Sawyer

A Harbor Country Community

Are you ready for the best beach days ever? Tucked along the Lake Michigan shoreline, Sawyer is home to one of Michigan’s most popular attractions — Warren Dunes State Park. Water lovers know they can find a place on the soft sand with its three-mile-long beach, gigantic dunes, dog-friendly beach and a campground just a few flip-flop steps to Lake Michigan.

But there’s more! Unwind downtown with refreshing cocktails, shop at the everything-you-need garden center and relax at an aroma-filled coffee roastery. From wine tasting and farm-to-table dining to antique treasure hunting, Sawyer serves up the perfect mix of nature, flavor and small-town charm.

Where is Sawyer

Conveniently located just off I-94 and along Red Arrow Highway, it’s an ideal stop for travelers exploring Southwest Michigan.

People climbing a dune at Warren Dunes.

Get Outdoors With Family and Friends

Warren Dunes State Park

Warren Dunes State Park is a breathtaking escape, where 1,952 acres of forested trails and three miles of pristine Lake Michigan shoreline — including a dog-friendly beach — invite you to explore and reconnect with nature. Climb the majestic dunes, glide down on a sandboard or bask in a stunning sunset — every visit promises adventure and serenity.

The park is designed for everyone to enjoy, with a track chair available to navigate sandy paths and rugged terrain and wheelchair-accessible walkways to take you to the beach.

Want to get out on the water or ride the dunes? Third Coast Paddling offers convenient on-site rentals, including kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and sandboards.

From summer splashing and paddling to winter sledding and snowshoeing, each season reveals a new reason to bring your family and friends back.

Tip: While at the park, take the Southwest Michigan Trails Challenge. Just snap a photo at the trailhead and upload it through the Visit Southwest Michigan app to check-in. Complete five different trails and you'll earn a prize!

Harbert Community Park in the fall.

Community Parks & Nature Preserves

Sawyer and its surrounding areas offer various spaces to connect with nature, enjoy a picnic and take photographs. They are some of the best places to de-stress.

Jens Jensen Preserve is a 45-acre woodland managed by Chikaming Open Lands, featuring a beech-maple forest with towering oak, maple, beech and tulip poplar trees, as well as seasonal wetlands. Its trail network is perfect for hiking, bird watching and cross-country skiing.
Pepperidge Dunes Sanctuary, adjacent to Jens Jensen Preserve, is a 20-acre sanctuary owned by the Michigan Nature Association. Together, these areas provide a continuous forest canopy essential for migratory birds traveling along the lakeshore, with interconnected trails for an immersive nature experience.
Southwest Michigan is one of the few places in the state that has acidic forests like this one. It’s your chance to walk beneath black gum/tupelo trees growing in the acidic and well-drained sandy soils
Harbert Community Park offers a variety of amenities, including a dining pavilion, picnic tables, a playground, a fishing pond, sand volleyball courts and a dog park. In winter, visitors can enjoy an ice skating rink and free skate rentals.

Top Things To Do In Sawyer

If you are an art enthusiast, shopper or culinary aficionado, you will feel right at home.

Art and Sculptures

For a truly unique experience, stop by Fritz Olsen Studio & Gardens on Holloway Drive. Olsen traded his studio on Goose Island in Chicago to work in a beautifully restored 1930s azalea nursery where he exhibits his sculptures. His stone, bronze and steel sculptures can be found in public, private, university and corporate collections across the United States.

Another must-see in Sawyer is The Great Chair Stack, a towering and colorful installation near the Sawyer Garden Center that is an iconic photo spot for visitors.

Antique Jewelry

Shopping and Antiques

Sawyer may be small, but it is a fun place for shoppers and antique seekers.

Sawyer Antique Mall

Plan for extra hunting time when you discover Sawyer Antique Mall’s vast collection of antiques and collectibles. It’s a treasure trove for vintage enthusiasts.

Stewart James Antiques & Galleria

Stewart James Antiques & Galleria is a curated selection of fine antiques and art pieces that appeal to discerning collectors.

Window Shopping

Like unique, contemporary items for your home or lake retreat? Window Shopping is your happy place for hospitality gifts, home decor, apparel and jewelry.

Sawyer Home & Garden Center

Frequent visitors often say Sawyer Home & Garden Center is a traditional stop while in Southwest Michigan. It’s no surprise. This family-owned destination is open all year and offers just about everything you might want from farm-fresh seasonal produce, flowers, trees, gourmet foods, kitchen wares, home décor, children's toys and an expertly selected wine collection. It's a hub for both gardening enthusiasts and those seeking unique gifts.

