A highlight of a visit to the Michigan west coast towns of Saugatuck or Douglas is going to one of its many beautiful public beaches. Much smaller than the rest yet pristine and pretty, Douglas Beach Park offers an ideal spot to escape the crowds, relax by the water, or watch the sunset.
I share helpful planning information for visiting Douglas Beach Park in this article. Like where to park when its small lot is full, alternative ways to get there, the best places to pick up food before you go, other things to do in the area, and recommendations for where to stay.
Our Chicago-based family has been coming to the Saugatuck-Douglas area for over ten years, mainly in the fall, but recently, we started visiting in the summer, too. We have traveled all over the world, and this is one of the few places we have returned to again and again. The only thing I love more than coming to this area is sharing it with others. So, join me as I share how and why you should include a visit to this petite but worthwhile beach.
About the beach & where to find it.
Douglas Beach Park is one mile west of the charming town of Douglas on Lake Michigan. This small town has a shop- and restaurant-laden main street and is a mile south of its next-door neighbor, Saugatuck, a larger coastal community and a main draw to the area. See where to find Douglas Beach Park on the map below.
The public beach here is small and free to access. Private property signs to the north and south tightly bookend it. It sits at the bottom of a tree-covered sandy bluff in a well-to-do residential neighborhood. Facing the parking area, find restroom facilities and picnic tables. To get to the beach, descend a sturdy wooden stairway with shaded platforms for resting.
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If you are carrying items to the beach, try to bring it all in one go, as there are approximately 100 stairs to reach the bottom. These stairs also make this beach inaccessible to strollers—unless carried down—or any visitors with restricted mobility. Unlike other beaches in the area, due to its bluff, the back half of Douglas Beach Park enjoys some shade through the early afternoon.
To get to the beach, drive west on Center Street and hang a right on Lakeshore Drive, where it dead ends to reach the lot. Get more information on parking here.
Five reasons to visit.
Despite its small size, Douglas Beach Park is a hidden gem on this stretch of Lake Michigan coast and worth a visit. Here are five reasons to include this beach on your next trip.
1. It’s free. During the summer, pay $10 to park at the much larger and more crowded Oval Beach just to the north. However, admittance to Oval Beach is free in the fall after Labor Day. And pay $11 for day access to the trails and beach at Saugatuck Dunes State Park.
2. It’s less crowded and gets some shade. Yes, the beach is small. However, its limited parking and access make for excellent crowd control. The bluff behind the beach provides some welcome shade during the first half of the day.
3. It makes for a quick visit. If you can get a parking spot and do not mind the stairs, you can be down on the beach for a quick dip or enjoy the view in minutes.
4. The sunsets are spectacular. Grab a sandy spot in nearly any season and watch the colors brilliantly light up the beach and color the sky in purple and pink hues.
5. Stroll Lakeshore Drive. Although the private property signs bordering the beach limit long beach walks, know you still have options to stretch your legs. Leave your car parked in its spot and stroll south along the minimally trafficked Lakeshore Drive roadway. We love this ~2.5-mile out-and-back walk high on the bluff with the infinite blue horizon of Lake Michigan to the right and stately homes with immaculate landscaping to the left, all the way to its dead end at Old Owl Drive.
How to get here: where to park & other ways to arrive.
The most common way to arrive at Douglas Beach Park is by car. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, the parking lot here is small. It can only accommodate about 15 vehicles, so if a spot is available during busy weekends or holidays, grab it; you will be one of the lucky few who enjoy this beach without big crowds. See where to find the lot below.
However, you have a few options when you can’t find a space. First, you can hang tight and wait for turnover. Or you can park in one of the alternative spots circled on the map below, anywhere from a five to 15-minute walk away.
Pay attention to signage and find spaces along May Avenue. Or, if things are getting crowded and you are okay with a longer walk, find spaces near the corner of Center and Ferry Street on either side of the Root Beer Barrel. While there, pick up some to-go snacks before you walk to the beach.
Special note: Although enticing due to its proximity and view, save time by not looking for parking spots along swanky Lakeshore Drive. You will not find them.
Alternatively, you can bike to the Douglas Beach Park. The Beach to Bayou paved trail runs parallel to the north side of Center Street. Follow this to Lakeshore Drive and lock your bikes near the restroom facilities.
Or you can book a ride for just $1 on the on-demand Interurban, a public bus system for the Saugatuck-Douglas area. Learn more about booking rides here.
Five of our favorite recommendations for picnic foods.
There is no concession at Douglas Beach Park. Although you can pick up to-go items from nearly anywhere in town, five of our favorite nearby places to grab food for a beach picnic include:
1. Isabel’s Market & Eatery
Distance: 1.2 miles from Douglas Beach Park, easy lot parking.
Come here for gourmet, pre-prepared picnic items like sandwiches, spreads, crackers, breakfast sandwiches, coffees, and baked goods. Get hours and info here.
