Lake Michigan Destinations stock photo
Lake Michigan Water Temperatures for Northeast Wisconsin
Lake Michigan is a vast, fresh water lake that is a haven for swimmers, boaters, and fishermen.
Though not as warm as the oceans, temperatures of Lake Michigan do rise to the high 60s in July and August to make swimming enjoyable, and definitely refreshing! Rarely do temperatures make it to the 70s, unless air temperatures stay up in the 90s for many continuous days.
If Lake Michigan is still too chilly for your taste, head to the inland lakes where temperatures will usually be much warmer. Smaller lakes tends to warm more quickly than Lake Michigan.
You have likely been hearing about the historic water levels in Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes, and many of your favorite beaches have nearly disappeared as Lake Michigan has advanced. But don’t be discouraged–most every Lake Michigan destination has an abundance of beaches and parks, so you can usually find at least one or two big beaches which still have ample sand and long shorelines for walking, relaxing, rock-hunting, and swimming.
There are instances of shore erosion around the entire lake, and reports of the rising waters engulfing the edges of some parks where the sidewalks may now be under few inches of water. The docks at many marinas have been affected, and the piers to lighthouses are often closed on windy days, because the waves are washing over the piers, making them unsafe to walk on.
The rising lake levels remind us of the power of nature.
Lake Michigan Travel Regions
Michigan
- Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- Northern Michigan
- Northwest Michigan
- Central West Michigan
- Southwest Michigan
Wisconsin
Indiana & Illinois
Discover More Lake Michigan Destinations

Kenosha, Wisconsin
In Kenosha, the past is blended into the present with a focus on making the city more beautiful for the sake of generations to come.

White Lake, Michigan
In the White Lake Area, Montague and Whitehall are the sister towns and offer a small town feel with shops and restaurants to experience.

Port Washington, Wisconsin
Port Washington is a city with plenty of rich history to explore, boasting the highest density of pre-Civil War buildings in Wisconsin.

Waukegan, Illinois
North of Chicago, Waukegan is home to the Genessee Theatre, Great Lakes Naval Base, and mile long Waukegan Municipal Beach.

Gary, Indiana
A blue-collar city on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, Gary was built on the hard work done in its once prosperous steel mills.

Allegan County, Michigan
Allegan county is located in southwest Michigan and is home to communities such as Allegan, Douglas, Fennville, and a segment of Holland.