Tawas Point Campground
East Tawas, Michigan · Tawas Point State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $17/year
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Tawas Point Campground
Tawas Point State Park is a 183-acre Michigan DNR state park on a sand spit in Lake Huron near East Tawas, nicknamed the 'Cape Cod of the Midwest.' It has two designated places to swim: a shallow, warm beach on the Tawas Bay side by the campground that works like a big natural swimming hole, and a day-use beach on the open Lake Huron side, plus a historic Victorian-era lighthouse and nationally recognized bird migration viewing.
The park occupies the curved tip of a sandy point extending into Lake Huron, separating the open lake from the more sheltered Tawas Bay. The landscape combines sandy beach, dune and shoreline habitat, and is well known as a stopover site on the Lake Huron Flyway with roughly 300 documented migratory bird species.
Swimming at Tawas Point Campground
Swimming is centered on two sand beaches: the Tawas Bay side (adjacent to the campground) has shallow, warm water described as ideal for families, while the Lake Huron day-use side offers open-lake swimming with picnic and playground facilities nearby. Both are freshwater Great Lakes beach swimming rather than river or creek swimming.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park is located roughly 2.5 miles southeast of East Tawas in Iosco County, Michigan, at the end of the Tawas Point sand spit.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- Under 5 minutes' walk from parking to either beach
No hike is needed to reach either swim beach, the Tawas Bay beach is adjacent to the campground and the Lake Huron day-use beach has its own parking lot, both short walks from parking. A separate ~2-mile Sandy Hook Nature Trail loops through the park's dune/bird habitat but is a recreational nature walk, not a required route to either swimming beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Campground/Tawas Bay-side beach is shallow, calm, and warms quickly by mid-June, described as some of the best shallow-water family swimming on Michigan's 'Sunrise Coast.' A playground sits near the beach and dog-free swim zones keep the family beach uncluttered. (Waves and cooler water are more likely on the separate Lake Huron day-use side.)
Parking
Paid, Michigan Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry: $17/yr for Michigan-registered vehicles, $34/yr for non-residents (purchasable with vehicle registration or at the gate)
Parking is in park lots (campground area and a separate day-use lot on the Lake Huron side); no separate per-visit parking fee beyond the vehicle Recreation Passport requirement was found.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are present at the park (campground and day-use areas), but a Michigan beach travel guide notes they are seasonal and advises visitors to confirm operating hours/season before a trip; exact building locations were not separately confirmed.
On the water
A Michigan beach travel guide describes Tawas Bay as popular for kayaking, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, and sailing thanks to consistent, protected winds. Motorized boats likely use the bay too (a private marina, Jerrys Marina, and a 'boat access' point sit along Tawas Beach Rd. near the park), but no official restriction/no-wake rule specific to the swim beaches was found, so restrictions are left null rather than assumed.
What regulars say
Regulars flag Tawas Bay as one of the calmer, more accessible Lake Huron-area beaches, with a quieter dog-beach stretch between the campground and lighthouse, and call the peninsula good for both bay sunrises and lake sunsets.
Backstory
The park was established in 1960 after the Tawas Point lighthouse property became federal surplus; the Michigan legislature authorized purchase of 175 acres for $29,250, development began in 1964, and the park officially opened in 1966. A beach pavilion was added in 1993. The park contains the historic Tawas Point Light, described as the sole Victorian-era style light station built on the Great Lakes.
Tawas Point Campground: FAQ
Does Tawas Point Campground charge a fee?
A Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry to the state park ($17/year for Michigan residents, $34/year for non-residents, purchasable with vehicle registration). Campground nightly rates reportedly range roughly $45-$120 depending on site type.
Is Tawas Point Campground kid friendly?
Campground/Tawas Bay-side beach is shallow, calm, and warms quickly by mid-June, described as some of the best shallow-water family swimming on Michigan's 'Sunrise Coast.' A playground sits near the beach and dog-free swim zones keep the family beach uncluttered. (Waves and cooler water are more likely on the separate Lake Huron day-use side.)
Do I need to hike to reach Tawas Point Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Tawas Point Campground?
Parking is in park lots (campground area and a separate day-use lot on the Lake Huron side); no separate per-visit parking fee beyond the vehicle Recreation Passport requirement was found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Tawas Point Campground?
A Michigan beach travel guide describes Tawas Bay as popular for kayaking, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, and sailing thanks to consistent, protected winds. Motorized boats likely use the bay too (a private marina, Jerrys Marina, and a 'boat access' point sit along Tawas Beach Rd. near the park), but no official restriction/no-wake rule specific to the swim beaches was found, so restrictions are left null rather than assumed.
What are the rules at Tawas Point Campground?
Dogs are allowed in most of the park but are excluded from designated swim beaches and other posted areas.
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