8 Of The Best Beaches Near Detroit To Visit This Summer

When it comes to family-friendly parks, Kensington Metropark comes out on top. This popular park surrounds Kent Lake and offers a variety of activities, including swimming, kayaking and canoeing. The park's Martindale Beach is open May 26 through Labor Day, and its Splash n’ Blast water park is open May 28 through Labor Day. People drive from afar just to experience this fun beach area. In addition to the park's many activities, Kensington Metropark also features several trails and a wonderful nature center.

The only beach on our list that's actually inside the Detroit city limits is Belle Isle. Belle Isle, located only five minutes from downtown Detroit, offers spectacular views of the city skyline and the Ambassador Bridge. This 983-acre oasis features a beautiful half-mile beach that's staffed from June through Labor Day. A few of the many activities Belle Isle offers includes trails for biking and hiking, a playground, tennis courts, paddle boats and mini-golf.

For many years, Lake St. Clair Metropark has been known as "Metro Beach" because of its 1,000 feet of beach area that runs along the shore of Lake St. Clair. This 770-acre park, located only 20 miles from downtown Detroit, offers a variety of recreational activities such as bird watching, windsurfing, boating, bicycling and swimming. Lake St. Clair Metropark also features an Olympic-sized pool and a "Squirt Zone" that kids can't get enough of.

Many believe Camp Dearborn is just a campground, but it's not. It also includes six lakes and a half-mile public beach that's a popular area for swimming. There's a great picnic area near the beach for those planning to spend the day. A few of the fun activities offered at Camp Dearborn include canoeing, fishing and paddle boats.

At the end of Sand Point Road, and about four miles northeast of Munising, you'll stumble upon Sand Point Beach. This beach is popular among both residents and tourists, and it's also a fantastic place to view sunsets.

What makes Michigan's Sterling State Park so unique is that it's the only state park on Lake Erie. This beautiful park, which contains 1,300 acres, features more than a mile of beach that's popular among swimmers and sunbathers. Sterling State Park is a great place for the entire family to spend the weekend.

Approximately 1,500 acres makes up Algonac State Park. This popular park offers many different types of activities, including camping, archery, hiking, biking and volleyball. Across the street is an area with river access that offers fishing and swimming opportunities. If those don't suit you, you can also relax on the bank of St. Clair River. Algonac Park is open year-round.

Lakeshore Park offers a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities such as walking and biking trails, two playgrounds and a swimming beach. Visitors love the park's beach area, especially during the summer months. This is a great beach area for the entire family to spend a summer afternoon.