Boat launches · America's Only Great Lake
Lake Michigan Boat Launches
Most Lake Michigan ports on the Michigan shore are river-mouth harbors — you launch on a river or a drowned river-mouth lake and run a channel between the pier heads to reach the open lake. The Wisconsin side adds Door County’s bays, Green Bay, and city harbors from Kenosha to Sheboygan.
Public launches
143
Trailer ramps
126
States
2
Counties
28
Before you launch
Launching on Michigan
The pier-head channel is the dangerous part of the trip. An onshore wind stacks waves where the channel meets the lake, and the run home can be far worse than the run out. Check the wind direction against the harbor mouth before you leave the ramp.
Read the Lake Michigan field guide for hazards and the season, and trailering and launching on big water before your first trip.
Room for a crowd
The most lanes among Michigan sites
Ranked by lane count where the agency publishes one (Michigan DNR); other states' sites may be as big.
Lake Macatawa
6 lanes, 161 trailer spaces on Lake Macatawa.
Muskegon State Park - Snug Harbor
6 lanes, 82 trailer spaces on Muskegon Lake.
Manistique River
3 lanes on Manistique River.
Rapid River Mouth
2 lanes, 40 trailer spaces on Lake Michigan.
Bowers Harbor
2 lanes, 39 trailer spaces on Lake Michigan.
Kipling
2 lanes, 37 trailer spaces on Lake Michigan.
Michigan DNR
Lake Michigan launches in Michigan 61
Antrim County 1
- Elk Rapids DockRamp
Benzie County 1
- Frankfort Municipal RampBetsie LakeRamp
Berrien County 5
- Benton HarborSaint Joseph RiverRamp
- Galien RiverGalien RiverRamp
- Marina IslandSaint Joseph RiverRamp
- New BuffaloGalien RiverRamp
- Riverview DriveSaint Joseph RiverCarry-in
Charlevoix County 1
- Nine Mile PointRamp · 1 lane · 3 trailers
Delta County 13
- Aronson IslandRamp
- Fayette Historic State ParkRamp · 1 lane · 5 trailers
- Ford River MouthRamp · 2 lanes · 35 trailers
- Garden BayRamp · 1 lane · 15 trailers
- Gladstone MarinaRamp
- KiplingRamp · 2 lanes · 37 trailers
- NahmaRamp · 2 lanes
- North ShoreRamp
- Portage Bay SFCGRamp
- Portage PointRamp · 1 lane · 2 trailers
- Rapid River MouthRamp · 2 lanes · 40 trailers
- Sand PointRamp
- StoningtonRamp · 2 lanes · 16 trailers
Emmet County 5
- Cross VillageRamp · 1 lane
- Harbor SpringsRamp
- Petoskey Municipal MarinaRamp
- Round LakeRound LakeRamp · 1 lane · 6 trailers
- Wilderness State ParkRamp · 1 lane · 16 trailers
Grand Traverse County 5
- Boardman RiverBoardman RiverRamp · 1 lane · 5 trailers
- Bowers HarborRamp · 2 lanes · 39 trailers
- Clinch MemorialRamp
- East ArmRamp · 2 lanes · 32 trailers
- Sayler ParkRamp · 1 lane
Leelanau County 5
- Elmwood Township MarinaRamp
- Leland Township MarinaRamp
- Northport MarinaRamp
- Suttons Bay MarinaRamp
- West ArmRamp · 2 lanes · 33 trailers
Mackinac County 1
- Naubinway MarinaRamp
Manistee County 4
- Arthur Street RampManistee LakeRamp
- Bridge StreetManistee RiverRamp · 1 lane
- First Street RampManistee RiverRamp
- Portage LakePortage LakeRamp · 2 lanes · 25 trailers
Mason County 2
- Copeyon ParkPere Marquette LakeRamp
- Loomis StreetRamp
Menominee County 5
- Menominee MunicipalRamp
- Mystery ShipMenominee RiverRamp
