Southwest Michigan Photo | Lake Michigan Destinations

Explore Southwest Michigan!

The Southwest Michigan portion of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour is a beautiful drive that takes you through many charming towns along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Beginning in New Buffalo (known for its variety of vineyards) the Lake Michigan Circle Tour switches to I-94 through the St. Joseph / Benton Harbor region. Here is where you’ll find the popular Silver Beach County Park with an historic, restored merry-go-round called the Silver Beach Carousel, along with the St. Joseph North Pier lighthouse located at Tiscornia Park. Continuing north on I-196/US-31, you will pass though the Saugatuck / Douglas area on the Lake Michigan Circle Tour route.

Southwest Michigan Counties & Communities
Counties: Berrien County, Van Buren, Allegan
Communities: New Buffalo, Bridgman, Stevensville, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, South Haven, Saugatuck, Douglas

Southwest Michigan Destinations

There’s nothing like being “Up North” and we think you will want to linger in this beautiful region, filled with outstanding Lake Michigan Destinations. 

Here are but a few of the towns which are delightful to discover in Southwest Michigan:

southwest Michigan map

Southwest Michigan Lighthouses

Lighthouse lovers will love the lights located along the Southwest Michigan lakeshore.

 

Tiscornia Park St. Joseph Lighthouse Molly Schuler Pate

Tiscornia Park St. Joseph Lighthouse
Photo by Molly Schuler Pate

  • New Buffalo Lighthouse, New Buffalo
  • North Pierhead Lighthouse, St. Joseph
  • South Pierhead Light, South Haven
  • Kalamazoo River Light, Saugatuck

Discover More Lake Michigan Destinations

Silver Lake Sand Dunes

Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Michigan

Silver Lake Sand Dunes offers sand dune adventures and much more! Ride the dunes, splash in Silver Lake, and enjoy the expansive dune views!

Whiting, Indiana

Whiting is a small town with a lot of personality. Stand on its beach and you’ll get a grand view of Chicago’s skyline.

New Buffalo, Michigan

New Buffalo, Michigan is notably known as the Gateway to Michigan and is included on the Lake Michigan Circle Tour.

Lake Michigan water

Cook County, Illinois

Cook County is in Illinois, adjacent to Indiana. The county seat is Chicago, which is the third most populous city in the United States.

Hammond, Indiana

Straddling Indiana’s border with Illinois sits Hammond, which thrives despite the decline of factories on the southern tip of Lake Michigan.