New Buffalo Beach
New Buffalo, Michigan · on Lake Michigan
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $25/day
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About New Buffalo Beach
New Buffalo Beach (also called New Buffalo Beach & Lakefront Park) is a city-run swimming hole on Lake Michigan in New Buffalo, Michigan, a public beach with roughly 800 feet of sandy shoreline. It sits at the mouth of the Galien River just west of I-94 and is one of the first public places to swim on Lake Michigan encountered driving north from the Indiana state line.
The beach occupies an 18-acre city park at 200 Marquette Drive on the north end of Whittaker Street, with a sandy shoreline, a boardwalk and nature trail connecting the parking area to the water, and views of a nearby pier and the New Buffalo Lighthouse. The land and lakefront parks were donated to the Village (now City) of New Buffalo in 1924 by Edward K. Warren, founder of the Warren Featherbone Company.
Swimming at New Buffalo Beach
Swimming is in open Lake Michigan water off a broad sandy beach with generally gentle waves, described by local guides as family-friendly and suitable for children and casual swimmers. The city posts a colored flag system (green/yellow/red/double-red) to indicate water safety, and double red flags mean lake entry is legally prohibited; sources emphasize rip current risk near the pier and break walls and recommend swimming parallel to shore to escape a current.
How to get to this swimming hole
The beach is located at 200 Marquette Drive in New Buffalo, Michigan, just minutes west of I-94 Exit 1 or 4, at the north end of Whittaker Street near the mouth of the Galien River.
Parking: On-site paved lot with about 207 spaces, including 7 handicap-designated spots; fee-based April 1 through October 31, 8am-8pm ($25/day or $15 for a 3-hour visit, payable by credit card at kiosks or the Passport app), free before 8am and after 8pm and outside that season.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up beach with an on-site paved parking lot immediately adjacent to the sand; a short boardwalk/nature trail runs along the dune line connecting the lot to the water, but it is a walk of a couple hundred feet at most, not a hike.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Broad sandy beach with gentle waves and an on-site playground make it generally family-friendly, but sources repeatedly flag rip-current risk near the pier/break walls and lifeguards are only on duty during limited seasonal hours (roughly Memorial Day-Labor Day); families should check the daily flag color before swimming.
Parking
Paid, $25/day or $15 for a 3-hour visit
On-site paved lot (~207 spaces incl. 7 handicap spots) at 200 Marquette Drive; fee applies April 1-October 31, 8am-8pm, payable by credit card at kiosks or the Passport app; free before 8am/after 8pm and outside that date range.
Restrooms
Yes
Public restrooms and foot showers are housed in the seasonal snack-bar building at the beach, operating Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Hours
Park/beach closes at 10pm (no overnight parking); lifeguards on duty in-season roughly Memorial Day-Labor Day (sources vary 10am-7pm vs 11am-7pm, some noting Thursday-Sunday only in shoulder weeks); adjacent city boat launch on the Galien River is open 24 hours during boating season (May 1 until ice cover).
On the water
The city boat launch at the mouth of the Galien River (same 200 Marquette Drive site) is open 24 hours daily during boating season (May 1-ice cover) and provides direct Lake Michigan access for motorboats; kayaks and paddleboards can also be rented on-site. No explicit no-wake, electric-only, or watercraft-type restriction was found in the sources reviewed.
Rentals nearby
Single and double kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, launched from the Galien River at the New Buffalo city boat launch (same site as the beach); life jackets included
Prices: Starting at $25/hour for kayaks and for paddleboards
City Boat Launch, 200 Marquette Drive, New Buffalo, MI (on-site at New Buffalo Beach) · Seasonal, roughly May through October (2026 season rentals opening May 16)
Backstory
The beach and surrounding lakefront parks were donated to the Village (now City) of New Buffalo in 1924 by Edward K. Warren, founder of the Warren Featherbone Company, as a permanent gift to the community.
New Buffalo Beach: FAQ
Does New Buffalo Beach charge a fee?
Parking fee April 1-October 31, 8am-8pm ($25/day or $15/3 hours); beach access itself is free.
Is New Buffalo Beach kid friendly?
Broad sandy beach with gentle waves and an on-site playground make it generally family-friendly, but sources repeatedly flag rip-current risk near the pier/break walls and lifeguards are only on duty during limited seasonal hours (roughly Memorial Day-Labor Day); families should check the daily flag color before swimming.
Do I need to hike to reach New Buffalo Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for New Buffalo Beach?
On-site paved lot (~207 spaces incl. 7 handicap spots) at 200 Marquette Drive; fee applies April 1-October 31, 8am-8pm, payable by credit card at kiosks or the Passport app; free before 8am/after 8pm and outside that date range.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to New Buffalo Beach?
The city boat launch at the mouth of the Galien River (same 200 Marquette Drive site) is open 24 hours daily during boating season (May 1-ice cover) and provides direct Lake Michigan access for motorboats; kayaks and paddleboards can also be rented on-site. No explicit no-wake, electric-only, or watercraft-type restriction was found in the sources reviewed.
When is the best time to visit New Buffalo Beach?
Summer (June-August) is peak season with lifeguards on duty; spring and fall (April-May, September-October) offer fewer crowds and cooler water; the lake is generally too cold for swimming in winter.
What are the rules at New Buffalo Beach?
No pets, fires, glass containers, or alcohol permitted; park closes at 10pm with no overnight parking; swimmers must obey the posted flag system, with double red flags meaning water entry is prohibited under Michigan law.
What water body is New Buffalo Beach on?
New Buffalo Beach is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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