Lake Michigan and other bodies of water surround Ferrysburg
In Ferrysburg, the Grand River flows into Spring Lake and the open waters of Lake Michigan, capturing the aquatic beauty of West Michigan. Beaches with sand dunes, boating, fishing and easy access to Grand Haven are the city’s main focal points for homebuyers and vacationers. “Ferrysburg isn’t just for locals,” says Linda Crouse, an associate broker with Re/Max of Grand Haven, who grew up in Ferrysburg. “A lot of people come to the beach from Grand Rapids and other communities in the region.” Ferrysburg is a park-friendly community with a lot of open space for recreation. That’s one of the main differences compared to Grand Haven on the other side of the river, which is more urban with a thriving downtown, and the village of Spring Lake, a suburban community that’s almost entirely built out.
Home prices lower than Grand Haven and Spring Lake
The median sale price is around $330,000, compared to $390,000 in Grand Haven and $410,000 in Spring Lake. Homebuyers can find waterfront properties along Lake Michigan and Spring Lake in Ferrysburg. However, homes by the river are only in the two other cities. "If you bought equal properties, you’re going to spend more for a house on Lake Michigan than Spring Lake, and more on Spring Lake than the Grand River,” Crouse says. Multi-million-dollar homes facing Lake Michigan offer direct beach access and sunset views over the water. Houses along Spring Lake have private boat docks. Inland, Ferrysburg has a few suburban housing developments with single-family homes and townhouse-style condos built between the mid-1900s and 2000s.
On average, homes stay on the market for just over a month. The CAP Index Crime score is 2 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Scenic parks connect to dunes, rivers and beaches
North Beach Park attracts locals and tourists to its sandy shores along Lake Michigan, featuring a playground, a beach walkway and steps that go to the top of a dune with an overlook of the lake. “The beach gets very busy on the weekends,” says Craig Bessinger, the city manager of Ferrysburg. “Once the parking lot is full, people will park at Coast Guard Park and take the bike path about a mile to the beach.” The beach has a parking fee during peak season, while it’s free to park at Coast Guard Park. There are several athletic fields at Coast Guard Park, along with trails through forested dunes. Those trails lead to Ottawa Sands County Park, wrapping around an 80-acre lake. William Ferry Park lies along the channel between Spring Lake and the Grand River with a playground and a waterfront walkway. Locals can keep their boats at the many marinas in Ferrysburg, Spring Lake and Grand Haven.
A few staple restaurants and two grocery store options
Ferrysburg has a few stores and restaurants in town. Pine Street Café and Tony’s Pizza have been staples since 1991. Locals enjoy brunch inside and on the patio at Pine Creek Café. Tony’s Pizza serves a blend of Greek and Italian food. For dessert, locals order ice cream from the window at A La Mode, where they can eat at a picnic table or on a swinging bench while kids play on the playground. Leppinks Food Center is the town’s main grocery store. CC’s Market opened in 2025, selling produce from local farms. Grand Haven and Spring Lake have more retailers and restaurants that locals typically go to.
Highly rated schools with a successful Science Olympiad team
Kindergarten through fourth grade students attend Lake Hills Elementary School, which receives an A grade from Niche. They’ll go on to White Pines Intermediate School, Lakeshore Middle School and Grand Haven High School, all of which receive A-minus Niche grades. The high school is notable for its Science Olympiad team, which has won 19 state championships since 1995. The most recent state title was in 2023.
Fourth of July and a summer concert series at William Ferry Park
Ferrysburg celebrates the Fourth of July every year, starting with a pancake breakfast, followed by a parade that starts at city hall and ends with a party at William Ferry Park. From June to August, William Ferry Park hosts a summer concert series called “Party in the Park” on the third Wednesday of each month, featuring live music from local bands and food trucks.
Scheduling commutes around the U.S. 31 drawbridge
U.S. 31 is the main highway in town. It crosses the river with a draw bridge that opens almost every hour on the half-hour. “If you know the schedule, it’s simple,” Crouse says. “And it stays closed during peak driving times when people are coming and going to work.” While it doesn’t happen often, the drawbridge has gotten stuck open a few times. Crouse says it happens once every few years, and that there’s an alternative route that takes about 45 minutes to reach Grand Haven. It takes about 30 minutes to drive 30 miles to Grand Rapids, where travelers can fly out of Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Muskegon County Airport is about 6 miles away with daily flights to Chicago.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
