South Haven, Michigan
South Haven is a city of 3,998 people in Allegan County, Michigan, founded in 1869.
Why visit South Haven
Townapedia lists 21 museums and landmarks, 25 parks and trails, 49 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Michigan Theatre, Nichols Covered Bridge, Liberty Hyde Bailey Birthplace and South Haven Light.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in South Haven
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About South Haven
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 3,964 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article South Haven, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Nichols Covered Bridge
Bridge · 1.5 mi
Covered footbridge bridge in Michigan
Museums and landmarks21
Liberty Hyde Bailey Birthplace
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic house in Michigan, United States
South Haven Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Lighthouse in Michigan, United States
Herbert Van Oort Boathouse
Museum · 0.5 mi
Among the finest collections of wooden rescue boats used by the U.S. Lifesaving Service and Coast Guard. The museum is home to four...
260 Dyckman Avenue, South Haven
CG-36460
Monument and historic site · 0.4 mi
This 36-foot Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat was built in 1941 in Curtis Bay, Maryland. This boat was used in the filming of the Disney...
Evelyn S.
Monument and historic site · 0.5 mi
Evelyn S. was built in 1939 by Sturgeon Bay Boat Works William Sellman Fisheries of Manistique, MI. She fits the typical wooden gill net...
Friends Good Will
Monument and historic site · 0.4 mi
Replica of a top sail merchant sloop that plied the waters of the Great Lakes in the early 19th century. She is the Museum’s flagship...
US Life-Saving Service Signal Tower
Monument and historic site · 0.8 mi
Former site of the South Haven Life Saving Station from 1905-1989. This tower was used to display signal flags for storm warning or...
USCG South Haven Outbuilding
Museum · 0.4 mi
The last surviving structure of the South Haven Life Saving Station. The small shed hosts the knot tying exhibit.
9 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds25
13 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes49
The River Bottom
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 0.4 mi
The River Bottom, founded in 2023 in South Haven, MI, offers an inviting escape into authentic Mediterranean cuisine. Serving South...
267 Kalamazoo Street, South Haven
Su-We closed, Th-Sa 05:00-21:00
Biggby Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.5 mi
343 Blue Star Memorial Hwy
Mo-Sa 06:00-21:00; Su 07:00-21:00
12 Corners Vineyards
Brewery and winery
511 Phoenix Street, South Haven
Su 12:00-17:00; Mo 12:00-18:00; Tu-Th off; Fr,Sa 12:00-19:00
Bean Box Coffee
Cafe
225, Suite 3 Broadway Street
Mo, Tu 07:00-14:00; We-Fr 07:00-15:00; Sa 08:00-13:00
37 more on the map.
History
Prior to colonization by settlers, the area was inhabited at different times by Potawatomi and Iroquois native people. In 1833, the U.S. government granted Jay R. Monroe a land patent for 65 acres of land along the shore of Lake Michigan. In the 1850s the first permanent settlers arrived, and early in the decade the first steam sawmills were built on the Black River. About this time, the settlement gained its first merchant, physician, lawyer, and minister, and the first schoolhouse was built. The first bank was organized in 1867. South Haven was incorporated as a village in 1869, and as a city in 1902. South Haven was named in relation to nearby Grand Haven.
In 1853, the first hotel in South Haven, known as the Forest House, was built at the corner of Phoenix and Center Streets. The building was subsequently moved a few doors south and still stands, though greatly modified, and no longer used as a hotel.
From the History section of South Haven, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay10
Churches and places of worship9
Shopping17
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Healthcare3
Map of South Haven
156 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 22°F | 2.7 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 24°F | 2.0 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 30°F | 2.2 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 39°F | 3.6 in |
| May | 68°F | 49°F | 3.9 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 60°F | 3.7 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 66°F | 3.2 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 64°F | 3.7 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 57°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 48°F | 3.9 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 36°F | 2.7 in |
| Dec | 39°F | 28°F | 2.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for S Haven Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Allegan County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-06-18: Flooding (Flood)
- 2008-07-14: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Southwest Michigan Regional Airport (BEH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Bangor 10 mi southeast, about 16 min by car
- Paw Paw Lake 13 mi south, about 21 min by car
- Hartford 15 mi south, about 23 min by car
- Coloma 15 mi south, about 24 min by car
- Fennville 16 mi northeast, about 25 min by car
- Douglas 17 mi north, about 27 min by car
- Benton Heights 21 mi south, about 33 min by car
- Paw Paw 23 mi southeast, about 37 min by car
- Decatur 25 mi southeast, about 41 min by car
- Holland 27 mi north, about 43 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- South Pier Lighthouse at South Haven, MI, Nanamac47, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Haven Lighthouse MS, Rabbet at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
- Liberty Hyde Bailey Birthplace, Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.