2. Douglas Root Beer Barrel
Distance: .7 miles from Douglas Beach Park, street parking.
Open seasonally with historically sporadic hours. Check its website or Facebook page for the most up-to-date open times. Order hot dogs, brats, chips, drinks, and desserts from a window in an honest-to-goodness barrel.
3. Woosah Outfitters & Outside Coffee Co.
Distance: .7 miles from Douglas Beach Park, street parking.
Diagonally across the street from the Barrel, this Grand Rapids outlet offers artistically designed outdoor gear and early-morning eats and drinks from its clever to-go coffee window. Best for coffee and baked goods. Depending on the weekend, look for pop-up food tents. Hours change seasonally. Get info here.
4. Supervalu
Distance: 1.0 mile from Douglas Beach Park, easy lot parking.
Keep costs down by grabbing your picnic items from this no-nonsense small-town grocery that carries all the basics you need to fuel your day’s snack requirements.
5. Pizza Mambo
Distance: 1.1 miles from Douglas Beach Park, easy lot parking.
For sunset viewing, grab a perfectly cooked pie from Pizza Mambo. We know pizza well as long-time Chicagoans who lived above a pizza-by-the-slice place in New York City for several years. The slices here can compete with the best we’ve eaten anywhere. Open most afternoons and evenings. View the menu and hours here.
Safety tips.
In calm weather, the waves at Douglas Beach Park can be gentle and pleasurable for swimming. However, caution is needed as there is no lifeguard, and Lake Michigan, like other large bodies of water, can have unpredictable water conditions. In poor weather, expect rougher waves. And always look out for the possibility of rip currents.
Although the water at Douglas Beach Park remains waist to chest-high on an adult for up to about 50 feet from the shoreline, the entry here is less shallow and little-kid friendly than some spots along Oval Beach.
Quick facts recap for visiting.
Here’s a recap of a few quick facts to help you plan your visit to Douglas Beach Park.
Location: 3099 Lakeshore Dr, Douglas, MI 49406
Cost: Free.
Crowds: Busiest during summer months and weekends.
Parking: Spaces are available in a small lot, on limited neighborhood streets following signage, or on the south and west corners of Center and Ferry Street. Get more info here.
Biking: Bike along Center Street or the adjacent Beach to Bayou paved trail. Lock your bikes near the restroom facilities.
Other transport: Schedule a $1 ride with the Interurban.
Restrooms: Yes, facing the bluff-top parking lot. There are no restrooms at the beach level.
Concessions: No concessions. Here are our favorite places to grab picnic items.
Dogs: Not permitted. However, I’m unsure how closely this is followed. We’ve seen locals walking their dogs to the beach in the early morning or evening. To be safe, take your pups to a 100% dog-friendly beach instead, like Saugatuck Dunes State Park.
Alcohol: Not permitted.
Lifeguards: Not present.
Things to do nearby.
If you love beaches, visit nearby Oval Beach in the summer or fall and Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Then, look at this list of 31 things to do in and around the Saugatuck-Douglas area.
For a short weekend visit, our favorite activities include visiting the beaches, going for hikes, fruit picking (depending on the season), getting a rooftop drink at The Barge to watch the river traffic go by, and eating at worth-the-wait restaurants like The Southerner and Pennyroyal Provisions.
Accommodation options near Douglas Beach Park.
For visitors to Douglas Beach Park, various accommodation options are available in the surrounding area. The towns of Saugatuck and Douglas offer a range of choices, from cozy bed and breakfasts to larger hotels, resorts, and private rentals.
One popular option in Saugatuck is the award-winning Wickwood Inn, a historic bed and breakfast catering to clientele 16 years and older that dates back to the early 20th century. This charming property offers a variety of guest rooms and suites, as well as a delicious farm-to-table breakfast. A more budget and family-friendly choice is the highly-rated Starlite Resort, a retro-style motel option just off the Blue Star Highway with an onsite pool and complimentary breakfast.
Get more ideas for the best places to stay around Douglas and Saugatuck in this helpful guide that identifies ideal places to look. Or, for families, get a list of my specific rental and property recommendations here.
Related reading.
If you plan to visit the Douglas or Saugatuck areas or like road-tripping around the US Midwest, check out my related articles below to help you get the information you need to plan your best visit.
- 31 Things to Do in Saugatuck, MI, You Will Love
- Saugatuck, MI: 8 Amazing Areas to Search for Lodging
- The Best Places to Stay in Saugatuck for Families
- Saugatuck Dunes State Park: All You Need to Know
- Oval Beach in the Fall: Your Complete Guide
- Fall Trip: 10 Wonderful Family Things to Do in Saugatuck
- Your Family Will Love These 30 Road Trips Near Chicago
Feedback & questions.
Did this article help? Do you have questions about an upcoming visit? Or updates to the information shared? Please post in the comments below, and I will respond.
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