- Railroad DockRamp · 2 lanes · 19 trailers
- Scott Paper CoMenominee RiverRamp
- Stoney PointRamp
Muskegon County 5
- Cottage GroveMuskegon LakeRamp
- Giddings Street RampMuskegon LakeRamp
- Grand TrunkMuskegon LakeRamp
- Hartshorn Municipal MarinaMuskegon LakeRamp
- Muskegon State Park - Snug HarborMuskegon LakeRamp · 6 lanes · 82 trailers
Oceana County 1
- PentwaterPentwater LakeRamp
Ottawa County 2
- Grand Haven MunicipalGrand RiverRamp
- Lake MacatawaLake MacatawaRamp · 6 lanes · 161 trailers
Schoolcraft County 4
- Manistique Municipal RampManistique RiverRamp
- Manistique RiverManistique RiverRamp · 3 lanes
- Seul Choix PointeRamp · 2 lanes · 13 trailers
- Thompson CreekCarry-in · 238 trailers
Van Buren County 1
- Black River ParkBlack RiverRamp
Wisconsin DNR
Lake Michigan launches in Wisconsin 82
Brown County 5
- Cecil Depeau Bay Shore Park Boat RampGreen Bay · Green BayRamp
- Green Bay Metropolitan Boat LaunchFox River · Green BayRamp
- Harbor Lights RoadGreen Bay · SuamicoRamp
- Peter's LandingHowardRamp
- Suamico Boat LandingSuamico River · SuamicoRamp
Door County 36
- Baileys Harbor AccessBaileys Harbor · Baileys HarborRamp
- Beauty View Road AccessUnionRamp
- Blues Point RampMoonlight Bay · Baileys HarborRamp
- Chaudiors Dock Park Boat RampGreen Bay · UnionRamp
- Dock Road Public AccessWashingtonCarry-in
- Egg Harbor Municipal MarinaEgg HarborRamp
- Ephraim Boat RampGreen Bay · EphraimRamp
- Ern-JoysGardnerRamp
- Fish Creek RampGreen Bay · GibraltarRamp
- Frank E. Murphy County Park Boat RampGreen Bay · Egg HarborRamp
- Garrett Bay Road Boat LaunchLiberty GroveRamp
- Green Bay AccessGreen Bay · GibraltarRamp
- Homestead Road Carry-inWashingtonCarry-in
- Jackson Harbor AccessWashingtonRamp
- Lake Michigan - Rowleys Bay AccessLiberty GroveRamp
- Liberty Grove Boat RampLiberty GroveRamp
- Lily Bay Park Boat RampSturgeon BayRamp
- Michigan Road Carry-inWashingtonCarry-in
- Nicolet Bay AccessGibraltarRamp
- North Bay/Lake Michigan Boat RampLiberty GroveRamp
- Old Camp Road Carry-in AccessWashingtonCarry-in
- Olde Stone Quarry Park Boat RampSturgeon Bay · SevastopolRamp
- Percy Johnson County Park Carry-in AccessWashingtonCarry-in
- Potawatomi State Park AccessSawyer Harbor, Sturgeon Bay · NasewaupeeRamp
- Roadside off of S. Lake Michigan Drive (Clay Banks)Clay BanksCarry-in
- Roadside off of S. Lake Michigan Drive (Clay Banks)Clay BanksCarry-in
- Robert M. Carmody Park Boat RampLittle Sturgeon Bay · GardnerRamp
- S. Lake Michigan Drive Carry-inClay BanksCarry-in
- Sawyer Park Boat RampSturgeon Bay · Sturgeon BayRamp
- Shauer Park RampJacksonportRamp
- Sister Bay MarinaGreen Bay · Sister BayRamp
- Sugar Creek Park Boat RampGreen Bay · GardnerRamp
- Sunset Park Launching RampSturgeon Bay · Sturgeon BayRamp
- Tennison Bay Carry-in RampTennison Bay, Green Bay · GibraltarCarry-in
- Whitefish Bay RampSevastopolRamp
- Wickman Road Carry-inWashingtonCarry-in
Kenosha County 1
- Simmon's Island Boat HarborKenoshaRamp
Kewaunee County 7
- Algoma MarinaAlgomaRamp
- Kewaunee Boat LandingKewaunee River · KewauneeRamp
- Kewaunee River - Hwy EKewaunee River · West KewauneeRamp
- Kewaunee River - Park LaneKewaunee River · West KewauneeRamp
