Oval Beach

ByLisa Dworkin Hours

Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin.

Oval Beach in Saugatuck, MI has been rated by Conde Naste’s Traveler Magazine as one of the 25 best shorelines in the world, and by MTV as one of the top five beaches in the country. It’s a best beach for singles, couples and families.

Oval Beach Rating

Beach Personality: Wonderful Great Lakes Beach With Something for Everyone.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin.

Oval Beach

Oval Beach is a relaxed, well laid out beach. The sandy part of the beach is a nice width with plenty of room for beachgoers, but not so wide that it’s an overly long hike from the parking lot with all your gear. Oval Beach is also a good walking beach because the shoreline is unimpeded even outside beach limits, so technically you could walk for miles.

Robert Gray and his wife have been coming to Oval Beach for the past 8 years even though they live much closer to other Lake Michigan beaches near the Silver Lake area. According to the Grays, what draws them to Oval Beach is the combination of the magnificent beach and the Saugatuck community. Robert calls the beach “cleaner than most” and is drawn to the community of Saugatuck for its arts and good restaurants.

I too found the beach to be cleaner than most. There was no garbage anywhere on the beach and the sand was totally free of natural debris – for example, rocks, pebbles, and seaweed. Both the sand and water had more of a Caribbean quality than other Great Lakes beaches I’ve been to. The sand was fine, very soft and light tan in color and the water was clear and deep blue with a sandy bottom. It’s also very shallow a long way out making it a good beach for kids or anyone who likes “playing” in the water.

Beach Activities:

  • Swimming
  • Skim boarding
  • Paddleboarding
  • Kayaking
  • Lounging

Beach Amenities:

Public bathrooms – Yes.

Showers – Yes.

Parking – Yes, for a fee in season only. (In season is Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Both daily parking and season long permits are available.)

Food – Yes, there’s a concession stand at the beach that’s open in season.

Lifeguard – No.

Dogs allowed on the beach – No.

Additional Amenities –picnic benches, playground, bbq grills, handicap accessible, first aid station.

Location:

Lake Michigan at Perryman Street and Oval Drive, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Phone: (269) 857-1701

To many joyful beach experiences!

— Lisa Dworkin

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