01
Tawas Point State Park beach
A 2-mile spit of sand that grows three feet a year. Shallow water for half a mile out — the warmest swimming on the coast.
On water · All ages · Coast-wide
Season · June – September
Beaches.
From Tawas Bay's bath-warm shallows to the long, almost-private sand at Negwegon, the coast has 14 public access points. The lake hits 71° in late July.
Tawas Point · July
Access points
14 public
11 free · 3 state park
Warmest water
71° · Late July
Tawas Bay, shallowest
Longest beach
7 mi · Negwegon
No facilities · Wilderness
Best family
Tawas Point
Shallow · Sandy · Easy
Where to swim · 6 best beaches
Six beaches, south to north.
Curated by Sunrise Coast Council editors. Routes, sites, and pull-offs from south to north along US-23.
02
Oscoda city beach
Right in town, where the AuSable meets the lake. Lifeguards in July and August. Walk to ice cream in three minutes.
03
Harrisville State Park
A mile of fine sand backed by old-growth pine. 94 campsites right behind, half with lake views.
04
Negwegon wilderness beach
Park at the unmaintained access road and walk 15 minutes through pine to seven miles of empty beach. No lifeguard. No anything.
05
Starlite Beach, Alpena
A short strip of city beach facing due east. The best place to watch a Lake Huron sunrise without leaving town.
06
Hoeft State Park beach
A mile of fine white sand with rare prairie orchids in the dunes. Pine forest behind. Quiet even in August.
A long, shallow bay
Where the lake gets bath-warm.
Tawas Bay is shallow — averaging only nine feet — and the south-running current loops in past Tawas Point and then back out again, holding the sun-warmed surface water in the bay all day. By late July the temperature reads 71° at the city pier, and on the right week of August it touches 74°. There is no warmer Great Lakes water anywhere.
The whole bay is sand. You can walk out a quarter-mile and still touch bottom, which makes it the obvious family beach on the coast. The lifeguard chairs are staffed July through Labor Day. Bring an umbrella; the sun is honest.
71°
Late July
5 mi
Sand beach
9 ft avg
Bay depth
Beaches · a long, shallow bay
"The Sunrise side has the sand. The Sunset side has the sunsets. Trade you."— Bumper sticker, common on US-23
Gear & know before you go
What to bring, what's provided.
What to bring
- Beach umbrella — almost no natural shade
- Sunscreen reapplied every 90 min
- Water bottle (no concessions at most)
- Towel and a change of clothes
What's on site
- Restrooms at state parks only
- Lifeguards: Tawas + Oscoda only
- Concessions: Tawas + Oscoda
- Picnic tables at all state parks
Notes
- Wear water shoes at Hoeft — rocky entry
- Negwegon: no road, no cell, no anything
- Lake hits warmest July 20 – Aug 20
- Pets allowed on most beaches off-leash
Questions · 4 answers
Beaches on the coast — questions.
Quick answers to what travelers ask most.
Q.01
Is beaches good on Michigan's Sunrise Coast?
Yes — From Tawas Bay's bath-warm shallows to the long, almost-private sand at Negwegon, the coast has 14 public access points. The lake hits 71° in late July.
Q.02
When is the best time of year for beaches on the Sunrise Coast?
The recommended season for beaches on Michigan's Sunrise Coast is June – September. Access points: 14 public — 11 free · 3 state park.
Q.03
Where can I beache on the Sunrise Coast?
6 best beaches along the 200-mile coast. A standout option: Tawas Point State Park beach — Tawas · $11 · Family · Sand spit. A 2-mile spit of sand that grows three feet a year. Shallow water for half a mile out — the warmest swimming on the coast.
Q.04
What gear or preparation do I need for beaches on the Sunrise Coast?
What to bring: Beach umbrella — almost no natural shade; Sunscreen reapplied every 90 min; Water bottle (no concessions at most); Towel and a change of clothes.