Packard Park and Beach Access
South Haven, Michigan · on Lake Michigan · Packard Beach Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Packard Park and Beach Access
Packard Park and Beach Access is one of the City of South Haven's seven official public beach access points on Lake Michigan, located at 231 North Shore Drive. It is a maintained city park with a shaded grassy area and a deck overlooking the lake, giving swimmers a direct path to the Lake Michigan shoreline, a simple swimming hole among the city's official places to swim.
Packard Park sits along North Shore Drive on the Lake Michigan shoreline in South Haven, adjacent to the sandy beach mapped by OpenStreetMap as Dyckman Beach. The city describes the park as a shaded, grassy area with a deck overlooking the lake.
Swimming at Packard Park and Beach Access
Swimming is in open Lake Michigan water directly off a public sand beach; the city's official beaches page lists Packard Park among its public beach access sites but notes it is unstaffed (no lifeguards on duty, unlike the city's larger North and South Beach). Conditions therefore depend on lake wave and wind conditions, and the city recommends checking its beach flag alert system before swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 231 North Shore Drive, South Haven, about half a mile from downtown South Haven, per the city's parks listing.
Parking: Paid beach parking required in season: $3/hour or $50/week via electronic kiosk or the Passport app (zone 49090), or a multi-year sticker ($80 for 2026); enforced May 15 to September 15, 9am-6pm daily. South Haven residents/property owners receive free stickers.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up city park and beach access point at 231 North Shore Drive with on-site parking directly adjacent to the sand; no hike or trail is involved to reach the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy, gently-sloping open Lake Michigan beach makes for easy shallow entry, but the city's own beaches page confirms Packard Park has no lifeguard on duty (unlike South Beach), and the city advises checking its beach-flag alert system before swimming because open-lake waves and rip currents can occur; supervise kids closely and check flag status.
Parking
Paid, $3/hour or $50/week via kiosk or the Passport app (zone 49090); multi-year stickers $80-100; South Haven residents get free stickers
Paid beach parking is enforced daily 9am-6pm, May 15 through September 15, with escalating fines ($45/$75/$100) and towing for violators. City pages describe a parking fee requirement but do not specify whether it is a dedicated lot or street/roadside parking along North Shore Drive.
Restrooms
Yes
Public restrooms on-site at Packard Park, per the City of South Haven parks page (along with grills, picnic tables, and a shaded grassy area).
On the water
No official rule specific to Packard Park's beach was found permitting or restricting kayaks/paddleboards/small craft launched from the sand. South Haven's tourism site separately describes Black River Harbor (the city's boat marina, a different location from this beach) as hosting 2,000+ slips for power, sail, pontoon, and aluminum boats plus jet skiing, canoeing, and kayaking, and mentions Lake Michigan and the Black River generally as places to 'get on the water' -- but none of this is documented as applying to Packard Park itself.
Packard Park and Beach Access: FAQ
Does Packard Park and Beach Access charge a fee?
Beach parking fee as above (no separate entrance fee to the park itself); paid parking is what funds beach maintenance per the city.
Is Packard Park and Beach Access kid friendly?
Sandy, gently-sloping open Lake Michigan beach makes for easy shallow entry, but the city's own beaches page confirms Packard Park has no lifeguard on duty (unlike South Beach), and the city advises checking its beach-flag alert system before swimming because open-lake waves and rip currents can occur; supervise kids closely and check flag status.
Do I need to hike to reach Packard Park and Beach Access?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Packard Park and Beach Access?
Paid beach parking is enforced daily 9am-6pm, May 15 through September 15, with escalating fines ($45/$75/$100) and towing for violators. City pages describe a parking fee requirement but do not specify whether it is a dedicated lot or street/roadside parking along North Shore Drive.
What are the rules at Packard Park and Beach Access?
City-maintained beach and park; a formal 'Beach and Park Usage Policy' governs the site (referenced by the city but full text not confirmed in the pages reviewed). Paid parking is enforced with escalating fines ($45/$75/$100) and towing for violations.
What water body is Packard Park and Beach Access on?
Packard Park and Beach Access is on Lake Michigan, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
