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Voykit pocket guide · United States
New Buffalo
Spend a day on the beach and downtown, stay overnight if you want casino or resort amenities – 1 night max.
New Buffalo is a small Harbor Country town on Lake Michigan with a sandy beach, dunes, a boat launch, a few eateries and a casino‑hotel. It’s easy to see the main sights in a half‑day; add a night for casino or resort comfort.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, some venues closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–$100 excl. bed · Mid $100–$150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Redamacks hamburger | $8–12 |
| The Stray Dog burger or sandwich | $10–15 |
| Beach parking (hourly) | $2–3 |
| Four Winds Casino slot play (per hour) | $5–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ORD · Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- about 80 km (50 mi) (≈1 h) by car to New Buffalo (check)about 50 mi (80 km) (≈1 h) by car to New Buffalo (check)
Typical fares
- Amtrak Blue Water New Buffalo ↔ Chicago
- about $30–60 one‑way, check schedule
- Car rental (compact, 1 day)
- $40–90, check rates
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or bike the compact downtown and beach; rent a car for nearby towns. Amtrak stops (Blue Water, Wolverine) provide limited rail access.
See and do
Known for
- Lake Michigan beach and dunes
- Four Winds Casino & hotel
- Redamacks hamburger joint
- Boat launch
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Union Pier | Drive west on US‑12, about 5 km (3.1 mi), 10 minDrive west on US‑12, about 3.1 mi (5 km), 10 min | ≈15 min round trip |
| Three Oaks | Drive east on US‑12, about 8 km (5 mi), 12 minDrive east on US‑12, about 5 mi (8 km), 12 min | ≈20 min round trip |
Sleep
- Four Winds Casino
- 200‑room hotel, casino and spa off the highway
- Marina Grand Resort
- Resort hotel on the marina
- Sans Souci Euro Inn & Cottages
- Budget inn with cottages
- The Harbor Grand
- Small hotel near downtown
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Where is the beach? | Where is the beach? |
| Can I have a table for two? | Can I have a table for two? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter months see reduced restaurant hours and some attractions close.
- Amtrak service is infrequent; check schedules for Blue Water and Wolverine.
Generally safe; stay aware of lake‑side currents and keep valuables in a hotel safe.
One and two days
No timed day plan for New Buffalo yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lake Michigan beach and dunes
- Four Winds Casino & hotel
- Redamacks hamburger joint
- Boat launch
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: New Buffalo, revision 4761375 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4761375
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
New Buffalo
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US 911 emergency nationwide; nearest consulate in Chicago.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/new-buffalo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.