Lake Michigan retreat w/ private beach access, family friendly, solar & gardens

Benton Harbor, Michigan
$898 avg/night
Bed 4

Bed

Bath 3

Bath

Home Private Vacation Home

Property Type

Sleep 8

Max Sleeps

Take the new stairs down to your own sandy private beach and/or enjoy stunning views of Lake Michigan from the high bluff.

Now booking for summer 2026!
Mid-June through August, seven-night stay required (Saturday-Saturday).

This beautiful and spacious four-bedroom, three-bath home on a wooded one-acre lot overlooking Lake Michigan is the perfect location for your family’s vacation. New for summer 2026 are stairs to our private beach below!

Our peaceful naturalbluff-top setting is only minutes from public beaches, shopping, golf, wineries and entertainment.

On the bluff, enjoy spectacular views from our home's all-glass sunroom, relax or play yard games on the spacious lawn, make dinner in the airy kitchen or grill on the wraparound deck with the sound of the waves below.

On the sandy beach below, use our chairs, beach toys, umbrellas, cooler, and kayaks for days of fun in the sun!

The house sleeps 8, perfect for a large family or two smaller ones. You’ll always be comfortable here, with central air (powered by rooftop solar panels), ceiling fans, and lots of screened sliders. The primary bedroom features sliders and a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. The kitchen is well-stocked, with an expansive granite breakfast bar that invites conversation while cooking on the easy glass-top stove/oven. The provided sheets and towels are high-quality. Guests appreciate the five-star lodging with personal touches throughout. Outside, there's comfortable deck furniture and an outdoor fire pit to enhance the sunset enjoyment. The single-floor living space is ideal for small children and anyone with mobility issues; those who venture down to the basement will find a cozy game area featuring a pool table and dart board alongside the laundry facilities.

In addition to private beach access from our high-bluff property, you'll find plenty of nearby public beaches easily accessible by a quick bike or car ride. Closest are Hagar Park (a 3-minute drive, 3.0 miles north on M-63, dog friendly) and Rocky Gap County Park (a 5-minute drive, 3.6 miles south via M-63). You are welcome to take our beach chairs, umbrella, and wheeled cooler along for the day.

Also nearby are several wineries, craft breweries, outstanding golf courses (including Jack Nicklaus-designed Harbor Shores), apple picking, and much more! Enjoy the best of southwest Michigan (one of Travel+Leisure's top 50 places to travel), just a short drive from this great location less than 10 minutes north of St. Joseph, and 20 minutes south of South Haven.

Please note that driveway can accommodate no more than 4 cars.

Here are some sample notes from our guest book:

We had an amazing week at Sunset Bluff -- your home is beautiful! There is so much to do in this area and as much as we tried, we couldn't do it all. Guess that means we'll have to come again! Awesome vacation for our family.
July 2025 guests

This has been a wonderful retreat time for our family. The home is beautiful and the view is breathtaking.
July 2025 guests

Thank you for an absolutely lovely week in your beautiful home... Your home was so well stocked and beautifully decorated. The beds were so comfy. Again, thank you for allowing us this great family time gathering place. The sunsets were absolutely stunning.
September 2024 guests

Sunset Bluff was such a convenient location for our adventurous spirits... Hagar Beach was the best... Thank you for everything. We enjoyed the hospitality!
June/July 2024 guests

We had the best time at Sunset Bluff! It was perfect for relaxing, visiting, and eating -- we couldn't have asked for anything better. We made a day trip to South Haven & Saugatuck, though there's plenty to do right here. Thank you for all the thoughtful touches throughout! We especially loved the portable fire pit.
May 2024

Great family memories made! What a view! Thank you for creating a special place for others to enjoy. Your home is well appointed and a perfect place to get away.
September 2023 guests

Our second visit was just as good as our first. We really enjoy spending time with family here. Comfortable and relaxing. Thanks for the experience!
August 2023 guests

Magnificent home -- magnificent views -- magnificent time! We truly enjoyed our stay at Sunset Bluff and hope we can return for another stay... The memories we made here will sustain us and make us smile in the days ahead.
August 2022 guests

One of the best July 4ths ever! Beautiful home, beautiful yard & beautiful memories! Might become an annual event! We love Sunset Bluff! Thank you.
July 2021 guests

“Sunset Bluff was the perfect place for a Fab 50 Fiesta with Forever Friends. Eight lifetime friends came together from all over to celebrate 50th birthdays and the gift of friendship... Sunset Bluff was so beautiful (house and views). The bedrooms, sitting areas and spacious kitchen allowed us to be comfortably together with room to roam. Lovely home!”
October 2019 guests

