Grand Haven & Spring Lake local guides

Area guide

Living on this stretch of Lake Michigan

Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg sit together where the Grand River meets Lake Michigan, in Ottawa County on Michigan’s west coast. Grand Haven is on the south side of the river, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg on the north side, and a short drive over the US-31 bridge links them. Most people who move here end up using all three: the beach in one, groceries in another, dinner in the third.

Grand Haven

Grand Haven is the largest of the three and the one most visitors know. Grand Haven State Park has a wide, sandy Lake Michigan beach at the mouth of the channel, and the south pier runs out from it to the red lighthouse and its elevated catwalk. The boardwalk follows the river from downtown past Chinook Pier to the state park, so you can walk or bike from shops and restaurants to the beach without getting in a car.

Downtown is built around Washington Avenue, with independent shops, cafés and restaurants a few blocks from the water. On summer evenings the Musical Fountain plays across the channel on Dewey Hill. Each summer the Coast Guard Festival fills town with parades, fireworks and visiting ships, and Grand Haven carries the official title Coast Guard City, USA.

For quieter beaches, Ottawa County runs Rosy Mound Natural Area, with a wooded dune trail down to the lake, and Kirk Park, both a few miles south of town. In winter, Mulligan’s Hollow has a small ski hill and sledding close to downtown, and the pier lighthouse in ice is a local photo tradition.

Spring Lake

Spring Lake is a village across the river from Grand Haven, named for the inland lake it sits on. The lake connects to the Grand River and from there to Lake Michigan, so boat owners can reach the big lake from a dock at home. That makes Spring Lake popular with buyers who want waterfront living with calmer water than the open lakeshore.

The village has its own small downtown along Savidge Street, its own school district, and a strong sense of community. Many homes here are within walking or biking distance of the water, and the North Bank Trail and other paths link the village with Ferrysburg and Grand Haven.

Ferrysburg

Ferrysburg is a small city between Spring Lake and Lake Michigan, on the north side of the river mouth. It is home to North Beach Park, an Ottawa County park with a sandy beach and a dune stairway looking back across the channel to the Grand Haven pier. Ferrysburg is quieter than Grand Haven while still being minutes from both downtowns.

Getting around and getting here

US-31 runs north and south along the lakeshore, connecting Grand Haven with Holland to the south and Muskegon to the north. I-96 and M-104 head inland toward Grand Rapids, the region’s largest city and the home of Gerald R. Ford International Airport, the nearest major airport. P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, with its dunes and the Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center, is a short drive north.

The seasons

Summer is the busy season, with beach days, boating, festivals and visitors. Fall brings color along the river and quieter beaches. Winters are snowy, with lake-effect snow coming off Lake Michigan, and spring arrives slowly near the water. If you’re buying a second home or a rental, it helps to think about all four seasons, not just July.

Every street and shoreline here has its own character, and the details matter when you’re choosing where to live. Ask Marie about a particular neighborhood, school or stretch of beach, and she’ll tell you what she knows.