Falatic's Meat Market

Grilling enthusiasts will appreciate Falatic’s Meat Market on Red Arrow Highway. Family-owned, this is one of the finest, old-fashioned butcheries in Southwest Michigan. Search their meat counter for choice steaks, beef tenderloin, prime rib, bison, chicken, ham, pork, lamb, homemade sausages and brats. Or head to the seafood counter for one of the largest selections of fish and shellfish in the area. Want food for your charcuterie board? Falatic’s will help you fill it with their select cheeses and deli meats. And there’s no need to fix dessert, in-house bakers have handmade choices that will wow you and your guests.

People roasting marshmallows over a fire at Solasta Winery.

Delicious Craft Beverages, Restaurants, Treats & More

You do not need to leave Sawyer to find a good meal, winery or coffee shop. Plan to satisfy your hunger at some of the most welcoming eating establishments in Southwest Michigan.

Local Pour

Stop into Local Pour for a unique tasting room featuring expertly selected Michigan-made wines, beers and spirits served in a relaxed setting.

Solasta Winery

Wine lovers, add Solasta Winery to your tasting tour. The winery is in a picturesque setting across from Warren Dunes State Park and crafts its vintages from locally sourced grapes. They make a special effort to bring families and friends together to make memorable moments.

SideYard

SideYard serves tasty cocktails, beer, sours and soft drinks alongside its delicious food offerings on the bar and food truck menus. The casual beer garden atmosphere and live music from March through August foster good conversations.

Tip: Earning rewards for visiting participating breweries, wineries and distilleries — including Solasta — is as easy as downloading the Visit Southwest Michigan app and joining the Makers Trail Passport Challenge. Just ask your server to scan their QR code so you can check in on the app.

Infusco Coffee

You don’t have to be in the big city to satisfy your coffee cravings. Infusco is an independent shop serving high-quality, small-batch roasted coffee.

Zo’s Mini Donuts

Zo’s is a summer sensation, serving up fresh, bite-sized donuts that are big on flavor. Some favorites are glazed, powdered and cinnamon sugar. But a word of caution, order extra, they are tough to stop eating once you start.

Sawyer Market and the Beach Bucket

Two places to get ice cream in Sawyer are the family-owned Sawyer Market and the summer cool-down destination, the Beach Bucket (across from Warren Dunes State Park).

The Historian

If you are looking for a refined evening experience, The Historian Cocktail Lounge and wine bar will exceed your expectations. You will like the vibe as you pair your drink with small bites, entrees and incredible desserts.

Susan’s Sawyer

For a taste of Chicago vibes in a little town near Lake Michigan, request a table at Susan’s Sawyer, housed in the historic Flynn Theater building (circa 1923) in downtown Sawyer. You will enjoy choosing your meal from a selection of dishes that showcase in-season ingredients. From the plants to candles to lighting to music, everything is done with intention. Before you leave, take time to look more closely at Susan in the painting above the bar.

Smokin’ Woody’s

Smokin’ Woody’s is a roadside BBQ that loads your plate with slow-cooked chicken, beef, pork or ribs and tater tots. You and the kids will enjoy the soda fountain experience and top off your meal with their blue-ribbon-worthy apple pie.

A bride holding a bouquet.

Wedding & Event Space

Blending historic charm with modern elegance, Section House creates a stylish and versatile backdrop for weddings, private events, pop-up shops and photo shoots. Housed in the reimagined early 1900s Sawyer Hardware & Lumber building, it features original architecture, a 200-person capacity, on-site ceremony space and outdoor green space.

Sawyer Weather

You can enjoy this countryside community all year round, but for warm-weather activities, the best time to visit is late May through September.

Winter is snowy and mostly cloudy; January is the snowiest and coldest month. Average temperatures: 22°F to 37°F.
Spring starts cold and windy and ends pleasantly warm and breezy. Average temperatures: 32°F to 68°F.
Summer is warm, humid and sunny to partly cloudy. Average temperatures: 65°F to 81°F.
Fall starts warm and ends cold and windy. For peak fall color, visit late September to mid-October. Average temperatures: 36°F to 73°F.

Places to Stay

For the most amenities and rate choices in Southwest Michigan, book your stay at one of over 25 hotels in nearby Benton Harbor, St. Joseph or Stevensville.

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