A short drive of 4 miles (6 kilometers) west of Holland, Michigan brings you to Holland State Park that has one boundary on Lake Macatawa and the other on Lake Michigan. Choose the Lake Michigan side if you want expansive watery views and an immense, soft sand beach, while the other is more tranquil with a lovely view of Big Red Lighthouse.
The area is also very popular for camping with two campgrounds for each lake. The distance to Lake Michigan from the Lake Macatawa campground is only a half mile (80 meters) and both sites are within 50 feet (15 meters) of a beach.
Bring your fishing gear as the channel that connects the two lakes is very popular among sport fishermen and pleasure craft constantly use the connecting waterway in the busier seasons.
Beachgoers and campers won’t feel isolated with a nearby concession stand and store stocked with essential items. Both campgrounds are equipped with grill areas, picnic tables, beach volleyball courts, metal detecting zones and a beach house.
Add to your photo library pictures of stunning sunsets that are known to occur along this shoreline. Although Big Red Lighthouse is not within the park’s boundaries, be sure to take photos of Michigan’s iconic structure on the channel’s opposite side as you stroll along the park’s boardwalk. The reason for the striking color is it being classified as a navigational marker with international marine rules requiring that points on the right side of a boat returning to a harbor must be painted red.
Note that during warmer months, Holland State Park and its beaches can become quite busy with vehicles lining up to enter the recreational area. Arrive early to avoid peak periods during the day.
The park is reached on Ottawa Beach Road and a pass must be purchased to enter the area. Pets are not permitted on the beaches.