- Olson Park Boat RampsAhnapee River · AhnapeeRamp
- Red River ParkRed RiverRamp
- Steele Street Point LaunchAhnapee River · AlgomaRamp
Manitowoc County 7
- Hika Park AccessClevelandRamp
- Point Beach State Forest Kayak SiteTwo RiversCarry-in
- Red Arrow Park Boat Ramp (Manitowoc)ManitowocRamp
- S. Lakeview Drive Carry-inManitowocCarry-in
- Thiede Road Canoe AccessTwo RiversCarry-in
- Two Creeks AccessTwo CreeksRamp
- Vets Park and Boat LaunchWest Twin River · Two RiversRamp
Marinette County 8
- 6th Street SlipMenominee River · MarinetteRamp
- Boom LandingMenominee River · MarinetteRamp
- County BB (Klingsborns) Peshtigo River AccessPeshtigo River · PeshtigoRamp
- Lake Michigan Access (Peshtigo)PeshtigoCarry-in
- Park & Boat LandingGreen Bay · PeshtigoRamp
- Peshtigo Harbor Access - End of Harbor RoadPeshtigo River · PeshtigoRamp
- Red Arrow Park Boat Ramp (Marinette)MarinetteRamp
- Stephenson Island Boat LandingMenominee River · MarinetteRamp
Milwaukee County 4
- Bender Park Boat LaunchOak CreekRamp
- McKinley Park MarinaMilwaukeeRamp
- River Front Launching SiteKinnickinnic River · MilwaukeeRamp
- South Shore Park Boat RampMilwaukeeRamp
Oconto County 8
- Breakwater Park Boat RampOconto River · OcontoRamp
- D.E. Hall ParkLittle RiverRamp
- North Bay Shore Recreation Area Boat RampLittle RiverRamp
- Oconto City DocksOconto River · OcontoRamp
- Oconto River AccessOconto River · OcontoRamp
- Pensaukee River AccessPensaukee River · PensaukeeRamp
- Pensaukee WAGreen BayRamp
- Pensaukee Wildlife Area AccessPensaukeeCarry-in
Ozaukee County 1
- Port Washington - Lake MichiganPort WashingtonRamp
Racine County 1
- Lake Michigan Access (Pershing Park)RacineRamp
Sheboygan County 4
- Deland Park Boat RampSheboyganRamp
- Lake Michigan Access (Sheboygan)SheboyganRamp
- Sheboygan River/Lake Michigan AccessSheboygan River · SheboyganRamp
- South 8th Street Boat LaunchSheboygan River · SheboyganRamp
Once you are on the water
What to fish on Lake Michigan
How many public boat launches are on Lake Michigan?
This directory lists 143 public launches on Lake Michigan and its bays and harbor rivers — 126 trailer ramps and 17 unimproved or carry-in sites — from Michigan DNR, Wisconsin DNR data. Illinois and Indiana launches are not in it yet.
Which Lake Michigan launches have the most lanes?
Only Michigan publishes lane counts. Among those sites: Lake Macatawa (6 lanes), Muskegon State Park - Snug Harbor (6 lanes), Manistique River (3 lanes), Rapid River Mouth (2 lanes). Wisconsin sites are not ranked and may be as big.
Do Lake Michigan boat launches charge a fee?
Some do and some do not, and it varies by owner — state, county, city or township. Where the agency publishes a fee, the launch page shows it; otherwise check with the listed manager before you go.
Sources
- Michigan DNR, State Sponsored Developed Boating Access Sites
- Wisconsin DNR, Public Boat Access Sites
- Shoreline: Natural Earth 1:10m lakes (public domain). Charts are not for navigation.
Retrieved 2026-10-05. Trailer ramps, unimproved and carry-in sites as each agency classifies them. Illinois and Indiana launches are not in the directory yet.