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Discover the West Michigan Coast
Along the Lake Michigan Shore
The entire West Michigan coast is comprised of some of the most beautiful scenery along the Lake Michigan shoreline. It’s a fourteen county adventure!
Miles and miles of Lake Michigan beaches makes the West Michigan coast a wonderful playground. The lakeshore towns are picturesque and so much fun to explore.
This page will provide Michigan’s West Coast traveler with a county-by-county overview of all there is to discover along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Be sure to check out Northwest Michigan’s M-22 scenic route featuring the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Southwest Michigan Counties
Along the Lake Michigan Shore
Berrien County, Michigan
Entering Michigan from the Indiana border on the south, the first county is Berrien County. St. Joseph is the county seat and a popular lakeshore destination. Other communities in Berrien County include Benton Harbor, Bridgman, Buchanan, Coloma, New Buffalo, Niles, and Watervliet.
Van Buren County, Michigan
Heading north, the next county is Van Buren County, with Paw Paw as the county seat. Additional Van Buren County communities are Bangor, Gobles, Hartford, and South Haven, which is the county’s most popular lakeshore destination.
Allegan County, Michigan
Next up is Allegan County. Allegan is the county seat, and other communities include Douglas, Fennville, Holland (shared with Ottawa County), Otsego, Plainwell, Saugatuck, South Haven (partially within Van Buren County), and Wayland.
Central West Michigan Counties
Along the Lake Michigan Shore
Ottawa County, Michigan
Continuing north into central West Michigan, Ottawa County is the next stop along the West Michigan Coast. Ottawa County contains the communities of Coopersville, Ferrysburg, Grand Haven (which is the county seat), Holland, Hudsonville, Zeeland, Allendale, Michigan Village, and Spring Lake.
Muskegon County, Michigan
Still traveling north, the next county is Muskegon County. Muskegon is the county seat, and other communities include Montague, Muskegon Heights, North Muskegon, Norton Shores, Roosevelt Park, and Whitehall.
Oceana County, Michigan
Once you enter Oceana County, your traveling begins to feel more like an “up north” experience. The traffic begins to drop off, and the scenery becomes more natural with every passing mile. Hart is the county seat of Oceana County, and there are many smaller villages including Mears, Silver Lake, New Era, Pentwater, Rothbury, Shelby, and Walkerville.
Northwest Michigan Counties
Along the Lake Michigan Shore
Mason County, Michigan
Northwest Michigan countryside is filled with hills and forest, along with some stunning Lake Michigan views. Mason County is home to Ludington, Scottville, Custer, Fountain, and Free Soil. Ludington is well-known for the Ludington State Park and the S.S. Badger car ferry.
Benzie County, Michigan
Benzie County towns include Frankfort, Benzonia, Beulah (the county seat), Elberta, Honor, Lake Ann, and Thompsonville. Frankfort is right along Lake Michigan.
Leelanau County, Michigan
Leelanau County is well known for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Communities include Empire, Northport, Suttons Bay, Glen Arbor, Leland, Maple City, and Omena. Leland is also known as “Fish Town” and Suttons Bay is a prime shopping destination on Grand Traverse Bay.
Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Grand Traverse County is the home of Traverse City on Grand Traverse Bay. Other communities include Interlochen, Grawn, Acme, and Williamsburg.
Northern Michigan Counties
Along the Lake Michigan Shore
Antrim County, Michigan
Heading north along the east side of Grand Traverse Bay, you will enter Antrim County. Antrim County includes the county seat of Bellaire, plus Central Lake, Elk Rapids, Ellsworth, Mancelona, and Torch Lake.
Charlevoix County, Michigan
Getting closer to the tip of the mitt, you will enter Charlevoix County with Charlevoix as the county seat. Other communities include Boyne City, East Jordan, Boyne Falls, and Walloon Lake.
Emmet County, Michigan
Emmet County is home to Harbor Springs, Petoskey (county seat), Alanson, Mackinaw City, and Pellston.
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
Onekama, Michigan
Commonly known as the “Two Lake Town,” Onekama offers a combination of Lake Michigan shoreline and peaceful views of Portage Lake.
Carlsville, Wisconsin
Carlsville is located between Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor. This small town is home to an impressive amount of famous Door County goods.
Frankfort, Michigan
Frankfort is located along the Lake Michigan Circle Tour and is home to attractions like the Betsie Pointe Lighthouse and The Garden Theater.
Saugatuck, Michigan
Saugatuck, Michigan has been regarded as the “Art Coast of Michigan” and has approximately two dozen galleries to visit.
Highland Park, Illinois
With it’s downtown shopping district, three public beaches, and more, Highland Park gives visitors plenty of opportunities to explore.
Waukegan, Illinois
North of Chicago, Waukegan is home to the Genessee Theatre, Great Lakes Naval Base, and mile long Waukegan Municipal Beach.