county summer temperature: 73.5 degrees
- Median home price: $120,300
#45. Racine, Wisconsin
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 0.58 miles
- Average swim season length: 106 days
- Average county summer temperature: 70.5 degrees
- Median home price: $128,000
#44. Bridgman, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 1.88 miles
- Average swim season length: 109 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.2 degrees
- Median home price: $204,800
#43. Lakeport, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 1.37 miles
- Average swim season length: 105 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.6 degrees
- Median home price: $139,000
#42. Muskegon, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 1.94 miles
- Average swim season length: 98 days
- Average county summer temperature: 69.3 degrees
- Median home price: $94,900
#41. Cheboygan, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 0.35 miles
- Average swim season length: 103 days
- Average county summer temperature: 65.6 degrees
- Median home price: $102,300
#40. Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- Number of beaches: 8
- Beach length: 4.04 miles
- Average swim season length: 53 days
- Average county summer temperature: 68.5 degrees
- Median home price: $132,200
#39. Au Gres, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 1
- Beach length: 1.7 miles
- Average swim season length: 105 days
- Average county summer temperature: 68.8 degrees
- Median home price: $128,300
#38. Norwood, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 8.25 miles
- Average swim season length: 71 days
- Average county summer temperature: 66.5 degrees
- Median home price: $152,500
#37. St. Joseph, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 1.29 miles
- Average swim season length: 112 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.2 degrees
- Median home price: $213,000
#36. Tawas City, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 0.67 miles
- Average swim season length: 132 days
- Average county summer temperature: 67.7 degrees
- Median home price: $95,500
#35. Benton Harbor, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 0.52 miles
- Average swim season length: 112 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.2 degrees
- Median home price: $67,300
#34. Escanaba, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 3.03 miles
- Average swim season length: 106 days
- Average county summer temperature: 64.3 degrees
- Median home price: $89,100
#33. Norton Shores, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 3.39 miles
- Average swim season length: 99 days
- Average county summer temperature: 69.3 degrees
- Median home price: $168,000
#32. Beverly Shores, Indiana
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 4.58 miles
- Average swim season length: 104 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.8 degrees
- Median home price: $466,900
#31. Waukegan, Illinois
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 1.82 miles
- Average swim season length: 130 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.5 degrees
- Median home price: $150,200
#30. Hammond, Indiana
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 1.38 miles
- Average swim season length: 100 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.8 degrees
- Median home price: $112,800
#29. Port Huron, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 0.54 miles
- Average swim season length: 106 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.6 degrees
- Median home price: $108,900
#28. Huron, Ohio
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 0.61 miles
- Average swim season length: 102 days
- Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
- Median home price: $177,200
#27. Ashland, Wisconsin
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 0.7 miles
- Average swim season length: 106 days
- Average county summer temperature: 64.1 degrees
- Median home price: $123,500
#26. Crystal Downs Country Club, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 1.35 miles
- Average swim season length: 120 days
- Average county summer temperature: 67.2 degrees
- Median home price: $199,900
#25. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 1.73 miles
- Average swim season length: 101 days
- Average county summer temperature: 70.7 degrees
- Median home price: $141,700
#24. Evanston, Illinois
- Number of beaches: 8
- Beach length: 1.03 miles
- Average swim season length: 130 days
- Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
- Median home price: $434,200
#23. Portage, Indiana
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 3.36 miles
- Average swim season length: 98 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.8 degrees
- Median home price: $173,100
#22. Traverse City, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 7
- Beach length: 1.2 miles
- Average swim season length: 103 days
- Average county summer temperature: 67.0 degrees
- Median home price: $292,500
#21. Munising, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 2
- Beach length: 2.18 miles
- Average swim season length: 128 days
- Average county summer temperature: 63.2 degrees
- Median home price: $116,700
#20. Vermilion, Ohio
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 0.97 miles
- Average swim season length: 107 days
- Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
- Median home price: $135,900
#19. Northport, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 8
- Beach length: 0.48 miles
- Average swim season length: 105 days
- Average county summer temperature: 67.0 degrees
- Median home price: $225,000
#18. Cleveland, Ohio
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 0.99 miles
- Average swim season length: 108 days
- Average county summer temperature: 72.2 degrees
- Median home price: $87,000
#17. Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 2.17 miles
- Average swim season length: 106 days
- Average county summer temperature: 70.8 degrees
- Median home price: $173,500
#16. Marquette, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 1.56 miles
- Average swim season length: 111 days
- Average county summer temperature: 63.9 degrees
- Median home price: $194,900
#15. Superior, Wisconsin
- Number of beaches: 15
- Beach length: 7.69 miles
- Average swim season length: 49 days
- Average county summer temperature: 65.1 degrees
- Median home price: $137,800
#14. Two Rivers, Wisconsin
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 7.07 miles
- Average swim season length: 106 days
- Average county summer temperature: 67.6 degrees
- Median home price: $98,500
#13. Mackinaw City, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 0.49 miles
- Average swim season length: 105 days
- Average county summer temperature: 65.3 degrees
- Median home price: $145,800
#12. Copper Harbor, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 1.94 miles
- Average swim season length: 105 days
- Average county summer temperature: 62.9 degrees
- Median home price: $124,100
#11. Alpena, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 2.11 miles
- Average swim season length: 103 days
- Average county summer temperature: 66.8 degrees
- Median home price: $78,800
#10. Michigan City, Indiana
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 3.43 miles
- Average swim season length: 98 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.7 degrees
- Median home price: $107,900
#9. Euclid, Ohio
- Number of beaches: 9
- Beach length: 0.99 miles
- Average swim season length: 100 days
- Average county summer temperature: 72.2 degrees
- Median home price: $92,500
#8. Duluth, Minnesota
- Number of beaches: 31
- Beach length: 17.39 miles
- Average swim season length: 19 days
- Average county summer temperature: 63.4 degrees
- Median home price: $174,400
#7. St. Ignace, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 2.24 miles
- Average swim season length: 104 days
- Average county summer temperature: 63.3 degrees
- Median home price: $117,400
#6. Grand Marais, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 3
- Beach length: 10.73 miles
- Average swim season length: 105 days
- Average county summer temperature: 63.2 degrees
- Median home price: $146,400
#5. Gary, Indiana
- Number of beaches: 6
- Beach length: 4.2 miles
- Average swim season length: 98 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.8 degrees
- Median home price: $84,900
#4. Zion, Illinois
- Number of beaches: 5
- Beach length: 3.05 miles
- Average swim season length: 111 days
- Average county summer temperature: 71.5 degrees
- Median home price: $139,300
#3. Presque Isle Harbor, Michigan
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 10.59 miles
- Average swim season length: 105 days
- Average county summer temperature: 66.0 degrees
- Median home price: $144,700
#2. Sandusky, Ohio
- Number of beaches: 4
- Beach length: 4.79 miles
- Average swim season length: 102 days
- Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
- Median home price: $86,800
#1. Chicago, Illinois
- Number of beaches: 25
- Beach length: 5.63 miles
- Average swim season length: 125 days
- Average county summer temperature: 72.4 degrees
- Median home price: $295,400