“What a wonderful week. The weather was perfect, and the afterglow of sunsets made perfect ends to busy days. Our family certainly enjoyed your beautiful retreat--a great place to relax and enjoy each other--a mini family reunion.”
August 2019 guests

“Whole family enjoyed themselves immensely. Great yard for catching lightning bugs! Beautiful view and flowers. Loved the one-floor floor plan for young children.”
July 2019 guests

“Full week of enjoyment, great memories, and splendid sunsets! Joan, we had a wonderful time. Your home was fabulously furnished and well equipped. Our daughter's wedding at Sundance Studio was excellent. Sunset Bluff took it over the top! Thank you for everything!!”
July 2019 guests

“We had a wonderful 90th birthday celebration... The house had a perfect layout for all ages of our family. Loved the sun room; played lots of card games. Went to Silver Beach, had pizza, walked around the beach and downtown. Very clean and inviting home. Thanks for sharing it with us.”
June 2019 guests

“We enjoyed our little getaway here! The weather was beautiful! ... great place to spend time with our family! We look forward to more Michigan visits!”
June 2019 guests

“Just wanted you to know how much we have enjoyed our relaxing stay at your beautiful lakefront retreat... We really enjoyed the shops in St. Joe and had a cozy, delicious meal... on the water.”
December 2018 guests

“We rented this beautiful home for our niece's wedding at the Blue Dress Barn. This home met all our needs... spotless and beds were all comfortable. The view was amazing... Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home.”
October 2018 guests

“We found this house to be a pleasing oasis for our family vacation. The house is beautiful and very well stocked. We enjoyed the view and had a fire and s’mores a few nights. Butterflies and hummingbirds frequented the gardens…. We toured wineries and loved downtown St. Joseph. This house really is a perfect family spot.”
September 2018 guests

“A wonderful family time in a beautiful setting. The division of the rooms worked so well for us. We, the grandparents, got the master bedroom, and it was amazing. A beautiful view and birds singing to awaken us. A small couch where the granddaughters could come cuddle with us first thing in the morning… Thank you for a wonderful home away from home for a week!”
July 2018 guests

“Our friendcation was amazing, and a large part of that was due to the wonderful Sunset Bluff. We loved hanging out in the four seasons room, soaking in the scenic views. Memories were made with the firepit and hammock! The accommodations have been wonderful, and many attractions were so close. We enjoyed our stay here to the fullest!”
June 2018 guests

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  • Feature Features
  • Map Map
  • School District Rates & Availability
  • Review Review

Feature Features

  • PETS

    2 Total (up To 20 Lbs Per Pet) Pet Friendly Welcoming Dogs Only
  • BEACH

    Beach Sun Loungers Beach Towels
  • DINING

    Dining Table
  • SAFETY

    Carbon Monoxide Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Carbon Monoxide Detector On The Property) Deadbolt Lock Fire Extinguisher Smoke Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Smoke Detector On The Property)
  • BEDROOM

    4 Bedrooms Bed Sheets Provided
  • GENERAL

    Recycling Unit Size: 2004 Sq Ft (186 Sq M) Uses Some LED Lighting
  • KITCHEN

    Cookware/dishes/utensils Dishwasher Microwave Oven Paper Towels Refrigerator Spices Stovetop Toaster
  • LAUNDRY

    Laundry Facilities Near Laundromat Washing Machine And Dryer
  • PARKING

    Car Recommended Onsite Parking Wheelchair-accessible Parking Available
  • INTERNET

    Free WiFi
  • OUTDOORS

    Barbecue Grill Firepit Garden Outdoor Furniture Patio
  • BATHROOMS

    3 Bathrooms Bathtub Or Shower Soap Toilet Paper Towels Provided
  • LANGS SPOKEN

    English Spanish
  • THINGS TO DO

    Birdwatching Nearby Fishing Nearby Jet Skiing Nearby Kayaking Nearby Marina Nearby Water Skiing Nearby Water Tubing Nearby Wildlife And Game Walks Nearby Winery Tours Nearby
  • ENTERTAINMENT

    Books DVD Player Games Pool Or Billiards Table Video Library Smart TV
  • LIVING SPACES

    Living Room
  • CLIMATE CONTROL

    Air Conditioning Heating
  • FAMILY FRIENDLY

    Children's Dinnerware Children's Games Playground Travel Crib
  • LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS

    Near A Hospital On The Lake On The Waterfront
  • SERVICES AND CONVENIENCES

    Iron/ironing Board
  • SUITABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

    1 On-site Accessible Parking Spaces 2 Stairs To Reach Property Hardwood Flooring In Public Areas If You Have Requests For Specific Accessibility Needs, Please Contact The Property Using The Information On The Reservation Confirmation Received After Booking. No Elevator (single Level Property) Smoke-free Property Smooth Flooring In Public Areas Well-lit Path To Entrance Wheelchair Accessible Wheelchair-accessible Parking

CheckIn Check-in : 04:00 PM CheckOut Check-out : 11:00 AM
No Wheelchair No smoking No pets Children allowed
Occupancy Max occupancy : 8

Map Map

School District Rates & Availability

Review Review

  • Randy L.

