Summer Vacation Fun in New Buffalo Michigan

May 28, 2025

Next on our amazing list of perfect summer vacation road trip destinations in the midwest is New Buffalo! Just a little over an hour outside of Chicago, this is the perfect weekend getaway for some fun in the sun. With sixteen miles of continuous shoreline, one-of-a-kind shopping and boutiques, artisanal eateries and cafes, waterfront boutique hotels, and the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail, there’s no shortage of entertainment and fun. This town nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan offers unmatched views of the lake, magnificent natural beauty with diverse landscapes, and a litany of outdoor summer fun including boating, hiking, swimming, fishing, and numerous watersports. So what are you waiting for? Hop in your new car from Classic of Waukegan and let’s hit the road!

Whether you’re looking for novice walking trails, intermediate to expert hiking, or trails for cycling and running, you’ll find it here in New Buffalo with nearly dozens of trails to choose from. The Backroads Bikeway Trails offer 20 self-guided tours on paved roadways with lengths ranging from 5 miles to 60 miles, depending on your experience; hop on a tour with the Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Club or Apple Cider Century Bicycle Tours.

The Chikaming Township Park and Preserve offers an astounding assortment of environments from wetlands to woodlands to prairies to riverlands across its 263 acres and a 5-acre lake to boot! You’ll find it the perfect place to get in touch with nature, do some wildlife spotting, plant and flower photography, hiking and biking, birdwatching, and even fishing. It’s a wonderful destination for families to explore together and get away from the screens for a while.

Galien River County Park takes visitors through one of the most lush of the Great Lakes Marshes, a space that thousands of native plants and animals call home. The region has a wide array of wildlife including nesting and migratory birds, frogs, reptiles, fish, and other animals. This 86-acre preserve has a beautiful elevated boardwalk allowing you to walk above the water, cutting directly through the marsh for an up-close view of the habitat and its residents. The park also has a 60-foot observation tower to enjoy panoramic views from above for a new perspective. All trails but the “ridge trail” are ADA-accessible for those with disabilities and mobility aids, too. Trails here are great for beginners and those looking for low-key hikes.

The Robinson Woods Preserve is 80 acres of former agricultural lands, once used as orchard and row crops, which have now been overtaken by native plants and more than 100 years of tree and forest growth. The preserve offers four different forest type regions to explore: a floodplain forest, southern hardwood swamp, mesic southern forest, and dry-mesic southern forest. When coupled with neighbouring Flynn Woods Preserve, the two protected forests total 115 acres of protected natural area.

Warren Dunes State Park offers a mix of natural forestlands, shoreline, and sand dunes for an unforgettable experience. Enjoy 3 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with 6 miles of hiking trails. The park’s rugged dune formation rises to 260 feet above the lake for stunning views, and offers the unique opportunity to go hang-gliding (permits required)! Head into the park and enjoy a mix of pristine beaches and undeveloped shoreline, richly forested dunes, large open dunes, and interdunal wetlands, making it a prime spot for migratory birds and strong biodiversity in wildlife. The park also offers two campgrounds and a youth group camp ground.

New Buffalo’s City Beach offers 800 feet of sandy beaches and City Boat Launch Harbor for kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day from Thursday through Sunday 10AM to 7PM. The Beach has an 18 acre recreation area, boardwalk nature trail through the dune lines, a full service snack bar, playgrounds and benches, and access for fishing at the Galien River Nature Preserve. Enjoy a wide array of activities from swimming to paddleboarding to surfing to tanning on the sandy shores!

Not interested in a BYO boat option? Not to worry! The area has plenty of chartered options as well as rental opportunities for a day out on the waters of Lake Michigan. Companies such as Captain John’s Boat Tours, Salmon Hunter Charters, New Buffalo Sailing Excursions, and the Oselka Marina Boat Rentals will have you covered for fishing and sailing activities. You can also rent wave runners, kayaks, and paddleboards at Oselka Marina, Uncle Jib’s and Third Coast Paddling.

Family-friendly activities aside from the beach include golfing, horseback riding, clay shooting, yoga, and more. Explore the local farmers markets in the spring and summer seasons to shop for locally grown produce, locally made food, artisanal wares, and handmade gifts. Explore the local historic sites and museums such as The Region of Three Oaks Museum, Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve, and New Buffalo Railroad Museum.