Beach · Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Frankfort Beach

Frankfort's public Lake Michigan beach and playground at the west end of Main Street, with restrooms, ADA walkways and the piers and lighthouse in view.

Frankfort Beach suits you if you want the beach, the lighthouse and downtown in one walk. Head down Main Street in Frankfort to the west end and you are on soft Lake Michigan sand at the public beach and playground.

It is an easy family beach. Public restrooms are right there, along with a playground, beach swings, volleyball and benches. ADA walkways lead onto the beach, and one is described as running from the road out to the pier. Check ahead if you are counting on it.

The view is the twin piers that form Frankfort Harbor, with the steel tower of the Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse at the end. Walk out on a calm day, and stay off the pier when the waves are up.

This is the busy beach in town. For a quieter, undeveloped stretch, cross the harbor to Elberta Beach. Point Betsie Lighthouse, north of town, pairs a lighthouse with another public beach. More on the big lake is on our Lake Michigan page.

Practical information

Best months: June to September
Location: At the west end of Main Street in downtown Frankfort, where the twin piers form Frankfort Harbor.
Facilities: Public restrooms and benches are listed, along with a playground, beach swings and volleyball. Check before you go if you need a specific feature.
Accessibility: ADA walkways are listed to the beach, and one is described as running from the road to the pier. Confirm current conditions if it matters for your visit.
Pier and lighthouse: The north pier leads toward the Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse at the harbor entrance. Stay off the pier when waves are high.

Location

Map of Frankfort Beach

4 places on an OpenStreetMap map

Nearby towns

A white pierhead lighthouse at the end of a long concrete pier at dusk.

Benzie & Sleeping Bear

Frankfort

A beach-and-lighthouse harbor town: a Lake Michigan beach at the end of Main Street, a breakwater light off the sand and Point Betsie up the shore.

Under a mile away (straight line)

Also nearby

Straight-line distances, not driving distances.

Historic site

Garden Theater

Frankfort's 1923 Main Street movie house, renovated and run by a nonprofit, showing first-run and independent films and home to the Frankfort Film Festival.

Under a mile away (straight line)

Lighthouse

Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse

A 67-foot square steel lighthouse at the head of Frankfort's north breakwater, marking the harbor entrance in full view of the city beach.

Under a mile away (straight line)

Beach

Elberta Beach

A quieter, mostly natural Lake Michigan beach across the harbor from Frankfort, running about a half mile south from the Elberta pier. Plan ahead.

Under a mile away (straight line)

Town guidePlan your Frankfort visitWhere to eat, where to stay, day plans and what is close by.