    Submitted Aug 14, 2025

    Stayed Aug 2, 2025

    Third time I have stayed at this property for over a week each during the summer. Has everything you need to have a great stay. Great location very close to St Joseph and many beaches. Hager beach which is dog and very people friendly is only a couple miles away and for larger beaches there is silver beach which also has a gigantic splash pad for the kids and concessions. Back yard bluff overlooking the the lake is exactly how it is shown. My favorite thing to do is to watch the spectacular sunsets with a fine glass of wine.

  • Melissa P.

    Submitted Jul 31, 2025

    Stayed Jul 26, 2025

    Wonderful sunsets, beautiful backyard and relaxing and peaceful home. My husband has a walker and he was able to maneuver around the home with ease and master bedroom has wonderful lake view. There are a few steps on back deck so going to edge of yard was not possible for him. Beaches were very close and Silver Beach has beach wheelchair available. Wonderful blueberry patch was just down the street (and pesticide free). We also loved the sitting/eating area with the lake view. Host was very accommodating and responsive to my many questions as we prepared for the rental. We hope to be back again soon!

  • Lubi L.

    Submitted Jul 13, 2025

    Stayed Jul 5, 2025

    Amazing family trip! Our family - from NC, ND, and NY picked Benton Harbor as a good meeting point for a family vacation and it was! The house is really lovely - the view is gorgeous! Joan was a fantastic host - she responded very quickly to all inquiries and I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a short-term rental that was stocked as well as Sunset Bluff! You will want for almost nothing! Our family would definitely stay here again!

  • Jenny A.

    Submitted Jun 15, 2025

    Stayed Jun 13, 2025

    Absolutely amazing! What a great layout for our 2 families including 4 kids under 4. We loved the backyard and view, all the rooms had what we needed supplies wise. Only 8 mins from all the kid fun. We loved it and can't wait to come back!

  • Dennis A.

    Submitted Sep 14, 2024

    Stayed Sep 6, 2024

    Having never visited Lake Michigan before, we were extremely happy in staying in this beautiful home for our family gathering. We purposely did not plan many things to do because we had a toddler and I have mobility issues. This home was so well stocked with paper products and seasonings and kitchen necessities. We brought our own crockpot and had several meals already prepared to enjoy. The home was so beautiful and clean; the hostess was so very helpful for us. The lake view from the gorgeous backyard was amazing! We would definitely return to this VRBO. Thank you, Joan for making our first time visit to Lake Michigan memorable.

  • Randy L.

    Submitted Aug 19, 2024

    Stayed Aug 3, 2024

    Lovely property with everything you need for a great family vacation with a fantastic view of Lake Michigan

  • Misty A.

    Submitted Jul 29, 2024

    Stayed Jul 6, 2024

    Great house with thoughtful touches throughout. Nice towels, sheets. There are things left for you to use in the kitchen such as spices, drinks, condiments, etc. There are also beach chairs and towels to use. Beautiful gardens and a big area for your dog or kids to play. Things to bring: an eye mask- it's super bright in the morning!

  • Kirsten H.

    Submitted Jul 11, 2024

    Stayed Jun 30, 2024

    We had a great time celebrating family birthdays in this beautiful location. The sunsets and view of the lake was definitely a highlight. Great beaches nearby and St Joseph’s had a fantastic fireworks show to celebrate the 4th. Joan was easy to work with and responsive. Thanks for a great week.

  • Mike W.

    Submitted Oct 11, 2023

    Stayed Oct 6, 2023

    This is the second year in a row a group of college friends and I stayed at this cozy but lavish home. I really can't recommend it enough. The view is just magnificent and the home is wonderful.

  • Patricia M.

    Submitted Sep 26, 2023

    Stayed Sep 22, 2023

    We had a wonderful stay at Sunset Bluff, even though we were never at this beautiful home in the evening to see the sunset. The house and property were great and easily accommodated our family and friends. Joan responded to all of my questions in a timely fashion, which helped to make the wedding weekend more relaxed and enjoyable.

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Total

Includes taxes and fees
$898+
View details