The best beaches for camping in the Midwest (yes, beaches!)

I’ve tightened my grip on summer and I’m not letting go! The Midwest’s summer temperatures have moderated a bit, but I still crave one last RV beach trip before I pack away the flip-flops and sunscreen.

If you, too, wonder where to find a great beach in the Midwest, I’m here for you! Any one of the following Midwest beaches will supply beach vibes. Take a look.

Oval Beach, Michigan

Oval Beach is one of the Midwest’s most photographed freshwater beaches. It features a broad ribbon of sugar sand backed by high dunes. Nearby is the artsy town of Saugatuck. It welcomes visitors with art galleries, river cruises, and good restaurants. It’s easy to pair a beach day with a nice meal or a dune hike.

Popular attractions

While visiting this Midwest Beach, don’t miss the following experiences: Mt. Baldhead stairs and lookout, Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area and dune trails, Kalamazoo River boat tours, and waterfront dining.

Outdoor activities

You may swim at your own risk, but Oval Beach has no lifeguards. Paddleboarding or kayaking on the Kalamazoo River, beachcombing, and birding are also popular. Here’s where to find ADA options and seasonal facilities.

Where to camp

• Eden Springs Park & Campground (Benton Harbor). This is a municipal-style campground with full-service RV sites and some pull-throughs. Restrooms and showers, free Wi-Fi in parts of the park, and a dump station are also available.

• South Haven Sunny Brook RV Resort (South Haven). This private RV resort features full hookups on many sites, pool(s), clubhouse, on-site lake and paddle craft, laundry, and planned activities for RVers.

West Beach, Indiana

Situated near Porter and Gary, Indiana, is West Beach. West Beach is the best-known Lake Michigan access inside Indiana Dunes National Park. The beach has a broad shoreline, a bathhouse and visitor services, and immediate access to dune trails. West Beach offers a surprisingly wild feeling for being within an hour of Chicago and offers a unique dune ecosystem to explore.

Popular nearby attractions

If you visit Indiana’s West Beach, be sure to take advantage of the following: Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, Paul H. Douglas Center and Miller Woods trails, Beverly Shores historic homes, and Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk. The area also hosts several short but dramatic dune hikes. (Caution: Some are steep!)

Outdoor activities

West Beach offers lifeguarded swimming, birdwatching, fishing and paddling in calmer bays, and multi-use biking and hiking trails. Check this site for seasonal beach pass information and any restrictions.

Where to camp

• Dunewood Campground (Indiana Dunes National Park). Dunewood provides wooded sites with restrooms and hot showers, potable water faucets, and an RV dump station. There are no electrical or water hookups at individual sites and some sites limit RV length. Reserve your site here.

• Indiana Dunes State Park Campground (Chesterton). This is a state-run campground with sites that typically include electrical hookups, modern restrooms and shower houses, potable water, and convenient access to the state park beach and trail network. Hookup availability and seasonal openings vary, so check the official page.

Headlands Beach State Park, Ohio

Headlands Beach is famous for being Ohio’s largest natural sand beach, situated where the Grand River meets Lake Erie. As such, Headlands offers visitors a long, flat stretch of sand that is ideal for shoreline walks, beach glass hunting, and fishing off the break wall.

Popular nearby attractions

After checking out the beach, be sure to visit the following attractions: Mentor Marsh and Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, and Fairport Harbor break wall and lighthouse. Also, be sure to sample some small-town dining offerings in Mentor and Painesville.

Outdoor activities

Headlands Beach offers many outdoor opportunities like swimming, kayaking, and short nature walks.

Where to camp

• Geneva State Park Campground. Geneva is one of the closer state-run campgrounds with a mix of premium full-service, electric and non-hookup sites. You’ll also find modern restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and easy access to Lake Erie sunsets.

• Willow Lake Campground. This is a private campground with many RV sites. Willow Lake features a shower house, on-site lake and nature trails, dump station, and family-friendly facilities.

Quick tips for Midwest beach camping

Midwest beaches are often crowded during the summer. However, when school starts, many of the best locations take on a calmer and laid-back feel.

If you, too, have a tight grip on summer and long for beach vibes, don’t wait! Midwest summers often come to an unexpected end. Temperatures can quickly tumble and, combined with fall breezes, make a beach visit less than pleasant.

Perhaps your rig is already snuggled into storage. In that case, make plans now for next summer. These Midwest beaches await and won’t disappoint!

MORE MIDWEST TRAVEL DESTINATIONS:

• Discover the ‘Cape Cod of the Midwest’ and camp at one of these parks
• The Midwest at its best: Visiting Canal Fulton, Ohio
• The most unusual Midwest attractions and where to camp nearby
• 9 must-see wacky and weird Midwest roadside attractions
• If you’re a history buff, stop at these Midwest living history museums

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